LIM Center, Aleje Jerozolimskie 65/79, 00-697 Warsaw, Poland
+48 (22) 364 58 00
[email protected]

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy A55 vs OnePlus Nord 4: Mid-Range Smartphone Showdown

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy A55 vs OnePlus Nord 4: Mid-Range Smartphone Showdown

0
Pixel 8a vs Galaxy A55 vs OnePlus Nord 4: Mid-Range Smartphone Showdown

Looking for a feature-packed phone without the flagship price? The Google Pixel 8a, Samsung Galaxy A55, and OnePlus Nord 4 are three mid-range contenders that promise premium experiences on a budget. Each brings its own strengths in design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, and software. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll pit the Pixel 8a against Samsung’s Galaxy A55 and OnePlus’s Nord 4 to see which mid-range champ comes out on top – and peek at what’s next with their upcoming successors. Spoiler: these $400–$500 phones nearly nail the flagship experience in their own ways androidauthority.com. Let’s dive in!

Design and Build Quality

Google’s Pixel 8a continues the Pixel family’s signature look with a camera bar (now more of a nub) and a “pebble-like” rounded design that sits comfortably in one hand androidauthority.com. It features a lightweight aluminum frame but uses a plastic composite back and Gorilla Glass 3 on the front androidauthority.com. The materials aren’t ultra-premium – Google opted for grippy matte plastic over glass – but the phone feels solid, is IP67 water-resistant, and avoids fingerprint smudges. At 150.5×70.8×8.9mm and 187g, the Pixel is the most compact of the trio mobiles.co.uk, great for portability.

Samsung’s Galaxy A55 steps up the build with a sleek metal-and-glass chassis. It has a flat brushed aluminum frame and both front and back panels protected by tough Gorilla Glass Victus+, making it look and feel more high-end notebookcheck.net. The design echoes Samsung’s flagship S-series – no camera island, just three lenses protruding individually (yes, it wobbles on a table) notebookcheck.net. Despite the big 6.6-inch screen, Samsung trimmed the bezels for an ~86% screen-to-body ratio notebookcheck.net. At 161.1×77.4×8.2mm and a hefty 213g notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net, the A55 is larger and heavier than the Pixel, but it too carries an IP67 rating for dust/water resistance notebookcheck.net. Fans will appreciate the hybrid dual SIM tray with microSD expansion, a feature neither the Pixel nor OnePlus offer notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net.

The OnePlus Nord 4 strikes a bold style with its all-metal exterior – a rarity in this price class. It boasts an aluminum frame and metal rear panel (with a cool two-tone finish on some colors), giving it a sturdy, polished feel techradar.com. OnePlus even brought back the beloved alert slider on the Nord 4, letting you toggle silent/vibrate/ring with a flick of a switch – a handy touch missing on the Pixel and Samsung techradar.com. In size, the Nord sits between its rivals: 162.6×75×8.0mm, 199.5g techradar.com. It’s big, but the curved edges and balanced weight make it comfortable to handle. The trade-off? A slightly lower IP65 rating (fine for splashes, but not full submersion) techradar.com techradar.com. Overall, the Nord 4 dazzles with its premium metal build and unique design flair, while the Galaxy A55 feels the most flagship-like with glass and aluminum, and the Pixel 8a prioritizes one-handed comfort and a playful aesthetic.

Display Specifications and Performance

All three phones deliver vibrant OLED displays, but they differ in size and specs:

  • Google Pixel 8a: 6.1-inch OLED, 2400×1080 (FHD+) resolution, up to 120Hz refresh. Despite being the smallest screen here, it’s sharp and smooth. Google finally bumped the A-series to 120Hz, making scrolling and animations feel fluid mobiles.co.uk mobiles.co.uk. Reviewers note the Pixel’s colors are punchy and contrast-rich, and it even supports HDR content mobiles.co.uk. Impressively, the Pixel 8a can hit ~2000 nits peak brightness, ensuring visibility in sunny conditions droid-life.com. One quirk: out of the box it’s set to 60Hz to save battery – you’ll have to enable the high refresh rate manually androidauthority.com. The screen is flat and protected by older Gorilla Glass 3, which is less scratch-resistant than its rivals’ glass. Overall it’s an excellent panel for a “budget” Pixel, with only minor downsides like off-angle color shift and just-average indoor brightness droid-life.com.
  • Samsung Galaxy A55: 6.6-inch Super AMOLED, 2340×1080 resolution (FHD+), 120Hz. Samsung is known for its displays, and the A55 doesn’t disappoint – it’s large, colorful, and smooth. The screen supports HDR10+ and is guarded by Gorilla Victus+ glass for durability notebookcheck.net. Blacks are inky deep, and colors can be tuned from vivid to natural. Samsung advertises about 1200–1300 nits peak brightness (and independent tests measured ~1000+ nits), which is plenty bright for outdoor use. In fact, the A55’s display calibration is very accurate in Natural mode notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. With a slightly bigger canvas and slim bezels, the Galaxy is great for media and gaming. The in-display optical fingerprint sensor resides here as well (as on the Pixel). Users and reviewers have praised the A55’s screen as “bright, color-accurate, and smooth”, on par with some pricier phones reddit.com.
  • OnePlus Nord 4: 6.74-inch AMOLED, 2772×1240 resolution (often called “1.5K”), 120Hz adaptive. The Nord’s display is the largest and highest-resolution of the trio techradar.com, ideal for those who want a phablet-like experience. It offers slightly more pixels (≈450 ppi) for extra clarity. OnePlus claims a 2150 nits peak brightness, which is extremely high techradar.com – though in practice the screen never appeared quite that bright in tests, it’s still excellent in daylight. Colors are vibrant and it supports HDR10+. The Nord 4 also has a neat trick: “Aqua Touch”, which lets you use the touchscreen with wet fingers (e.g. in rain or after washing hands) – and it works surprisingly well techradar.com techradar.com. The display is nearly edge-to-edge with a tiny punch-hole camera, making the viewing experience immersive. Like the others, it refreshes at 120Hz for silky animations. With its big, bold panel, the Nord 4 is perfect for streaming video or gaming, though one-handed use is a stretch. (Fun fact: the newer Nord 5 switches to an even faster 144Hz display, but actually shrinks to 6.38 inches androidauthority.com androidauthority.com – the Nord 4 remains the “big screen” option in this lineup.)

Display verdict: The Pixel 8a offers a compact but high-quality screen with the highest peak brightness droid-life.com, the Galaxy A55 brings Samsung’s renowned AMOLED tech on a spacious 6.6″ canvas, and the Nord 4 provides the biggest and highest-res display with some innovative features (wet-touch). All are 1080p 120Hz OLEDs, so you’re getting punchy colors and smooth motion on each. Heavy media consumers might gravitate to the Nord’s expansive 6.74″, while those who prefer a smaller phone will love the Pixel’s pocket-friendly 6.1″.

