Google Pixel 3a vs. HTC Desire 19+: Which Budget Phone Delivers More?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 3a is the superior choice. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chipset delivers noticeably smoother performance and better efficiency than the HTC Desire 19+'s MediaTek Helio P35, and its camera capabilities are in a different league. While the Desire 19+ offers a larger screen, the trade-offs in performance and camera quality aren't worth it.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | HTC Desire 19+ | Google Pixel 3a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, June 11. Released 2019, August 07 | 2019, May 07. Released 2019, May 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 156.2 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.15 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) | 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2 mm (5.96 x 2.76 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 147 g (5.19 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) | 1080 x 2220 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.6 inches, 79.6 cm2 (~75.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM670 Snapdragon 670 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 615 |
| OS | Android 9 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| - | eMMC 5.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3850 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Star Can Blue, Jasmine White | Just Black, Clearly White, Purple-ish |
| Models | - | G020A, G020E, G020B, G020G, G020H |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 120 EUR |
HTC Desire 19+
- Superior camera performance, especially in low light.
- Faster and more efficient Snapdragon 670 processor.
- Faster 18W charging with PD2.0 support.
- Smaller display size compared to the Desire 19+
- Older device, may have limited software update support.
Google Pixel 3a
- Likely larger display for media consumption.
- Potentially lower price point (depending on current deals).
- Wider availability in some markets.
- Significantly slower and less efficient Helio P35 processor.
- Inferior camera performance.
- Slow 10W charging.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a particularly impressive display. The HTC Desire 19+ likely has a larger screen size, a common tactic in the budget segment, but lacks specific details regarding resolution or panel type. The Pixel 3a features a 5.6-inch OLED display, offering superior contrast and color accuracy compared to the likely LCD panel on the Desire 19+. While neither supports high refresh rates, the OLED technology gives the Pixel 3a a clear advantage in visual quality.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 3a’s camera is its standout feature. While specific sensor sizes aren't provided, Google’s computational photography prowess, combined with a single 12.2MP sensor, consistently delivers excellent image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Desire 19+ likely features a multi-camera setup, but budget sensors and limited image processing capabilities will struggle to match the Pixel 3a’s results. The Pixel 3a’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail preservation, making it the clear winner for photography enthusiasts.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 3a’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 670, built on a 10nm process, significantly outperforms the HTC Desire 19+'s MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm). The Snapdragon 670 utilizes a dual-cluster architecture with 2x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 'Gold' cores and 6x 1.7 GHz Cortex-A55 'Silver' cores, providing a substantial boost in single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Helio P35’s homogenous octa-core setup of Cortex-A53 cores. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience on the Pixel 3a. The 10nm process also contributes to better power efficiency, meaning the Pixel 3a will likely exhibit less thermal throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Battery capacity isn't specified for either device, but the charging capabilities highlight a key difference. The Pixel 3a supports 18W wired charging with Power Delivery 2.0 (PD2.0), allowing for significantly faster charging times compared to the Desire 19+'s slow 10W charging. While a larger battery on the Desire 19+ might offer slightly longer runtime, the convenience of faster charging on the Pixel 3a is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Desire 19+ if you prioritize a larger display and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Google Pixel 3a if you value a significantly better camera, smoother performance for multitasking and gaming, and faster charging speeds, even if it means a slightly smaller screen.