Google Pixel 6a vs Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Google Pixel 6a and Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Pixel 6a, leveraging Google’s Tensor chip, prioritizes AI-powered features and software experience. Conversely, the Reno5 Pro 5G focuses on raw performance with the Dimensity 1000+ and incredibly fast charging, making it a compelling choice for power users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing software support and computational photography, the Google Pixel 6a is the better choice. However, the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G delivers superior charging speeds and strong performance, making it ideal for those who frequently game or need a phone that can quickly top up.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G Google Pixel 6a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada)
5G bands1, 3, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada)
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International)
Launch
Announced2020, December 102022, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 05Available. Released 2022, July 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions159.7 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.29 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)OLED, HDR
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging65W wired 5W reverse wired18W wired, PD3.0
TypeLi-Po 4350 mAhLi-Po 4410 mAh
Misc
ColorsAstral Blue, Starry Black, Starry Dream, Star Wish RedChalk, Charcoal, Sage
ModelsPDSM00, PDST00, CPH2201GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L
PriceAbout 410 EUR$ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G

  • Superior AI-powered camera processing
  • Guaranteed software updates from Google
  • Efficient Tensor chip for good battery life

  • Significantly slower charging speed (18W)
  • Potentially less raw gaming performance than Reno5 Pro 5G

Google Pixel 6a

  • Blazing-fast 65W wired charging
  • Strong performance with Dimensity 1000+ chipset
  • Likely vibrant AMOLED display

  • Less consistent software update schedule
  • Potentially less efficient chipset (7nm vs 5nm)

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6a boasts a measured peak brightness of 876 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the Reno5 Pro 5G’s display specs aren’t provided, Oppo typically equips its Pro models with vibrant AMOLED panels. The Pixel 6a’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, ensures deep blacks and vivid colors. The lack of high refresh rate information for the Reno5 Pro 5G suggests it may not match the smoothness potentially offered by a higher refresh rate panel, though this is speculative. The Pixel 6a’s brightness advantage is a clear win for outdoor usability.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6a’s camera prowess is heavily reliant on Google’s computational photography, leveraging the Tensor chip’s AI capabilities. While specific sensor details are missing for both phones, the Pixel 6a’s image processing is renowned for its dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. The Reno5 Pro 5G likely features a capable camera system, but without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to assess its performance relative to the Pixel 6a. The Pixel 6a’s strength lies in its software, consistently delivering excellent results even in challenging lighting conditions.

Performance

The Google Tensor chip (5nm) in the Pixel 6a features a unique CPU configuration with 2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 cores, designed for AI tasks and demanding applications. This contrasts with the Reno5 Pro 5G’s Dimensity 1000+ (7nm), which utilizes 4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 cores. While the Dimensity 1000+ offers strong multi-core performance, the Tensor chip’s Cortex-X1 cores and dedicated AI processing unit give the Pixel 6a an edge in machine learning tasks like image processing and voice recognition. The 5nm process node of the Tensor chip also contributes to better power efficiency compared to the Reno5 Pro 5G’s 7nm Dimensity chip, potentially leading to improved thermal management during sustained loads.

Battery Life

Both the Pixel 6a and Reno5 Pro 5G achieve an endurance rating of 94 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, their charging approaches differ significantly. The Reno5 Pro 5G’s 65W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in under 40 minutes. The Pixel 6a’s 18W charging with PD3.0 is considerably slower, taking well over an hour to fully charge. This difference in charging speed is a major advantage for the Reno5 Pro 5G, particularly for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G if you need blazing-fast 65W charging, prioritize sustained gaming performance, and value a more traditional Android experience. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prefer a clean, AI-enhanced software experience, exceptional camera processing, and guaranteed long-term software updates directly from Google.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Google Tensor chip in the Pixel 6a get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Tensor chip is powerful, its 5nm process and Google’s thermal management strategies generally prevent excessive overheating. However, prolonged gaming at maximum settings may lead to some throttling, reducing sustained performance slightly. It's not a major issue, but hardcore gamers might notice it.
❓ How long does it *actually* take to fully charge the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G from 0%?
With the included 65W charger, the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G can typically charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 35-40 minutes. This is significantly faster than the Pixel 6a and a key advantage for users who prioritize quick charging.
❓ Is the software experience on the Pixel 6a significantly different from other Android phones?
Yes. The Pixel 6a runs a near-stock version of Android with exclusive features like Magic Eraser, Real Tone, and guaranteed software updates for at least 5 years. This provides a cleaner, more streamlined experience compared to Oppo’s ColorOS, which includes more customization options but also pre-installed apps.
❓ Does the Reno5 Pro 5G support 5G connectivity on all networks?
The Reno5 Pro 5G is a 5G-enabled device, but compatibility depends on your carrier and region. It supports a wide range of 5G bands, but it's crucial to check with your carrier to ensure it's compatible with their 5G network.