Sony Xperia XA2 Plus vs Google Pixel 7 Pro: A Generational Leap?

The Sony Xperia XA2 Plus, a mid-range champion from 2018, faces off against the Google Pixel 7 Pro, a flagship powerhouse. This comparison explores how these phones stack up, considering their age difference and vastly different price points. Can the XA2 Plus still compete?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is the clear winner. While the XA2 Plus boasts impressive battery life for its age, the Pixel 7 Pro's superior performance, camera, display, and modern features make it the definitive choice for most users. It's a generational upgrade in almost every aspect.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XA2 Plus Google Pixel 7 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H44131, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GE2AE
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GE2AE
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H44931, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GP4BC
Launch
Announced2018, July. Released 2018, September2022, October 06
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, October 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in)162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight205 g (7.23 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 508Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo)Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, AF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0"10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC323W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver, Black, Gold, GreenObsidian, Snow, Hazel
ModelsH4413, H4493, H3413GP4BC, GE2AE, GFE4J
PriceAbout 240 EUR€ 248.84 / $ 204.00 / £ 259.99 / ₹ 36,999
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 104h Endurance rating 83h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8) GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 796369 (v9) GeekBench: 3187 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XA2 Plus

  • Excellent battery life
  • Compact size
  • Affordable (used)
  • Headphone jack

  • Outdated processor
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Slow charging

Google Pixel 7 Pro

  • Flagship performance
  • Exceptional camera
  • Vibrant display
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Clean Android experience
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Expensive
  • Large size
  • Can be battery intensive with heavy use

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7 Pro's display is a significant upgrade. Its 1090 nits max brightness and 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely OLED) offer vibrant colors and excellent visibility, even in direct sunlight. The XA2 Plus has a respectable 1522:1 contrast ratio, but its lower brightness and likely LCD panel can't compete. The Pixel 7 Pro also has a higher resolution and refresh rate, resulting in a smoother visual experience.

Camera Comparison

Google's Pixel 7 Pro camera is renowned for its computational photography and image processing. It offers a versatile triple-lens system with excellent low-light performance and impressive zoom capabilities. The XA2 Plus camera is functional but lacks the advanced features and image quality of the Pixel 7 Pro. The Pixel 7 Pro consistently delivers better photos and videos.

Performance

The Pixel 7 Pro's Google Tensor G2 chipset and octa-core CPU (with Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A78 cores) provide vastly superior performance compared to the XA2 Plus's Snapdragon 630. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Pixel 7 Pro. The XA2 Plus is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Surprisingly, the XA2 Plus holds its own in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 104 hours. The Pixel 7 Pro achieves 83 hours. However, the Pixel 7 Pro benefits from faster charging (wired and wireless) and reverse wireless charging, offering greater convenience.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XA2 Plus is for budget-conscious users who prioritize long battery life and a compact form factor, and are comfortable with an older device. The Google Pixel 7 Pro is for users who demand top-tier performance, a fantastic camera, a vibrant display, and the latest Android features, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia XA2 Plus still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you're on a very tight budget and prioritize battery life above all else. Be aware of its limitations in performance and camera quality.
❓ What are the biggest differences between the two phones?
The Pixel 7 Pro offers significantly better performance, a superior camera, a brighter and higher-resolution display, and faster charging. The XA2 Plus excels in battery endurance and is much more affordable.