Samsung Galaxy A71 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A71 and Google Pixel 4a 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The A71, released earlier, prioritized battery life and a vibrant display, while the Pixel 4a 5G arrived later with 5G connectivity and Google’s renowned camera processing. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device offers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing future-proofing and camera quality, the Google Pixel 4a 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 765G offers a performance edge and 5G support, while Google’s image processing consistently delivers excellent photos. However, the A71 remains a strong contender for those who value exceptional battery life.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A71 Google Pixel 4a 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 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-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6, mmWave (market dependant)
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 -
Launch
Announced2019, December 12. Released 2020, January 172020, September 30
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, November 05
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.30 in)153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm (Sub-6) or 8.5 mm (Sub-6 and mmWave)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight179 g (6.31 oz)168 g (5G Sub-6); 171 g ( 5G Sub-6 and mmWave) (5.93 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~413 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.2 inches, 95.7 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED PlusOLED, HDR
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) - PhilippinesQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 620
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 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, 107˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYes (market dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 ANT+-
Battery
Charging25W wired18W wired, PD2.0
TypeLi-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 3885 mAh
Misc
ColorsPrism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush PinkJust Black, Clearly White
ModelsSM-A715F, SM-A715F/DS, SM-A715F/DSN, SM-A715F/DSM, SM-A715W, SM-A715XGD1YQ, G025I, G025E, G025H, G6QU3
PriceAbout 120 EURAbout 140 EUR
SAR0.98 W/kg (head)     0.90 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.51 W/kg (head)     1.56 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 102h-
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -29.0 LUFS (Average)-
Performance AnTuTu: 192 458(v7), 263396 (v8) GeekBench: 7039 (v4.4), 1733 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Samsung Galaxy A71

  • Exceptional battery life (102h endurance)
  • Bright and vibrant display (515 nits)
  • Faster 25W wired charging

  • Older Snapdragon 730 chipset
  • Less future-proof (no 5G)

Google Pixel 4a 5G

  • 5G connectivity
  • More powerful Snapdragon 765G processor
  • Superior camera image processing

  • Shorter battery life
  • Slower 18W charging

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A71 boasts a display capable of reaching 515 nits of peak brightness, ensuring good visibility outdoors. While the Pixel 4a 5G’s display brightness isn’t specified, Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology typically delivers superior contrast – advertised as 'Infinite' – compared to the Pixel’s OLED panel. Both offer a smooth experience, but the A71’s larger size may appeal to users who consume a lot of video content. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is a notable omission in today’s market.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are capable of capturing good photos, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 4a 5G leverages Google’s computational photography prowess, consistently delivering well-exposed and detailed images, even in challenging lighting conditions. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, Google’s software optimization is a significant advantage. The A71’s camera system, while versatile, relies more on hardware. The lack of detail regarding sensor sizes makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Pixel’s image processing is likely to be more consistent and user-friendly. We can assume the A71 has a more varied lens selection, but the Pixel’s single focus on quality is a strength.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 4a 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm), a more modern and efficient processor than the Samsung Galaxy A71’s Snapdragon 730 (8nm). The 765G’s Kryo 475 Prime core, clocked at 2.4 GHz, provides a noticeable performance boost over the A71’s 2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold cores. This translates to snappier app loading times and smoother multitasking on the Pixel. The 7nm process node of the 765G also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature 6GB of RAM (assumed based on market segment), the 765G’s superior architecture gives it a clear advantage.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A71 shines in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 102-hour rating. This is likely due to the combination of its larger battery capacity (not specified, but assumed to be 4500mAh based on market trends) and the relatively efficient Snapdragon 730. The Pixel 4a 5G, with its 18W charging (supporting PD2.0), charges slower than the A71’s 25W wired charging. While the Pixel’s battery life is respectable, it doesn’t match the A71’s exceptional longevity. The A71’s faster charging partially mitigates the longer charge time, but the endurance advantage is significant.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 if you need a phone that can reliably last through two full days of moderate use and prioritize a bright, large display for media consumption. Buy the Google Pixel 4a 5G if you prefer a cleaner Android experience, faster performance for everyday tasks and light gaming, and access to 5G networks, alongside a consistently excellent camera experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 730 in the Galaxy A71 struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
While the Snapdragon 730 is capable, it may require reduced graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience in demanding titles like PUBG or Call of Duty. The Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 4a 5G offers a noticeable performance advantage for gaming, allowing for higher settings and more stable frame rates.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between the A71's 25W and the Pixel 4a 5G's 18W charging?
The A71’s 25W charging will noticeably reduce charging times. Expect a faster 0-100% charge compared to the Pixel 4a 5G’s 18W charging. However, the difference isn’t massive, and both phones will still take over an hour to fully charge.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Pixel 4a 5G worth the extra cost if I don't have 5G coverage in my area?
If 5G coverage is unavailable, the immediate benefit of the Pixel 4a 5G’s 5G modem is minimal. However, purchasing the 4a 5G future-proofs your device for when 5G becomes more widely available, and the more powerful processor offers benefits even on 4G networks.