Xiaomi Redmi K60 vs. Google Pixel 7a: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value

The Xiaomi Redmi K60 and Google Pixel 7a represent distinct philosophies in the mid-range smartphone market. The K60 prioritizes raw performance with its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, while the Pixel 7a focuses on computational photography and a streamlined software experience powered by Google’s Tensor G2. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing gaming and demanding tasks, the Xiaomi Redmi K60 is the clear winner, offering significantly more processing power. However, the Google Pixel 7a excels in camera quality and software experience, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K60 Google Pixel 7a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 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 bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 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
Announced2022, December 272023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, January 01Available. Released 2023, May 10
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm or 8.8 mm152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight199 g or 204 g (7.02 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1400 nits (peak)OLED, HDR, 90Hz
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 13, MIUI 14Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 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
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Triple64 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)-
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30/60/120fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+ 30W wireless18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
TypeLi-Po 5500 mAhLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, GreenCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
Models-GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
PriceAbout 350 EUR€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980

Xiaomi Redmi K60

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Significantly faster charging speeds (67W wired, 30W wireless)
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 4nm process

  • Camera performance likely trails behind the Pixel 7a
  • Software experience may not be as refined as Google’s Pixel UI

Google Pixel 7a

  • Exceptional camera quality and computational photography
  • Clean and consistently updated Android experience
  • Strong AI-powered features (Magic Eraser, Call Screen)

  • Slower charging speeds (18W wired, 7.5W wireless)
  • Less powerful processor compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a boasts a measured peak brightness of 1070 nits, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the Redmi K60’s display specs aren’t provided, Xiaomi typically equips its K-series with high-refresh-rate OLED panels. The Pixel 7a’s brightness advantage is notable, especially for HDR content consumption. The absence of LTPO technology in either phone means refresh rate scaling isn’t as dynamic as on flagship devices, but both likely offer 120Hz refresh rates for smooth scrolling. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, and color accuracy is expected to be excellent on both, though the Pixel benefits from Google’s color calibration.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 7a is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to deliver exceptional image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel’s focus is on software optimization. The Redmi K60’s camera specs are unknown, but Xiaomi often prioritizes high megapixel counts. The Pixel 7a’s video capabilities are also strong, with excellent stabilization and dynamic range. The Tensor G2’s dedicated image signal processor (ISP) plays a crucial role in the Pixel’s camera performance, offering features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. The Redmi K60 will likely offer more versatility with potential for multiple lenses, but the Pixel 7a’s consistent image quality is a significant advantage.

Performance

The Redmi K60’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz. This contrasts with the Pixel 7a’s Google Tensor G2 (5nm) which utilizes a Cortex-X1 prime core at 2.85 GHz. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 generally offers better thermal efficiency than the 5nm Tensor G2, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. The K60’s Adreno 730 GPU is also a step up from the Tensor G2’s GPU, making it the superior choice for mobile gaming. While the Tensor G2 excels in AI tasks, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides a more substantial boost in raw CPU and GPU performance.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7a has an endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating solid battery life. The Redmi K60 compensates for potentially lower mAh with its significantly faster 67W wired charging (PD3.0, QC3+) and 30W wireless charging. The Pixel 7a is limited to 18W wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging. This means the Redmi K60 can achieve a full charge in a fraction of the time, a crucial benefit for users who frequently need to top up their battery. While the Pixel 7a’s endurance is respectable, the K60’s charging speed offers a more convenient experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K60 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, video editing, or multitasking, and value fast charging speeds. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you prefer a superior camera experience, a clean and consistently updated Android interface, and benefit from Google’s AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Call Screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Redmi K60 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is powerful, the 4nm process helps mitigate heat. However, prolonged gaming at maximum settings will inevitably generate heat. The Redmi K60 likely incorporates thermal management solutions like vapor chambers to prevent significant throttling, but some performance reduction is possible during very long sessions.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G2 handle demanding apps like video editing?
The Tensor G2 is optimized for AI and machine learning tasks, which benefits apps like Google Photos and video editing tools. However, its CPU and GPU performance are not as strong as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. While it can handle video editing, expect longer rendering times and potential stuttering with complex projects.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 7a slow compared to other phones?
Yes, 18W charging is relatively slow compared to the 67W charging on the Redmi K60. It will take significantly longer to fully charge the Pixel 7a, potentially over an hour and a half. This is a trade-off for the Pixel’s focus on software and camera features.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect on the Redmi K60?
Xiaomi’s software update policy can be inconsistent. While the K60 will likely receive MIUI updates, the frequency and duration of support may not match Google’s commitment to several years of Android OS and security updates for the Pixel 7a.