Only the differences are shown. 27 specs stay the same.
Which models?
Google lists separate versions for some regions. Only eSIM and FeliCa differ.
+2you gain
−0you give up
Pixel 3 came out in October 2018. Pixel 3a came out in May 2019.
Note on Pixel 3: USD launch price not confirmed by Google.
Note on Pixel 3a: North America model lists eSIM ("Select markets").
Battery
2915 mAh → 3000 mAh
Screen
flexible OLED → OLED
5.6 in screen, 2220 x 1080
Charging & connections
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz + 5.0GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO → Wi-Fi 2.4G + 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO
USB-C USB 2.0, None, Yes
Price check
Pixel 3a launched at $399
Not currently sold refurbished by Back Market.
All 17 differences
Price1 unconfirmed
Price check
Pixel 3a — launched at $399
- Used on eBay
- Back Market does not currently list this model
What your Pixel 3 sells for
- Google Store Trade-In
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Launch price (US)
Price not confirmed by Google›$399
What does this mean?
What Google charged in the US when the phone launched, for the version with the least storage, before sales tax.
This is not what it costs today: check the used and refurbished links for current prices. If Google has not confirmed a price, the site shows "Price not confirmed by Google".
Battery1 gain · 1 unconfirmed
Battery capacity
2915 mAh›3000 mAh
What does this mean?
How much charge the battery holds, measured in mAh (milliamp-hours). Google lists a typical figure, its estimate from testing, and a lower minimum; we show the typical one.
A bigger number stores more energy, but how long a charge lasts also depends on which features you use. Google says Pixel 8a and later batteries are designed to keep at least 80% of their capacity for about 1,000 charge cycles when charged as Google recommends.
Battery life (Google's figure)
Not stated by Google›Up to 30 hours on a full charge
What does this mean?
Google's estimate of how many hours a full charge lasts, based on its own lab tests.
Google tests an average Pixel user's mix of calls, mobile data, standby, web browsing, audio and YouTube. Longer figures, such as "up to 100-hour", need Extreme Battery Saver, which turns off many features. Google notes your battery life may be lower.
Matters most if: You are often away from a charger all day.
Screen3 changes
Screen size
5.5 in›5.6 in
What does this mean?
The screen size, measured corner to corner (diagonally) in inches. 1 inch is 25.4 mm.
Google measures the screen as if its corners were square, so the visible area is a little smaller. On Fold models, this is the large inner screen; the outside screen has its own row.
Screen type
flexible OLED›OLED
What does this mean?
The type of screen. 'Actua', 'Super Actua' and 'Super Actua Flex' (the folding inner screen) are Google's own names; the panel type, such as OLED or LTPO OLED, is listed next to them.
The name alone does not tell you how bright or sharp a screen is, so compare the brightness, resolution and refresh rate rows.
Resolution
2160 x 1080›2220 x 1080
What does this mean?
How many dots (pixels) make up the screen, written as width x height.
On screens of the same size, more pixels show text and photos in finer detail. Fold models have one figure for the inner screen and one for the cover screen.
Refresh rate (most)
Not stated by Google (same on both)
What does this mean?
How many times per second the screen redraws the picture, in hertz (Hz). 120 Hz means up to 120 times a second.
A higher rate makes scrolling and switching apps look smoother. Google says a higher refresh rate uses more battery, and Battery Saver turns Smooth Display off.
Matters most if: You scroll social feeds, read long pages or play fast games.
Smooth Display
Not stated by Google (same on both)
What does this mean?
The range of refresh rates the screen moves between on its own, which Google calls Smooth Display. '1-120 Hz' means it can slow to once per second; '60-120 Hz' never drops below 60.
Google says the display adjusts automatically for viewing and battery performance, and higher rates use more battery.
Matters most if: You care about battery life as well as smooth scrolling.
Peak brightness
Not stated by Google (same on both)
What does this mean?
The brightest the screen can get, in nits (a unit of screen brightness; higher is brighter). Google measures this peak with only 5% of the screen's pixels lit.
Google says a high peak brightness makes the screen easy to see in direct sunlight. With the whole screen lit, Google lists a lower HDR figure, for example 2400 nits on Pixel 11 Pro against 3600 nits peak.
Matters most if: You use your phone outdoors a lot, such as for maps or photos in sunlight.
Design & buttons1 gain · 3 changes · 1 unconfirmed
Weight
148 g›147 g
What does this mean?
How much the phone weighs in grams (g); about 28 g is 1 ounce.
