Google Pixel 5a 5G vs. vivo X50 Pro: Which Mid-Range 5G Phone Reigns Supreme?

The Google Pixel 5a 5G and the vivo X50 Pro represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone space, but cater to different priorities. The X50 Pro, while older, offered a premium design and camera focus, while the Pixel 5a 5G prioritizes Google’s software experience and exceptional battery life. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a clean software experience, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. Its significantly superior battery endurance (122h vs 88h) and Google’s optimized software outweigh the X50 Pro’s slightly brighter display and faster charging.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X50 Pro Google Pixel 5a 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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 bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMACDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, June 01. Released 2020, June 122021, August 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 26
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back
Dimensions158.5 x 72.8 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight181.5 g (6.42 oz)183 g (6.46 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+OLED, HDR
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 620
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.5Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 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
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
Single-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, 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, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging33W wired, 57% in 30 min18W wired, PD2.0
Type4315 mAhLi-Po 4680 mAh
Misc
ColorsDark Blue, Light BlueMostly Black
ModelsV2005A, 2006G1F8F, G4S1M
PriceAbout 440 EUR$ 189.00 / C$ 249.99
SAR EU0.34 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)-
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAMRp 5,876,500-
256GB 8GB RAMRp 9,499,000-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 88h Endurance rating 122h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.8 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 323736 (v8) GeekBench: 1937 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X50 Pro

  • Faster 33W wired charging
  • Slightly brighter display (potentially more vibrant colors)
  • Premium design (based on brand reputation)

  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • FunTouch OS may not appeal to all users
  • Older model, potentially fewer software updates

Google Pixel 5a 5G

  • Exceptional battery life (122h endurance)
  • Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
  • Google’s renowned computational photography

  • Slower 18W charging
  • Less bright display compared to X50 Pro
  • More basic design

Display Comparison

Both the vivo X50 Pro and Google Pixel 5a 5G feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter panel at 861 nits compared to the X50 Pro’s 503 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize OLED technology, the Pixel’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use. The X50 Pro’s display, while dimmer, may offer slightly more vibrant colors due to vivo’s display calibration, but this is subjective and not quantifiable with the provided data.

Camera Comparison

The provided data lacks specific camera sensor details for both phones, making a definitive comparison challenging. However, the X50 Pro’s marketing historically emphasized its camera capabilities, suggesting a potentially more sophisticated camera system. The Pixel 5a 5G benefits from Google’s renowned computational photography, which excels in dynamic range and low-light performance, even with potentially smaller sensors. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner, but the Pixel’s software processing is a significant advantage. We can assume both phones offer capable photo and video recording, but the Pixel likely delivers more consistent results with less user effort.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) chipset, featuring the same octa-core CPU configuration. This means performance in everyday tasks and most games will be largely identical. The absence of LPDDR5x RAM specifications for either device suggests they likely utilize LPDDR4x, limiting potential performance gains. Thermal management will likely be similar, as the chipset is known for its efficiency. The real-world performance difference will be minimal, making this a non-factor for most users.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 5a 5G dominates in battery endurance with a rating of 122 hours, significantly exceeding the vivo X50 Pro’s 88 hours. This difference is substantial and translates to a full day or more of extra usage on the Pixel. While the X50 Pro supports faster 33W wired charging (57% in 30 minutes) compared to the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W charging with PD2.0, the Pixel’s superior battery capacity mitigates the slower charging speed. The Pixel 5a 5G allows users to worry less about finding an outlet, making it the better choice for power users.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X50 Pro if you prioritize a slightly brighter display for outdoor visibility and faster 33W charging, and are comfortable with vivo’s FunTouch OS. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you value exceptional battery life, a streamlined Android experience with guaranteed updates, and a more affordable price point. The Pixel 5a is ideal for users who frequently travel or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 765G isn't a flagship chipset, it's capable of running Genshin Impact at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. The Pixel 5a 5G’s excellent thermal management helps prevent significant throttling during extended gaming sessions, but don't expect the same performance as phones with the Snapdragon 888 or newer.
❓ How does the Pixel 5a 5G’s software update policy compare to the vivo X50 Pro?
Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 5a 5G. The vivo X50 Pro, being an older model, likely has a shorter update window, potentially limiting its long-term usability and security. This is a significant advantage for the Pixel 5a 5G.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 5a 5G noticeably slow compared to the X50 Pro’s 33W?
While 33W is faster on paper, the Pixel 5a 5G’s larger battery capacity means the difference in overall charging time isn’t as dramatic as it appears. The Pixel 5a 5G’s exceptional battery life also reduces the need for frequent top-ups, mitigating the slower charging speed.