Moto G Pro vs. Pixel 5a 5G: A Deep Dive into Battery, Performance, and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and value, the Google Pixel 5a 5G emerges as the winner. Its significantly superior battery life (122h vs 88h), coupled with a more powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset and faster 18W charging, outweighs the Moto G Pro’s lower price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G Pro | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 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 (2CA) Cat13 600/100 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 26. Released 2020, June 15 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, aluminum frame (6000 series) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.36 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 | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Stylus Water-repellent coating | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2300 pixels (~399 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.7 cm2 (~83.7% 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 | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, Android One | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| 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, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), dedicated video camera (1080p) 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mystic indigo | Mostly Black |
| Models | XT2043-7 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 320 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 88h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1422:1 | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.5 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 173611 (v8) GeekBench: 1385 (v5.1) GFXBench: 6.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G Pro
- Exceptional battery endurance (88h)
- Lower price point
- Solid build quality for the price
- Less powerful Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Slower charging speed (15W)
- No 5G connectivity
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Superior battery life (122h)
- More powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
- 5G connectivity
- Faster 18W charging with PD2.0
- Slightly higher price
- Contrast ratio is nominally 'Infinite' - real world performance may vary
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G and Moto G Pro present differing display experiences. While the Moto G Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 642 nits and a 1422:1 contrast ratio, the Pixel 5a 5G achieves 861 nits. The Pixel 5a 5G’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio, while a nominal specification, suggests superior black levels and a more vibrant image. The higher brightness of the Pixel 5a 5G will be noticeable in direct sunlight, improving outdoor visibility. Both lack high refresh rate panels, focusing instead on efficiency.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the Pixel 5a 5G leverages Google’s renowned computational photography. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the Pixel’s image processing algorithms are a major differentiator. The Snapdragon 765G’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is more advanced than the 665’s, enabling better noise reduction, dynamic range, and overall image quality. The Moto G Pro likely relies more heavily on hardware limitations, while the Pixel 5a 5G can compensate for less-premium sensors with software enhancements.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Moto G Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm), an entry-level SoC with an octa-core CPU configuration (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver). The Pixel 5a 5G, however, features the Snapdragon 765G (7nm), a significant step up in performance. The 7nm process node is more efficient, leading to better thermal management and sustained performance. The 765G’s CPU (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) offers a noticeable performance boost in everyday tasks and more demanding applications. The 5G modem in the 765G is also a key advantage.
Battery Life
Battery life is a key battleground. The Moto G Pro achieves an endurance rating of 88 hours, a respectable figure. However, the Pixel 5a 5G significantly surpasses it with a 122-hour endurance rating. This difference is attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset and potentially a more optimized software experience. Furthermore, the Pixel 5a 5G supports 18W charging with PD2.0, offering faster charging speeds compared to the Moto G Pro’s 15W wired charging. While neither offers blazing-fast charging, the Pixel 5a 5G’s faster rate reduces downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto G Pro if you absolutely need the longest possible battery life and are willing to compromise on processing power and 5G connectivity. It’s ideal for users who frequently find themselves away from a charger. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize a smoother user experience, better camera performance, 5G access, and faster charging, even if it means slightly less extreme battery endurance.