Apple iPhone X vs Google Pixel 7a
The Verdict
iPhone X and Pixel 7a occupy different eras of smartphone technology, yet both remain capable devices. iPhone X delivers a premium build with stainless steel frame and glass back, paired with the A11 Bionic chip that still handles everyday tasks smoothly despite being several generations old. Its 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display offers 625 nits brightness and crisp visuals at 2436 x 1125 resolution. Camera quality is excellent with dual 12MP sensors, optical image stabilization, and 2x telephoto zoom, though video is capped at 4K 60fps. Battery capacity of 2716 mAh limits longevity, and the lack of USB-C feels dated. Pixel 7a modernizes the experience significantly with Android 13, a larger 6.1-inch OLED screen reaching 1400 nits brightness, 90Hz refresh rate, and superior connectivity including 5G and Wi-Fi 6E. The Tensor G2 processor matches current performance standards, and 8GB RAM versus iPhone X's 3GB makes multitasking noticeably smoother. Pixel 7a's 64MP main camera with computational photography excellence and 13MP ultrawide provide practical versatility. Battery capacity nearly doubles at 4385 mAh. At $499 versus $999, Pixel 7a delivers substantially better value with modern specs, longer software support potential, and 5G readiness. iPhone X appeals primarily to existing Apple ecosystem users; otherwise, Pixel 7a is the smarter choice.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone X if…
- →Revolutionary edge-to-edge OLED display design
- →Face ID introduced biometric innovation
- →Wireless charging support
Buy the Google Pixel 7a if…
- →Flagship Tensor G2 chip at mid-range price
- →64 MP main camera greatly improved over Pixel 6a
- →Five years of OS and security updates
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone X
Pros
- Revolutionary edge-to-edge OLED display design
- Face ID introduced biometric innovation
- Wireless charging support
- Premium stainless steel and glass build
- Animoji with TrueDepth camera
Cons
- First-gen Face ID was slower than Touch ID
- Notch design was polarizing
- $999 starting price was unprecedented
- No headphone jack or adapter in box
- Fragile all-glass construction
Google Pixel 7a
Pros
- Flagship Tensor G2 chip at mid-range price
- 64 MP main camera greatly improved over Pixel 6a
- Five years of OS and security updates
- Wireless charging added vs previous generation
- Compact and easy to use one-handed
Cons
- Only one storage option (128 GB)
- Slow 18W wired charging
- Plastic back feels less premium than glass
- No telephoto camera
- 90Hz capped (not adaptive)
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone X | Google Pixel 7a |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 193.5 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 3 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 64 MP, f/1.89, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Ultrawide | — | 13 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2716 mAh | 4385 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 7.5W (Qi) |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Google Tensor G2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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