Google Pixel 5a vs Pixel 5: what to expect

With the announcement of the mid-ranger Google Pixel 5a, the Pixel lineup is starting to look in some ways very confusing: we have the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 4a 5G, the Pixel 5, and now, the Pixel 5a. All of them have similar design and subtle differences, and you may be wondering which one of these Pixel phones is the one you should get. In order to help you find the answer, we have already explored the differences between the Pixel 5a vs Pixel 4a 5G, and with this article, we will discuss today the situation of the Pixel 5a and Pixel 5. Is the Pixel 5a going to impress us with the same level of camera quality and performance we see in the Pixel 5? How is the Pixel 5a different from the Pixel 5? Read on to find out the key differences between these two phones in terms of design, specs, performance, camera, and battery life.  You can also check out:
So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Google Pixel 5a vs Pixel 5: design and display

Google Pixel 5

• 6.0-inch vs 6.34-inch
• 90Hz refresh rate for the Pixel 5, 60Hz on the Pixel 5a

In the design department, the major difference between the Pixel 5a and the Pixel 5 is the size. The Pixel 5 rocks a 6.0-inch display and is overall a bit smaller than the Pixel 5a, which sports a 6.34-inch display.

Apart from the size, the two phones are quite similar in terms of appearance: the minimalistic design Google usually goes for in Pixel phones is present here: the minimal number of ports and buttons gives both phones a simple look. The display on both is surrounded by thin bezels. One difference to note here is that the Pixel 5a’s chin is slightly larger than the bezels.

Pixel 5a

In terms of material, the Pixel 5, being an upper midranger (if not a flagship per se) rocks a metal build with a tiny cutout, invisible to the eye, on the back, that allows the phone to charge wirelessly despite its metal body. The Pixel 5a also rocks a metal unibody, and sports the first in the A-series water resistance rating IP67.

Google Pixel 5

As for the displays, both phones have OLED displays with FullHD+ resolutions. That alone assures a great viewing experience on both phones, with great colors and crisp image. The important thing to note is that the Pixel 5 rocks a 90Hz display refresh rate, an important aspect of the overall experience with the phone. As for the Pixel 5a, it is, unfortunately, stuck at 60Hz.

Google Pixel 5a vs Pixel 5: hardware and performance

Well, comparing these two phones’ hardware and performance is an easy task as both phones sport the Snapdragon 765G. Basically, with the same processor, their performance should be quite similar.

Here’s some benchmarks detailing how the Snapdragon 765G performs. You can use the tool below to put in a phone you want to compare it with:

We should point out that both phones will give us an overall snappy and responsive performance, powered by the clean, stock Android Pixel phones come with. The Pixel 5 has 8GB of RAM, while the Pixel 5a comes with 6GB of RAM, both of which quite sufficient for everyday usage. Overall, everyday performance on both phones should be excellent. That being said, for gamers, these two phones may not be the best option as both processors score a lot lower than the flagships in graphics processing.

Google Pixel 5a vs Pixel 5: cameras

• 12.2 MP main, 16MP ultrawide, 8MP selfie

We all know camera performance and photo quality is a place with a lot of competition, where Google manages to keep its position among the best, thanks to its excellent AI-powered image processing. The Pixel 5 comes with an unassuming 12.2MP main sensor and a 16MP ultrawide camera, but the photos it produces are close to perfect. The Pixel 5 delivers sharp details, realistic colors, and excellent dynamic range.

Pixel 5a

The Pixel 5a has the same camera as the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5, at least in terms of specs, meaning a 12.2MP main cam and a 16MP ultrawide sensor. Well, even without testing the Pixel 5a to test just yet, we can safely say that photos will turn out to be at least as good as the Pixel 4a 5G’s. This means the phone won’t struggle in difficult lighting situations and should give us gorgeous-looking, realistic and detailed photos.

One area that both phones will have a harder time matching the competition is the zoom: neither of them has any telephoto lens and the maximum zoom level both can go is 7x.

As for selfies, the Pixel 5a comes with the same 8MP selfie cam that the Pixel 5 rocks. Luckily, Google’s image processing software does wonders in the selfie department as well.

While we wait for our Pixel 5a review, you can look at some images from our Pixel 4a 5G review, so you can get some idea of the photo quality that we expect from the Pixel 5a.

Google Pixel 5a vs Pixel 5: battery life

The Pixel 5 comes with a 4,000mAh battery cell, which is an upgrade over the previous Google Pixel flagships and comfortably lasts up to a day and a half with moderate usage. Light users may even get up to 48h on one single charge, which is pretty admirable. On the other hand, the Pixel 5a comes with the biggest battery on a Pixel phone yet: the generous 4,860mAh. This means the phone will comfortably last for a day and have some more juice, and with its Extreme Battery Saver it can last even longer.

To give you an idea, here’s how the Pixel 5 fared against the competition in our browsing test.

The Pixel 5a supports the same wired charging speeds as the Pixel 5: 18W fast charging. However, the Pixel 5 sports wireless charging, a feature becoming more and more important these days, but the Pixel 5a unfortunately doesn’t have it.

Google Pixel 5a vs Pixel 5: price and availability

The Pixel 5a comes in one configuration with 128GB at $449. However, it is available only in the US and Japan. The Pixel 5 comes in slightly more expensive at $699, but with a global availability.

Conclusion