Think of cool phones and the iPhone and Pixel probably come to mind. But they also come with a premium price to match their respective premium specs. Fortunately, Apple and Google make cheaper versions of their flagship phones. But which is better, the Google Pixel 6a or the Apple iPhone SE 5G? We’ve pitted them against each other in the budget phone battle: Google Pixel and Apple iPhone.
Apple’s budget device was launched in March, and Google’s will be available from July 28.
Which is better Google Pixel 6a or Apple iPhone SE 5G?
Which phone is better? Let’s break it all down.
Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE 5G: Price
A bit of context on the cost of each brand’s latest range is important here.
Apple:
- The iPhone 13 Pro Max is priced at $1,849
- The iPhone 13 Pro is priced at $1,699
- The iPhone 13 is priced at $1,349
- The iPhone 13 mini is priced at $1,199
- The iPhone SE 5G costs $719
Google:
- The Google Pixel 6 Pro is priced at $1,299
- The Google Pixel 6 is priced at $999
- Google Pixel 6a RRP $749
Once you’re over the $500 mark for a phone, does $30 make a difference in your decision? If so, the iPhone SE 5G is the cheapest.
Apple iPhone SE 5G vs Google Pixel 6a: The SE is cheaper.
Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE 5G: Look and feel
The SE 5G is almost the size of a (now potentially discontinued) iPhone mini. The iPhone SE 5G is 138.4mm x 67.3mm (the mini is 131.5mm x 64.2mm and the standard iPhone 13 is 146.7mm x 71.5mm). It weighs 113 grams.
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
The 6a is noticeably smaller than its siblings, measuring 152.2mm x 71.8mm. It weighs 178 grams.
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
iPhone SE 5G is smaller and lighter.
The iPhone SE 5G looks like an iPhone, but it doesn’t look like its latest siblings because of the fingerprint reader: it swaps Face ID for Touch ID. Considering it’s running Apple’s latest software, it almost feels like you’re using a phone from 2022 stuck in the body of a 2016 iPhone.
The Google Pixel 6a also looks like a Google phone. It’s thicker than its 6 siblings, swapping the curved edges for a flatter, “block”-like body. The software is still Google’s latest, which means it has much of the power you get with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but lags in refresh rate by comparison.
The Pixel 6a looks more like a 2022 phone.
The iPhone SE 5G and Pixel 6a both score a point here.
Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE 5G: the guts
The easiest way to determine which is better between the Pixel 6a and the iPhone SE 5G is to list the specifications. Visit Google’s website and Apple’s website for a little more depth, but here’s the gist:
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: 4,410 mAh (all-day battery)
- Connectivity: 5G
- Colors: sage, chalk, charcoal
Apple iPhone SE 5G Specifications:
- Display: 4.7-inch LCD with 60 Hz refresh rate
- Processor: A15 Bionic chip (same brain as iPhone 13)
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
- Rear camera: 12MP (wide)
- Front camera: 7MP
- Battery: 2018 mAh battery (up to 10 hours of video playback)
- Connectivity: 5G
- Colors: midnight (black), starlight (white) and (PRODUCT)RED (um, red)
The Pixel 6a’s battery life is much better than the iPhone SE 5G, but the storage on the iPhone is bigger. Determining the guts winner really comes down to whether you’re an Android or iOS fan; both are great in their respective lanes.
Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE 5G: The camera
The comparison you’ve been waiting for. Which camera is better Google Pixel 6a or iPhone SE 5G? Google Pixel 6a photos are on the left and iPhone SE 5G photos are on the right.
Rear camera without zoom:
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Rear camera close-up, no zoom:
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Rear camera close-up, no zoom again, but this time no natural light (night):
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Rear camera, extended (7x Pixel and 5x iPhone zoom):
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
The night shots clearly show how much Google’s software is involved with taking photos when it’s dark:
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Portrait mode on each, thanks to my model Boston (please excuse the state of her favorite chair):
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Selfie camera (sorry for my head):
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Which camera is better Google Pixel 6a or iPhone SE 5G? It has to be the Pixel 6a. The evidence speaks for itself.
The verdict
The iPhone SE 5G wins when you talk about price, weight and size, but falls behind when you look at the camera. Both phones come with great software and great assistant capabilities. The iPhone SE 5G looks like a 6-year-old phone, while the Pixel 6a looks like maybe a year or two ago.
Image: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia
Google Pixel vs Apple iPhone: Which should you buy? I’m not your real dad, and it really depends on whether you’re familiar with iOS or Android.
Check out our Google Pixel 6a review here and our Apple iPhone SE 5G review here.