News, features, availability, and price

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are Google’s most ambitious smartphones to date. After years of making do with off-the-shelf components, Google decided to design its own SoC. The Pixel 6 series truly brings innovative and class-leading features to the table, thanks in part to their Google Tensor processor. This also makes the company’s upcoming mid-ranger, the Pixel 6a, that much more exciting.

The inexpensive Pixel A–series has helped keep Google’s smartphone lineup interesting, and perhaps even alive, all these years. While Google may not have sold millions of Pixel 4a or 5a units as Apple’s iPhone SE and Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A-series, the company still has a strong Pixel fan following. Google’s Pixel 6a was finally announced at I/O, along with the upcoming Pixel Watch, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel Buds Pro—Google’s first true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation. Read below to know everything about the phone.

Google Pixel 6a design, display, and durability

One big issue with the Pixel 6 is that, despite packing a 6.4-inch display, it is not as compact as it could be. Although the Pixel 6a is not a small smartphone, its 6.1-inch screen and smaller form factor make it more compact than Google’s 2021 flagships.

The Pixel 6a has a 60Hz, 1080p, 6.1-inch display. Google’s mid-range powerhouse uses an OLED panel instead of the LCDs found on many other inexpensive Android phones. Like its more expensive siblings, the 6a has an in-display fingerprint sensor; however, Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of Design and Services, confirmed the 6a’s fingerprint sensor is different from the more expensive Pixel 6 duo. An early hands-on video with the phone indicates the fingerprint scanner’s performance is noticeably better than its more expensive siblings.

The device measures 152.2–by–71.8–by–8.9mm, compared with 158.6–by-74.8–by–8.9mm on the Pixel 6. It comes in three colors: Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage.

Although it’s a little easier to fit in your hand than the Pixel 6’s 6.4-inch screen, the 6a isn’t as durable. Its display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 compared with Gorilla Glass Victus on the Pixel 6 models. The 6a has an IP67 rating, however, so it should be able to withstand splashes and fresh water immersion without much damage.

The back of the phone looks nearly identical to its predecessors; there’s a camera bar that houses two lenses alongside an LED flash. Unfortunately, this entry marks the first time an A-series phone has shipped without a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Google Pixel 6a specs

Google chose to use the same chipset powering its flagship phones for its A-series model. The Pixel 6a uses the Google Tensor chip, a flagship SoC that prioritizes heterogeneous computing, meaning it packs some serious ML and AI processing. Next to other phones in its price range, the Pixel 6a should punch well above its weight.

Unlike the mainline series, the Pixel 6a comes in one configuration, with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. It sports a 4,410mAh battery, and Google touts all-day performance and up to 72 hours of battery life on a single charge while in Extreme Battery Saver mode. The battery is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6 (4,614mAh) and Pixel 5a (4,620mAh). Wired charging maxes out at 18W; unfortunately, wireless charging is unavailable.

An 11-minute video of the Pixel 6a made its way to the internet in June, which put the phone through its paces. The reviewer was impressed with the phone’s general performance, the in-display fingerprint scanner, and the all-day battery life. However, the camera output left him unimpressed.

Like its more expensive siblings, the Pixel 6a will receive five years of security updates from launch, though Google has yet to clarify how many years of major OS updates it’ll receive. Presumably, you can expect three years of support.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 6a camera specs

Camera performance has always been one of the strengths of the Pixel lineup. However, prepare to be disappointed if you expect the Pixel 6a to pack the same 50 MP main camera as seen on the 6 or 6 Pro. Google uses the same camera sensors on the Pixel 6a as the ones on the 5a; in fact, the sensors are the same as you’ll find on the Pixel 3 series. The primary camera is a 12.2 MP Sony IMX363 sensor, while the 12 MP IMX386 sensor carries ultrawide duties. The front camera, thankfully, matches the same 8 MP module used in the Pixel 6.

On paper, that doesn’t really sound impressive. However, the Pixel 6a is powered by the Google Tensor chipset, so it should extract even more performance from these sensors thanks to its custom ISP. Unlike in years past, where Google prioritized camera performance at the cost of processing power, the drop in camera quality is likely due to cost concerns. The Pixel 5a—and previous Pixels using the same hardware—took excellent shots, and at this price point, it should still be tough to beat the Pixel 6a.

For the most part, the Pixel 6a will have the same camera features as the rest of the Pixel 6 lineup. Real Tone, Night Sight, and Magic Eraser are all there, though image quality may be a little worse due to its aging sensors.

Google Pixel 6a software

Unsurprisingly, the Pixel 6a is launching with Android 12 out of the box, with an update to Android 13 on day one once it’s ready to go later in the summer. If you want to try out the beta program, the Pixel 6a will support it, just as every other current Pixel phone. Although Google isn’t introducing any major new software features for the Pixel 6a, it is enhancing Magic Eraser with some new color-changing technology for modifying the hue of objects in the scene.

Like other phones, Google will provide Feature Drops every three months for the Pixel 6a. Considering the release date, the first drop post-launch should occur in September.

Google Pixel 6a release date

Of all the new products Google showed off at its developer conference, the Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro will be the first to make their debut in July 2022. Preorders begin July 21st, and the duo will be available through the Google Store and major carriers on July 28.

With pre-orders fast approaching, Best Buy is preparing for the Pixel 6a’s imminent release with a landing page live on its website. A now-removed video from Google France’s retail training unit also gave us a quick look at the phone and its in-box content.

Expect to learn more about the Pixel Watch when Google unveils the Pixel 7 later this year, and it looks like we’ll have to wait for the Pixel Tablet until next year.

Source: Google

Google Pixel 6a price and availability

The price tag of the Pixel ‘a’ series has always been its highlight. Last year’s Google Pixel 5a carried a lower price tag— $449 vs. $499— than 2020’s Pixel 4a 5G despite packing better specs. Even as smartphones — and, generally speaking, everything else — continue to get more expensive, the Pixel 6a keeps that price locked at $449. That’s $150 less than the Pixel 6 for just a couple of trade-offs, making it an even better budget buy and stacking up the competition against Samsung’s popular A-series. With the Tensor chipset included, this phone might be one of the most powerful you can buy for under $500.

AT&T and T-Mobile will offer the standard version of Google’s Pixel 6a that sells in the Google Store. It sports sub-6GHz 5G and, like most new Android phones, also supports n77 (aka C-Band).

Verizon will also offer its version of the Pixel 6a, complete with mmWave support. Unsurprisingly, it’s a bit more expensive, priced at $499 rather than $449. It launches the same day.