Home Phone comparison Google Pixel 4a and Google Pixel 3 - Which is better?

Google Pixel 4a vs Google Pixel 3

47 out 100
Google Pixel 4a
VS
44 out 100
Google Pixel 3
Google Pixel 4a
Google Pixel 3

Compared 2 smartphones : Google Pixel 4a Manufactured in October, 2020, with display 5.81 with chipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 730G, vs Google Pixel 3, Manufactured in November, 2018with chipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 845. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Google Pixel 4a
  • Larger display: 5.81in
  • Higher pixel density: 443ppi
  • Lighter design: 143g vs 148g
  • Higher battery capacity: 3140mAh vs 2915mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.1 vs 5
  • Supports Dolby Atmos
Reasons to choose Google Pixel 3

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options 6/128 GB - 4/64 GB
    - 4/128 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Google Pixel 4a and Google Pixel 3
    Display
    Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
    Camera
    Main & front camera tests
    Performance
    App & system performance
    Games
    3D gaming performance
    Battery
    Battery life, charging speed & type
    Connectivity
    Connectivity features
    NanoReview Score
    Overall score by NanoReview
    Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
    Customize your score
    Function
    Importance (Weight)
    Display:
    Camera:
    Performance:
    Gaming:
    Battery:
    Connectivity:
    Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

    Tests & specs

    Specs & test comparison
    Smartphones:
    Google Pixel 4a
    vs
    Google Pixel 3

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type OLED OLED
    Size 5.81 in 5.5 in
    Resolution 1080x2340 pixels 1080x2160 pixels
    Aspect ratio 19.5:9 18:9
    Pixel density 443 ppi 439 ppi
    Refresh rate 60 Hz 60 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate No No
    Max brightness 700 nits 420 nits
    HDR support Yes HDR10 Yes HDR10
    Screen-to-body ratio 82.9 % 78.7 %
    Features Always-On Display - DCI-P3
    - Always-On Display
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Google Pixel 4a
    802 nits
    Google Pixel 3
    395 nits
    sRGB gamut95.3 %99.6 %
    PWM (Flicker)255 Hz245 Hz
    Response time6.2 ms4.4 ms
    Contrast∞ Infinite∞ Infinite
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Google Pixel 4a], [Google Pixel 3]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 144 mm (5.67 in) 145.6 mm (5.73 in)
    Width 69.4 mm (2.73 in) 68.2 mm (2.69 in)
    Thickness 8.2 mm (0.32 in) 7.9 mm (0.31 in)
    Weight 143 g (5.04 oz) 148 g (5.22 oz)
    Water resistance No IP68
    Back panel Plastic Glass
    Frame Plastic Metal
    Colors Black - White
    - Black
    - Pink
    Fingerprint sensor Yes rear Yes rear
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Google Pixel 4a
    82.9 %
    Google Pixel 3
    78.7 %

    Performance

    Testing Google Pixel 4a and Google Pixel 3 In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
    Max Frequency 2200 MHz 2500 MHz
    CPU Cores 8 (2 + 6) 8 (4 + 4)
    Architecture - 6/1.8 (Kryo 470 Silver (Cortex-A55))
    - 2/2.2 (Kryo 470 Gold (Cortex-A76))    		 - 4/1.8 (Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55))
    - 4/2.8 (Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75))
    Process Samsung Samsung
    Transistor Size 8 nm 10 nm
    Neural Processor Hexagon 688 Hexagon 685
    Graphics Adreno 618 Adreno 630
    GPU Cores 256 512
    GPU Frequency 825 MHz 710 MHz
    FLOPS 422.4 GFLOPS 727 GFLOPS
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Google Pixel 4a
    680
    Google Pixel 3
    734
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Google Pixel 4a
    1816
    Google Pixel 3
    1882
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)680734
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)18161882
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Google Pixel 4a
    357020
    Google Pixel 3
    405358
    CPU115287122440
    GPU70626105572
    Memory7860291809
    UX9250585537
    NanoReview Score357020405358
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Google Pixel 4a
    1003
    Google Pixel 3
    1647
    Max Surface Temp.41.4 °C39.8 °C
    Stability99 %93 %
    Graphics Test6 fps9 fps
    Graphics Score10031647
    Sources: 3DMark [Google Pixel 4a], [Google Pixel 3]
    PCMark 3.0
    PCMark 3.0
    Google Pixel 4a
    n/a
    Google Pixel 3
    8745
    Writing scoren/a9549
    Web scoren/a6855
    Video editingn/a6398
    Data manipulationn/a6440
    NanoReview Scoren/a8745

