Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G vs Google Pixel 7a: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G and Google Pixel 7a represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. One boasts a unique sliding design and flagship-level processing from its era, while the other offers Google's renowned camera and software experience. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which device comes out on top.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 7a is the clear winner. While the Mi Mix 3 5G offers a compelling chipset for its time, the Pixel 7a's superior camera, modern software, and longer support outweigh the Xiaomi's strengths, especially considering its age.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G Google Pixel 7a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 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 bands78 NSA/Sub61, 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 (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / 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
Announced2019, February. Released 2019, May2023, May 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, May 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), ceramic back, aluminum frame (7000 series)Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions157.9 x 74.7 x 9.4 mm (6.22 x 2.94 x 0.37 in)152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight225 g (7.94 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDROLED, HDR, 90Hz
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), MIUI 12Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual12 MP (wide), f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS 12 MP (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
DualManual pop-up 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm Manual pop-up 2 MP, depth sensor-
FeaturesLED flash, HDRHDR, panorama
Single-13 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, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB 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, QC418W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
TypeLi-Po 3800 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsSapphire BlueCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
ModelsM1810E5GGGWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
PriceAbout 410 EUR€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980
SAR1.56 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)-

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G

  • Flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • Unique sliding design
  • Relatively affordable (used)

  • Outdated software support
  • Lower display brightness
  • Inferior camera
  • Likely shorter battery life
  • Older design

Google Pixel 7a

  • Excellent camera with Google's computational photography
  • Clean and up-to-date Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Wireless charging

  • Tensor G2 chipset not as powerful as flagship Snapdragon chips
  • Charging speed could be faster
  • Design is somewhat generic

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a's display shines with a measured 1070 nits peak brightness, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Mi Mix 3 5G's display, while decent, lacks the same level of brightness and color accuracy. The Pixel 7a also likely has a more modern panel with better color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Pixel 7a truly dominates. Google's computational photography is unmatched, delivering consistently excellent photos and videos in various conditions. The Mi Mix 3 5G's camera is adequate but lacks the Pixel's dynamic range, detail, and overall image quality. The Pixel 7a also benefits from features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.

Performance

The Snapdragon 855 in the Mi Mix 3 5G was a flagship chipset in its time and still holds up reasonably well. However, the Google Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a, while not as rawly powerful, is optimized for Google's AI and machine learning tasks, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience, particularly with camera features and voice assistant integration. The Tensor G2's efficiency also contributes to better battery life.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7a boasts an impressive endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating significantly better battery life than the Mi Mix 3 5G. While the Mi Mix 3 5G's battery capacity is unknown, the Snapdragon 855's power consumption and the age of the battery likely contribute to shorter runtimes.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G is best for budget-conscious users who prioritize raw processing power and are comfortable with an older device. The Google Pixel 7a is ideal for those seeking a fantastic camera, clean Android experience, and guaranteed software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Mi Mix 3 5G still worth buying?
Only if you're on a very tight budget and prioritize raw processing power over modern features and software support. Be aware of its limitations.
❓ How long will the Pixel 7a receive software updates?
Google guarantees 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 7a.