In depth comparison and review of Google Pixel 3a XL and Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. Compare sizes, cameras, batteries, memory, and other important specifications and features to easily choose the right phone for you. Our goal is to help you uncover differences between the products and find the phone that will best fit your needs.
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Product Type | Smartphone | Smartphone | |
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Manufacturer Model Number | G020B | SM-G996B/DS | |
Form Factor | Touch | Touch | |
Height | 160.1 mm | 161.5 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has greater height than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Width | 76.1 mm | 75.6 mm | Google Pixel 3a XL has greater width than Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. |
Depth | 8.2 mm | 7.8 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is narrower than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Weight | 167 g | 200 g | Google Pixel 3a XL is lighter than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Body Colour | Clearly white | Just black | Purple-ish | Phantom black | Phantom silver | Phantom violet | Phantom gold | Phantom red | |
Body Material | Polycarbonate | - | |
Protection | - | Dustproof, splashproof, water-resistant | |
Waterproof (Water-resistant) | - | Yes | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is waterproof. |
IP rating | - | IP68 | |
SAR Value | 1.52 W/kg (body), 1.36 W/kg (head) | 1.335 W/kg (body), 0.541 W/kg (head), 2.23 W/kg (limb) | |
Connector Type | USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C Headset jack - mini-phone 3.5mm |
USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C | |
SIM Card Type (Size) | Nano SIM, Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | Nano SIM, Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | |
SIM Card Qty | Single-SIM | Dual-SIM |
DISPLAY | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Display Type | OLED display | OLED display | |
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Display Technology | OLED | Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
Screen Size (Display Size) | 6" | 6.7" | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has larger screen size than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Screen Resolution (Display Resolution) | 2160 x 1080 pixels | 2400 x 1080 pixels | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has better screen resolution than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Display Format | Full HD+ | Full HD+ | |
Pixel Density | 402 ppi | 394 ppi | Google Pixel 3a XL has better pixel density than Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. |
Aspect Ratio | 18:9 | - | |
Colour Depth | 16.7 million colours | 16.7 million colours | Both phones have the same color depth. |
Contrast Ratio | 100000:1 | - | |
HDR | - | Yes | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has HDR. |
HDR Technology | - | HDR10+ | |
Display Enhancement Technology | - | Eye Comfort Shield | |
Display Refresh Rate | - | 120 Hz | |
Display Features | Always-on display, Now Playing | AOD(Always On Display) | |
Display Protection (Screen Protector) | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (scratch resistant glass) |
PROCESSOR | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Processor Type (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 | Samsung Exynos 2100 | |
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Clock Speed | 2 GHz | 2.9 GHz | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has higher clock speed than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Processor Core Qty | 8-core | 8-core | Both phones have the same number of phone cores. |
64-bit Architecture | Yes | - | Google Pixel 3a XL has 64-bit architecture. |
Graphics System (GPU) | Qualcomm ADRENO 615 | Mali-G78 MP14 |
MEMORY | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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RAM | LPDDR4X SDRAM - 4 GB | LPDDR5 SDRAM - 8 GB | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has more RAM than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
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Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) | 64 GB | 128 GB | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has more internal memory than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
User Memory | - | 102.2 GB |
CAMERA | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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MAIN CAMERA |
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Number of Main Cameras | 1 | 3 | |
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Sensor Resolution | 12.2 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Google Pixel 3a XL has better camera resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. |
Lens Type | - | Ultra wide-angle lens | |
Lens Aperture | F/1.8 | F/2.2 | Google Pixel 3a XL has better lens aperture than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Field of View (FoV) | 76 degree(s) | 120 degree(s) | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has larger lens field of view than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Pixel Size | 1.4 μm | 1.4 μm | Both phones have the same camera pixel size. |
Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Both phones have optical image stabilization. |
Focus Adjustment | Automatic | Automatic | |
Optical Zoom | - | 3x | |
Digital Zoom | - | 30x | |
Self-Timer Delay | - | Yes | |
Special Effects | - | Face retouch, Grid Line | |
HDR Mode | - | Auto HDR mode | |
Camera Modes | Portrait mode | Panorama, Slow motion mode, Pro mode, HYPERLAPSE, Super Slow-mo, Flowers, Greenery, Trees, Sky, Beaches, Watersides, Snow, Backlit, Text, Food, Face, Baby, Person, Dog, Cat, People, Sunset, Sunrise, City, Waterfall, Scenery, Stage, Vehicles, Drinks, Animal, Shoes, Indoor, Clothes, Night view, Night, Motion Photo, Mountain, Single Take, Pro Video, Director's View | |
Light Source | - | High CRI LED flash | |
Video Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 30 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 60 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 120 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 240 fps | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 7680 x 4320 (UHD 8K) at 24fps, Hyperlapse 4K video support at 30 fps, Super Steady 1080p video support at 60 fps | |
Camera Features (Functions) | Electronic Image Stabiliser (EIS), dual pixel phase detection, Motion Auto Focus | Playback zoom, blink detection, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Tracking AF, Video location tags, Scene Optimiser, Flaw detection, Shot suggestions, blur detection, HDR10+ recording, Super steady, Quick Measure, Zoom-In Mic, Space Zoom, Take 33MP still photos while playing 8K video, Hybrid Optic Zoom 3x, Super Resolution Zoom up to 30x, Digital zoom up to 12x for video |
SECOND CAMERA |
