Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5: Biggest differences to expect

(Image credit: Steve Hemmerstoffer (@OnLeaks)/Tom'southward Guide)

The Google Pixel 5a is arriving before long, with the upkeep phone rumored to exist making an advent as soon equally this month at the Google I/O developers conference. And when it does get in, expect a lot of focus on just how the Pixel 5a compares to Google'south electric current lineup of phones.

Certainly, much of that attempt will exist spent comparing the Pixel 5a to its predecessors. (In fact, we've looked at the Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 4a based on the rumored specs for the new phone.) Just you'll too desire to consider how Google'south latest handset will measure out upwardly to the Google Pixel 5, especially since the latest rumors advise the Pixel 5a will take a lot in common with concluding fall's large flagship.

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Google I/O kicks off May 18, which is when most people anticipate that the company will have the wraps off the Pixel 5a. But a steady stream of Pixel 5a rumors has given us a good idea of what to await — then much so that a Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5 comparison can help highlight the changes Google could potentially introduce.

Hither's how we expect the Pixel 5a will compare to the older Pixel v.

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel five specs

	Pixel 5a (rumored)	Pixel 5
Screen size	6.2 inches	six inches
CPU	Snapdragon 765G	Snapdragon 765G
5G?	Aye	Yes
Rear cameras	Main lens + ultrawide	12.2MP main, 16MP ultrawide
Size	6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches	v.7 x 2.8 x 0.three inches

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5: Price

The Pixel five occupies the high-cease of Google'due south phone lineup, with a $699 starting price. That'due south $200 more than what Google charges for the Pixel 4a 5G and $350 more the Pixel 4a'southward debut price.

That $349 price was one of the best things about the Pixel 4a, as it meant y'all were getting a comparatively cheap phone that still managed to produce better photos than handsets that toll hundreds of dollars more. So apparently, we'd hope for a echo operation from the Pixel 5a on the pricing front.

That may be hard to pull off for Google. As you'll see from the remainder of this Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel v face-off, the new phone is expected to go some significant upgrades over the Pixel 4a, highlighted by a more powerful processor and 5G connectivity. If those features practise appear, Google might have trouble belongings the line on that $349 toll from terminal year'southward Pixel 4a.

Even so, even if a toll hike is in the works, we wouldn't wait Google to stray far from the toll signal that'southward helped its budget phones enjoy some success. Rumors have been tranquility near the Pixel 5a's potential cost, only nosotros'd look for something that's in between the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G.

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5: Pattern and display

The look of Google's phones doesn't change much from flagship to upkeep model. And based on the Pixel 5a leaked renders that accept appeared and then far, the new telephone will wait a lot similar the Pixel v. The departure will exist in the materials — Google uses plastic in its cheaper phones, which is likely to continue with the Pixel 5a.

Another key design difference will be the headphone jack. Like the Pixel 4a, the Pixel 5a will feature one, while that feature remains missing from the Pixel 5.

Rumors suggest that the Pixel 5a volition sport a 6.2-inch OLED screen with full Hard disk resolution. That's slightly larger than the Pixel 5's half-dozen-inch console. The Pixel v'southward display does offer a 90Hz refresh rate, though, and opinion is divided on whether that'southward something the Pixel 5a will prefer.

Previous Google budget phones have used the more traditional 60Hz refresh charge per unit, so that Google can tout the faster-refreshing brandish every bit a differentiating feature on its flagships. And then again, more budget phones are upping the refresh charge per unit on their displays, then it'southward possible the Pixel 5a could follow suit.

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5: Cameras

Starting with the Pixel 4, Google has offered an piece of cake fashion to differentiate between its flagship phones and budget devices — the flagship gets two cameras, and the budget phone gets merely one. That changed a little bit with the Pixel 4a 5G, which adopted the exact same camera setup as the Pixel 5, but with the Pixel 4a nevertheless sporting a lone rear camera, Google's "Flagship, two cameras; budget phone, i camera" philosophy remained more or less intact.

The Pixel 5a may shake that up. Those leaked images of the new phone show off two lenses, which nosotros presume would be the aforementioned wide and ultrawide bending cameras Google includes on the Pixel 5. Furthermore, the metadata of Pixel 5a-shot images inadvertently posted to a Google weblog revealed that the pictures were captured with an ultrawide angle lens. Supposedly, the Pixel 5a will also add phase detection automobile focus.

Even with the extra rear camera looking similar a certainty, the star of the show for the Pixel 5a should continue to be Google's photo software. We'd expect most of the imaging features debuting in the Pixel v to brand their way to the Pixel 5a. That includes electronic stabilization modes for video, improved HDR+ and portrait photo back up in Night Sight.

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5: Performance

Here's where things could exist eerily similar between the Pixel 5a and Pixel v. For last fall's flagship, Google went with the Snapdragon 765G. That'due south a lower-powered processor compared to the Snapdragon 8 Series chipsets that usually power flagship Android phones, but Google plainly made the move with an eye toward keeping Pixel 5 costs down.

A Pixel 5a rumor suggests that the same Snapdragon 765G silicon is slated for Google's new budget phone. If so, it'south a curious decision.

On the i hand, it would make Google'due south budget phone equally powerful every bit its flagship device, while also adding 5G compatibility without the need for a separate Pixel 5a 5G model. But and then, even upkeep-minded shoppers might exist put off by the idea of springing for a new phone with last yr'southward silicon, even if it does cost less. And speaking of price, if the Pixel 5a features the same chipset as the Pixel five (and Pixel 4a 5G), and so how will Google keep the cost of the Pixel 5a downwards?

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel v: Battery life and charging

Bombardment life has flummoxed recent Pixel models. The Pixel v and its 4,080 mAh battery lasted 9 hours and 29 minutes on our custom battery test, which involves setting a phone to continuously surf the spider web until information technology runs out of power. The Pixel v's time fell below the boilerplate smartphone'due south result, though at least information technology finished alee of the Pixel 4a.

Nonetheless, the Pixel 5a may have a hard time clearing that low bar. Google typically equips its budget phones with smaller batteries. The Pixel 4a, for instance, offered a three,140 mAh power pack. Given that the Pixel 5a will probable include 5G, information technology seems like a bigger bombardment would be in order — maybe something similar to the 3,885 mAh power pack within the Pixel 4a 5G. Only a battery that's much bigger than the i inside the Pixel 5 seems unlikely, especially if Google wants to keep a hat on the price of the Pixel 5a.

While the Pixel five offers reverse wireless charging, which allows y'all to charge other Qi-compatible devices by placing them on the phone'south back, we wouldn't expect that adequacy to notice its way into the Pixel 5a. Wireless charging tends to be restricted to pricier phones, and it's a feature Google hasn't included in budget models similar the Pixel 4a.

Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5: Outlook

Based on what we've heard so far almost Google's phone plans, the Pixel 5a seems like information technology'southward going to substantially close the gap between Google's budget phones and the Pixel v. From the processor to the cameras, a Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 5 comparing may reveal more similarities than differences.

The fundamental issues still to be revealed are whether the Pixel 5a will get a faster refreshing display and how all these improvements will impact the phone'south price. The answers to those questions will let us know merely how the Pixel 5a measures up to the Pixel v. And it could reveal more about what Google is planning for this fall's Pixel 6.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.