The Motorola Moto G57 and Google Pixel 5a 5G represent different approaches to the mid-range 5G smartphone market. The Pixel 5a 5G, while older, benefits from Google’s renowned camera software and a proven track record. The Moto G57, a newer entrant, aims to undercut the competition with a more modern chipset and a refreshed design. This comparison dives deep into the specifications to determine which phone delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G57 offers a better value proposition. Its newer Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset provides a performance edge, and the 4nm process promises improved efficiency. While the Pixel 5a 5G retains a strong camera reputation, the G57’s overall package is more compelling at its price point.
| 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 | LTE | 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 | SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, November 05 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Coming soon. Exp. release 2025, December | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), plastic frame, silicone polymer (eco leather) back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | - | 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 | - | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1050 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6435-AA Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 16 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | 5200 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pantone: Fluidity, Pink Lemonade, Corsair, Regatta | Mostly Black |
| Models | - | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 200 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 122h
|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 291303 (v8)
GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G57
- More modern and efficient Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset
- Potentially longer software support due to newer release
- Likely more affordable price point
- Camera performance is an unknown quantity
- Display brightness likely lower than Pixel 5a 5G
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Excellent camera performance thanks to Google’s software
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Proven track record and reliability
- Older Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Potentially limited future software updates
- May be harder to find at competitive prices
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 5a 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 861 nits, which will be noticeably better in direct sunlight. While the Moto G57’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to be dimmer. Both phones offer an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. The Pixel 5a 5G’s display is likely to offer a more vibrant and visible experience outdoors, but the G57 may compensate with potentially more accurate color calibration, a common Motorola strength.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms. While specific sensor details for the Moto G57 are missing, the Pixel 5a 5G’s camera system is likely to produce more consistently pleasing images, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Pixel 5a 5G’s image processing excels at dynamic range and detail preservation. The Moto G57 will need to rely heavily on software optimization to compete, and without knowing the sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to assess its potential. It's important to note that the Pixel 5a 5G's strength lies in its software, not necessarily raw hardware specifications.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Moto G57 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 (4nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Pixel 5a 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 765G (7nm) with an octa-core CPU configuration of 1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 is a significant advantage, offering improved power efficiency and potentially better sustained performance due to reduced thermal throttling. While the 765G has a slightly faster prime core, the newer architecture and process node of the 6s Gen 4 likely result in superior overall performance in most real-world scenarios.
Battery Life
Both the Motorola Moto G57 and the Google Pixel 5a 5G achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. The Pixel 5a 5G supports 18W wired charging with PD2.0. The Moto G57’s charging specifications are not provided, but a faster charging rate would be a significant advantage. While both phones offer comparable endurance, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4’s improved efficiency in the Moto G57 could translate to slightly longer real-world usage, especially with moderate to heavy use.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto G57 if you prioritize performance for everyday tasks and light gaming, and want a phone with a more modern chipset and potentially longer software support. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you absolutely need Google’s exceptional camera processing and are willing to accept an older chipset and potentially limited future updates. The Pixel 5a 5G is also a better choice for those heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 in the Moto G57 offer a noticeable performance improvement over the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G for gaming?
Yes, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, despite being positioned as a mid-range chip, benefits from a newer architecture and a more efficient 4nm process. This translates to better sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling during gaming sessions, resulting in smoother frame rates and a more enjoyable gaming experience compared to the older Snapdragon 765G.
❓ How does the software update policy differ between the Moto G57 and the Pixel 5a 5G, and what does this mean for long-term usability?
The Pixel 5a 5G, being a Google phone, has already received its guaranteed software updates. The Moto G57, being a Motorola device, typically receives fewer major Android updates and a shorter period of security patches. This means the Pixel 5a 5G is likely at its end-of-life for software support, while the Moto G57 may receive one or two more Android version updates, but the Pixel will likely have a more secure experience for the remainder of its life.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 5a 5G considered slow by today's standards, and how does it compare to potentially faster charging on the Moto G57?
18W charging is relatively slow compared to the 30W, 65W, or even 120W charging solutions found on many modern smartphones. While the Moto G57’s charging speed is currently unknown, any charging rate exceeding 18W would offer a significant advantage, allowing for quicker top-ups and reduced downtime. The Pixel 5a 5G will take considerably longer to fully charge.
