Which is the best pick?

• Google Pixel 6a

  A great value pick

  For a fraction of the price, the Pixel 6a is a great alternative as an affordable and reliable phone, thanks to fantastic software features and a great camera.

• Source: Google

  Google Pixel 6

  Still worth considering

  The Pixel 6 isn’t widely available anymore, but it’s still a good option if you want something a bit bigger than the Pixel 6a. Its 90Hz display and wireless charging are added bonuses.

The Google Pixel 6a is the company’s mid-range offering for people on a tight budget. It delivers the same Pixel experience as you would get on a flagship Pixel phone but with some compromises to reach a lower price point. And then there’s the Pixel 6, Google’s 2021 mini flagship, which was among the best Android phones you could buy for the majority of 2022.

The Pixel 6a features many of the same internals as the Pixel 6 Pro but at a slightly lower price point. The Pixel 6a provides tremendous value for money, but with the Pixel 6 discontinued, should you get the latter if it is available at a lower price point?

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Design

The Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6a sport the same design language. Both feature a rear camera bar housing dual camera sensors, giving them a distinct look compared to other smartphones.

The two Pixels differ in their build quality, though. The Pixel 6 uses a Gorilla Glass Victus panel at the front and Gorilla Glass 6 at the rear, sandwiching an aluminum chassis in an IP68-certified body. As for the Pixel 6a, it sports a Gorilla Glass 3 display panel and a “3D thermoformed composite back” rear with a fingerprint-resistant coating. The phone is dust- and water-resistant but has a lower IP67 rating.

Despite packing a 6.4-inch display, the Pixel 6 is a relatively large phone, thanks to its massive bezels. If you want a more compact-sized phone, the Pixel 6a would be the ideal choice. Its 6.1-inch display gives it a more compact form factor that aids one-hand use.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Display

The two Pixels differ significantly in the display department. The Pixel 6 packs a 6.4-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the cheaper Pixel 6a has a smaller 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED panel. Both OLED panels feature High Brightness mode — a feature that boosts display brightness in direct sunlight.

Many users might prefer the smaller display of the Pixel 6a; however, its 60Hz refresh rate is a bummer. High refresh rate displays are common even in the best budget Android phones, and its omission from the Pixel 6a is an odd choice on Google’s part.

The two phones also feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. Google uses a different sensor on the Pixel 6a that’s notably better than the Pixel 6’s buggy and slow fingerprint scanner.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Camera

The Pixel 6 and 6a are miles apart in the camera department. This is an area where Google’s cost-cutting on the cheaper Pixel 6a shows. The phone uses the same 12MP Sony IMX363 primary sensor that debuted in October 2018 on the Pixel 3. In the following years, it was used on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5.

The Pixel 6 uses a newer and bigger 50MP Samsung sensor with an f/1.8 aperture that absorbs more light and provides a better dynamic range. It makes use of pixel-binning to output detailed 12MP photos. An LDAF sensor helps to focus on the subject quickly, even in challenging conditions. Both phones use the same ultra-wide camera: a 12MP f/2.2 shooter with a 114° field of view and 1.25μm pixel width. You get a better 10MP f/2.2 selfie sensor on the Pixel 6 vs. an 8MP f/2.0 snapper on the Pixel 6a.

The budget Pixel cannot capture as many details as its more expensive sibling, especially in challenging situations. But apart from that, it can easily hold its own against its bigger brother. Besides image quality, the Pixel 6a provides the same camera experience as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. In addition, you get features like Magic Eraser, Real Tone, Portrait Light, and Face Unblur to play around with.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Performance

Source: Google

Google’s first in-house Tensor chip powers the entire Pixel 6 series. The Tensor GS101 SoC is fabricated on Samsung’s 5nm LPE process and packs two high-performance Cortex X1 cores, two medium A78 cores, and four high-efficiency A55 cores. On the GPU front, there’s a 20-core ARM Mali-G78 MP20 unit.

The Tensor G1 was never the fastest SoC on the market, but it brought notable performance improvement over the Snapdragon 765G found inside the Pixel 5a. Google claims an 80% faster CPU and a 370% faster GPU; however, Google’s Tensor is special because of the various custom bits that the big G has developed specifically for it.

