The Google Pixel 3a XL and the Galaxy S10+ are not exactly in the same category of smartphones. The Google Pixel 3a XL is a mid-range offering, while the Galaxy S10+ is Samsung’s flagship. Having said that, we don’t really have a habit of comparing mid-range and high-end devices, but in this instance, it may be worth it.
The Galaxy S10+ is expected to win this comparison overall, but the Pixel 3a XL can compete with the Galaxy S10+ in some areas, and we’re here to find out which ones. This may come in handy if you’re unwilling to splurge out for the Galaxy S10+, and are looking for a considerably more affordable alternative.
Specifications
Design
As far as the design is concerned, these two phones are considerably different. The Pixel 3a XL is made out of polycarbonate (plastic), and it does not sport a display notch, nor a display hole. The Pixel 3a XL does have noticeable bezels above and below the display, though, while it includes a single camera on the back, along with a fingerprint scanner.
The Galaxy S10+, on the other hand, sports a more premium build, as it is made out of metal and glass. This phone’s bezels are considerably thinner than the ones on the Pixel 3a XL, and the Galaxy S10+ does include a display hole, in the top-right corner of the display. The Galaxy S10+ also sports three cameras on the back, and those cameras are horizontally-aligned. Unlike the Pixel 3a XL, the Galaxy S10+ includes an in-display fingerprint scanner, not a regular capacitive one.
Samsung’s flagship takes this category with ease, basically. Not only is it made out of more premium materials, but it also feels more substantial in the hand, and it looks far better as well, presuming you’re not bothered by the display camera hole. The Galaxy S10+ is a lot slippier than the Pixel 3a XL, though, but it is shorter, narrower, and thinner, despite the fact it has a larger display.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S10+
Display
The Pixel 3a XL sports a smaller display than the Galaxy S10+, and despite that, it’s both taller and wider than Samsung’s flagship. The Galaxy S10+ includes a taller display aspect ratio, and the fact its display is curved helps with width, that’s for sure.
The Google Pixel 3a XL features a 6-inch fullHD+ OLED panel, while the Galaxy S10+ includes a 6.4-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display. Both units offer really solid output, though the Pixel 3a XL’s display cannot measure up to the Galaxy S10+’s.
The Galaxy S10+’s display has a considerably higher resolution, and on top of that is considered to be one of the best smartphone displays out there, period. It has better output than the Pixel 3a XL across the board, though the Pixel 3a XL’s display will get you those deep blacks, and contrasty colors, same as the Galaxy S10+’s panel.
The Galaxy S10+’s display does showcase some distortion on the sides, as it is curved, and if that’s something that bothers you, the choice is quite simple. Both display offer really solid viewing angles as well.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S10+
Performance
First and foremost, let’s just say that both phones are solid performers, but the Pixel 3a XL cannot measure up to the sheer power of the Galaxy S10+. This was to be expected, as the Pixel 3a XL is a mid-range device, with a considerably less powerful CPU than the Galaxy S10+, and less RAM as well.
The Pixel 3a XL is a really solid performer, though, it is fueled by the Snapdragon 670 64-bit octa-core processor, which is not Qualcomm’s most powerful mid-range chip, but it’s up there. The Galaxy S10+, on the other hand, comes with either the Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9820, depending on where you buy it. No matter what chip you get, both are the best Qualcomm and Samsung have to offer, respectively.
The Galaxy S10+ does come with considerably different software than the Pixel 3a XL, it ships with Samsung’s One UI skin. The Pixel 3a XL comes with Google’s stock Android, and it will be one of the first devices to get Android updates, along with its siblings, which is not something we can say for the Galaxy S10+, at all. It also remains to be seen how will the Galaxy S10+ perform down the road, but it is definitely the winner here.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S10+
Battery Life
The Galaxy S10+ is basically crushing it thus far, but what about battery life? At first, it seemed like the Galaxy S10+ will offer great battery life, as initial tests did offer really interesting results. But after using the phone for a while, we can say that its battery is merely average. The Galaxy S10+ comes with a 4,000mAh unit, in case you were wondering.
The Pixel 3a XL, on the other hand, does seem promising. It packs in a 3,700mAh unit, and the phone has lighter software, much less pixels to push due to its resolution, and its CPU is less power hungry than what the Galaxy S10+ has to offer. Based on initial results, the Pixel 3a XL seems like a better option in this regard, as far as sheer battery life is concerned, though it’s not above and beyond the Galaxy S10+, that’s for sure. Both phones will be satisfactory for most people.
In terms of charging, the Pixel 3a XL has an advantage as well. The device offers 18W wired charging, while the Galaxy S10+ comes with 15W wired charging. Unlike the Pixel 3a XL, though, the Galaxy S10+ also includes 15W wireless charging, and 9W reverse wireless charging, if that’s something you care about.
Winner: Google Pixel 3a XL
Cameras
Both of these phones have extremely capable cameras, that’s for sure. The Google Pixel 3a XL probably has the very best camera in its category, as the pictures are very difficult to tell apart from those that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL flagships can produce, and those two phones are still amongst the best camera phones out there.
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ is also one of the best camera phones in the market, and truth be said, it does offer more versatility than the Pixel 3a XL, due to its wide-angle and telephoto lenses.
In regular light, these two phones are on par, to say the least, and we’re talking about simple point-and-shoot scenarios here. When it comes to low light, however, the Pixel 3a XL has a considerable edge, but only if you utilize its Night Sight mode for low light photography.
The Pixel 3a XL can produce considerably better images when there’s barely any light in an image, even though the Galaxy S10+ is no slouch in the low light department either. The Galaxy S10+ has an edge in the video department, though, they both shoot really solid video, but the Galaxy S10+ offers 4K video capture at 60fps.
Front-facing cameras on both devices are good, but nothing to write home about. So, what’s the gist here… the Pixel 3a XL is actually a better choice for most people, which is why we’ll give it a win here. The Galaxy S10+ is definitely not far behind, though, and if you’re not planning on taking many low light photos, and do a lot of videos, the Galaxy S10+ is a better choice.
Winner: Google Pixel 3a XL
Conclusion
Before we get to the conclusion itself, let’s just say that both devices offer stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Having said that, the audio output is better from the Galaxy S10+, though that is to be expected.
So, what is the better phone here? Well, if we look at them overall, the Galaxy S10+ takes the cake, as it should, it’s much more expensive and in a completely separate category of phones. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to save some cash, you don’t mind using a mid-range phone, and you want a really great camera, the Pixel 3a XL is a solid choice.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S10+