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 6 GB 4 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR4X
    Memory Frequency 2133 MHz 1866 MHz
    Channels 2 2
    Storage
    Storage Capacity128 GB- 64 GB
    - 128 GB
    Storage TypeUFS 2.1UFS 2.1
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS Android 10 (Upgradeable to Android 13) Android 9.0 (Upgradeable to Android 12)
    OS Size 15 GB 12 GB
    UI Skin Stock Android Stock Android

    Battery

    Volume 3140 mAh 2915 mAh
    Max Charging Power 18 W 18 W
    Battery Type Li-Po Li-ion
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging No Yes Qi (10 W)
    Reverse Charging No No
    Fast Charging Yes (50% in 25 min) Yes Quick Charge 4 (50% in 40 min)
    Full Charge Time 1:27 h 2:00 h
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Google Pixel 4a
    17:58
    Google Pixel 3
    15:14
    Web Browsing06:35 h05:20 h
    Video Playback11:24 h09:37 h
    Games04:08 h03:31 h
    Standby Mode90 h78 h

    Main camera

    Matrix 122 MP 122 MP
    Photo resolution 4000x3000 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
    Zoom Digital Digital
    Flash Dual LED Dual LED
    Stabilization Optical Optical
    8K Recording No No
    4K Recording Yes (Up to 30 fps) Yes (Up to 30 fps)
    1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    Slow Motion 120 fps (1080p) 240 fps (720p)
    Lenses count Standard: 12.2 MP Standard: 12.2 MP
    Features - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support    		 - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix122 MP122 MP
    Aperturef/1.7f/1.8
    Focal length27 mm28 mm
    SensorSony IMX363Sony IMX363
    Sensor size1/2.551/2.55
    Pixel size1.4 μm1.4 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Main camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Google Pixel 4a
    116
    Google Pixel 3
    103
    Video quality
    Google Pixel 4a
    100
    Google Pixel 3
    98
    Overall camera score
    Google Pixel 4a
    100
    Google Pixel 3
    101
    Bokeh55n/a
    Preview47n/a
    Zoom48n/a
    Sources: DxOMark [Google Pixel 4a], [Google Pixel 3]

    Front camera

    Matrix 8 MP 8 MP
    Photo resolution 3264x2448 pixels 3264x2448 pixels
    Aperture f/2.0 f/1.8
    Focal length 24 mm 28 mm
    Sensor Sony IMX355 Sony IMX355
    Sensor size 1/2.8 1/3.2
    Pixel size 1.12 μm 1.4 μm
    Autofocus No Phase autofocus
    Stabilization Digital Digital
    Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps
    TOF 3D sensor No No
    Selfie camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Google Pixel 4a
    n/a
    Google Pixel 3
    124
    Video quality
    Google Pixel 4a
    n/a
    Google Pixel 3
    121

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
    Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display    		 - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    Bluetooth version 5.1 5
    Bluetooth features LE, A2DP LE, A2DP
    USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
    USB version 3.1 3.1
    USB features - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG    		 - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG
    GPS - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    - QZSS    		 - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    NFC* Yes Yes
    Infrared Port No No
    Connectivity
    SIM Count*21
    SIM TypeNanoNano
    SIM ModeDual SIM StandbyDual SIM Standby
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM 700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 / 2300 / 2500 / 5200 / 3500 / 600GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
    3G BandsUMTS 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 1900, HSDPA 2100
    LTE Bands*LTE (B600/B700/B800/B850/B900/B1700/B1800/B1900/B2100/B2300/B2500/B2600/B3500/B5200)LTE (B700/B800/B850/B900/B1700/B1800/B1900/B2100/B2300/B2500/B2600)
    LTE category1516
    5G SupportNoNo

    Sound

    Speakers Stereo Stereo
    3.5 mm Jack Yes No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes No
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Google Pixel 4a
    86 dB
    Google Pixel 3
    84.9 dB

    Other

    Class Mid-range Flagship
    Announced August, 2020 yr October, 2018 yr
    Release Date October, 2020 yr November, 2018 yr
    Launch Price ($) 350 800
    Sensors - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Fingerprint sensor    		 - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Fingerprint sensor
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

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