The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL cost half as much as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, but they have a lot of overlapping features. Here’s a full comparison of all the phones.
For the first time ever, the choice between buying a Pixel is more than just the big one or the small one. At its I/O Developer’s Conference Tuesday, Google took the wraps off the Pixel 3a, a brand new entry to the Pixel line that costs half as much as its older sibling. But how much are you really giving up when you opt for the cheaper model? Let’s break it down:
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a external designs are similar in many ways, including size. The Pixel 3a is slightly larger all around:
Moving on to major design characteristics, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL are distinctive—if not as beautiful as flagships from Apple or Samsung. From the 3 XL’s notch to the two-tone frosted-glass back, the Pixel 3 family is instantly recognizable at a distance.
The 3a follows a similar aesthetic, with some tweaks. The 3a XL doesn’t have a notch, for instance, so there’s a fair amount of space above the screen. The other big change is on the 3a’s back: It’s made of plastic rather than glass.
As far as external components, both have a single camera lens in the top left corner and a smooth « window » above the matte body. The 3a lacks a front-facing speaker below the screen, as you’ll find on the Pixel 3.
The 3a is also a bit lighter, particularly comparing the larger models of each:
While it would have been perfectly acceptable for Google to put an LCD display in the Pixel 3a, it opted for OLED technology, like the Pixel 3 line. However, the displays differ in quality when it comes to resolution and ppi:
While the smaller phones’ displays are pretty close, the 3 XL uses a much higher-quality display than the 3a XL does.
The displays are also protected differently against drops. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL use Gorilla Glass 5, while the Pixel 3a and 3a XL use Dragontrail glass.
The Pixel 3a XL has a 6-inch OLED display, a rarity among phones in this price range.
One of the biggest differences is inside.