Processor, RAM, and Performance

Under the hood, these phones have very different silicon powering them. Google’s Pixel 8a is unique for packing a flagship-grade Tensor G3 chip – the same processor used in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro – while Samsung uses its in-house Exynos mid-range SoC, and OnePlus opts for a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip designed for upper mid-range devices. Here’s how they compare:

  • Google Pixel 8a – Tensor G3 (8GB RAM): Google’s Tensor G3 is a 5nm chip focused on AI smarts and image processing. In raw horsepower it’s not quite on par with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen processors, but in a $499 phone it’s impressive androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. In fact, the Pixel 8a can “put up a pretty good fight” against even more expensive phones in benchmarks androidauthority.com. CPU performance lands in the upper-mid-tier, and GPU performance is decent for 3D games (similar to a last-gen flagship). In use, the Pixel 8a feels snappy: apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth with 8GB RAM, and the 120Hz display adds to the perception of speed droid-life.com droid-life.com. In real-world testing, reviewers noted the Pixel 8a handled everything from social apps to games like Pokémon GO without major slowdowns – “a solid performer, probably nothing more” droid-life.com droid-life.com. The Tensor G3 can get warm under heavy load, but Google improved thermals so it rarely throttles in normal use androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Where Tensor shines is AI and machine learning tasks: the Pixel leverages this for features like Call Assist, on-device speech recognition, and photo editing magic. Bottom line: the Pixel 8a feels fast for everyday use, though its chip is tuned more for intelligent features than for topping benchmark charts androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. (And indeed, in pure CPU tests the Pixel 8a’s chip scored higher in single-core than the others tomsguide.com, but a bit behind the Nord in multi-core.)
  • Samsung Galaxy A55 – Exynos 1480 (8GB RAM): The A55 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1480, an octa-core chip built on a 4nm process. It’s a direct successor to 2023’s Exynos 1380, with small upgrades: higher clock speeds on the CPU and notably a new AMD Xclipse 530 GPU, making it “the first mid-range chipset with an AMD GPU” androidauthority.com. In benchmarks, the Exynos 1480 showed about a 19–21% boost in multi-core CPU performance over the A54’s chip androidauthority.com. However, when stacked against the Pixel 8a and OnePlus Nord (and other rivals), the A55’s processor still lags behind its closest rivals – the Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R (a cousin of the Nord) in CPU and graphics scores androidauthority.com. For example, in Geekbench 6 the A55’s multi-core score is ~3,464 versus 4,093 for Pixel 8a and 4,275 for Nord 4 tomsguide.com. And in graphics tests, the Pixel’s GPU and Nord’s Adreno GPU easily outpace the Exynos (OnePlus gets roughly 3× the 3DMark score of the A55) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. But specs aren’t everything: in day-to-day use, the Galaxy A55 still feels smooth and capable. Android Authority noted “I had no problems with real-world performance” – UI navigation, multitasking, and even games like Genshin Impact ran fine at low-to-medium settings androidauthority.com. The A55’s GPU is a step up from last year, enabling some surprising gaming ability (even PS2 emulators ran mostly smooth) androidauthority.com. It also holds up well under sustained load with 99% stability in a 20-minute stress test (minimal throttling) androidauthority.com. So, while the Galaxy A55 is “far from the most powerful mid-range phone,” it “performed surprisingly well with some demanding apps” androidauthority.com. It’s perfectly fine for everyday apps, social media, and casual gaming, but power users will notice it’s a notch slower than Pixel’s Tensor or OnePlus’s Snapdragon in heavy tasks.
  • OnePlus Nord 4 – Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (12GB RAM): OnePlus built the Nord 4 for speed. It uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, a mouthful of a name for a chip that punches above its class. In fact, in some benchmarks the Nord 4’s chip beats Samsung’s Exynos 1480 easily and trades blows with Google’s Tensor. Tom’s Guide tests showed the Nord 4 outscoring the Galaxy A55 by a wide margin in CPU and GPU metrics tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. For instance, Nord 4’s Geekbench multi-core (~4275) is about 23% higher than the A55’s, and its 3DMark graphics result is 3039 vs just 905 for the A55 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Compared to the Pixel 8a, the Nord’s Snapdragon trails slightly in single-core but edges out the Pixel in multi-core performance tomsguide.com. Translation: the Nord 4 is a horse for the money. OnePlus paired it with ample RAM (12GB on the base model, with some markets even getting 16GB) for smooth multitasking tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. In real life, this means the Nord 4 flies through apps and games. It’s “lots of processing power” according to TechRadar techradar.com, and the phone’s motto could be “performance first.” Whether you’re browsing, messaging, or playing graphic-intensive titles, the Nord keeps up without stutters. Plus, the Nord 4’s thermals are well-managed – even extended gaming doesn’t cause major lag or overheating. It lacks the specialized AI silicon of Google’s chip, but for raw speed the Snapdragon is king here. One caveat: no U.S. 5G support on the Nord 4 (since it’s not officially sold in North America) – it will only get 4G LTE if imported, due to band differences. In Europe and Asia, 5G works normally. But on supported networks, all three phones offer sub-6 GHz 5G connectivity as standard.

Overall, the Pixel 8a and Nord 4 feel a step faster than the Galaxy A55 under heavy use. As one review put it, “The Nord’s Snapdragon chip easily beats the Exynos 1480… but the Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3 still wins in some CPU tests” tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. For everyday tasks, all three are smooth operators. The Pixel focuses on AI features and consistency, the Samsung prioritizes efficiency and stability, and the OnePlus delivers sheer speed and gaming prowess. If you want the best gaming and multitasking performance, the Nord 4’s extra horsepower and RAM give it an edge. For the smartest AI features and a balanced approach, the Pixel 8a excels. And the Galaxy A55 sits in the middle – reliable for general use, if not a benchmark beast.

Camera Setup and Features

All three phones come with dual or triple rear camera setups, but Google and Samsung take very different approaches to imaging, while OnePlus pares things down. Here’s an overview:

