LG Nexus 5X vs Google Pixel 3a XL: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 3a XL is the clear winner. While the Nexus 5X holds nostalgic value, the Pixel 3a XL boasts significantly better battery life, a brighter display, a more modern chipset, and a superior camera experience, all at a competitive price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG Nexus 5X | Google Pixel 3a XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all models | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - American model | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 29 - American model | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global model | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2015, September. Released 2015, October | 2019, May 07. Released 2019, May 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 147 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm (5.79 x 2.86 x 0.31 in) | 160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2 mm (6.30 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 136 g (4.80 oz) | 167 g (5.89 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, oleophobic coating | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~423 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.9 cm2 (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~76.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A57) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 (20 nm) | Qualcomm SDM670 Snapdragon 670 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 418 | Adreno 615 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 5.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12.3 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.55µm | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.4µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 2700 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Carbon, Quartz, Ice | Just Black, Clearly White, Purple-ish |
| Models | Nexus 5X, H791 | G020C, G020G, G020F, G020A, G020B, G020D |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -90.9dB | Noise -90.8dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 60h | Endurance rating 98h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1542 (nominal), 3.092 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: infinite |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 61dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 61dB | Voice 79dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 91dB |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 1591Basemark X: 16609 | AnTuTu: 159110 (v7), 176612 (v8) GeekBench: 5176 (v4.4), 1307 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Nexus 5X
- Compact size
- Affordable price (used)
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Outdated chipset
- Poor battery life
- Dim display
- Subpar camera
Google Pixel 3a XL
- Excellent battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Superior camera
- Modern chipset
- Fast charging
- Larger size
- Plastic build
Display Comparison
The Pixel 3a XL's display shines with a measured 451 nits of brightness, making it far more usable outdoors. Its 'infinite' contrast ratio suggests excellent black levels and vibrant colors. The Nexus 5X's 1542 contrast ratio is respectable, but the sunlight visibility at 3.092 is a significant disadvantage compared to the Pixel 3a XL.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 3a XL's camera is a major upgrade. Google's computational photography prowess delivers stunning images, especially in low light. The Nexus 5X's camera is adequate for basic photography, but it struggles in challenging conditions and lacks the advanced features of the Pixel 3a XL.
Performance
The Pixel 3a XL's Snapdragon 670 chipset, built on a more efficient 10nm process, offers a noticeable performance boost over the Nexus 5X's Snapdragon 808. While the Nexus 5X's hexa-core CPU is decent, the Pixel 3a XL's octa-core processor handles multitasking and demanding apps with greater ease. The 360 Gold and Kryo cores provide a balanced approach to power and efficiency.
Battery Life
The Pixel 3a XL dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 98 hours compared to the Nexus 5X's 60 hours. This represents a substantial difference in real-world usage. The Pixel 3a XL also supports 18W wired charging and PD2.0, offering faster charging speeds.
Buying Guide
The LG Nexus 5X is best for users seeking a very affordable, compact Android phone for basic tasks and those who appreciate its smaller form factor. The Google Pixel 3a XL is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, camera quality, and a smooth Android experience, especially those on a budget.