In 2021, Google launched the Pixel 5a, a smaller, cheaper and more affordable alternative to its high-end Pixel 5 Pro. But it never made it to Australia. It was a missed opportunity for Google, especially when you look at the reviews we gave the Pixel 3a and 4a.
In 2019, did we have pretty cool things to say about the Pixel 3a and 4a? Well, take a look for yourself. You realize how much we love cheap tech that runs Google software on Google hardware?
Our US colleagues got their hands on the 5a and declared it “the new king of mid-range phones”, we’d say the 6a should take that crown. In some ways, the Google Pixel 6a has exceeded expectations and we’re happy to report that after two years, the ‘fucc’ (see reviews 3a and 4a for reference) is indeed back.
The Google Pixel 6a
Google announced the Pixel 6a in May at its I/O developer conference. The phone shares a design language with its flagship predecessor, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, right down to the polarizing camera bar on the back, which houses all the rear camera components.
The Pixel 6a takes a different approach to computing compared to previous generations. Instead of defaulting to a mid-tier processor from a third-party chipmaker like Qualcomm, Google has opted for its own in-house Tensor CPU, the Titan M2. As such, the Pixel 6a has similar capabilities to the premium Pixel 6, including a 5G modem and security architecture, not to mention all those smart cameras that helped make the A-series a flagship smartphone ยท intelligent of success
There’s a lot you’re missing out on if you choose the 6a over its siblings, but what the 6a doesn’t have is a very attractive price tag.
The Pixel 6 Pro starts at $1,299, the Pixel 6 starts at $999, and the Pixel 6a starts at $749. It’s more expensive than the 4a, which launched for $599 (in comparison, the Pixel 4 XL was $1,279 at launch).
Google Pixel 6a specifications
- Screen: 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED with 60Hz refresh rate
- Processor: Google Tensor (same brains as the Pixel 6 Pro)
- Storage: 128GB
- Rear Camera: 12.2 MP (Wide) 12.2 MP (Ultra Wide)
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 4410 mAh (all day battery)
- Connectivity: 5G
- Colors: sage, chalk, charcoal
Those are some nice numbers, and most of them are an upgrade from the Pixel 4a. There are also plenty of software updates, much of what you get with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
Seeing and hearing is better
With the Pixel 6 Pro, I’m constantly activating things I shouldn’t, due to the rounded edges of the phone still being part of the screen. While I like the size of the Pro (my other everyday phone is the iPhone 13 Pro Max), I prefer the return of the thicker device in the 6a. If you consider the camera system protruding from the back of the Pro, the 6a still isn’t that thick. I also prefer the square edges of the 6a. At first glance, the phone might look like the Pixel 6, something Apple doesn’t do with its budget versions (you know someone’s using the iPhone SE 5G when you see that fingerprint button).
Professional functions for 57% of the cost
There’s a lot you’re missing out on by going from the 6a over the 6 Pro. While you still get 5G, you don’t get mmWave (the Pixel 6 didn’t either). But you still get plenty of smarts from the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
By snapping them on, you can play with the UI just like you can on the Pro. Google calls it “Material You,” which allows your wallpaper to be more of a “theme,” with apps that match the aesthetic you choose. Still on the home screen, there are widgets to play with, just like the other software features you get with the latest Android OS.
Fingerprint unlocking works just as well as on its siblings.
Whenever I interview someone, I always use the Pixel 6 Pro to record, as Google Translate’s intelligence tends to be a transcribing gun. The one interview I did while reviewing 6a, was just as good. Again, Google’s software allows this, not the phone, so you can expect to be able to maximize Live Translate and Assistant Voice Typing like you can on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The software overload that Google gave us with the 6 and 6 Pro carries over to the 6a.
Swiping the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro feels much better than the 6a, which is more “happy” than the seamless feel you get from the other two. Browsing outside of a photo in your gallery, for example, you can’t “pick up” the image to close full-screen mode on the 6a like you can on the 6 and 6 Pro. The refresh rate is noticeable, but not a deal breaker.
But how is the camera?
Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro feature the same 50-megapixel primary camera and 12MP ultra-wide camera, while the Pixel 6 Pro features an additional telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom, making it in the first Pixel ever. it carries both a telephoto lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens.
The 6a, however, has a 12MP Sony IMX363 primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 12MP Ultra Sony IMX386 secondary camera. The front-facing camera is also a wide-angle sensor: an 8MP Sony IMX355 with an 84-degree field of view and fixed focus capabilities. Here’s how they compare (on the left is the Google Pixel 6 Pro and on the right is the Google Pixel 6a):
Standard 1x zoom photo (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Zooming in, no zoom:
Close up, no zoom (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Portrait mode on each (thanks to my fabulous model Ky):
Portrait mode Zoom 1x (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
And portrait mode with 2x zoom in each:
Portrait mode Zoom 2x (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
You can see the difference in the two camera systems, but the 6a isn’t terrible.
Camera with night mode, no zoom (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
However, it’s when you zoom in that the 6 Pro’s color depth is second to none.
4x zoom vs 2x zoom (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Night mode is the default for the two photos above, but it doesn’t really show off the capabilities. Here it is out at night with night mode.
Night mode, no zoom (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Colors are better on the 6 Pro, again, but these pairings really show how much of the photo capture is handled by Google’s software.
Lastly, selfie camera, (sorry about my head):
Selfie camera (left 6 Pro, right 6a). Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
TL; DR: I’m impressed by the camera on the Google Pixel 6a.
The 6a also has many of the camera features. One of the premium bells and/or whistles the 6a gets is Google’s Magic Eraser feature. The Magic Eraser is basically a way to remove a photobomber (we go into more detail here).
I guess I should comment on how it handles calls, you know, a real thing about the phone – it handles them well, thanks. The speakerphone could be louder, but otherwise the line was clear every time I tried it. Also, it’s not great as a speaker, but it’s fine if you’re sitting in your TikTok scrolling room.
A bang for your buck
The Google Pixel 6a’s battery lasted nearly 30 hours; I didn’t use it as much as you would, as I completely ran out of time to log into everything I use on a daily basis. But from full charge, streaming Netflix non-stop (and very loud), the phone refused to die, even after 6 hours it still had 35 percent battery left. Google estimates that when you turn on “Extreme Battery Saver”, the battery can last up to 72 hours. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging.
Two years without the series ‘a’ and still ‘fucc’ more than ever
There’s no denying that the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the best phone of the three, but for 57% of the cost of the Pro, you can walk away with a phone that performs similarly. If you had $1,500 to spend on a phone and wanted absolute perfection, I’d encourage you to grab the Pixel 6 Pro (or wait for the Pixel 7 Pro). But if you’re looking to spend under $800 on an Android that packs some serious punch, it’s hard to look past the Google Pixel 6a.
I’ll be posting my iPhone SE 5G vs. Pixel 6a comparison soon, as it’s clear that both phone makers are well aware that there are benefits to making a more affordable option. In a world where “mid-range” increasingly means $1,000, phones like the iPhone SE and Google Pixel 6a matter. The Google Pixel 6a absolutely sucks.
Sage, chalk, charcoal. Image: Google
Where to buy the Google Pixel 6a
The Google Pixel 6a will set you back $749. The pre-sale has started again on the Google website, and you’ll find pre-order offers from Australia’s major telcos here.