LG Velvet 5G vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: Which Mid-Range 5G Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. Its 122-hour endurance rating nearly doubles that of the LG Velvet 5G’s 79 hours. However, the Velvet offers faster charging and a slightly brighter display, making it a viable choice for those who don't mind more frequent charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG Velvet 5G | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| 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, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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, 3, 28, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2Gbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 07. Released 2020, May 15 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 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 | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, LG UX | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| 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 | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm | 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, QC4 9W wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora White, Aurora Green, Aurora Gray, Illusion Sunset, Red, Pink | Mostly Black |
| Models | LM-G900N, LM-G900EM, LM-G900, LM-G900TM | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 470 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| SAR | 0.23 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 79h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -23.5 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 297372 (v8) GeekBench: 1905 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG Velvet 5G
- Faster 25W wired charging
- Slightly brighter display (617 nits)
- Wireless charging support
- Significantly shorter battery life (79h endurance)
- Less refined camera processing
- Potentially more throttling under sustained load
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life (122h endurance)
- Superior camera image processing
- Clean Google software experience
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Less bright display (861 nits, but still brighter than Velvet)
- No wireless charging
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 861 nits compared to the Velvet’s 617 nits. This translates to superior readability under direct sunlight. While both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the higher peak brightness of the Pixel 5a provides a more visually impactful experience. The Velvet’s display, while adequate, will appear washed out in bright environments. Both phones lack high refresh rate panels, a common omission in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable camera systems, but Google’s computational photography prowess gives the Pixel 5a an edge. While specific sensor details are missing for the Velvet, the Pixel 5a’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Velvet makes a direct sensor comparison impossible, but Google’s software optimizations consistently deliver more pleasing results for the average user. We're assuming both phones have similar primary camera capabilities given the market segment.
Performance
Both the LG Velvet 5G and Google Pixel 5a 5G are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) chipset, featuring the same octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power is virtually identical. However, the Pixel 5a’s superior battery capacity allows for sustained performance for longer periods, mitigating potential throttling under heavy load. While neither phone is a gaming powerhouse, they can handle most mobile games at medium settings. The lack of LPDDR5 RAM information prevents a deeper analysis of memory bandwidth differences.
Battery Life
The most significant difference lies in battery life. The Pixel 5a 5G’s endurance rating of 122 hours dwarfs the LG Velvet 5G’s 79 hours. This translates to nearly a full day and a half of additional usage on a single charge. While the Velvet supports faster 25W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC4 support) compared to the Pixel 5a’s 18W (PD2.0), the Pixel’s sheer capacity offsets this advantage. The Velvet also offers 9W wireless charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 5a.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Velvet 5G if you prioritize faster charging speeds (25W vs 18W) and a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are comfortable with a shorter battery life. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you value exceptional battery life above all else, and appreciate Google’s clean software experience and camera processing, even if it means slower charging and a less vibrant screen.