Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 3 XL
Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6-inch Google Pixel 5 (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G) that was released on September 30, 2020, against the Google Pixel 3 XL, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and came out 25 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 5
- Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- Has 2x more RAM: 8GB versus 4GB
- Delivers 70% higher peak brightness (705 against 414 nits)
- Comes with 650 mAh larger battery capacity: 4080 vs 3430 mAh
- 14% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (390K versus 341K)
- Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
- More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 12
- The phone is 2-years and 1-month newer
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3 XL
- Has a 0.3 inch larger screen size
- 21% higher pixel density (522 vs 432 PPI)
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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 | OLED |
| Size | 6 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels | 1440 x 2960 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 19.5:9 | 18.5:9 |
| PPI | 432 ppi | 522 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Max rated brightness | 700 nits | 400 nits |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10+ | No |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 85.9% | 83.39% |
| Display features | - Always-On Display | - DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | 97.4% | 100% |
| PWM | 367 Hz | 250 Hz |
| Response time | 5 ms | 15 ms |
| Contrast | ∞ Infinity | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 144.7 mm (5.7 inches) | 158 mm (6.22 inches) |
| Width | 70.4 mm (2.77 inches) | 76.7 mm (3.02 inches) |
| Thickness | 8 mm (0.31 inches) | 7.9 mm (0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 151 g (5.33 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| Waterproof | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Rear material | Metal | Glass |
| Frame material | Metal | Metal |
| Colors | Black, Green | White, Black, Pink |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear | Yes, rear |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| Max. clock | 2400 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (1 + 1 + 6) | 8 (4 + 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 1.5 GHz: Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 4 cores at 2.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75) |
| L3 cache | - | 2 MB |
| Lithography process | 7 nanometers | 10 nanometers |
| Graphics | Adreno 620 | Adreno 630 |
| GPU clock | 750 MHz | 710 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~700 GFLOPS | ~727 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 9
| CPU | 102395 | 94959 |
| GPU | 105316 | 116641 |
| Memory | 74762 | 44770 |
| UX | 106676 | 82658 |
| Total score | 390553 | 341247 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Stability | 89% | 94% |
| Graphics test | 6 FPS | 9 FPS |
| Graphics score | 1084 | 1663 |
| PCMark 3.0 score | - | 8914 |
Memory
| RAM size | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 2133 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12) |
| ROM | Stock Android | Stock Android |
| OS size | 16.6 GB | 13 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 4080 mAh | 3430 mAh |
| Charge power | 18 W | 18 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | Yes (12 W) | Yes, Qi (10 W) |
| Reverse charging | Yes | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (30% in 30 min) | Yes, Quick Charge 4 (50% in 35 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:45 hr | 2:00 hr |
| Web browsing | 10:13 hr | - |
| Watching video | 15:02 hr | - |
| Gaming | 05:40 hr | - |
| Standby | 104 hr | - |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 12.2 megapixels | 12.2 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 4290 x 2800 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | LED | Dual 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 120FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (720p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 107° | - |
| Lenses | 2 (12.2 MP + 16 MP) | 1 (12.2 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens | - 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - 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 |
| Ultra-wide lens | - 16 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 24 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron |
- |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
| Samples | Photo samples of Google Pixel 5 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 | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/4.0" | 1/3.2" |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
DxOMark camera tests
Photo quality
Video quality
Generic camera score
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 MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- 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 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode |
- 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* | 1 | 1 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | - | Standby |
| eSIM support* | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat* | 15 | 16 |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | No | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
Speakers test
Max. loudness
Other
| Category | Flagship | Flagship |
| Announced | September 2020 | October 2018 |
| Release date | October 2020 | November 2018 |
| SAR (head) | 0.96 W/kg | 1.39 W/kg |
| SAR (body) | 1.39 W/kg | 1.4 W/kg |
| Sensors | - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - 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 5 is definitely a better buy.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 46