  • Pixel 8a Cameras: Dual rear cameras – 64MP f/1.9 main (with OIS) and 13MP ultrawide, plus a 13MP front camera mobiles.co.uk mobiles.co.uk. Google is famous for getting incredible results from modest camera hardware thanks to its computational photography. The Pixel 8a actually carries the same camera hardware as the previous Pixel 7a, but that’s not a bad thing. In testing, its 64MP main shooter produced images rich in detail and balanced in contrast, often indistinguishable from the much pricier Pixel 8 in everyday shots droid-life.com droid-life.com. Low-light performance is excellent too – Night Sight mode captures bright, sharp photos in dark scenes that outclass most mid-range competitors androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. There’s no telephoto lens, but the Pixel leverages the high-res sensor for up to 8× Super Res Zoom digitally, with decent results up to 2–4× zoom droid-life.com androidauthority.com. The ultrawide at 13MP does a good job for landscapes or group shots, maintaining similar color and exposure as the main camera. Selfies are handled by a wide-angle 13MP front cam that avoids gimmicky beautification and delivers natural-looking shots. Where the Pixel 8a really shines is software: it’s packed with Google’s AI camera features. You get Magic Eraser for removing unwanted objects, Best Take for combining group photos so everyone looks their best, Photo Unblur to salvage blurry snaps, Long Exposure and Action Pan for creative effects, and the new Magic Editor that uses AI to let you “change the time of day or remove subjects” in photos mobiles.co.uk mobiles.co.uk. It’s one of the most feature-packed camera phones in its class mobiles.co.uk. And crucially, the image quality is top-notch: photos have that trademark Pixel look – punchy colors (but not overdone), wide dynamic range, and excellent detail even at night. As Droid-Life noted, the Pixel 8a’s camera “probably punches above its weight” for this price droid-life.com. Simply put, if camera quality is your priority, the Pixel 8a is hard to beat in the mid-range segment.
  • Galaxy A55 Cameras: Triple rear cameras – 50MP f/1.8 main (OIS), 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and a high-res 32MP selfie camera notebookcheck.net. Samsung equipped the A55 with a versatile array similar to the prior A54. In good lighting, the 50MP main sensor (which bins to 12.5MP by default) can capture detailed shots. Colors tend to be vibrant – sometimes too vibrant, as one review pointed out that the A55 can oversaturate to “a ridiculous degree,” making scenes look more neon than real androidauthority.com. Samsung’s image processing leans toward bright, punchy output, whereas Google aims for realism. The A55’s ultrawide (12MP) is handy for fitting more in frame, though it’s a step down in quality from the main camera – fine for daylight, softer in low light. The 5MP macro lens is more of a toy; it lets you get super close-ups, but at a low resolution and without autofocus its results are hit-or-miss. As for low-light photography, the Galaxy A55 is decent but not class-leading. It has a dedicated Night Mode, which you’ll want to use – because without it the main camera’s evening shots can be dark and noisy. Samsung did improve the night shutter lag that plagued earlier models (less waiting around holding the phone steady) androidauthority.com. Still, the Pixel’s Night Sight is faster and yields brighter images in extreme dark scenes. Portrait mode on the A55 is mediocre; edge detection can be iffy (Samsung’s depth processing isn’t perfect, often blurring or haloing near the subject) androidauthority.com. On the plus side, the 32MP front camera takes very sharp selfies – almost too sharp by default – though you can tone it down. Overall, the Galaxy A55 is a “decent camera phone for the price, but it can’t match the Pixel 8a” in consistency or low-light prowess androidauthority.com. It wins on offering an extra ultrawide and macro lens for versatility. Casual shooters will get bright, Instagram-ready photos from the A55, especially in daylight. But if you scrutinize image quality, you’ll notice the Pixel 8a’s advantage in dynamic range and more natural color rendering.
  • OnePlus Nord 4 Cameras: Dual rear cameras – 50MP f/1.8 main (OIS) and 8MP ultrawide, plus a 16MP selfie camera techradar.com. OnePlus actually kept it simple: there’s no depth or macro gimmick here, just two usable rear cameras. The 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX890 or similar) is quite capable – it’s the same resolution as found on some OnePlus flagships. In good light, the Nord 4’s main shooter delivers crisp images with nice bokeh thanks to OIS and a wide aperture. Colors are relatively natural (OnePlus doesn’t boost saturation as much as Samsung). However, the Nord’s cameras are probably its weakest link compared to Pixel and Samsung. Tom’s Guide noted that “if it weren’t for the mixed quality of its photos… [the Nord 4] would be the best in its category” tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The primary camera is solid, but the 8MP ultrawide is a clear downgrade – it captures much less detail and struggles in low light. And with no telephoto, zooming beyond 2× is all digital. The Nord 4 also lacks the kind of advanced image processing that Google and Samsung have; night shots are okay with Night Mode, but not as bright or detailed as the Pixel’s. OnePlus’s camera app does include fun modes like Long Exposure and Dual-View Video, but not the AI tricks of the Pixel. The front 16MP camera is serviceable for selfies and video calls, though it’s nothing to write home about (and no autofocus on it). In short, the Nord 4’s cameras are “usable, but not spectacular” – great for quick snaps, but they won’t outshine a Pixel. OnePlus seems aware of this and focused the Nord 4 more on performance and battery. If your camera usage is casual, the Nord will do just fine. But avid photographers will notice the Nord 4 trails behind: the Galaxy A55 and especially the Pixel 8a produce superior photos in most scenarios. (Interestingly, OnePlus’s just-launched Nord 5 sticks with a similar 50MP+8MP rear setup, but upgrades the selfie camera to a whopping 50MP with autofocus androidauthority.com. It also adds some generative AI photo features. So OnePlus is trying to catch up on the camera front in its next-gen model.)

Camera features & verdict: Google’s Pixel 8a clearly leads in camera software and consistency – it’s essentially bringing flagship Pixel photography to the mid-range mobiles.co.uk. Samsung’s A55 offers more lenses and fun shooting modes, but can be inconsistent (over-saturated colors, middling portraits) androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. OnePlus Nord 4 keeps things straightforward with a good main camera and basic ultrawide, but nothing fancy. If we rank overall camera prowess: Pixel 8a comes out on top (many reviewers rank Pixels among the best camera phones at any price mobiles.co.uk), Galaxy A55 second (versatile but not Pixel-level results), and Nord 4 third (fine for everyday shots, but clearly behind the other two in challenging conditions tomsguide.com tomsguide.com). That said, all three can take perfectly shareable photos and 4K videos in decent light. Just know the Pixel will more often get the shot right on the first try, no matter the scene.

Battery Life and Charging Speeds

Smartphone buyers increasingly care about battery endurance and how fast they can recharge. Here’s how these three compare:

