The Oppo Reno2 Z and Google Pixel 3a XL represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Reno2 Z prioritizes fast charging and a newer chipset, while the Pixel 3a XL focuses on Google’s renowned camera software and a proven battery endurance record. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and exceptional camera software, the Google Pixel 3a XL remains the stronger choice. While the Oppo Reno2 Z boasts faster 20W charging, the Pixel 3a XL’s Snapdragon 670 and optimized software provide a smoother, more reliable experience, especially considering their identical 98-hour endurance ratings.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August 28. Released 2019, September | 2019, May 07. Released 2019, May 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.4 x 75.8 x 8.7 mm (6.39 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) | 160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2 mm (6.30 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 167 g (5.89 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~76.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | OLED |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6779 Helio P90 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM670 Snapdragon 670 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GM9446 | Adreno 615 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, ColorOS 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP B/W, f/2.4, 1/5.0", 1.75µm
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sky White, Luminous Black | Just Black, Clearly White, Purple-ish |
| Models | PCKM70, PCKT00, PCKM00, CPH1945, CPH1951, PCKM80 | G020C, G020G, G020F, G020A, G020B, G020D |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.8dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 98h
|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: infinite |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 79dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 91dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 159110 (v7), 176612 (v8)
GeekBench: 5176 (v4.4), 1307 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Oppo Reno2 Z
- Faster 20W charging for quick top-ups
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance due to clock speed
- More recent chipset generation (Helio P90)
- Less refined software experience compared to Pixel
- 12nm process node may lead to higher power consumption
Google Pixel 3a XL
- Exceptional camera software and image quality
- Efficient Snapdragon 670 chipset with 10nm process
- Clean and streamlined Android experience
- Slower 18W charging compared to Oppo Reno2 Z
- Older chipset generation (Snapdragon 670)
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 3a XL features a display capable of 451 nits of peak brightness, a respectable figure for outdoor visibility. While the Reno2 Z’s display specs are not provided, the Pixel 3a XL’s infinite contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Pixel’s display is likely to offer a superior viewing experience, particularly for media consumption, due to its contrast capabilities. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is standard for this generation.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 3a XL’s strength lies in its software processing, leveraging Google’s computational photography expertise. While specific sensor details aren’t provided for either device, the Pixel’s image processing consistently delivers excellent dynamic range and low-light performance. The Reno2 Z’s camera system, while potentially offering more hardware features, likely relies more heavily on hardware specifications than software optimization. The Pixel 3a XL’s focus on software means better, more consistent results for the average user, even with potentially similar hardware.
Performance
The Oppo Reno2 Z’s Mediatek Helio P90 (12nm) utilizes a dual-cluster architecture with two Cortex-A75 cores for performance and six Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency. This contrasts with the Pixel 3a XL’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 (10nm), featuring two Cortex-A75 Gold cores and six Kryo 360 Silver cores. The Snapdragon 670’s 10nm process node generally translates to better power efficiency compared to the Reno2 Z’s 12nm node, potentially leading to longer sustained performance under load. While the Reno2 Z’s A75 cores have a slightly higher clock speed (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz), the Snapdragon 670’s optimized architecture and efficient manufacturing process likely provide a more balanced and consistent user experience.
Battery Life
Both the Oppo Reno2 Z and Google Pixel 3a XL achieve an impressive endurance rating of 98 hours, indicating similar real-world battery life. However, the Reno2 Z compensates with 20W wired charging, significantly faster than the Pixel 3a XL’s 18W charging with PD2.0 support. This means the Reno2 Z can replenish its battery much quicker, a crucial advantage for users who need a fast top-up. The Pixel 3a XL’s endurance suggests efficient power management, but the Reno2 Z offers a convenience factor with its faster charging capabilities.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo Reno2 Z if you need faster charging speeds and are comfortable with a potentially less refined software experience. Its 20W charging is ideal for users who frequently top up their battery throughout the day. Buy the Google Pixel 3a XL if you prioritize camera quality, software simplicity, and long-term reliability. The Pixel’s computational photography and clean Android experience are unmatched in this price bracket.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio P90 in the Oppo Reno2 Z struggle with sustained gaming performance?
The Helio P90 is capable of handling most mobile games, but its 12nm process and thermal management may lead to throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Snapdragon 670 in the Pixel 3a XL, with its 10nm process, is generally more efficient and can maintain performance for longer periods.
❓ How significant is the difference in software experience between ColorOS on the Reno2 Z and stock Android on the Pixel 3a XL?
ColorOS is a heavily customized Android skin with a different aesthetic and feature set compared to the Pixel 3a XL’s stock Android. The Pixel offers a cleaner, more minimalist experience with faster updates and guaranteed software support, while ColorOS includes additional features but can feel bloated to some users.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 3a XL noticeably slower than the 20W charging on the Reno2 Z in real-world use?
Yes, the 20W charging on the Reno2 Z will result in a faster 0-100% charge time. While the difference may not be massive, it's noticeable for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery. Expect roughly 15-20 minutes faster charging with the Reno2 Z.
