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 |
|---|
| Product Type | Smartphone | Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer Model Number | G020B | SM-G991U1 | |
| Form Factor | Touch | Touch | |
| Height | 160.1 mm | 151.7 mm | Google Pixel 3a XL has greater height than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Width | 76.1 mm | 71.2 mm | Google Pixel 3a XL has greater width than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Depth | 8.2 mm | 7.9 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is narrower than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
| Weight | 167 g | 171 g | Google Pixel 3a XL is lighter than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
| Body Colour | Clearly white | Just black | Purple-ish | Phantom grey | Phantom white | |
| 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) | 1.58 W/kg (simultaneous), 1.11 W/kg (wireless router), 1.08 W/kg (body), 0.74 W/kg (head) | |
| 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 |
|---|
| Display Type | OLED display | OLED display | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Technology | OLED | Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Screen Size (Display Size) | 6" | 6.2" | 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 | 421 ppi | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better pixel density than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
| 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), Video Wallpaper | |
| Display Protection (Screen Protector) | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (scratch resistant glass) |
| PROCESSOR | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Processor Type (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock Speed | 2 GHz | 2.84 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 | - |
| MEMORY | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| RAM | LPDDR4X SDRAM - 4 GB | LPDDR5 SDRAM - 8 GB | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has more RAM than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) | 64 GB | 128 GB | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has more internal memory than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
| User Memory | - | 101.2 GB |
| CAMERA | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| MAIN CAMERA |
|---|
| Number of Main Cameras | 1 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution | 12.2 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Google Pixel 3a XL has better camera resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Sensor Size | - | 1/1.76" | |
| Lens Type | - | Wide-angle lens | |
| Lens Aperture | F/1.8 | F/1.8 | Both phones have the same camera lens aperture. |
| Field of View (FoV) | 76 degree(s) | 79 degree(s) | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger lens field of view than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
| Pixel Size | 1.4 μm | 1.8 μm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger camera pixel size than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
| Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Both phones have optical image stabilization. |
| Focus Adjustment | Automatic | Automatic | |
| Laser Auto Focus | - | Yes | |
| 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, Portrait, Night, Motion Photo, Mountain, Single Take, Pro Video, Portrait 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 (8K) at 24 fps, 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, Motion photo, blink detection, QR-code scanner, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Tracking AF, Video location tags, Scene Optimiser, Lens smudge, Flaw detection, Shot suggestions, blur detection, HDR10+ recording, Super steady, Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, Quick Measure, Zoom-In Mic, HEIF image capture, 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, AR Doodle, HEVC (High Efficiency Video coding) support, Microphone Control (Pro Video only) |
| SECOND CAMERA |
|---|
| Sensor Resolution (2nd Camera) | - | 12 Megapixel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Type (2nd Camera) | - | Ultra wide-angle lens | |
| Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) | - | F/2.2 | |
| Field of View (2nd Camera) | - | 120 degree(s) | |
| Pixel Size (2nd Camera) | - | 1.4 μm |
| THIRD CAMERA |
|---|
| Sensor Resolution (3rd Camera) | - | 64 Megapixel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | - | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has optical stabilisation of the third camera. |
| FRONT CAMERA |
|---|
| Number of Front Cameras | 1 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| Battery Capacity (Battery Size) | 3700 mAh | 4000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger battery capacity than Google Pixel 3a XL. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Charging Technology | - | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, Adaptive 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 | - | 1800 minutes | |
| Run Time Details | - | Talk (LTE): up to 1800 min Active online usage (LTE): up to 14 hrs Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 15 hrs Playback (wireless video): up to 19 hrs Playback (wireless audio): up to 72 hrs |
| CELLULAR | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Technology | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Galileo |
| COMMUNICATIONS | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Data Transmission | GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE | FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, 5G NR FR1, 5G NR FR2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G Band | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X | |
| 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 14, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 48, Band 66, Band 71 | |
| 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 700 PS, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, TDD 3600, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3, FDD 600 | |
| 5G NR Band | - | N41, n71, n260, n261 | |
| 5G NR Frequency | - | TDD TD 2500, FDD 600, TDD 39GHz, TDD 28GHz | |
| 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 |
|---|
| Supported Digital Audio Standards | Apt-X, LDAC, apt-X HD | WAV, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, DSF, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported Digital Video Standards | - | MKV, FLV, AVI, 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 |
|---|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | MIMO technology, Screen Write, notification flashlight, Smart Select, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, Smart View, Live message, Screen off memo, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, TalkBack, Dual Audio, Bixby Routines, Intelligent Performance Enhancer, Bixby key, Bluetooth Scalable Codec, Samsung Knox Vault, Private Share function, Enhanced Game Booster, Air Command |
| OTHERS | Google Pixel 3a XL | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliant Standards | - | VDE, IP68, HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible), SGS Eye Care Display Certification | |
| Max Depth of Water Resistance | - | 1.5 m |
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