Google Pixel 7a vs Nokia X30: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 7a emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly brighter display (1070 nits vs 746 nits) and the superior processing power of the Tensor G2 chipset provide a smoother, more responsive experience, particularly for camera-focused tasks. While the Nokia X30 boasts impressive 94-hour endurance, the Pixel 7a’s overall package is more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nokia X30 | 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, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 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, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 01 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 21 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 73.9 x 8 mm (6.26 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, 450 nits (typ), 700 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 - 128GB UFS 3.0 - 256GB | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06" | 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD3.0 | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cloudy Blue, Ice White | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | TA-1450, TA-1443 | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | $ 399.00 | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| SAR EU | 0.79 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 94h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -27.5 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 403732 (v9) GeekBench: 1920 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Nokia X30
- Superior camera performance thanks to Google’s image processing.
- Brighter and more vibrant display for better outdoor visibility.
- Faster and more capable processor for demanding tasks.
- Shorter battery life compared to the Nokia X30.
- Slower wireless charging (7.5W).
Google Pixel 7a
- Exceptional battery life with a 94-hour endurance rating.
- Faster wired charging (33W).
- Focus on sustainability and repairability.
- Significantly less powerful processor.
- Dimmer display with lower peak brightness.
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7a’s display is a clear winner in terms of brightness, reaching a measured 1070 nits compared to the Nokia X30’s 746 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the higher peak brightness of the Pixel 7a provides a more dynamic and engaging viewing experience. The Nokia X30’s display, while adequate, lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the Pixel 7a’s panel. We lack PWM frequency data for both, but the brightness difference is the key differentiator.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the Pixel 7a is expected to excel due to Google’s renowned computational photography. While sensor sizes and apertures aren’t specified, the Pixel 7a benefits from Google’s advanced image processing algorithms, which consistently deliver excellent image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Tensor G2’s image signal processor (ISP) plays a crucial role in this performance. The Nokia X30’s camera system, while capable, likely won’t match the Pixel 7a’s level of detail, dynamic range, and overall image quality. The Pixel 7a’s video capabilities are also expected to be superior, with features like cinematic mode and improved stabilization.
Performance
The performance gap between these two phones is substantial. The Google Pixel 7a’s Google Tensor G2 (5nm) chipset, with its Cortex-X1, A78, and A55 cores, significantly outperforms the Nokia X30’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The Tensor G2’s core architecture, particularly the Cortex-X1, delivers a noticeable boost in CPU performance (2.85 GHz vs 2.2 GHz peak) and GPU capabilities. This difference is especially apparent in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The 5nm process node of the Tensor G2 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 695 is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with more intensive applications.
Battery Life
The Nokia X30 holds a clear advantage in endurance, boasting a 94-hour rating compared to the Pixel 7a’s 76 hours. This suggests the X30 can last significantly longer on a single charge. However, the Pixel 7a compensates with faster charging speeds (18W wired, plus 7.5W wireless) compared to the Nokia X30’s 33W wired charging. While 33W sounds faster, the Pixel 7a’s optimized power management and efficient Tensor G2 chip help mitigate the smaller battery capacity. The Nokia X30’s longer endurance is ideal for users who frequently travel or have limited access to charging outlets.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nokia X30 if you prioritize exceptional battery life and long-term software support, and value a more sustainable and repairable device. You’ll benefit from its 94-hour endurance rating and Nokia’s commitment to updates. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you prioritize camera quality, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a faster, more capable processor for demanding applications and a smoother user experience. The Tensor G2 offers a significant performance advantage.