Samsung Galaxy S20 vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and consistent camera performance, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. Its 122-hour endurance rating significantly outpaces the S20’s 71 hours, and its image processing delivers reliably excellent results. However, the S20’s potentially faster processor (depending on region) and brighter display appeal to power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S20 | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 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 | - | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 11 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 06 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 163 g (5.75 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR |
| Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA | 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 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| 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, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video | - |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink, Cloud White, Aura Red | Mostly Black |
| Models | SM-G980, SM-G980F, SM-G980F/DS | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | $ 252.72 / C$ 249.99 / £ 185.00 / € 185.00 | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| SAR | 0.76 W/kg (head) 1.01 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.28 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 71h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -23.9 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 525029 (v8) GeekBench: 12557 (v4.4), 2750 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S20
- Potentially faster processor (Snapdragon 865 variant)
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Faster wired and wireless charging
- Reverse wireless charging
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Exynos 990 can suffer from throttling
- More expensive
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life
- Excellent camera with Google’s computational photography
- More affordable price
- Efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Slower charging speed
- No telephoto lens
- Less powerful processor than Snapdragon 865 S20
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a slightly brighter display at 861 nits compared to the S20’s 814 nits, offering improved visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. While the S20’s panel technology isn’t specified, Samsung’s history suggests a high-quality AMOLED. The Pixel 5a 5G’s display, while excellent, doesn’t benefit from the higher refresh rates found in some other devices, focusing instead on efficiency. The S20’s brightness advantage is noticeable, making it better for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in camera performance, but approach it differently. The Pixel 5a 5G leverages Google’s renowned computational photography to deliver consistently excellent images, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, the Pixel’s image processing prioritizes dynamic range and detail. The Galaxy S20 offers a more versatile camera system, but its image processing can sometimes be overly saturated. The S20’s video capabilities are strong, but the Pixel 5a 5G’s stabilization and dynamic range are competitive. The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens on the Pixel 5a 5G is a drawback compared to some S20 configurations.
Performance
Performance is where the story gets complex. The Galaxy S20 shipped with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or the Snapdragon 865 (USA). The Snapdragon 865, built on a 7nm+ process, generally offers superior sustained performance and thermal management compared to the Exynos 990. The Pixel 5a 5G utilizes the Snapdragon 765G, a 7nm chip designed for efficiency. While the 765G won’t match the peak performance of the Snapdragon 865, it provides a smooth and responsive experience for everyday tasks. The Exynos 990, particularly in global variants, has been known to throttle under sustained load, potentially impacting gaming performance. The S20’s LPDDR5 RAM provides a speed advantage over the Pixel 5a 5G’s unspecified RAM, but the real-world impact is often minimal.
Battery Life
Battery life is the Pixel 5a 5G’s standout feature. Its endurance rating of 122 hours dwarfs the Galaxy S20’s 71 hours. This difference is due to a combination of the more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset and a larger battery capacity (not specified, but demonstrably larger in real-world use). The S20 supports faster 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, while the Pixel 5a 5G is limited to 18W wired charging. However, the Pixel’s superior battery life often negates the need for frequent charging. The S20 also offers 4.5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 5a 5G.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 if you need a potentially faster processor for demanding tasks, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and value the flexibility of 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a consistently excellent camera experience with Google’s computational photography, and a more affordable price point.