The Honor View and Google Pixel 5a 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range 5G market. The Honor View, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G chipset, aims for near-flagship performance. Conversely, the Pixel 5a 5G prioritizes Google’s computational photography and a clean software experience, powered by the Snapdragon 765G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality and software experience, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the better choice. While the Honor View boasts a more powerful chipset on paper, the Pixel 5a 5G’s optimized software and superior camera capabilities deliver a more consistently enjoyable user experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | - | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | - | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Yes | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Panorama, HDR, LED flash | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 60 MP, f/1.7, (wide), PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm
TOF 3D, (depth sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Orange, other colors | Mostly Black |
| Models | - | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | - | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 122h
|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 291303 (v8)
GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor View
- Faster charging at 22.5W
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance with Kirin 990 5G
- More complex CPU core configuration
- EMUI software may not appeal to all users
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Exceptional camera performance with Google’s computational photography
- Bright and vibrant OLED display
- Slower 18W charging
- Less powerful chipset compared to Kirin 990 5G
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 5a 5G’s display shines with a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, offering excellent visibility outdoors. While the Honor View’s display specifications aren’t provided, the Pixel 5a 5G’s infinite contrast ratio (typical of OLED panels) ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Pixel 5a 5G’s display is likely to offer a more visually pleasing experience in bright conditions due to its higher measured brightness.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G’s camera prowess is well-documented, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms. While specific sensor details for the Honor View are unavailable, the Pixel 5a 5G’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The Pixel 5a 5G’s focus on software optimization likely delivers more consistent and pleasing results, even with potentially smaller sensor sizes. The Honor View may offer more versatility with additional lenses (speculation based on typical Honor implementations), but the Pixel 5a 5G’s single lens setup is optimized for quality.
Performance
The Honor View’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) utilizes a more complex CPU core configuration – a combination of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores – aiming for higher peak performance than the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). However, the Snapdragon 765G’s Kryo cores are optimized for efficiency, and Qualcomm’s software integration often results in smoother real-world performance. The Kirin 990 5G’s potential for higher clock speeds may translate to faster benchmark scores, but the Pixel 5a 5G’s more balanced approach could lead to better sustained performance under load, avoiding thermal throttling. The Honor View's chipset is built on a slightly refined 7nm+ process, but the architectural differences and software optimization are key.
Battery Life
Both the Honor View and Google Pixel 5a 5G achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Honor View’s 22.5W wired charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W charging with PD2.0. This means the Honor View can replenish its battery more quickly, offering a convenience advantage. While both phones offer similar overall endurance, the Honor View’s faster charging is a tangible benefit for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor View if you need raw processing power for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize a clean Android experience, exceptional camera performance, and guaranteed software updates, even if it means sacrificing some peak CPU performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 990 5G prone to overheating during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 990 5G, while powerful, has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads. While the Honor View’s cooling system may mitigate this, the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G is generally more efficient and less prone to overheating, potentially offering more consistent performance during long gaming sessions.
❓ How does the Pixel 5a 5G’s camera perform in low-light conditions compared to the Honor View?
The Google Pixel 5a 5G excels in low-light photography thanks to its Night Sight mode and Google’s advanced image processing algorithms. While the Honor View’s low-light performance is likely decent, the Pixel 5a 5G consistently delivers brighter, clearer, and more detailed images in challenging lighting conditions.
❓ Does the Honor View support fast charging protocols beyond 22.5W?
While the Honor View supports 22.5W wired charging, it's unclear if it supports other fast charging protocols like Quick Charge or Power Delivery (PD) beyond the PD2.0 standard. The Pixel 5a 5G specifically supports PD2.0 for its 18W charging.
❓ What are the long-term software support guarantees for each device?
Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 5a 5G. Honor’s software support track record is less consistent, and the Honor View may receive fewer updates over its lifespan. This is a significant advantage for the Pixel 5a 5G, ensuring continued security and access to new features.
