Motorola Moto G 5G Plus vs Google Pixel 7a: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Motorola Moto G 5G Plus and the Google Pixel 7a are both strong contenders in the mid-range market, offering compelling features at competitive prices. But which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 7a emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior camera, smoother performance powered by the Tensor G2 chip, and brighter display. While the Moto G 5G Plus boasts incredible battery life, the Pixel 7a's strengths in key areas make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto G 5G Plus	Google Pixel 7a

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands	1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8

Launch
Announced	2020, July 07. Released 2020, July 08	2023, May 10
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2023, May 10

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	168.3 x 74 x 9.7 mm (6.63 x 2.91 x 0.38 in)	152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	207 g (7.30 oz)	193.5 g (6.84 oz)
	Water-repellent coating	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10	OLED, HDR, 90Hz
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.3 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765 5G (7 nm)	Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 620	Mali-G710 MP7
OS	Android 10	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Dual	-	64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Features	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad	48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF Auxiliary lens	-
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS

Selfie camera
Dual	16 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (normal), 1.0µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm	-
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	-	13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 3.2
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	20W wired	18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 4385 mAh

Misc
Colors	Surfing Blue, Mystic Lilac	Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
Models	XT2075, XT2075-2, XT2075-3	GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
Price	About 260 EUR	€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 114h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1269:1	-
Loudspeaker	-28.4 LUFS (Average)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 299926 (v8) GeekBench: 1898 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Motorola Moto G 5G Plus

Exceptional battery life
Large display
Competitive price
Decent performance for the price

Less powerful processor
Mediocre camera compared to competitors
Less premium design
Slower charging

Google Pixel 7a

Excellent camera
Smooth performance (Tensor G2)
Bright and vibrant display
Clean Android experience
Wireless charging

Shorter battery life than Moto G 5G Plus
Slower wired charging than some competitors
Can be slightly more expensive

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1070 nits, significantly brighter than the Moto G 5G Plus's 543 nits. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (1269:1 for Moto, unspecified for Pixel but generally very good), the Pixel 7a's brightness makes it much more usable outdoors. The Pixel 7a also likely has better color accuracy and calibration.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 7a's camera is a standout feature. Google's computational photography expertise shines through, delivering consistently excellent image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Moto G 5G Plus camera is decent, but it doesn't match the Pixel 7a's dynamic range, detail, and overall image processing. The Pixel 7a also benefits from Google's software features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.

Performance

Google's Tensor G2 chip in the Pixel 7a provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Snapdragon 765 5G in the Moto G 5G Plus. The Tensor G2's architecture (Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A78 cores) is designed for AI and machine learning tasks, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved overall responsiveness. The Moto G 5G Plus is still capable, but the Pixel 7a feels more premium and fluid.

Battery Life

The Moto G 5G Plus absolutely dominates in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours. The Pixel 7a's 76-hour rating is still respectable, but falls significantly short. If battery longevity is your absolute top priority, the Moto G 5G Plus is the clear winner.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Moto G 5G Plus is ideal for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a large display on a budget. The Google Pixel 7a is perfect for those who value a top-tier camera, clean Android experience, and consistently smooth performance, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The Google Pixel 7a will receive faster and longer software updates directly from Google, including new Android versions and security patches. Motorola's update schedule is typically less frequent.

❓ Is the Pixel 7a worth the extra cost?

If camera quality and performance are important to you, then yes. The Pixel 7a offers a significantly better experience in these areas. However, if you primarily need a phone with long battery life and are on a tighter budget, the Moto G 5G Plus remains a viable option.