ZTE Axon 20 5G vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: Which 5G Phone Delivers More?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a brighter, more visible display, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. Its 122-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses the Axon 20 5G’s 82 hours, and its 861 nits peak brightness provides superior outdoor visibility.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 20 5G | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Europe | 1, 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 bands | 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 01. Released 2020, September 10 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 172.1 x 77.9 x 8 mm (6.78 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 107.0 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz | OLED, HDR |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10.5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| 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 |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), under display | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, QC4, 60% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 4220 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Blue, Purple, Sunrise Yellow | Mostly Black |
| Models | A2121, A2121E, A2121G | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 720 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 82h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.3 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 320399 (v8) GeekBench: 1957 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 20 5G
- Faster 30W charging
- Innovative under-display camera
- Potentially lower price (depending on retailer)
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Dimmer display
- Under-display camera image quality concerns
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life (122h endurance)
- Brighter display (861 nits)
- Google’s superior camera software
- Slower 18W charging
- Less innovative design
- May be harder to find at a discount
Display Comparison
The most immediately noticeable difference lies in display brightness. The Google Pixel 5a 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, significantly outshining the ZTE Axon 20 5G’s 406 nits. This translates to a far more usable experience in direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks, but the Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera implementation, while innovative, can introduce visual artifacts and potentially reduce effective screen real estate. While the Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera is a unique feature, the Pixel 5a 5G’s brighter panel offers a more practical benefit for everyday use.
Camera Comparison
While both phones feature capable camera systems, the context data lacks specifics beyond 'Photo / Video' capabilities. Given Google’s reputation for computational photography, the Pixel 5a 5G is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Google’s image processing algorithms excel at dynamic range and noise reduction. The Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera, while a novelty, is likely to compromise image quality compared to a traditional front-facing camera. Without detailed sensor specifications, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Google’s software advantage is a significant factor.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) chipset, featuring the same octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical for most tasks. However, the Pixel 5a 5G benefits from Google’s software optimizations, potentially leading to smoother performance in specific applications. Thermal management is likely similar given the identical chipset and 7nm process, but the Pixel’s software could play a role in sustained performance under heavy load. Neither phone is a gaming powerhouse, but both can handle mainstream titles at medium settings.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 5a 5G dominates in battery endurance with a rating of 122 hours, compared to the ZTE Axon 20 5G’s 82 hours. This substantial difference suggests the Pixel 5a 5G can comfortably last a full day of heavy use, while the Axon 20 5G may require a mid-day top-up. The Axon 20 5G compensates with 30W wired charging (QC4, 60% in 30 min), while the Pixel 5a 5G is limited to 18W wired charging (PD2.0). This means the Axon 20 5G can replenish its battery faster, but the Pixel 5a 5G’s larger endurance reduces the frequency of charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 20 5G if you are intrigued by innovative display technology and prioritize faster charging speeds, even at the cost of battery endurance. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you value exceptional battery life, a brighter display for outdoor use, and Google’s industry-leading camera processing and software update guarantees.