Google announced the Pixel 3a and 3a XL at the beginning of its I/O developer conference on 7 May, finally making the mid-range devices official after months of rumours.

How do they compare to each other though? We've put the specifications for the Pixel 3a up against the Pixel 3a XL to see how they differ and what's the same.

You can also read how they compare to the Pixel 3 and 3 XL in our separate feature.

What's the same?

  • Design
  • Polycarbonate body
  • Camera capabilities
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Processor, RAM, storage

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL both come with Active Edge squeezable sides like the current Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, and the two devices have a colourful power button, a two tone rear and a single rear camera lens.

Both run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670, supported by 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage and both come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The two devices also both feature polycarbonate bodies.

They come with the same cameras and camera features as each other, with a 12.2-megapixel rear snapper and an 8-megapixel front snapper, and they both run Android Pie

Google pixel 3a

What's different between the Pixel 3a and 3a XL?

Despite the Pixel 3a and 3a XL offering a similar appearance, there are several differences between the two devices.

Size

  • Pixel 3a: 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2mm, 147g
  • Pixel 3a XL: 160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2mm, 167g

The Pixel 3a is measures 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2mm and weighs 147g, while the Pixel 3a XL measures 160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2mm and weighs 20g more. Given the names though, it is unsurprising the Pixel 3a XL is larger and heavier.

Display

  • Pixel 3a: 5.56-inch, Full HD+, 18.5:9, 441ppi
  • Pixel 3a XL: 6-inch, Full HD+, 18:9, 401ppi

The Pixel 3a comes with a 5.56-inch display, while the Pixel 3a XL has a larger 6-inch display.

Both devices feature bezels at the top and bottom of the display, though the Pixel 3a has a slightly taller aspect ratio at 18.5:9 compared to the 3a XL's 18:9.

Both feature Full HD+ resolutions, which means the Pixel 3a has a slightly sharper screen overall at 441ppi compared to the Pixel 3a XL's 401ppi.

Battery

  • Pixel 3a: 3000mAh battery
  • Pixel 3a XL: 3700mAh battery

The Pixel 3a comes with a 3000mAh battery capacity, while the Pixel 3a XL has a 3700mAh battery capacity.

Both offer fast charging, with up to 7 hours use in 15 minutes of charge, but neither have wireless charging.

Price

  • Pixel 3a: £399
  • Pixel 3a XL: £469

The Pixel 3a will cost £399 in the UK, with the Pixel 3a XL costing a little more at £469. Both are available in Just Black, Clearly White and Purple-ish colour options and both ship with a fast charger.

google pixel 3a xl

Conclusion

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are almost identical in design, aside from their physical size, and they both offer the same pure Android software experience, as the current Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

They differ in terms of price by £70, along with display size, and the Pixel 3a XL has a larger battery capacity.

Otherwise though, the two devices deliver all the same features, including RAM, processor, storage and camera capabilities so the decision comes down to how much you want to spend and how big you want your device.