Poco F5 vs Google Pixel 7a: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and fast charging, the Poco F5 is the clear winner. However, the Pixel 7a’s superior camera capabilities and Google’s software experience make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, May 09 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, May | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 725 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, HyperOS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 46 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | 23049PCD8G, 23049PCD8I | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | € 202.76 / $ 289.99 / ₹ 23,790 | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 118h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.3 LUFS (Very good) | - |
Xiaomi Poco F5
- Significantly faster charging (67W)
- Superior battery life (118h endurance)
- More powerful processor for gaming and multitasking
- Camera performance likely trails the Pixel 7a
- Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel
Google Pixel 7a
- Exceptional camera quality, especially in low light
- Clean and streamlined Android experience
- Guaranteed software updates from Google
- Slower charging speed (18W)
- Shorter battery life (76h endurance)
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7a boasts a slightly brighter display at 1070 nits compared to the Poco F5’s 963 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. While neither specifies refresh rate, the Pixel 7a’s display is known to be 90Hz, providing smoother scrolling than the likely 60Hz panel on the Poco F5. This difference in refresh rate will be noticeable to users accustomed to higher refresh rate displays.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but their approaches differ significantly. The Pixel 7a leverages Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms, delivering consistently excellent image quality, particularly in low-light scenarios. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel’s image processing is a key differentiator. The Poco F5’s camera performance is less well-defined, relying more on hardware specifications. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to assess its low-light capabilities, but it likely won’t match the Pixel’s software-driven enhancements.
Performance
The Poco F5’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4nm) chipset is architecturally more modern than the Pixel 7a’s Google Tensor G2 (5nm). The Snapdragon utilizes a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 2.91 GHz, promising faster single-core performance than the Pixel’s Cortex-X1 cores at 2.85 GHz. The Snapdragon’s more efficient 4nm process should also translate to better thermal management during sustained loads. While the Tensor G2 excels in AI and machine learning tasks, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 offers a more substantial advantage in raw gaming and general application performance.
Battery Life
The Poco F5 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 11:52h of active use and an endurance rating of 118 hours. This is significantly better than the Pixel 7a’s 76-hour endurance rating. Furthermore, the Poco F5 supports 67W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4, achieving a full charge in just 46 minutes. The Pixel 7a is limited to 18W wired charging, a considerably slower rate, and also offers 7.5W wireless charging, a feature absent on the Poco F5. The Poco F5’s faster charging and longer battery life are crucial for users who demand all-day performance and minimal downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco F5 if you need a phone for demanding mobile gaming, frequent multitasking, and value rapid charging speeds. Its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 provides a significant performance edge. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you prioritize camera quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions, and appreciate a clean, streamlined Android experience with guaranteed software updates.