  • Pixel 8a: Battery capacity 4,575 mAh. In real-world use, the Pixel 8a can “last a full day of general use” comfortably mobiles.co.uk. Reviewers found that even with 3-4 hours of screen-on time, the Pixel 8a typically ended the day around ~30% remaining droid-life.com. That means for most users (social media, messaging, some video, some GPS) it’s all-day reliable. The Tensor G3 chip and efficient OLED help stretch the battery despite the relatively small size. It’s not a two-day phone, but “even for heavier users, you’ll get through to the night” droid-life.com. In battery drain tests, the Pixel 8a actually outlasted its predecessor thanks to optimization – beating the Pixel 7a in video playback and web browsing tests by a notable margin androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Where the Pixel 8a falters is charging speed. It supports only 18W wired charging (USB PD), and in tests took about 100 minutes to fully charge the battery – which is “atrociously slow” by today’s standards androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. There is Qi wireless charging on the Pixel 8a (unusual for a mid-ranger), but it’s also slow (~7.5W). Google apparently isn’t playing the fast-charge game here. So expect the Pixel to charge from 0–50% in roughly 30-40 minutes and to 100% in around 1 hour 40 minutes androidauthority.com. If you top up overnight or don’t mind incremental charging, it’s fine – but in a pinch, the Pixel is the slowest of the bunch to juice up.
  • Galaxy A55: Battery capacity 5,000 mAh. Samsung packed the largest battery of the three, and it shows. The A55 can easily go beyond a day – many users report getting a day and a half on moderate use androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. In testing, one could achieve well over 9 hours of screen-on time doing typical tasks (web browsing, video, apps), indicating strong endurance androidauthority.com. The efficient 5nm chip and Samsung’s optimizations (plus adaptive refresh rate management) keep the A55 chugging along. Essentially, battery life on the Galaxy A55 is excellent for its class, roughly on par with the A54 which was already a battery champ. You can likely leave the charger at home for a weekend day outing with the A55. As for charging, the Galaxy supports 25W wired fast charging (using USB-C PD PPS). This is an improvement over Google’s 18W, but not nearly as fast as many Chinese brands. A full charge takes around 80–85 minutes androidauthority.com – better than Pixel, but not blazing. In 30 minutes you’ll get roughly 50% filled. Unfortunately, Samsung no longer includes a charger in the box, so you’ll need a compatible adapter to reach 25W. And there’s no wireless charging on the A55 (Samsung reserves that for higher models). The good news: the A55’s large battery means you may not need to charge it as often. It also supports battery protection modes (to limit max charge to 85% for longevity) and decent standby drain. In sum: endurance king among these three, with charging that’s merely okay.
  • OnePlus Nord 4: Battery capacity 5,500 mAh. Yes, OnePlus somehow crammed an even bigger battery than Samsung, and the results are outstanding. The Nord 4’s battery life is “outstanding” – Tom’s Guide literally said the big, long-lasting battery could have “bards write songs about” its longevity tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. In a demanding battery test (running a graphics stress test on loop), the Nord 4 lost the least percentage of battery among its peers – only around ~15% in the test, vs 18% on Pixel 8a and 22% on Galaxy A55 tomsguide.com. That hints at how well it can sustain heavy use. For day-to-day, many users report 8-10+ hours screen time easily, and the phone often stretches into a second day if you’re light on usage. It’s safe to say the Nord 4 has multi-day battery potential for moderate users. OnePlus also put a focus on battery health: they claim the Nord 4 will retain 80% capacity after 4 years of use – a good sign for longevity tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. When you do need to recharge, the Nord 4 blows the others out of the water: it supports 100W SUPERVOOC charging (OnePlus’s trademark fast charge). With the appropriate charger (and cable), the Nord 4 can go from 0 to ~71% in just 15 minutes, and 100% in about 29 minutes as tested tomsguide.com. That’s insanely fast – basically plug in while you shower or have a quick breakfast, and you’ve got a full day’s charge. One catch: unlike some earlier OnePlus phones, the charger is not included in the box for the Nord 4 in many regions tomsguide.com. You’d need to buy OnePlus’s 100W charger to achieve those speeds. Also, there’s no wireless charging on the Nord. Still, the combination of a huge battery and ultra-fast wired charging makes the Nord 4 an endurance beast. It’s the phone that can keep going and, when finally drained, refuel in the blink of an eye.

In summary, for battery life: the OnePlus Nord 4 takes the crown with its enormous 5500 mAh cell delivering two-day longevity for many and record-low drain under stress tomsguide.com. The Galaxy A55 is close behind, offering rock-solid all-day-and-then-some endurance from its 5000 mAh pack androidauthority.com. The Pixel 8a, with ~4575 mAh, reliably lasts a full day but not much more – it’s good, just not a marathon runner mobiles.co.uk. For charging: the Nord 4 is in a different league (100W) – it’s nearly four times faster than the Pixel, and over 3× faster than the Samsung in reaching full charge androidauthority.com tomsguide.com. Samsung’s 25W is middling but acceptable, while Google’s 18W feels slow in 2025 standards. If you value not just battery life but also fast top-ups, the Nord 4 is the clear winner.

Software Experience and Updates

Software can make or break a smartphone experience. Here we have stock Android versus heavily customized skins, and differing philosophies on updates and extra features:

  • Google Pixel 8a Software: Runs Android 14 (Pixel UI) out of the box, and as a Pixel, it’s the pure Google experience. That means a clean interface, Material You theming, and Pixel-exclusive features baked in. Notably, the Pixel 8a comes with Google’s full suite of AI-powered features found on the Pixel 8 series droid-life.com. You get Call Screen to have Google Assistant handle spam calls, Hold for Me and Call Assist to make phone trees less painful, Live Translate for real-time translations, and smart voice typing on Gboard. The Pixel’s UI is fluid and uncluttered – no duplicate apps or bloatware here. One reviewer raved that “notifications work best on Pixel phones, settings make sense and won’t overwhelm, and you can customize home/lock screens easily” droid-life.com droid-life.com. It’s a very polished software experience focused on simplicity and “it just works” reliability. Even haptics and little touches (Now Playing song ID on the lockscreen, At a Glance widget, etc.) add to the delight. Crucially, Google absolutely leads in software updates now. The Pixel 8a is promised 7 years of OS updates and security patches – an unprecedented support window droid-life.com. That means it will get Android 15, 16, 17… all the way through Android 20 or 21, plus Feature Drops each quarter adding new capabilities droid-life.com. For a $500 phone, that’s unbeatable and even outlasts some pricier flagships. Owning a Pixel 8a means you’re first in line for new Android versions and features for a very long time. The only critiques one might have: the Pixel’s UI is so minimal that power users may find it lacking some customization (though Android 14 does allow themed icons, etc.), and the 7-year update promise is so new that it’s yet to be seen how later years’ performance holds up. But Google is clearly confident – as one writer put it, Pixel’s update support is “unrivaled” androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Overall, Pixel 8a provides a smooth, “stock+” Android experience with useful AI additions and the best update policy on the market.
  • Samsung Galaxy A55 Software (One UI 6.1): The Galaxy A55 runs Samsung’s One UI 6.1 atop Android 14 androidauthority.com. One UI is almost the opposite of Pixel’s approach – it’s highly customized, feature-rich, and yes, comes with some bloat. On the plus side, One UI offers tons of functionality: an always-on display with customization, Samsung’s Edge Panels for shortcuts, theming options, a robust camera app with many modes, Samsung DeX support (not sure if A55 supports wired/wireless DeX, but many A-series do support some form of screen casting), and so on. It’s a cohesive experience especially if you’re in the Samsung ecosystem (seamless with Galaxy buds, watches, etc.). Performance on One UI 6.1 is smooth on the A55 – animations are mostly fluid thanks to 120Hz, though it may not feel quite as “light” as Pixel’s UI. Samsung has also started dabbling in AI features, but the A55 doesn’t get the fancy generative AI tools that flagship S24 series has androidauthority.com. It’s mostly standard Android 14 stuff with Samsung’s twist. The downside: bloatware. The A55 comes with a slew of pre-installed apps and duplicates – Samsung’s own gallery, browser, calendar, etc. alongside Google’s, plus preloaded Facebook, Netflix, Spotify, Microsoft apps, and even some suggested games androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. While you can disable many, it’s an annoyance. There’s also the notorious Samsung setup where you have to skip recommended apps (the “Candy Crush moment”) – “you’ll have to untick several apps, but the phone will still install several games whether you like it or not” androidauthority.com. This bloat and setup spam is something reviewers have criticized: “Samsung needs to dial back the bloatware” androidauthority.com. If you can get past that, One UI itself is very polished and user-friendly once configured. Importantly, Samsung offers a strong update commitment too: the Galaxy A55 is slated to receive 4 major Android OS updates and 5 years of security patches androidauthority.com tomsguide.com. That means launching on Android 14, it will get up to Android 18, with security updates into 2029. While that’s not Pixel-level, it’s “a great update pledge for a mid-range phone” androidauthority.com, and better than most non-Google brands. Samsung has been consistent with timely updates in recent years as well. So, One UI gives you feature parity with Samsung’s flagships and long support, at the cost of some unnecessary apps. It’s a “more is more” approach: many will love its capabilities (and things like secure folder, Samsung Pay, etc.), while some enthusiasts might prefer the leaner Pixel software.
  • OnePlus Nord 4 Software (OxygenOS 14.1): The Nord 4 runs OxygenOS 14.1 on Android 14 techradar.com techradar.com. Historically, OxygenOS was praised for being close to stock Android with some useful tweaks. In 2025, OxygenOS still looks clean and fast, but it’s no longer a pure stock build (since the OnePlus/Oppo codebase integration, it shares some DNA with Oppo’s ColorOS). That said, OxygenOS 14.1 on the Nord 4 is generally well-regarded: it has bold, customizable UI elements and an easy-to-navigate settings menu techradar.com techradar.com. OnePlus includes nice features like Zen Mode/Zen Space (to disconnect and focus) techradar.com, a built-in screen recorder, and various personalization options. The Nord 4 also got some AI features sprinkled in: voice note transcription, automated text summaries, and even a planned “AI Groupfie” feature (a Best Take clone for group photos) via update tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. While not as extensive as Pixel’s AI or Samsung’s, it’s good to see OnePlus adding smart features that a wide range of users can appreciate tomsguide.com. In day-to-day operation, OxygenOS is snappy and fluid – OnePlus optimizes for speed, and it shows. However, not all is perfect: TechRadar did encounter some software bugs on the Nord 4 (perhaps early firmware issues) and noted a bit of bloatware too (preloaded apps/games, though “not as bad as some other phones”) techradar.com techradar.com. OnePlus has since released updates to squash bugs, and generally, OxygenOS is still lighter than Samsung’s skin. When it comes to updates, OnePlus made a big promise for the Nord 4: it will receive 4 Android version upgrades and 6 years of security patches tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. That’s the longest support ever for a OnePlus Nord device and almost on par with Samsung (just one less year of security). So, the Nord 4 should see updates up through Android 18 (into 2028–2029). OnePlus isn’t quite as fast as Google or Samsung with updates, but they’ve improved. As Tom’s Guide pointed out, while Pixel wins on length of support (7 years), OnePlus argues that its phones will run smoothly for 6 years even if others promise more updates tomsguide.com. Time will tell, but it’s safe to say OnePlus users won’t be left behind quickly. In summary, OxygenOS on the Nord 4 offers a nice balance: near-stock feel with useful extras and a long (if not class-leading) update policy. Just be prepared for a few pre-installs (which you can uninstall) and possibly a quirk or two if you’re an early adopter.

