Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S vs Google Pixel 7a: A Clash of Titans

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, a flagship from 2018, still holds a certain appeal with its near bezel-less design. Now, it faces off against the Google Pixel 7a, Google's mid-range champion known for its exceptional camera and software. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 7a is the clear winner. While the Mi Mix 2S boasts a unique design, the Pixel 7a’s superior camera, modern chipset, longer battery life, and software support make it the more compelling choice for most users in 2024.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Google Pixel 7a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat18 1200/100 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8
Launch
Announced2018, March. Released 2018, April2023, May 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, May 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 4), ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions150.9 x 74.9 x 8.1 mm (5.94 x 2.95 x 0.32 in)152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 4Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, HDR, 90Hz
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 630Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF, 2x optical zoom64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single5 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.4µm13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC3 7.5W wireless (Qi)18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
ModelsM1803D5XAGWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
PriceAbout 270 EUR€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980
SAR0.54 W/kg (head)     1.59 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 59h -
Loudspeaker Voice 68dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 81dB -
Performance AnTuTu: 270814 (v7) GeekBench: 9158 (v4.4) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

  • Unique near bezel-less design
  • Decent performance for its age
  • Fast charging (QC3 & Wireless)

  • Outdated chipset
  • Shorter battery life
  • No longer receiving software updates
  • Lower camera quality

Google Pixel 7a

  • Exceptional camera quality
  • Smooth performance with Tensor G2
  • Longer battery life
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Bright and vibrant display

  • Charging speed could be faster
  • Design is less distinctive than the Mi Mix 2S

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a’s display shines with a measured 1070 nits max brightness, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Mi Mix 2S has a decent display, but lacks the brightness and color accuracy of the Pixel 7a. The Pixel 7a also has a higher resolution, resulting in a sharper image.

Camera Comparison

Google's camera prowess is undeniable. The Pixel 7a’s camera consistently delivers stunning photos and videos with excellent dynamic range and detail. The Mi Mix 2S camera is adequate, but falls far short of the Pixel 7a's image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The Pixel 7a also offers computational photography features absent in the Mi Mix 2S.

Performance

The Google Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a provides a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 845 in the Mi Mix 2S. While the Mi Mix 2S was powerful in its time, the Pixel 7a handles modern apps and multitasking with greater ease and efficiency. The Tensor G2's AI capabilities also enhance features like photography and voice assistance.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7a’s endurance rating of 76h significantly surpasses the Mi Mix 2S’s 59h. This translates to noticeably longer battery life for the Pixel 7a, allowing it to easily last a full day or more on a single charge.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S? Those seeking a nostalgic experience with a unique, nearly bezel-less design and are comfortable with an older device. Who should buy the Google Pixel 7a? Anyone prioritizing a fantastic camera, smooth performance, guaranteed software updates, and a modern user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Mi Mix 2S still worth buying?
Only if you're specifically looking for a phone with a unique, near bezel-less design and don't mind its age and lack of software updates. Otherwise, the Pixel 7a offers a much better overall experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Google Pixel 7a has guaranteed software updates for several years, while the Mi Mix 2S is no longer receiving updates.