Samsung Galaxy A71 5G vs Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G and Google Pixel 5a 5G represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at a reasonable price, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this, focusing on different strengths in processing power, camera capabilities, and overall user experience. This comparison dives deep into the specifications and real-world implications of each device.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent camera performance and software support, the Google Pixel 5a 5G emerges as the better choice. While the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G offers faster 25W charging, the Pixel 5a’s Snapdragon 765G and Google’s image processing provide a more refined and reliable experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A71 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-A716B	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - SM-A716B	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-A716B	1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	2, 5, 41, 66, 71 mmWave/Sub6 - SM-A716U	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2020, April 08	2021, August 17
Status	Available. Released 2020, June 15	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	162.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.97 x 0.32 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	185 g (6.53 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 (~393 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED Plus	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 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	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 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@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; 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 (market dependent)	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
Radio	FM radio	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	25W wired	18W wired, PD2.0
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4680 mAh

Misc
Colors	Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube Sliver, Prism Cube Blue	Mostly Black
Models	SM-A716F, SM-A716F/DS, SM-A716F/DSN, SM-A7160, SM-A716B/DS, SM-A716U, SM-A716B, SM-A716U1	G1F8F, G4S1M
Price	About 120 EUR	$ 189.00 / C$ 249.99
SAR	0.69 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	1.24 W/kg (head) 1.53 W/kg (body)	-

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)

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

Faster 25W wired charging
Larger display size for media consumption
Potentially lower price point (depending on retailer)

Exynos 980 may exhibit more thermal throttling
Image processing not as refined as Pixel 5a
Software update support may be less consistent

Google Pixel 5a 5G

Superior camera performance, especially in low light
Clean Android software with guaranteed updates
More efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset

Slower 18W charging
Smaller display size
May be slightly more expensive

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 5a 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, compared to an unspecified value for the A71 5G. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), the Pixel 5a’s superior brightness is a tangible advantage. The A71 5G’s larger screen size may appeal to some, but the Pixel 5a’s color accuracy and outdoor visibility are key differentiators.

Camera Comparison

While both phones feature multiple rear cameras, the Pixel 5a 5G distinguishes itself through Google’s renowned computational photography. The Pixel 5a’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance, leveraging software algorithms to compensate for potentially smaller sensor sizes. The A71 5G likely relies more heavily on hardware, and while capable, won’t match the Pixel’s consistently excellent results. The A71 5G’s inclusion of a dedicated macro camera is offset by its typically limited utility compared to the Pixel’s overall image quality.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G utilizes the Exynos 980, built on an 8nm process, while the Pixel 5a 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, fabricated on a more efficient 7nm node. This process difference suggests the Snapdragon 765G will exhibit better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 765G’s CPU configuration – a 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime core – offers a slight clock speed advantage over the A71 5G’s 2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 cores, hinting at snappier single-core performance. Both devices employ an octa-core configuration with similar mid-tier Cortex-A55/Kryo 475 Silver cores for efficiency.

Battery Life

Both the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G and Google Pixel 5a 5G achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The A71 5G supports 25W wired charging, allowing for faster top-ups, while the Pixel 5a 5G is limited to 18W with PD2.0. This means the A71 5G will likely achieve a full charge in less time, despite the similar endurance ratings. The efficiency of the Snapdragon 765G may partially offset the slower charging speed in real-world usage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G if you need faster wired charging and a larger display for media consumption. Its 25W charging capability significantly reduces downtime. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize camera quality, clean software, and guaranteed updates. The Pixel’s computational photography and streamlined Android experience offer a superior user experience for those who value simplicity and image fidelity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 980 in the Samsung A71 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?

The Exynos 980, built on an 8nm process, is prone to some thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads like gaming. While it won't shut down, expect performance to dip slightly after prolonged use. The Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G, fabricated on a 7nm node, generally manages heat more effectively.

❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung A71 5G actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?

Typically, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. While it can capture close-up shots, the results are often soft and lack the clarity of photos taken with the main sensor. The Pixel 5a 5G doesn't include a dedicated macro camera, instead relying on its excellent main sensor and software processing for close-up shots, which generally yields better results.

❓ Can the Google Pixel 5a 5G maintain a stable 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?

The Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G can generally maintain stable frame rates in PUBG Mobile, typically around 60fps on medium to high settings. However, demanding graphics settings may cause occasional frame drops. The A71 5G may struggle to maintain consistent 60fps on higher settings due to potential thermal throttling.

❓ How long does it take to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G with the 25W charger?

Using the included 25W charger, the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G can typically charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is significantly faster than the Pixel 5a 5G's 18W charging, which takes closer to 2 hours.