Last month, Google announced a new affordable Pixel: the Pixel 5a 5G. Compared to its predecessor 4a 5G the handset comes with important improvements, including the 5G support, a better chipset, and a bigger battery. But is it the most interesting premium phone in the midrange segment or you can get a better option with similar prices? If you are an expert and you are searching for a new phone, you surely noticed the flagship killer OnePlus Nord 2 5G besides the Google Pixel 5a 5G. This comparison between their specifications will highlight the differences between these two great devices.

Google Pixel 5a 5G vs OnePlus Nord 2 5G

Google Pixel 5a 5G OnePlus Nord 2 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 154.9 x 73.7 x 7.6 mm, 183 g 158.9 x 73.2 x 8.3 mm, 189 g
DISPLAY  6.34 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), OLED  6.43 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Fluid AMOLED
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, octa-core 2.4 GHz Mediatek Dimensity 1200, octa-core 3 GHz
MEMORY 6 GB RAM, 128 GB 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 11  Android 11, OxygenOS
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA Dual 12.2 + 16 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.2
8 MP f/2.0 front camera		 Triple 50 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.3 + f/2.4
32 MP f/2.5 front camera
BATTERY  4680 mAh, fast charging 18W  4500 mAh, fast charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

Despite it has a rear-mounted fingerprint reader which makes it look very outdated, the Google Pixel 5a 5G comes with a more attractive design. Its body is entirely made of aluminum, which is a very rare thing in 2021 (and the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is made of cheap polycarbonate). Further, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is water resistant and dustproof with the IP67 certification, another important added value. Last but not least, it is more compact and thinner, with a thickness of just 7.6 mm and a smaller punch-hole display. The glass front is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, while the display of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is protected by Gorilla Glass 5.

 

Display

The most advanced display belongs to the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. Both the phones come with an OLED panel sporting a Full HD+ resolution, but the OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a few more innovative technologies. It comes with a 90 Hz refresh rate improving the smoothness of the display and the HDR10+ certification improving the image quality. You get the HDR support with the Pixel 5a 5G, but no HDR10+ and no high refresh rate. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has an in-display fingerprint reader, while the Pixel 5a 5G has a rear-mounted one. Note that the Google Pixel 5a 5G has a smaller display than the OnePlus Nord 2 5G: 6.34 inches vs 6.43 inches.

 

Specs & Software

There is no way Google Pixel 5a 5G can compete with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G in terms of hardware department: the Nord 2 5G is simply more powerful thanks to its better chipset. We are talking about the Dimensity 1200 by MediaTek that is a flagship SoC, while the Pixel 5a 5G has a midrange Snapdragon 765G. Further, you get more RAM with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G: up to 12 GB instead of just 6 GB, and up to 256 GB of internal storage. The Google Pixel 5a 5G offers faster updates as it is a Google phone and Google develops the Android operating system, so it will get the new Android versions way before the Nord 2 5G.

 

Camera

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G and the Google Pixel 5a 5G are more or less at the same level if we talk about camera performance, even though they have totally different camera departments. Both have a great main sensor: 50 MP with OIS on the former and 12.2 MP f/1.7 with OIS on the latter. Google Pixel 5a 5G has a better ultrawide camera with a 16 MP resolution, while the OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a better 32 MP front camera.

 

 

Battery

The Google Pixel 5a 5G is the Google phone with the biggest battery ever, with a capacity of 4680 mAh. The battery is 180 mAh bigger than the one found on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, which sports a 4500 mAh unit. That is the reason why it should last more on a single charge. However, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a clear winner when it comes to charging speeds: it features 65W fast charging, while Pixel 5a 5G has a power of just 18W, just like entry-level phones.

 

Price

Google Pixel 5a 5G carries a $449 price tag in the U.S. while you need €399 to purchase the OnePlus Nord 2 5G in Europe. There is not a clear winner of this comparison: on the paper, OnePlus Nord 2 5G has better specifications, but with Pixel 5a 5G you get a higher build quality and faster software updates, as well as a bigger battery.

 

 

Google Pixel 5a 5G vs OnePlus Nord 2 5G: PRO and CONS

Google Pixel 5a 5G

PRO

  • IP67 water resistant
  • More compact
  • Bigger battery
  • Faster updates

CONS

  • Inferior hardware

 

OnePlus Nord 2 5G

PRO

  • Better hardware
  • Faster charging
  • Superior display
  • Awesome price
  • Better front camera

CONS

  • Bigger dimensions

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