Samsung Galaxy A51 5G vs Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. Its significantly superior 122-hour endurance rating, coupled with faster 18W PD2.0 charging, outweighs the A51 5G’s slightly brighter display. However, the A51 5G remains a viable option for those prioritizing a lower initial cost.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A51 5G | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A516B/DS | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A516B/DS | 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 | 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A516B/DS | 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 |
| 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A516U | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 08 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, April 29 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.26 x 2.90 x 0.34 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 | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 187 g (6.60 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP5 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| 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 | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | 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 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 |
| ANT+ | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube White, Prism Cube Pink | Mostly Black |
| Models | SM-A516F, SM-A516F/DSN, SM-A516N, SM-A516B/DS, SM-A516B, SM-A516U, SC-54A, SM-A516U1, SCG07, SM-A5160 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 180 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| SAR EU | 0.50 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 90h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.5 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 316007 (v8) GeekBench: 1867(v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G
- Slightly brighter display for outdoor use
- More affordable price point
- Widely available
- Inferior battery life (90h endurance)
- Less efficient Exynos 980 chipset
- Slower 15W charging
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life (122h endurance)
- Faster 18W PD2.0 charging
- Superior software and camera processing
- Higher initial cost
- Potentially less bright display in direct sunlight
- May be harder to find depending on region
Display Comparison
Both the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G and Google Pixel 5a 5G feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. However, the Pixel 5a 5G’s 861 nits peak brightness falls slightly short of the A51 5G’s measured 642 nits. While the A51 5G appears brighter on paper, real-world viewing experiences will depend on panel calibration and ambient lighting. Both likely utilize OLED technology, but neither manufacturer specifies panel type or refresh rate, suggesting standard 60Hz panels. The A51 5G’s higher peak brightness may provide a slight advantage in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The Pixel 5a 5G benefits from Google’s exceptional computational photography, known for its dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. While sensor sizes and apertures are unknown, Google’s software processing often compensates for hardware limitations. The A51 5G likely relies more on Samsung’s image processing algorithms, which tend to be more saturated. Without detailed sensor specifications, it’s difficult to definitively declare a camera winner, but the Pixel 5a 5G’s software advantage is a significant factor.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G utilizes the Exynos 980 (8nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a mix of Cortex-A77 and A55 cores. The Google Pixel 5a 5G, however, employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 7nm process node of the Snapdragon 765G generally translates to better power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 8nm Exynos 980. While both CPUs feature similar clock speeds on their performance cores (2.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz), the Snapdragon 765G’s Kryo architecture is optimized for sustained performance. This means the Pixel 5a 5G is likely to exhibit less throttling during prolonged demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 5a 5G dominates in battery endurance with a remarkable 122-hour rating, significantly exceeding the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G’s 90-hour score. This difference is substantial and translates to a full day or more of additional usage. Furthermore, the Pixel 5a 5G supports 18W wired charging with PD2.0, offering faster and more efficient charging compared to the A51 5G’s 15W charging. While the A51 5G’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the endurance rating suggests it’s less efficient overall, likely due to the less efficient Exynos 980 chipset.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G if you need a more affordable 5G experience and a slightly brighter screen for outdoor visibility. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize exceptional battery life, faster charging, and Google’s renowned camera software, even if it means a higher upfront investment.