Google Pixel 3a vs Pixel 3 XL
Here we compared two smartphones: the 5.6-inch Google Pixel 3a (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 670) that was released on May 7, 2019, against the Google Pixel 3 XL, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and came out 7 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the gadgets.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3a
- Weighs 37 grams less
- Better grip in hands – the body is 6.6 mm narrower
- Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port
- The phone is 7-months newer
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3 XL
- Waterproof body (IPX8 classification)
- Has a 0.7 inch larger screen size
- 56% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (341K versus 218K)
- Supports Qi wireless charging up to 10W
- Comes with 430 mAh larger battery capacity: 3430 vs 3000 mAh
- Thinner bezels – 8.39% more screen real estate
- 18% higher pixel density (522 vs 441 PPI)
- 10% faster in single-core GeekBench 5 test: 394 and 359 points
- Ready for eSIM technology
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Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Performance
CPU/GPU performance in apps and games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
NanoReview score
Final comparison evaluation
Value for money
You can enter your local price of these phones (in USD or any other currency) and click on the "Calculate" button to see which one has a better value for money.
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | OLED | OLED |
| Size | 5.6 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2220 pixels | 1440 x 2960 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 18.5:9 | 18.5:9 |
| PPI | 441 ppi | 522 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Max rated brightness | - | 400 nits |
| HDR support | No | No |
| Screen protection | Dragontrail | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 75% | 83.39% |
| Display features | - Always-On Display | - DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | - | 100% |
| PWM | - | 250 Hz |
| Response time | - | 15 ms |
| Contrast | - | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 151.3 mm (5.96 inches) | 158 mm (6.22 inches) |
| Width | 70.1 mm (2.76 inches) | 76.7 mm (3.02 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.2 mm (0.32 inches) | 7.9 mm (0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 147 g (5.19 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| Waterproof | No | IPX8 |
| Rear material | Plastic | Glass |
| Frame material | Plastic | Metal |
| Colors | White, Black, Purple | White, Black, Pink |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear | Yes, rear |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| Max. clock | 2000 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (2 + 6) | 8 (4 + 4) |
| Architecture | - 6 cores at 1.7 GHz: Kryo 360 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 2 cores at 2 GHz: Kryo 360 Gold (Cortex-A75) |
- 4 cores at 1.5 GHz: Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 4 cores at 2.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75) |
| L3 cache | - | 2 MB |
| Lithography process | 10 nanometers | 10 nanometers |
| Graphics | Adreno 615 | Adreno 630 |
| GPU clock | 700 MHz | 710 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~350 GFLOPS | ~727 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 9
| CPU | 67159 | 94959 |
| GPU | 47156 | 116641 |
| Memory | 42864 | 44770 |
| UX | 59518 | 82658 |
| Total score | 218435 | 341247 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Stability | 99% | 94% |
| Graphics test | 3 FPS | 9 FPS |
| Graphics score | 665 | 1663 |
| PCMark 3.0 score | 7269 | 8914 |
Memory
| RAM size | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 1866 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 64 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12) | Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12) |
| ROM | - | Stock Android |
| OS size | - | 13 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 3000 mAh | 3430 mAh |
| Charge power | 18 W | 18 W |
| Battery type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes, Qi (10 W) |
| Reverse charging | No | No |
| Fast charging | Yes, Quick Charge 4.0 (50% in 30 min) | Yes, Quick Charge 4 (50% in 35 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:20 hr | 2:00 hr |
Camera
| Matrix | 12.2 megapixels | 12.2 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | Dual LED | Dual LED |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 30FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 120FPS | Up to 120FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (720p) | 240 FPS (720p) |
| Lenses | 1 (12.2 MP) | 1 (12.2 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens | - 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization |
- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode |
- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
| Samples | Photo samples of Google Pixel 3a from DxOMark | - |
| Megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 3264 x 2448 | 3264 x 2448 |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.8 |
| Focal length | 24 mm | 28 mm |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | 1.4 microns |
| Sensor type | BSI CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.8" | 1/3.2" |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi features | - Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot |
- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot |
| Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | LE, A2DP | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 2 | 3.1 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC* | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM* | 1 | 1 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | Standby | Standby |
| eSIM support* | No | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat* | 11 | 16 |
| 5G support | No | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | Yes | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
Speakers test
Max. loudness
Other
| Category | Mid-range | Flagship |
| Announced | May 2019 | October 2018 |
| Release date | May 2019 | November 2018 |
| SAR (head) | 0.39 W/kg | 1.39 W/kg |
| SAR (body) | 0.9 W/kg | 1.4 W/kg |
| Sensors | - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
After analyzing all the data, we think that the Google Pixel 3 XL is definitely a better buy.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 44