Software wrap-up: If you want the cleanest Android experience and longest support, the Pixel 8a is the clear choice – it’s bloat-free, speedy, and getting updates until kingdom come droid-life.com. Samsung’s A55 gives you feature-packed software and a refined UI, with a very good (though not Pixel-beating) update lifespan androidauthority.com. It does, however, come with some bloat and ads that you might need to clean up initially androidauthority.com. OnePlus’s Nord 4 sits somewhere in between – leaning closer to stock Android in feel, with a few extra tricks, and now promising flagship-level update support (4+6 years) which is commendable tomsguide.com. All three will serve you well; it largely comes down to personal preference. Pixel = simplicity and AI smarts, Samsung = loads of features and ecosystem, OnePlus = speed and customization.

One nice thing: all three phones support things like 5G, NFC for Google Pay/Samsung Pay, and have stereo speakers. The Pixel and Samsung have always-on display functionality; the OnePlus Nord 4 interestingly has an alert slider (so old-school Android fans can enjoy that hardware toggle techradar.com, although note: the just-announced Nord 5 replaced it with a programmable “Plus” button androidauthority.com androidauthority.com). Biometric security is via in-screen fingerprint on all, with face unlock as a convenient (less secure) option on Pixel and Samsung mobiles.co.uk techadvisor.com. None have a headphone jack – welcome to 2025. And all come with decent haptic feedback and other little software refinements that show how far mid-range phones have come.

Additional Features

To round out the comparison, let’s quickly list some other features and specs that might sway your decision:

  • Connectivity: All three support 5G (sub-6 GHz). The Pixel 8a and Galaxy A55 even support the latest Wi-Fi standards: Pixel 8a has Wi-Fi 7 capability and Bluetooth 5.3 mobiles.co.uk, Samsung A55 supports Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.3 notebookcheck.net. The Nord 4 has Wi-Fi 6 (ax) and Bluetooth 5.2. For most, these differences won’t matter much now, but Pixel is the most “future-proof” on wireless tech. Each has NFC for mobile payments. The Pixel 8a and Galaxy A55 both offer eSIM support in addition to physical SIMs notebookcheck.net, while the Nord 4 is dual-SIM (nano) but I don’t believe it has eSIM.
  • Storage: Pixel 8a comes in 128GB or 256GB (non-expandable) androidauthority.com. Galaxy A55 offers 128GB or 256GB plus microSD expansion up to 1TB notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – a big advantage if you like storing tons of media. OnePlus Nord 4 starts at 256GB (UFS 3.1) and even has a 512GB option in some regions techradar.com, but no SD slot. So Samsung wins for expandable storage flexibility.
  • Water/Dust Resistance: Pixel 8a and Galaxy A55 are both rated IP67 (dust-tight and can be submerged in up to 1m of water for 30 min) mobiles.co.uk notebookcheck.net. The Nord 4 is IP65 (dust-tight and can handle low-pressure water jets, but not full submersion) techradar.com. In practice, all can survive rain or the occasional dunk, but the Pixel and Samsung have a slightly higher water resistance assurance.
  • Biometrics: All three have under-display fingerprint scanners. The Pixel and Samsung use optical sensors that are fast and reliable; OnePlus likely similar (if anything, OnePlus tends to have very quick fingerprint response). They also have basic face unlock using the front camera – convenient for unlock, but not secure enough for payments (especially on Samsung, which explicitly notes its face unlock is not for high-security tasks techadvisor.com techadvisor.com).
  • Audio: Each phone sports stereo speakers (earpiece + bottom-firing). The Pixel 8a in particular has “very good speakers” noted in reviews reddit.com, providing loud and clear sound for a small device. The A55 and Nord also have decent stereo output; Nord 4’s audio got a thumbs up for being surprisingly good and loud coolsmartphone.com. None have 3.5mm headphone jacks, so you’ll be using USB-C or Bluetooth headphones.
  • Special extras: The Pixel 8a benefits from Google’s Titan M2 security chip for enhanced encryption and device security mobiles.co.uk. It also can serve as a wireless charging pad for accessories via Battery Share (if it inherited that from Pixel 8 – need to verify if 8a has reverse wireless; Pixel 7a did, so likely yes). Samsung’s A55 includes some flagship-adjacent perks like Samsung Knox security (secure folder, etc.) and possibly support for Samsung DeX (wireless desktop mode) – though mid-range A-series sometimes omit DeX. The A55 does have Samsung Pay (now integrated with Wallet), which in some regions supports MST for swiping old magstripe terminals (but newer models maybe no MST). OnePlus Nord 4 doesn’t have a specific “special” feature like that, but its notable extra is the Alert Slider (as mentioned) which many users love for quickly silencing the phone techradar.com. The Nord 4 also has an IR blaster? (No, I don’t think so – only some Xiaomi phones do; OnePlus no).