You feel the weight most when you hold the phone up for a long time, such as reading or filming. Google notes that weight can vary by configuration and manufacturing process.
Size (mm)
145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9›151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2
What does this mean?
The phone's size in millimeters (mm): height x width x depth (thickness). 25.4 mm is 1 inch.
Height and width tell you whether it fits your pocket and hand; depth is how thick it is. For Fold models, Google gives figures folded and unfolded.
Materials
Aluminum frame with hybrid coating; soft-touch glass back; Corning Gorilla Glass 5›Polycarbonate unibody
What does this mean?
What the outside of the phone is made of: the cover glass over the screen, the back and the frame around the edge.
Google names the glass type, such as Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Google says the phone isn't drop proof, and drop damage isn't covered under warranty.
Water and dust resistance
IP68›Not stated by Google
What does this mean?
A standard code for how well the phone keeps out dust and water. The first digit is dust (6 means dust-tight) and the second is water; IPX8, used on some Fold models, has a water rating only.
Google's guide says IP67 means fresh water up to 1 meter (about 3.3 feet) deep for 30 minutes, and IP68 deeper than 1 meter. Google still says not to take the phone into a pool, shower or bathtub, and that water resistance wears off over time.
Headphone jack
GainWhat does this mean?
Whether the phone has a 3.5 mm socket for wired headphones (the standard round headphone plug).
Google says all Pixel phones work with USB-C and Bluetooth headphones; on Pixels without the jack, a 3.5 mm plug needs an adapter.
Unlock
Fingerprint Unlock (on the back) (same on both)
What does this mean?
Ways to unlock the phone with your body instead of typing a PIN. Fingerprint Unlock reads your finger, and Face Unlock uses a model of your face stored on the phone.
Depending on the model, the fingerprint sensor is under the screen, in the power button (Pixel Fold) or on the back. Google says Face Unlock may not work in low light or with sunglasses, and may be less secure than a strong PIN.
Charging & connections4 changes
USB-C port
USB Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 1›USB-C USB 2.0
What does this mean?
The USB version Google lists for the phone's USB-C port, such as USB 3.2 on recent Pixels or USB 2.0 on Pixel 3a. It concerns moving data over a cable, such as copying files to a computer.
Google lists the version but no transfer speed. Charging speed is listed separately.
Wireless charging
Wireless charging (works with Qi-certified chargers)›None
What does this mean?
How fast the phone charges on a wireless charging pad, in W (watts). Pixels with wireless charging use Qi, a wireless charging standard.
The top speed usually needs a specific charger: for up to 25W on Pixel 11 phones, Google recommends its Pixelsnap Charger with a 35W or higher power adapter.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz + 5.0GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO›Wi-Fi 2.4G + 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMODifferent
What does this mean?
The Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. 6E and 7 can also use the 6 GHz band, which Google describes as less crowded.
Google says actual speeds also depend on your internet provider. On some models the Wi-Fi generation or the 6 GHz band depends on local rules, so availability varies by country or region.
Matters most if: You have, or plan to buy, a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router.
eSIM
select markets›Yes
What does this mean?
An eSIM is a digital SIM built into the phone: it connects you to your carrier without a SIM card. "Dual eSIM" means two eSIMs can be active at once, for example a work line and a personal line.
Whether you can use eSIM, or two at once, depends on your carrier. Availability varies by country or region.
Matters most if: You travel abroad or want two phone lines on one phone.
Wired charging
18w fast charging (same on both)
What does this mean?
How fast the phone charges with a cable. W (watts) measures how much power a charger delivers; for recent Pixels, Google states how much of the battery fills in about 30 minutes with a charger of a given wattage.
For example, Pixel 11 reaches up to 55% in about 30 minutes with a 30W or higher USB-C PPS charger. Recent Pixels come with a cable but no charger, and Google says real charging may be slower.
Matters most if: You often need a quick top-up before heading out.
Qi2 magnetic charging (Pixelsnap)
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Qi2 is a wireless charging standard with magnets that hold the charger in the right spot. Pixelsnap is Google's name for Qi2 magnets and accessories, from the Pixel 10 series (not Pixel 10a).
The charger snaps onto the back and lines itself up, and magnetic accessories attach the same way. With a case, use a Qi2-compatible one; Google says non-magnetic cases give weak or no attachment.
Matters most if: You want a charger or stand that snaps onto the phone.
Battery Share
Not confirmed (same on both)
What does this mean?
Battery Share lets the phone wirelessly charge another device, such as earbuds, placed on its back.
