Sony Xperia 1 II vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance, Camera, and Battery Life
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a consistently excellent camera experience, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. However, power users and content creators who demand a high-refresh-rate display, advanced video capabilities, and expandable storage will find the Sony Xperia 1 II a more compelling, albeit more expensive, choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 1 II | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 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, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 24 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, May 22 | 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 | 165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm (6.5 x 2.80 x 0.30 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 + eSIM |
| Weight | 181.4 g (6.38 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, HDR |
| Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB 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 | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 21W wired, PD 11W wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, Mirror Lake Green | Mostly Black |
| Models | XQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 700 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 83h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.3 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 1 II
- Powerful Snapdragon 865 processor for demanding tasks
- Bright and color-accurate display (though less bright than Pixel)
- Versatile camera system with pro-grade features
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Higher price point
- Potential for thermal throttling
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life (122-hour endurance)
- Excellent camera quality with Google’s computational photography
- More affordable price
- Less powerful processor compared to the Xperia 1 II
- Standard 60Hz display refresh rate
- Less manual control in the camera app
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G’s 6.34-inch display significantly outshines the Xperia 1 II’s 6.5-inch panel in peak brightness, reaching 861 nits compared to the Xperia’s 611 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, but the Xperia 1 II lacks the Pixel 5a’s improved outdoor readability. While the Xperia 1 II offers a 120Hz refresh rate (not explicitly stated in the data, but a known feature), the Pixel 5a operates at a standard 60Hz, prioritizing battery efficiency. The Xperia 1 II’s higher resolution (not specified in data, but known to be 3840 x 1648) provides a sharper image, but the difference is less noticeable in everyday use.
Camera Comparison
Both devices excel in photography, but approach it differently. The Xperia 1 II, while lacking specific sensor details in the provided data, is known for its versatile camera system with extensive manual controls and a focus on video recording. The Pixel 5a 5G leverages Google’s computational photography prowess, consistently delivering excellent image quality in various conditions with minimal user input. The Pixel’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. While the Xperia 1 II offers more creative control, the Pixel 5a provides a more reliable and user-friendly experience. The absence of detailed sensor information for the Xperia 1 II makes a direct comparison difficult, but its pro-grade features cater to experienced photographers.
Performance
The Sony Xperia 1 II’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, built on a 7nm+ process, represents a significant performance leap over the Pixel 5a’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865 features a more powerful CPU configuration – an octa-core setup with a prime Cortex-A77 clocked at 2.84 GHz – compared to the 765G’s 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime. This difference is noticeable in demanding applications and gaming. However, the Pixel 5a’s more efficient chipset and larger battery contribute to its superior endurance. The Xperia 1 II’s performance advantage comes at the cost of increased power consumption and potential thermal throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 5a 5G dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 122 hours compared to the Xperia 1 II’s 83 hours. This substantial difference is due to a combination of the Pixel 5a’s more efficient chipset and larger battery capacity (not specified in data, but known to be 4680mAh). While the Xperia 1 II supports faster wired charging at 21W (with PD) and 11W wireless charging, the Pixel 5a’s 18W wired charging (PD2.0) is sufficient given its longer battery life. The Pixel 5a’s superior endurance means fewer trips to the charger, making it ideal for users who prioritize all-day battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia 1 II if you need a versatile camera system with extensive manual controls, a large, bright display for media consumption, and the power to handle demanding tasks like video editing. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer exceptional battery life, a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, and a point-and-shoot camera that consistently delivers excellent results, all at a significantly lower price point.