In essence, the additional features show a pattern: Samsung gives you lots of bells and whistles (microSD, secure folder, possibly DeX) but with some preloaded clutter; Google keeps things minimal but extremely secure and up-to-date (Titan chip, latest Wi-Fi, etc.); OnePlus focuses on fundamentals (big storage/RAM, slider, fast charging) and less on frills like expandable storage or wireless charging.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing is often the deciding factor, and each of these phones targets the mid-range bracket but with slightly different strategies:

  • Google Pixel 8a: Launch MSRP $499 in the U.S. for 128GB model (and $559 for 256GB) androidauthority.com. In the UK it’s £499 (~128GB) androidauthority.com, and in Europe around €509-549. Google released the Pixel 8a in May 2024 mobiles.co.uk, and it’s widely available: you can buy it unlocked from Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy, etc., or on contract from major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile in the US) androidauthority.com. It’s also sold in Canada, UK, most of Europe, India, Australia and more. Essentially, if Google officially sells phones in your country, the Pixel 8a is likely offered. Notably, Google often discounts the Pixel A-series a few months after launch or during holiday sales – e.g., by late 2024 there were deals for $50–100 off. So savvy shoppers might snag it for closer to $449 or less. Colors include fun options like Sea (blue), Charcoal (black), and Snow (white), and sometimes Google Store exclusives. Value: At $499, the Pixel 8a undercuts many flagship phones by half, yet offers a flagship-grade chip and camera – as one review put it, “you won’t find a better smartphone under $500 at MSRP” androidauthority.com. Just remember that Google’s own flagship Pixel 8 often goes on sale for not much more, which can make the 8a a tougher sell at full price androidauthority.com. But purely on mid-range terms, the Pixel 8a’s price is very competitive for what it delivers.
  • Samsung Galaxy A55: Samsung launched the Galaxy A55 in spring 2024 at £439 in the UK (for 8GB/128GB) techadvisor.com. It wasn’t initially available in the US – the previous A54 was $449, but Samsung skipped a direct A55 release in 2024 for the U.S. market techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. However, its successor A56 eventually came to the US in 2025 at $499 (we’ll cover that shortly) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. So for the A55, think of it as roughly a ~$500 device if converted. In Europe it launched around €479 (128GB) and ~€529 (256GB). By late 2024, the Galaxy A55 could be found on sale or via carrier deals in many regions. Samsung’s A-series is extremely popular and widely distributed – you can find the A55 (or its close sibling) in Europe, Asia, Latin America, etc., through Samsung stores and carriers. It comes in fun colors like Awesome Lime, Awesome Graphite, etc. That said, availability can vary: some markets might have gotten the A54 5G late instead of an A55. If you’re in the U.S., you likely had to import the A55 or wait for the A56. Value: Samsung often packs a lot of phone in the A5x series for a moderate price – you’re paying a bit for the brand, but you get a premium design and Samsung’s reliable support. At ~£439/€479, the A55 was slightly cheaper than the Pixel 8a in Europe, yet with similar RAM/storage and extras like microSD and a bigger battery. Samsung also tends to offer bundle deals (like Galaxy Buds or trade-in credits) that can sweeten the pot. Overall, the A55’s pricing hits that mid-range sweet spot, making it a strong option for consumers who want Samsung quality without the S-series price.
  • OnePlus Nord 4: OnePlus positioned the Nord 4 a bit more aggressively on price. In the UK it started at £429 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB model techradar.com techradar.com – undercutting the Pixel and Samsung. A higher trim 16GB+512GB was £529 techradar.com. OnePlus didn’t officially sell the Nord 4 in the U.S. (North America typically gets the separate “Nord N” budget line, not the main Nords). But if you convert £429, that’s roughly $550 – though keep in mind UK prices include VAT. In India, the Nord 4 launched at ₹32,999 for 256GB (approx $400) indiatoday.in indiatoday.in, which is very competitive. In fact, by mid-2025 the Nord 4 has seen price drops to around ₹29k ($350) in India ahead of the Nord 5 launch indiatoday.in indiatoday.in. In Europe, if it was sold, it’d likely be around €499. Availability: the Nord 4 was released in August 2024 in select markets (UK, Europe, India, parts of Asia) techradar.com. It’s sold via OnePlus’s website and retailers like Amazon and local carriers in some regions. As mentioned, it never launched in the US – OnePlus tends to keep the higher-end Nords out of the North American market (so if you’re in the US, you’d have to import it and it may not support all LTE/5G bands). Value: The Nord 4 offered an excellent bang for buck proposition – you were getting a large 120Hz display, a high-performance chip, more base RAM (12GB) and the fastest charging, all for less or equal money compared to Pixel 8a and A55. Reviews called out its “lower than average price for the category” as a big pro tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The main compromise was the camera and slightly shorter software support, but at £429/$500-ish, it’s a strong value. OnePlus also often runs promotions, and as we saw, they discounted it as Nord 5 neared. For someone outside the US wanting the most specs per dollar (or pound, or rupee), the Nord 4 was a compelling deal.

To sum up pricing: Pixel 8a – $499 base, broadly available, likely discounts over time androidauthority.com. Galaxy A55 – around $450–500 (depending on region), widely available outside US (the next-gen came to US at $499) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. OnePlus Nord 4 – roughly $450–$500 equivalent (cheaper in Asia), not sold in US officially techradar.com. All three aim to deliver high value; OnePlus and Samsung fought hard on price in markets like Europe/India, while Google bets on its brand and update support to justify $499. Depending on where you live, one might be significantly cheaper than the others due to sales or regional pricing. The good news: you don’t have to break the bank to get a phone with a flagship-like experience anymore – these phones prove that.

Expert Reviews and Benchmarks – Key Takeaways

Sometimes it helps to hear what tech reviewers concluded when comparing these devices:

  • On Design: Reviewers loved the Pixel 8a’s comfy feel and build quality, despite the plastic back. Android Authority noted the “soft, pebble-like design” and appreciated the fingerprint-proof matte finish, while dinging Google for using Gorilla Glass 3 and plastic on a $500 phone (when competitors have Victus and glass) androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. The Galaxy A55 was praised for looking “a lot like a Galaxy S24+” with its glass and metal, giving a premium in-hand feel beyond its price techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. Tom’s Guide said the OnePlus Nord 4 “dazzles with its new metal housing” and looks well-polished, noting it would be best in class if not for its camera and shorter software support tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. All in all, design comes down to taste: Pixel is stylish and compact, Samsung is modern and refined, OnePlus is bold and solid.
  • On Display: The Pixel 8a’s OLED got positive remarks for its color and smooth 120Hz, though a few noted off-angle color shifting and that you must manually enable high refresh droid-life.com androidauthority.com. The A55’s 6.6″ AMOLED was often described as one of the best in mid-range – “bright, color-accurate, smooth” with that Samsung vibrancy reddit.com. The Nord 4’s big 6.74″ screen impressed with resolution and the unique wet-hand feature; TechRadar loved the high resolution and 120Hz, but felt the claimed 2150 nits brightness wasn’t fully realized in testing (still excellent though) techradar.com techradar.com. For most, all these displays are very satisfying.
  • On Performance: There’s consensus that the Pixel 8a and Nord 4 feel snappier than the A55. Droid-Life said the Pixel 8a “is a solid performer, upper mid-tier, because Tensor isn’t top-tier”, but it handles everything without frustration droid-life.com droid-life.com. Android Authority’s testing showed the A55’s Exynos chip lagging behind – “it lags far behind the Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R in GPU”, though real-world use was fine androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Tom’s Guide benchmarked all three: the Nord 4 easily beat the A55 in CPU/GPU, while the Pixel 8a edged out in some CPU tests (especially single-core) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. In summary, experts felt none of these phones feel slow, but spec nerds will note Nord 4’s advantage in gaming and Pixel’s smooth optimization, whereas the A55 is a step behind in raw power.
  • On Cameras: Here Google clearly wins the praise. Reviewers often compared the Pixel 8a’s camera output to much pricier phones and found little sacrifice – “the camera probably punches above its weight” droid-life.com and the Pixel 8a can take on flagships in many scenarios. Samsung’s A55 camera got mixed feedback: good hardware but Samsung’s processing can be aggressive – one review lamented “colors sometimes oversaturated to a ridiculous degree… it’s like the HDR and saturation sliders were cranked to 11” androidauthority.com. They also pointed out the Pixel 8a produces more reliable results, especially in low light, saying the A55 is decent but “can’t match the Pixel 8a” for camera prowess androidauthority.com. As for Nord 4, most agreed it was the weakest of the trio for photography. Tom’s Guide noted its photos are “weak outside of main camera shots” and that if the cameras were better it’d be a near-perfect mid-ranger tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. TechAdvisor similarly mentioned that the Pixel 8a is a better buy for camera-focused users, despite Nord 4’s other strengths techadvisor.com. So, the consensus: Pixel 8a = best camera, Galaxy A55 = decent but inconsistent camera, Nord 4 = acceptable camera, but clearly behind the other two.
  • On Battery/Charging: OnePlus Nord 4 garnered accolades here. Tom’s Guide was wowed by its longevity and 100W charging – 0 to 100% in under 30 minutes is a huge perk tomsguide.com. They even observed how little battery the Nord lost in their tests relative to Pixel and Samsung tomsguide.com. Android Authority criticized the Pixel 8a’s “atrocious charging time (100 minutes)” while noting the A55 was a bit better (80+ minutes) but still far from the fast-charging Chinese competitors androidauthority.com. Many pointed out that both Pixel and Samsung feel slow to charge once you’ve experienced phones that do it in 30-40 minutes. However, both Pixel and A55 got credit for solid battery life – “Pixel 8a pulls no punches, can withstand around a full day” mobiles.co.uk, and “A55’s 5000mAh makes for good endurance – about a day and a half” androidauthority.com. In short, if battery and charging are a priority, reviewers clearly lean Nord 4.
  • On Software: Pixels always get love from tech reviewers for their clean software and fast updates. The Pixel 8a’s 7-year support was highlighted everywhere as a huge differentiator droid-life.com. Reviewers called it a $500 phone that almost nails the flagship experience especially thanks to software androidauthority.com. Samsung’s One UI was praised for polish and features, but almost every review dinged the bloatware situation (unskippable app installs, etc.) – “Samsung excels on software front, but still needs to dial back the bloat” androidauthority.com. Still, Samsung’s commitment of 4 OS updates got a nod as only second to Google androidauthority.com. For OnePlus, the Nord 4’s OxygenOS was generally seen as positive – fast and feature-rich – but some reported minor bugs and noted OnePlus’s update promise (4 OS, 6 years security) is now thankfully on par with the big players tomsguide.com. Tom’s Guide made an interesting point in their verdict: “Pixel 8a wins for longer software support and more reliable cameras… but Nord 4’s cheaper price may be reason enough to go for it instead” tomsguide.com. That captures the trade-off well.

Overall, expert reviews conclude that Google Pixel 8a is the all-rounder choice – it offers an almost flagship-like camera and software experience at a mid-range price androidauthority.com. The Samsung Galaxy A55 is a great option for those who want a premium-feel phone with long battery life and Samsung’s feature set, but its performance and camera, while good, don’t quite reach Pixel’s heights androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. The OnePlus Nord 4 impressed experts with its performance, battery, and price – some calling it a “stellar midrange device” that delivers on the promise of a “flagship killer” in many respects groundedtech.medium.com. Its weaknesses (camera and slightly shorter updates) were noted, but many reviews still recommended it strongly for power users on a budget tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.

No matter which you choose, these phones have essentially redefined what a mid-range smartphone can be in 2024/2025. Now, let’s take a quick look at what comes next – because the tech world never stands still!

The Road Ahead: Upcoming Models and Successors

Tech moves fast. Since the Pixel 8a, Galaxy A55, and Nord 4 launched in 2024, their next-generation successors have either arrived or are looming. Here’s a peek at what’s next for each:

  • Google Pixel 9a (Successor to Pixel 8a): Google surprised everyone by releasing the Pixel 9a sooner than expected – it launched in March 2025 (less than a year after the 8a) androidauthority.com. The Pixel 9a carries on Google’s strategy of trickling down flagship features. It upgraded to the new Tensor G4 chipset (the same chip as the Pixel 9/9 Pro) phonearena.com, which brings improved performance and efficiency (4nm process) and even more AI prowess. The screen got a bit larger: Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch OLED (still 1080p, 60–120Hz adaptive) – basically the same display as the Pixel 9, just flat. It’s also brighter, with tests showing up to ~2,500 nits peak, a big jump from 8a’s 2,000 nits phonearena.com phonearena.com. Design-wise, the 9a adopted a slightly new look: it’s a bit taller and has a flush rear camera module (no more raised visor bar, the lenses sit under a smooth glass window) phonearena.com phonearena.com. Interestingly, the Pixel 9a’s water resistance improved to IP68, matching flagship level phonearena.com. Camera hardware changed – Google gave the Pixel 9a a 48MP main sensor (likely the same as Pixel 9’s) paired with a 13MP ultrawide phonearena.com. While that sounds like fewer megapixels than 8a’s 64MP, the sensor is newer and larger, so image quality is as good or better. Early reviews indicate the Pixel 9a continues to nail photos; you’re not gaining much over the 8a in everyday shots (since the 8a was already excellent) phonearena.com, but the camera system is more in line with Pixel 9 now. Battery capacity stayed around ~4600 mAh, but battery life is actually a bit better thanks to Tensor G4’s efficiency – and it still supports wireless charging. Importantly, the Pixel 9a kept the price at $499 and continues the 7-year update support, making it arguably one of the best value phones of 2025. Google essentially made the 9a a “lite” version of the Pixel 9 flagship, whereas the 8a was a souped-up 7a. For Pixel 8a owners, the 9a is a nice refinement – slightly bigger screen, better water-proofing, faster chip. Looking further ahead, Google’s Pixel 10 series is expected in late 2025, and if Google continues the A-series, a Pixel 10a would land in 2026. However, there have been hints that Google might space out or reconsider the A-series, given how close in price and timing the A’s have been to discounted flagships androidauthority.com. But as of 2025, the Pixel 9a is here and ensures Google fans in the mid-range have a fresh option.
  • Samsung Galaxy A56 (Successor to A55): Samsung didn’t sit still either. The Galaxy A56 5G was officially launched on 1 March 2025 (unveiled at MWC 2025) techadvisor.com. It brings a number of welcome upgrades over the A55. The design was refreshed to align even closer with the Galaxy S25 series – still glass front/back with aluminum frame, but now with slightly slimmer bezels and a more refined camera layout. The display is a tad larger at 6.7 inches (up from 6.6) and Samsung rates it for up to 1900 nits brightness (likely using the same panel tech as S25+) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. It remains a 120Hz FHD+ OLED, of course. Internally, the A56 is powered by a new Exynos 1580 chipset. Samsung claims about 18% better CPU and 16% better GPU performance compared to the Exynos 1480 in the A55 techadvisor.com. So, the A56 should feel snappier and close some of the gap with Pixel/Nord (though it’s still a mid-range SoC). Impressively, Samsung finally addressed charging speed – the A56 jumps to 45W wired charging, up from 25W techadvisor.com. This cuts full charge time to roughly 1 hour (and 50% in around 20 minutes), a significant improvement techadvisor.com. The battery stays 5000 mAh, and there’s still no wireless charging (flagship feature only). The camera setup on A56 is similar: 50MP main (with improved image sensor), 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and Samsung actually reduced the selfie cam to 12MP (likely using a better sensor than the previous 32MP) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. Early tests show the A56 produces slightly better images with more natural color tuning – maybe Samsung heard the oversaturation critiques. It also apparently has a faster night mode and less shutter lag due to the new chipset. Another big expansion: the A56 finally launched in the United States (on July 18, 2025) at a price of $499.99 (128GB) and $549.99 (256GB) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. In the UK it’s £499 (8+256GB) techadvisor.com, so a bit pricier than the A55 was. Given the improvements, the A56 positions itself as a true upper-midrange contender in 2025. Samsung will likely continue annual refreshes, so expect a Galaxy A57 in spring 2026, probably with whatever new Exynos (or perhaps a Snapdragon if they switch) and further incremental camera/display upgrades. Samsung’s A-series formula is clearly working, and they’re inching these phones closer to flagship territory each year.
  • OnePlus Nord 5 (Successor to Nord 4): OnePlus launched the Nord 5 in July 2025 (with global availability) androidauthority.com. The Nord 5 shifts the Nord series upmarket with some notable changes. Firstly, it packs a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset – which is essentially an underclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship chip androidauthority.com. This gives the Nord 5 a major performance leap, essentially flagship-level CPU/GPU, capable of running demanding games on high settings androidauthority.com. It’s a step above the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 in the Nord 4. However, OnePlus strangely shrunk the display: Nord 5 has a 6.38-inch AMOLED (2800×1272, same 1.5K resolution) but with a super-smooth 144Hz refresh rate androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. So it’s smaller but faster. This move made the Nord 5 more compact and perhaps a response to some who find ~6.7″ phones too large. On the flip side, OnePlus moved away from the all-metal build – the Nord 5 returns to a glass back and plastic frame, reportedly to save weight and accommodate other changes androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Some Nord 4 fans might see that as a downgrade in materials. The camera system is similar: 50MP main + 8MP ultrawide, but they added a twist – the front camera is 50MP with autofocus androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. That’s unusually high-res for a selfie shooter; clearly targeted at selfie and vlogging enthusiasts. The Nord 5 also introduces more AI features, including an “AI Plus Key” replacing the alert slider (similar to Apple’s Action Button) to trigger AI functions and a “Mind Space” AI assistant for notes and context on-device androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Perhaps the most controversial change: OnePlus implemented a dual battery strategy due to regulations – Nord 5 units in Asia get a 6,800 mAh battery, while Europe (and presumably global except Asia) gets a reduced 5,200 mAh battery androidauthority.com. EU rules on shipping larger batteries forced OnePlus’s hand. Either way, the Nord 5 supports 80W fast charging (not 100W, but still extremely fast) and even offers bypass charging for gaming while plugged in androidauthority.com. So the Nord 5 in Asia will have insane battery life with 6800 mAh, while Europe’s variant, 5200 mAh, is more in line with normal large batteries (still bigger than Nord 4’s 5500? Wait 5200 is smaller than 5500 – so EU Nord 5 might have less battery life than Nord 4, interestingly) androidauthority.com. On software, Nord 5 ships with OxygenOS based on Android 15 (since it’s later in 2025) and OnePlus promises the same 4 years OS / 6 years security updates as Nord 4 androidauthority.com. Essentially, Nord 5 pushes performance and display tech further (144Hz, flagship chip), experiments with AI features, but takes a step back in some areas (no more metal frame, smaller screen for those who liked big, and EU battery cut). Its price at launch is similar to Nord 4’s range – for example, in India the Nord 5 was expected to launch around ₹33,999, and in Europe likely around €499-549. OnePlus is continuing the Nord line’s reputation of undercutting rivals while offering almost flagship specs. And beyond Nord 5, we might see a Nord 5T or Nord 6 down the line, but OnePlus’s release schedule is not as predictable. The presence of a Nord CE5 (a cheaper variant launched alongside Nord 5) shows OnePlus is expanding the family, covering multiple price points androidauthority.com androidauthority.com.

In conclusion, the mid-range smartphone battle will only heat up further. Google’s Pixel 9a has made the Pixel A even more like a flagship-lite device (and Pixel 10a could push that envelope if it happens). Samsung’s Galaxy A56 and upcoming A57 are bringing more premium features like faster charging and top-tier design to the mid tier. OnePlus with Nord 5 is blurring the lines by using near-flagship silicon and ultra-high refresh displays at a midrange price. For consumers, that’s great news – the successors to the phones we compared are better in almost every way, yet still affordable.

However, the core identities remain: Pixel A-series will focus on camera and software excellence with unmatched updates, Samsung A-series will emphasize balanced specs with a premium feel and ecosystem, and OnePlus Nord will chase the “flagship killer” vibe with raw specs and speed for the money. If you’re considering the Pixel 8a, Galaxy A55, or Nord 4 now, know that their newer siblings (Pixel 9a, A56, Nord 5) offer iterative improvements and might be worth a look if you want the very latest. And for those curious about even further ahead: rumors suggest Google’s working on integrating more custom AI chips in future Pixels, Samsung may switch to Qualcomm chips for some A-series if Exynos continues to lag, and OnePlus/Nord could adopt features like 144Hz+ displays or even faster charging as technology advances.

Bottom line: The mid-range market is evolving rapidly. The Pixel 8a, Galaxy A55, and OnePlus Nord 4 were among the best of 2024’s offerings, each excelling in different areas. Their successors in 2025 have raised the bar even higher. For consumers, it means you have incredible choices around the $500 mark – phones that do 90% of what $1000 flagships can, and in some cases (like updates or charging) even outdo them androidauthority.com tomsguide.com. Whichever brand you align with, you can expect a lot of bang for your buck, and it’s only getting better with each generation.

Sources:

Tags: , ,

LIM Center, Aleje Jerozolimskie 65/79, 00-697 Warsaw, Poland

+48 (22) 364 58 00

© 2025 TS2 SPACE Sp. z o.o.

This site uses cookies to deliver services in accordance with the Privacy Policy. You can specify the conditions for storage or access to cookies in your browser.