It works only with devices that support Qi wireless charging, and Google says it uses a lot of the Pixel's own battery. You can set a level at which it switches off.
Matters most if: You carry wireless earbuds and want to top them up away from a charger.
Bluetooth
5.0 + LE (same on both)
What does this mean?
Bluetooth connects wireless accessories, such as earbuds and watches, to the phone. The number Google lists, such as v5.3 or v6, is the Bluetooth version.
On Pixel 8 and later, two or more people can listen from the same phone on their own earbuds, but only with Bluetooth LE Audio models.
Ultra Wideband
Not confirmed (same on both)
What does this mean?
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a radio chip that measures how far away another UWB device is and in which direction. It only works with another device that also has UWB.
With a tracker tag that has UWB, such as Google's Pixel Tag, the Find Hub app can show distance and direction cues to find keys or a bag.
Matters most if: You use tracker tags to find keys or bags.
mmWave 5G
Not confirmed (same on both)
What does this mean?
mmWave ("millimeter wave") is a high-band type of 5G. The more common type, Sub-6, uses frequencies below 6 GHz. Only some versions of some Pixel models can use mmWave.
You need a carrier with mmWave 5G where you use the phone; the carrier's network decides which type the phone uses. Availability varies by country or region.
Matters most if: Your carrier offers mmWave 5G where you live or work.
SIM card slot
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
A tray for the nano SIM card from your carrier. Some regional versions have no tray and work only with eSIM.
With a tray, you can move the SIM card from your current phone instead of getting a new one. Availability varies by country or region.
Matters most if: Your carrier does not offer eSIM, or you often move a SIM card between phones.
FeliCa
Not confirmed (same on both)
What does this mean?
FeliCa is the contactless chip behind Osaifu-Keitai, the tap-to-pay service used in Japan for transit cards such as Suica and e-money such as WAON.
On Pixel 10 and earlier, including Pixel 10a, only the model sold in Japan has it; on Pixel 11 and later, Google says FeliCa turns on only if the phone's first setup is done on a Japanese mobile network.
Matters most if: You live in Japan, or want to use Suica or other Osaifu-Keitai services.
Chip & storage2 changes
Chip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845›Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
What does this mean?
The main processor: the part that runs apps, camera processing and on-device AI. Pixel 6 and later use Google's own Google Tensor chips; earlier Pixels used Qualcomm Snapdragon chips.
Tensor generations are numbered, from the first Tensor in Pixel 6 to Tensor G6 in Pixel 11. A newer phone can have an older chip: Pixel 10a uses Tensor G4, the chip in Pixel 9.
Matters most if: You are choosing between an "a" model and a main model from the same year.
Storage options
64 GB, 128 GB›64 GB
What does this mean?
How much space the phone has for apps, photos, videos and files, in GB (gigabytes) or TB (terabytes; 1 TB is 1,000 GB).
Each storage size is sold at its own price, so pick enough for the photos and videos you keep on the phone. You get less usable space than the number shown, because Google lists capacity before formatting.
Security chip
Titan M (same on both)
What does this mean?
A separate chip that guards your lock screen passcode and the keys that unlock your data. Titan M started on Pixel 3; Titan M2 came with Pixel 6 and Titan M3 with Pixel 11.
Google says it limits how many passcode guesses someone can try, making a lost or stolen phone hard to unlock, and stops attempts to roll Android back to an older version that may have security holes.
RAM
4 GB (same on both)
What does this mean?
RAM is the phone's short-term working memory for the apps running right now, measured in GB (gigabytes).
More RAM lets more apps stay open in the background. RAM is separate from storage, which holds your apps, photos and files. On some Pixels it depends on the storage size: Pixel 11 Pro has 12 GB with 256 GB of storage and 16 GB with 512 GB or 1 TB.
What's new
RSS feedAdded Google Pixel and iPhone vs Pixel comparisons
Pixel phones checked against Google's Pixel phone hardware tech specs page, with a page for each model and a switch for models Google sells in separate versions for the US, Japan and the rest of the world. iPhone vs Pixel pages compare only what both makers publish, in each maker's own words, and you can pick a phone from the other maker on the iPhone and Pixel tabs.
iPhone Diff is now Device Diff
The site now compares iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods, so it has a new name. Every page keeps its address.
Added Apple Watch and AirPods
Apple Watch and AirPods models checked against Apple's tech specs pages, with comparisons that show only what changes, a page for each model, and their model numbers in Find my model. Apple Watch pages say which iPhone each watch works with; AirPods pages say what the hearing and translation features need. Older models appear on the timeline.