LG Nexus 5X vs Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. While the Nexus 5X holds a nostalgic charm, the Pixel 5a 5G boasts significantly improved battery life, a brighter display, a more powerful processor, and 5G connectivity, making it a far more compelling choice for modern users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG Nexus 5X | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| 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, 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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 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 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 147 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm (5.79 x 2.86 x 0.31 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 136 g (4.80 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~423 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.9 cm2 (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A57) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 (20 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 418 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.0 | - | |
| 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 | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12.3 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.55µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.4µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 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, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Carbon, Quartz, Ice | Mostly Black |
| Models | Nexus 5X, H791 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 270 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -90.9dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 60h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1542 (nominal), 3.092 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 61dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 61dB | - |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 1591Basemark X: 16609 | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Nexus 5X
- Compact size
- Affordable price (used)
- Clean Android experience (at launch)
- Outdated processor
- Poor battery life
- Low-resolution camera
- No 5G connectivity
- Slow charging
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Excellent camera
- Long battery life
- 5G connectivity
- Bright display
- Regular software updates
- Design can be considered plain
- Charging speed could be faster
- No expandable storage
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G's display is a significant upgrade. Its 861 nits of peak brightness makes it far more usable outdoors, especially in sunlight, compared to the Nexus 5X's 3.092 sunlight rating. While the Nexus 5X boasts a respectable contrast ratio of 1542 (nominal), the Pixel 5a 5G's 'infinite' contrast ratio suggests superior black levels and overall image quality. The Pixel 5a 5G also likely has a higher resolution, providing sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G's camera is expected to be significantly better. Google's computational photography is renowned, and the Pixel 5a 5G likely features a higher-resolution sensor and improved image processing capabilities. The Nexus 5X's camera was adequate for its time, but it falls short compared to the Pixel 5a 5G's modern hardware and software.
Performance
The Pixel 5a 5G's Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset is considerably more powerful than the Nexus 5X's Snapdragon 808. The 7nm process and octa-core CPU offer a noticeable performance boost in everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. The Nexus 5X's 20nm Snapdragon 808, while decent for its time, struggles to keep up with modern demands.
Battery Life
Battery life is a major differentiator. The Pixel 5a 5G's endurance rating of 122h dwarfs the Nexus 5X's 60h. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making the Pixel 5a 5G a much more practical choice for users who rely on their phones throughout the day.
Buying Guide
The LG Nexus 5X is best suited for users seeking a very budget-friendly, basic Android experience and don't require modern features like 5G or a high-resolution camera. The Google Pixel 5a 5G is ideal for those wanting a reliable, feature-rich phone with excellent camera capabilities, long battery life, and 5G connectivity, all at a reasonable price.