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Sensor Resolution (2nd Camera) | - | 12 Megapixel | |
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Sensor Size (2nd Camera) | - | 1/1.76" | |
Lens Type (2nd Camera) | - | Wide-angle lens | |
Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) | - | F/1.8 | |
Field of View (2nd Camera) | - | 79 degree(s) | |
Pixel Size (2nd Camera) | - | 1.8 μm | |
Camera Features (2nd Camera) | - | OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), Super Speed Dual Pixel AF |
THIRD CAMERA |
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Sensor Resolution (3rd Camera) | - | 64 Megapixel | |
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Sensor Size (3rd Camera) | - | 1/1.72" | |
Lens Type (3rd Camera) | - | Telephoto lens | |
Lens Aperture (3rd Camera) | - | F/2.0 | |
Field of View (3rd Camera) | - | 76 degree(s) | |
Pixel Size (3rd Camera) | - | 0.8 μm | |
Camera Features (3rd Camera) | - | Phase Detect Auto-Focus (PDAF) |
FRONT CAMERA |
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Number of Front Cameras | 1 | 1 | |
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Sensor Resolution (Front) | 8 Megapixel | 10 Megapixel | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has better front camera resolution than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Lens Aperture (Front) | F/2.0 | F/2.2 | Google Pixel 3a XL has better front lens aperture than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Field of View (Front) | 84 degree(s) | 80 degree(s) | Google Pixel 3a XL has larger front lens field of view than Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. |
Pixel Size (Front) | 1.12 μm | 1.22 μm | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has larger front camera pixel size than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
Focus Adjustment | Focus free | Automatic | |
Video Resolutions (Front) | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 640 x 480 (VGA) at 30 fps | - | |
Camera Features (Front) | - | Dual Pixel AF |
BATTERY AND CHARGING | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Battery Capacity (Battery Size) | 3700 mAh | 4800 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has larger battery capacity than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
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Fast Charging Technology | - | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, Adaptive Fast Charging, Samsung Super Fast Charging, Power Delivery 3.0 | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has fast charging technology. |
Wireless Charging | - | Yes | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G can be charged wirelessly. |
Wireless Charging Standards | - | WPC, Qi, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | |
Talk Time | - | 2400 minutes | |
Run Time Details | - | Talk (4G): up to 2400 min Active online usage (LTE): up to 15 hrs Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 17 hrs Playback (wireless video): up to 22 hrs Playback (wireless audio): up to 75 hrs |
CELLULAR | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Technology | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | |
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Mobile Broadband Generation | 4G | 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has more advanced generation mobile network. |
Operating System | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 11 | |
Intelligent Assistant | Google Assistant | Bixby | |
Payment Technology | - | Samsung Pay | |
Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |
COMMUNICATIONS | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Data Transmission | GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE | FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, 5G NR FR1 | |
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2G Band | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM | |
3G UMTS Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | |
3G UMTS Frequency | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | |
4G LTE Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 17, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 32, Band 38, Band 40, Band 41, Band 66 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 32, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 66 | |
4G LTE Frequency | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700b, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 1500 L, TDD 2600, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3 | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 1500 L, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3 | |
5G NR Band | - | N1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n41, n66, n77, n78, n40 | |
5G NR Frequency | - | FDD 2100, FDD 1800, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 800, FDD 700APT, TDD TD 2600, TDD TD 2500, FDD AWS-3, TDD TD 3700, TDD TD 3500, TDD 2300 | |
Wireless Interface | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.0 | |
NFC | Yes | Yes | Both phones have an NFC reader for mobile payments. |
Messaging Services | SMS, MMS | - |
MEDIA | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Supported Digital Audio Standards | Apt-X, LDAC, apt-X HD | WAV, WMA, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, DSF, DSD, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128 | |
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Supported Digital Video Standards | - | MKV, FLV, AVI, WMV, ASF, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2, MP4 | |
Sound Enhancements | - | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Surround sound, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound |
FEATURES | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Phone Functions | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | |
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Sensors | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, barometer, magnetometer, gyro sensor, haptics sensor, Active Edge | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, geomagnetic sensor | |
Security Devices | Fingerprint reader | Fingerprint reader (under display), face recognition | |
Additional Phone Features | Dual microphones, MIMO technology, Android Sensor Hub, Noise suppression, Night Shift, ARCore, Google Lens, Titan M Security Module, Pixel Imprint sensor | Air View, MIMO technology, Smart Select, Samsung KNOX, Smart View, Live message, Screen off memo, Bixby Vision, Dual Audio, Bixby Routines, Intelligent Performance Enhancer, AR Doodle, PENUP, Bixby key, Samsung Knox Vault, Private Share function, Enhanced Game Booster |
OTHERS | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G |
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Included Accessories | SIM card removal tool, Quick switch adapter, 18W USB-C power adapter, USB-C to USB-C cable (1 m) | SIM card removal tool, USB-C to USB-C cable | |
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Compliant Standards | - | IP68, HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible) | |
Max Depth of Water Resistance | - | 1.5 m |