This includes the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) for AI and ML tasks, which is behind many Pixel 6-exclusive features like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, and live language translation. The enhanced ISP is another highlight of the Tensor SoC and enables features like Real Tone and HDRNet. Since the same chip powers the Pixel 6a, it also packs these functionalities.

Efficiency is not a strong suit of Google’s chip, though. Both phones will get warm and can overheat when pushed hard. So if you are a gamer or tend to use your phone heavily, look at other options. The Pixel 6 packs more RAM and storage than its smaller sibling. It comes with 8GB RAM and is available in 128GB and 256GB storage configurations. On the other hand, the Pixel 6a comes only in one configuration with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage — there’s no microSD card slot or 256GB configuration.

Connectivity is another area where the phones differ. The unlocked Pixel 6a has only sub-6GHz 5G (though the Verizon version ships with mmWave support), while the more expensive Pixel 6 supports multiband 5G. NFC and Wi-Fi 6 are available on all models. Note that both phones use an Exynos modem that’s not known for delivering the best connectivity experience. So, if you live in an area with poor network coverage or want one of the best 5G phones, look at other options.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Updates

Google guarantees five years of security updates for its Pixel 6 lineup. The Pixel 6 launched in October 2021, while the Pixel 6a was announced seven months later in May 2022. But since the same Tensor chip powers the two phones, there should not be any major software support discrepancy between the two devices.

As for Android updates, Google guarantees OS updates until October 2024 for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Pixel 6a will also receive at least three major OS updates. Both phones will continue to get the latest security patches for two years after that.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Battery life

Despite its slightly smaller battery — 4410mAh on the Pixel 6a vs. 4614mAh on the Pixel 6 — the cheaper Pixel provides better battery life. It is not as good as other mid-range phones packing massive 5,000mAh+ batteries, but still good enough to easily last a day. The Pixel 6 does not fare any better in this department, either. In our review, we found its battery life to last a full day only with a top-up in the afternoon or late evening.

The Pixel 6 has two advantages in the charging department. First, it supports up to 23W wired fast charging and wireless charging. There’s also reverse wireless charging, so you can use the device to top off your Bluetooth accessories and even another phone when in a pinch. The less expensive Pixel 6a supports 18W wired charging.

Neither Pixel comes bundled with a power adapter in the box, so you’ll probably want to pick up a solid PPS power adapter if you don’t have one lying around. Despite supporting higher charging speeds, the Pixel 6 takes a long time for a full charge; a full top-up takes well over 90 minutes.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Pricing

The unlocked Pixel 6a retails for $449, though it is frequently discounted to as low as $300. As for the Pixel 6, it was launched at $600 but was usually available with a $100 discount within a few weeks of its release.

At $300, it is hard to beat the value the Pixel 6a provides even now. The Google Pixel 7a is expected to bring massive improvements, but it is still a few months away from launch. So if you don’t mind spending $500-$600, get the Pixel 7 instead of the Pixel 6. The newer-gen Pixel fixes all the shortcomings of its predecessor while delivering better battery life and a more refined experience overall.

Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: Which one should you buy?

The Pixel 6 has a bigger 90Hz display, a superior primary camera, and better build quality than the 6a. Its camera performance is also notably superior to its cheaper sibling. But with the Pixel 7 and other next-gen flagship Android phones already on the market, it makes little sense to buy the Pixel 6 now.

For the same price as the Pixel 6, the Pixel 7 provides better value and experience. If anything, this shows how well the Pixel 6a has held up its value proposition. Although priced differently, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6a are packed with similar features.

If you don’t care about having the best camera or if you want to save money (while trying underrated Android 13 features), the Pixel 6a is a solid alternative.

Google Pixel 6a

A reliable and affordable phone, without the flagship price, the Pixel 6a is a perfectly good option.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 6

The Pixel 6 isn’t widely available anymore, but it’s still a good option if you want something a bit bigger than the Pixel 6a. Its 90Hz display and wireless charging are added bonuses.