The Google Pixel 6a: Everything We Know So Far
In July, the Google Pixel 6a will be released, and it has undergone a major upgrade over its predecessor. In order to retain the Pixel 5a’s pricing, Google has made some compromises on the display and the main camera of this new phone compared to the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, but it still offers many of the same features.
GOOGLE PIXEL 6A SPECS
- Price: $449
- OS: Android 12
- Display: 6.1-inch OLED
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- CPU: Google Tensor
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB / No
- Rear cameras: 12.2MP main, 12MP ultrawide
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 4,410mAh
- Charging: 18W wired
- Size: 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 depth inches/152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm
- Weight: 6.3 oz/178 g
- Colors: Sage, Chalk, Charcoal
Budget phones like the iPhone SE (2022), Samsung Galaxy A53 and OnePlus Nord 2 pose a serious threat to the Pixel 5a. Aside from its reasonable pricing and Google Tensor chip, this latest phone from Google has all the makings of a contender for our list of the best inexpensive phones.
Here’s a rundown of what Google has said about the Pixel 6a so far, as well as how it compares to the competition.
Google Pixel 6a: What you need to know
- On July 21, pre-orders for the Pixel 6a begin at $449.
- From 6.34 inches on the Pixel 5a to 6.01 inches on the Pixel 6a, the Pixel 6a sports a smaller display. The refresh rate of 60 Hz is retained (bummer).
- Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip suggests Google is employing its own hardware in the device. 6 GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are included.
- It comes with a 12.2MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultrawide. Among other things, you can use the Magic Eraser, Real Tone and Face Unblur to enhance your photos.
- A minimum of five years’ worth of upgrades is a significant deal for Google.
- If you don’t want to use a back-mounted fingerprint sensor, there’s an under-display sensor. Moreover, the Pixel 6’s sluggish sensor will be replaced by a new one.
- The 4,410 mAh battery is smaller than the 4,680 mAh battery in the 5a. However, it is hoped that the battery life will not be adversely affected by the smaller display.
- An in-depth look at the incoming Pixel 6a is provided by an unboxing video.
Google Pixel 6a release date and pric
Pixel 6a will cost $449/£399/AU$749 from Google. Starting on July 21, pre-orders will be accepted, and the retail release will take place on July 28th.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 costs $449 in some areas, and so does the Pixel 5a. In the US and Australia, the iPhone SE 2022 costs $429 and AU$719, respectively, while the Pixel 6a costs $499. However, in the UK, the iPhone SE costs £429.
The price is great, but the expanded availability is even better. Only the United States and Japan were able to purchase the Pixel 5a. The Pixel 6a is now available in a wider range of nations, including the United Kingdom. It’s just a shame that it took so long from the time it was first announced in May to when it was finally released in July.
The Pixel 6 may pose a significant threat to the Google Pixel 6a. The difference in price between the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6a is only $150/£200/AU$200, which makes the latter an excellent offer when compared to the impending low-cost Pixel phone.
More in-depth comparisons between the new mid-range Pixel 6a and its family members can be found in our reviews of the Google Phone 6 vs the Pixel 6 and the Google Phone 5a vs the Pixel 5.
Google Pixel 6a design and display
Google’s Pixel 6a and Pixel 6a Pro share a camera bar design on the rear, a punch-hole camera in the center of the front, and a fingerprint sensor embedded beneath the display (but using a different sensor to the annoyingly slow one on the Pixel 6 series). The lenses are now more prominently shown due to the cameras being combined behind a single rectangular glass cover.
Pixel 6a has no headphone port, unlike Pixel 5, which included a headphone jack. It’s a pity that Google Pixel Buds Pro aren’t included with the Pixel Buds Pro, especially since inexpensive phones are more likely to include them.
Charcoal black, Chalk white, and Sage green are the colors available for users to choose from. The colors here aren’t the most vibrant, but they should be adequate for the majority of people.
If you’re concerned about your phone getting wet, the Pixel 6a has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating.
