Google Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4 XL
Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.2-inch Google Pixel 4a 5G (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G) that was released on September 30, 2020, against the Google Pixel 4 XL, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and came out 12 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 4a 5G
- Delivers 25% higher peak brightness (701 against 560 nits)
- Newer Bluetooth version (v5.1)
- Fingerprint scanner
- Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
- The phone is 1-year newer
- Weighs 25 grams less
- Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 4 XL
- Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- The rear camera has a 2x optical zoom
- 30% higher pixel density (537 vs 413 PPI)
- Supports wireless charging up to 11W
- 34% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (502K versus 375K)
- Faster storage type - UFS 3.0 versus UFS 2.1
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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
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Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | OLED | POLED |
| Size | 6.2 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels | 1440 x 3040 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 19.5:9 | 19:9 |
| PPI | 413 ppi | 537 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Max rated brightness | 700 nits | 450 nits |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10 | Yes, HDR10 |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 84.1% | 81.3% |
| Display features | - Always-On Display | - DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | 96.9% | 99.9% |
| PWM | 250 Hz | 367 Hz |
| Response time | 6.4 ms | 3.4 ms |
| Contrast | ∞ Infinity | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 153.9 mm (6.06 inches) | 160.4 mm (6.31 inches) |
| Width | 74 mm (2.91 inches) | 75.1 mm (2.96 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.2 mm (0.32 inches) | 8.2 mm (0.32 inches) |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| Waterproof | No | IP68 |
| Rear material | Plastic | Glass |
| Frame material | Plastic | Metal |
| Colors | Black | White, Black, Orange |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear | No |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Max. clock | 2400 MHz | 2840 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (1 + 1 + 6) | 8 (1 + 3 + 4) |
| Architecture | - 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 475 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 1 core at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 475 Gold (Cortex-A76) - 1 core at 2.4 GHz: Kryo 475 Prime (Cortex-A76) |
- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex-A55 (Kryo 485 Silver) - 3 cores at 2.42 GHz: Cortex-A76 (Kryo 485 Gold) - 1 core at 2.84 GHz: Cortex-A76 (Kryo 485 Gold) |
| L3 cache | - | 2 MB |
| Lithography process | 7 nanometers | 7 nanometers |
| Graphics | Adreno 620 | Adreno 640 |
| GPU clock | 750 MHz | 585 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~700 GFLOPS | ~899 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 9
| CPU | 110393 | 131544 |
| GPU | 94787 | 185644 |
| Memory | 69352 | 65191 |
| UX | 97659 | 119160 |
| Total score | 375659 | 502499 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Stability | 89% | 81% |
| Graphics test | 6 FPS | 18 FPS |
| Graphics score | 1104 | 3009 |
| PCMark 3.0 score | - | 10757 |
Memory
| RAM size | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 2133 MHz | 2133 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.0 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) |
| ROM | Stock Android | - |
| OS size | 14.8 GB | 13 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 3885 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charge power | 18 W | 18 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes (11 W) |
| Reverse charging | No | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (45% in 30 min) | Yes (45% in 30 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:40 hr | 1:20 hr |
| Web browsing | - | 07:49 hr |
| Watching video | - | 09:03 hr |
| Gaming | - | 04:05 hr |
| Standby | - | 81 hr |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 12.2 megapixels | 12.2 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4000 x 3000 |
| Zoom | Digital | Optical, 2x |
| Flash | Dual LED | LED |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (720p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 107° | 119° |
| Lenses | 2 (12.2 MP + 16 MP) | 2 (12.2 MP + 16 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens | - 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (BSI CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
| Telephoto lens | - | - 16 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 - Focal length: 45 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron - Sensor: 1/3.09", Sony IMX481 (BSI CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization |
| Ultra-wide lens | - 16 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1 micron |
- |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
| Megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 3264 x 2448 | 3264 x 2448 |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.0 |
| Focal length | 24 mm | 22 mm |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | 1.22 microns |
| Sensor type | CMOS | Exmor-RS CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/4" | 1/3.09" |
| 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 b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi features | - Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | LE, A2DP | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC* | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM* | 2 | 2 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | Standby | Standby |
| eSIM support* | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat* | 24 | 18 |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | Yes | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
Speakers test
Max. loudness
Other
| Category | Mid-range | Flagship |
| Announced | September 2020 | October 2019 |
| Release date | November 2020 | November 2019 |
| Sensors | - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Face recognition sensor |
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
If the display, performance, and design are more important to you, then choose the Google Pixel 4 XL. But if the sound is more of a priority – go for the Google Pixel 4a 5G.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 79