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Pixel 7a
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Xperia 5 III
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What we think

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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you prioritize a newer phone with plastic body construction that may feel less premium but is potentially more durable, choose the Google Pixel 7a. It offers solid photo and video quality with the added bonus of 5G compatibility. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a phone with a glass body, which generally looks and feels more high-end, the Xperia 5 III could be your pick, along with a slightly longer battery life and a dedicated shutter button for photography. Both phones have comparable screen sizes and storage capacity, but the Xperia has a higher screen refresh rate which can make scrolling and animations smooth. The final decision should balance newer technology and build materials with specific features like photo capabilities and battery life that match your daily use. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Google Pixel 7a
  • Very good for taking photos
  • Good for recording videos
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
  • Good battery life

Key differences

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Overall Camera Quality

8.0
Pixel 7a
Xperia 5 III
6.0
The Google Pixel 7a has very good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.

Photo Quality

8.0
Pixel 7a
Xperia 5 III
5.9
The Google Pixel 7a takes very good photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.

Video Quality

7.3
Pixel 7a
Xperia 5 III
6.0
The Google Pixel 7a takes good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.

Cost

$499
Pixel 7a
Xperia 5 III
$450
Product image
Product image

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$300

$400

$500

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The Google Pixel 7a has a price of $499 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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Key similarities

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Battery

6.9 Hours
Pixel 7a
Xperia 5 III
7.3 Hours
The Google Pixel 7a has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.

Screen Size

The Google Pixel 7a has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.

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How the Google Pixel 7a and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones

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Spec Comparison

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Google Pixel 7aSony Xperia 5 III
Google Pixel 7aSony Xperia 5 III

GENERAL

Price
$499
$450
Brand
GoogleSony
Operating System
AndroidAndroid
Release Date
May 10, 2023October 8, 2021

SCREEN

Screen Size
6.1"6.1"
Resolution
2400 x 10802520 x 1080
Variable refresh rate
YesNo
Pixels Per Inch
429449
Display Type
OLEDOLED

INTERNAL

Processor
TensorG2SD888
Internal Storage
128 GB128 GB
RAM
8 GB8 GB

CAMERA

Overall Camera Quality Score
8/106/10
Photos Score
8.1/105.9/10
Videos Score
7.3/106/10
Rear Cameras
Main, UltrawideMain, Ultrawide, Telephoto
Main Camera
64 megapixels + OIS12 megapixels + OIS

BATTERY

Battery Life
6.9 Hours7.3 Hours
Battery Capacity
4385 mAh4500 mAh
Wireless Charging
YesNo
Wireless charging Speed
7.5 W0 W
Reverse wireless charging
NoNo

PHYSICAL

Size
5.98" x 2.87"6.18" x 2.68"
Weight
6.84 oz5.93 oz
Back Material
PlasticGlass
Stereo Speakers
NoYes

CONNECTIVITY

Dual SIM
YesYes
Bluetooth Version
5.35.2
A2DP
YesYes
WiFi Version
6e6
NFC
YesYes
US 5G Bands
(SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78

OTHER FEATURES

Biometric unlock
Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under DisplayFace unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side
Unlockable Bootloader
Yes (Except Verizon Models)No
Color
Sea, Snow, Coral, CharcoalBlack, Green
Stock Android
YesYes
SD Card
NoYes

Shopping

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Google Pixel 7a

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Dig into reviews and images

The Verge

Allison Johnson | May 2023
"The Pixel 7a is the best midrange Android phone — period. The camera doesn’t always nail it, but it’s impressively capable for this class. And even though it’s pricier than last year’s model, it comes with some serious upgrades not often seen in this class, like wireless charging."

Sony Xperia 5 III

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Dig into reviews and images

Android Authority

Robert Triggs | October 2022
"The Sony Xperia 5 III excels when it comes to rear camera photography, its display and multi-media features, and all-day battery life. Buy the Xperia 5 III if you’re looking for a fun but imperfect camera setup, customizable gaming features, all-day battery life, and all the best multimedia capabilities that Sony has to offer"

Get a great deal on the Google Pixel 7a or the Sony Xperia 5 III

About Google

Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.

About Sony

Sony has had a long history in the mobile market, entering the scene all the way back in 1993 with its first commercially available phone, the CM-H333. Nowadays, their Xperia line of phones provide well-rounded and sometimes expensive devices with a focus on camera software that includes extensive support for manual tweaking of settings. Sony's dedication to audio quality is also evident in its smartphones, which often feature high-resolution audio support while also being one of the few remaining manufacturers that consistently provide headphone jacks in their phones. The company's version of Android is also considered to be close to stock, enabling a bloatware-free experience for its users.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
141,000
Recommendations made
79,900
Consumer hours saved

About the phone team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Seth Peoples

Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.

Efthimis Kotanidis

Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.

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