Another set of renders of the Pixel 6a, this time done by professional artists, was revealed by Pixel 6a leaker Evan Blass. No new information, but you can see the phone in all three color options in this videocontent. .’s
Google Pixel 6a: display
Gorilla Glass 3 protects the Pixel 6a’s 6.1-inch AMOLED display, which has a resolution of FHD. Compared to the 6.34-inch display on the Pixel 5a, it’s a tad smaller, but it’s not enough to make you reconsider an upgrade.
The Pixel 6a’s screen refresh rate is still fixed at 60Hz, which is a bummer for the device. Compared to the smoother 90Hz or 120Hz rates on most contemporary Android phones, this is a lot slower. Finally, there’s a companion for the 60Hz-only iPhone SE 2022.
Google appears to be utilizing a different fingerprint sensor under the display, and based on a leaked video, it appears to operate considerably better than the Pixel 6’s often annoying reader.
As of this writing, the video is no longer available, but from what we can tell, it runs much faster than the flagship phone’s version.
Google Pixel 6a cameras
Pixel 6a relies on an older camera, rather than the flagship cameras found in Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, for this model. For the 6a, Google appears to be focusing on the Tensor chip.
The Pixel 6a has a 12.2MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and an 8MP selfie camera on the back for your photography requirements.
The Pixel 5a’s 16MP ultrawide camera has a lower resolution than the ultrawide camera on the Pixel 5a. A larger sensor, meanwhile, might make up for the lack of brightness.
Although hardware is an important component, Google’s camera software is just as important. Low-light shooting option (which is MIA on the iPhone SE 2022) and software-powered capabilities such as Magic Eraser (which now has the ability to recolor objects) and Face Unblur for the Pixel 6a are also on the list. In the Pixel 6 photo experience, these are some of the things we’re most excited about.
It is possible for filmmakers to capture 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, as well as slow motion footage at up to 240 frames per second.
Google Pixel 6a performance
For the first time since the launch of the Pixel A-series, the Pixel 6a will employ a Google Tensor chipset, just like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. With 6GB of RAM instead of 8GB or 12GB, the new phone should be more powerful than most of its inexpensive competitors.
There is only one 128GB option of the Pixel 6a for storage capacity. If you’re a photography fanatic or have a lot of apps on your phone, you’ll probably have no problem with storage capacity.
Pixel 6a will have both standard 5G and mmWave 5G, which some US carriers employ, according to Google’s announcements. It’s good news if you’re interested in upgrading to the Pixel 6a but want to keep your current service provider or want a new phone with faster mmWave speeds.
Google Pixel 6a battery and charging
The Pixel 6a is powered by a 4,410 mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the 4,680 mAh battery in the Pixel 5a. The 5a didn’t do well in the TG custom battery test, so hopefully Google is working on other ways to increase power efficiency.
Although Google thinks you shouldn’t be concerned. The 6a’s official battery life estimates put it at more than 24 hours of normal use, and up to 72 hours with its Extreme Battery Saver mode enabled.
The charging pace hasn’t altered much since last year. The 30W fast charger in the Pixel 6 series can only be used to charge the Pixel 6a at 18W, which is the same speed as the Pixel 5a. If you’re short on time, the 6a may not be the best option.
Google Pixel 6a software
In addition to the typical Google-exclusive features, the PIxel 6a will be preloaded with Android 12 at launch. Other goodies include Live Translate and the Magic Eraser.
We were hopeful that the five years of updates Google promised for the mainline Pixel 6 would extend to the Pixel 6a, giving it incredible long-term value. But Google is only offering five years of security updates for the Pixel 6a, which means you could miss out on a few years of complete Android improvements. It’s still a decent deal, given that many Android phones don’t receive complete upgrades for more than a year or two.
Google Pixel 6a outlook
Even though the Pixel 6a is still a month away, we can’t wait to get our hands on it. Compared to the Pixel 5a, this year’s model appears to be a much more dynamic phone, with all the Google-exclusive features we had hoped for.
Pixel 6a is expected to live up to our expectations and challenge the latest iPhone SE and Samsung Galaxy A53. That means more options for those on a tight budget who are looking for the greatest deal, and isn’t that what the majority of us want most of all? more options?