Samsung Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) vs Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Alpha vs Google Pixel 9a phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
4.7"
AMOLED
AMOLED
720x1280
12
MP
MP
2.1mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Quad-core
1860
mAh
mAh
(Removable)
vs
6.3"
POLED
POLED
1080x2424
48
MP
MP
13mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
5100
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
5 Advantages 
26 Advantages | 20 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus / PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| +13 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Model | Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) |
| Other model names | AT&T Samsung Galaxy Alpha S801 SM-G850A for USA | Google Pixel 9a G3Y12 |
| Country or region available |  USA |  Japan |
| Brand | Samsung | |
| Release date | 9/1/2014 | 4/10/2025, Announced: 3/19/2025 |
| Depth | 6.7 millimeters (0.26 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 65.5 x 132.4 millimeters (2.58 x 5.21 in) | 73.3 x 154.7 millimeters (2.89 x 6.09 in) |
| Weight | 115 grams (4.03 ounces) | 186 grams (6.51 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | P-OLED |
| Screen size | 4.7" inches | 6.3" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~70.2% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~83.9% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 720x1280 pixels | 1080x2424 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 312 PPI | 421 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 4 | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 120Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | 2700nits[peak] HDR8 Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| System version | Android 4.4.4 KitKat | Android 15 |
| Firmware update | Android 5.0.2 Lollipop | Android 16 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AC (28nm) | 64bit: Google Tensor G4 (4nm) |
| CPU | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 2.5GHz Krait 400 (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 3.1GHz ARM Cortex-X4 (Single-core) 3x 2.6GHz ARM Cortex-A720 (Triple-core) 4x 1.92GHz ARM Cortex-A520 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 330 578Mhz | ARM Mali-G715 MP7 (940MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | AnTuTu: 1030262 (v10) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 8GB LPDDR5X |
| Internal storage | 32GB (25GB available) | 256GB (220GB available) UFS 3.1 |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 150/50 Mbps | 3000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 | UMTS 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE 700/850/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,7,17) | LTE Cat24 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 28, 32, 66, 75) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 42) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78, 79) |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | UMTS 800/850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | LTE Cat24 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 28, 32, 66, 75) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 42) VoLTE |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 12 megapixels | (dual camera) 48 megapixels 13MP ultrawide f/2.2120°1/3.1"1.12µm |
| Main camera resolution | 4608x2592 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | Dual-LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/1.7 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 25mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | 1/2" inches |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 0.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video only main camera | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | 4K@30/60fps 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 2.1 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1920x1080 pixels | 4128x3096 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 20mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | 1/3.1" inches |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1.12µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Stereo sound |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.264, H.263, WMV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| USB | MicroUSB 2.0 | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | Not supported | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 5.3 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6E/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | feature not registered |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Fingerprint sensor Gyroscope Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 1860 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | 23W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | 7.5W Qi wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | 11 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (Swype), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black, Silver, White, Gold, Blue • USB OTG On-The-Go • Dual Shot camera (video + photo) • Fingerprint sensor (PayPal certified) • Dropbox 50GB • ANT+ support | • Colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, Peony • Google Cast • FeliCa |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850A) | Google Pixel 9a (G3Y12 256GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 1.25W/kg (head), 1.05W/kg (body) | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 0.4W/kg (head), 0.265W/kg (body) | 0.99W/kg (head), 1.39W/kg (body) |