Huawei nova 5 vs Google Pixel 3a XL: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and fast charging, the Huawei nova 5 emerges as the winner. Its Kirin 810 chipset offers a noticeable performance edge over the Snapdragon 670, and the 40W charging is significantly faster. However, Pixel purists will still prefer the 3a XL’s clean software and excellent battery life.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 5 | Google Pixel 3a XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, June. Released 2019, June | 2019, May 07. Released 2019, May 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 157.4 x 74.8 x 7.3 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.29 in) | 160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2 mm (6.30 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) | 167 g (5.89 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~76.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | OLED |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SDM670 Snapdragon 670 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 | Adreno 615 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| - | eMMC 5.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, AF | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 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, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 85% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Stand-by | Up to 360 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 28 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, Green | Just Black, Clearly White, Purple-ish |
| Models | SEA-AL00, SEA-TL00 | G020C, G020G, G020F, G020A, G020B, G020D |
| Price | About 360 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.43 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -90.8dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 98h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: infinite |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 79dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 91dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 159110 (v7), 176612 (v8) GeekBench: 5176 (v4.4), 1307 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 5
- Faster 40W charging significantly reduces downtime.
- Kirin 810 chipset offers superior performance.
- Potentially better outdoor visibility (depending on display brightness).
- Software experience may not appeal to all users.
- Camera performance is unknown and may not match Pixel's computational photography.
Google Pixel 3a XL
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates.
- Excellent battery endurance for all-day use.
- Renowned image processing for consistently good photos.
- Slower 18W charging.
- Snapdragon 670 chipset is less powerful than the Kirin 810.
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 3a XL boasts a display with infinite contrast, suggesting a true black level, but its 451 nits of peak brightness is a limiting factor in direct sunlight. The nova 5’s display specifications are not provided, but given its market positioning, it likely offers comparable brightness. The Pixel 3a XL’s contrast ratio will provide a more visually striking experience in darker environments, while the nova 5 may perform better in outdoor visibility if it achieves higher peak brightness. Without knowing the nova 5’s panel technology, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs for both devices are limited. However, the Pixel 3a XL is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to deliver excellent dynamic range and detail, even with a single lens. The nova 5’s camera system is unknown, but Huawei often emphasizes megapixel count. Without knowing sensor sizes or apertures, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The Pixel 3a XL’s strength lies in its software optimization, consistently producing high-quality images in various conditions. The nova 5 will likely rely more on hardware specifications, potentially offering more versatility but potentially lacking the Pixel’s consistent image quality.
Performance
The Huawei nova 5’s Kirin 810 (7nm) chipset represents a significant architectural advantage over the Pixel 3a XL’s Snapdragon 670 (10nm). The 7nm process allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, translating to better sustained performance and potentially lower thermal throttling. The Kirin 810’s octa-core configuration, with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.27 GHz, will outperform the Snapdragon 670’s 2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 Gold cores in CPU-intensive tasks. While both utilize similar core designs, the Kirin 810’s fabrication process and clock speeds give it a clear edge. The Snapdragon 670’s Kryo Silver cores are optimized for efficiency, but will lag behind the A76 cores in demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei nova 5 and Google Pixel 3a XL achieve an impressive endurance rating of 98 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, their charging approaches differ drastically. The nova 5’s 40W wired charging can reach 85% capacity in just 30 minutes, offering a significant convenience advantage. The Pixel 3a XL’s 18W charging with PD2.0 is considerably slower. While the Pixel 3a XL’s endurance suggests efficient power management, the nova 5’s faster charging mitigates the impact of any potential battery drain, making it more suitable for users who need quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 5 if you need rapid charging capabilities and a more powerful processor for demanding apps and light gaming. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phone and want a responsive experience. Buy the Google Pixel 3a XL if you prioritize a clean Android experience, exceptional battery life, and a consistently reliable camera, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power and charging speed.