Google Pixel 6A - Smartphone 128GB, 6GB RAM, Dual Sim, Chalk White

Product Information

Pixel 6a hits the market in July. You can read more of our coverage below. More on Google Pixel 6a: On the flip side, there’s not a lot that’s new in terms of camera hardware. The Pixel 6a’s primary camera is the same 12.2MP (f/1.7) sensor previously used by the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, while the 12MP (f/2.2) wide-angle unit is identical to the one found in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. An 8MP (f/2) selfie camera sits inside a central hole punch notch on the front of the phone. What’s most bizarre, though, is its timing. The nine-month-old Pixel 6 has dropped in price since launch and currently isn’t far off what Google is charging for the Pixel 6a. If you can spare the extra cash, you’re better off going with Google’s flagship – if anything just for the slightly larger 6.4in 90Hz display and 50MP main camera.

The Google Pixel 6a's 4,410mAh battery isn't quite the biggest available ion the segment, but Google clearly optimized its performance. We test battery life by continuously streaming a YouTube video over Wi-Fi with the screen brightness set to the maximum level. The phone ran for an excellent 12 hours and 55 minutes, a result that crushes the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G (7 hours and 15 minutes). That said, the similarly priced Motorola G Stylus 5G managed to hang on for about the same amount of time (13 hours and 10 minutes). The Google Pixel 6a is a powerful mid-range smartphone with a high-class performance, a very good camera, and long update period. Unfortunately, its display remains limited to 60 Hz. A depth and detail comparison between photos captured on the Google Pixel 6, Nothing Phone (1) and Samsung Galaxy A53 (Image credit: Basil Kronfli / Digital Camera World)The Chalk Pixel 6a, with its stark contrast, will draw the most attention if you intend to go out into the world with your phone naked, while the Charcoal will draw fewer eyes but still sport this new Pixel style. Despite the relatively compact size, you still get a 6.1-inch OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 2,400-by-1,080-pixel resolution. This equates to a fairly typical 20:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 429ppi. The display offers 24-bit color and, in use, the colors look quite good. The OLED panel provides excellent viewing angles, high contrast, and is sufficiently visible even in bright light.

Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | Wild Life Extreme | Wild Life Unlimited Score | Wild Life Score | 2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | 2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | 2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | 2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited | 2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics | 2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics Elsewhere, the Pixel 6a has a smaller 6.1in, 1080p, 60Hz HDR OLED display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection and an under-screen fingerprint reader. It has reverted to the 12.2MP main camera used on the previous three generations of Pixel, as opposed to the 50MP number that debuted on the Pixel 6, but this is supported by a 12MP ultrawide sensor and an 8MP selfie camera. On the PCMark Work 3.0 test, which simulates everyday tasks such as photo editing, web browsing, and data manipulation, the Pixel 6a scored a solid 9,558. That's only a bit below the more expensive Pixel 6 (10,602). Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, with its Exynos 1280 SoC, beats both devices on this benchmark with a score of 11,675. Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6: Estimated battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Average battery life during testing was approximately 34 hours. Battery testing conducted by a third party in California in mid 2021 on pre-production hardware and software, using default settings. Battery testing conducted using two major carrier networks using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. Actual battery life may be lower. Even though the Pixel 6a doesn't offer any high-end sensors, the camera software does its best to bring the Sony chips to their full potential. The results are really worth seeing, since you can currently hardly find a better image quality in the mid-range segment.Very few phones can match the calibre of images it’s capable of capturing, and those that can are typically flagships costing twice as much as the Pixel 6a. Performance is also spot-on, not to mention that it uses one of the most colour-accurate displays I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Battery life is the only area where the Pixel 6a hasn’t done so well. This was to be expected – we found Tensor to be especially power hungry in our Pixel 6 review – but the Pixel 6a’s battery score is diminished by roughly three hours. Still, a result of 20hrs 47mins is very good, and should be enough to last you nearly two days on a single charge. Video recording is another place where the Pixel 6a does well. It captures 4K video at 30 or 60fps, which is better than most phones at this price range. Many devices top off at 4K or 1080p at 30fps. The Pixel even offers basic optical image stabilization to keep videos smooth. So there’s plenty to like about the Pixel 6a, then. Not that you should be surprised – after all, Google’s pedigree is well-documented at this point – but the Pixel 6a should still be applauded for squeezing this much stuff into a handset this affordable. The Pixel 6a’s ultra-wide camera isn’t quite as impressive, but there’s still a lot to like. With a wide 114-degree field of view, you can squeeze plenty of stuff into the frame, and I preferred the quality of the Pixel’s images compared to the Galaxy S22 Plus, but the caveat here is that there is a slight loss in detail over the primary camera. GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme UnlimitedHDR, Panorama, Bokeh Mode, Slow Motion, Time Lapse, AI Features, Scene Detection, Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Stereo Recording Adding to its appeal, the Pixel 6a is on the smaller side compared with some competing devices. It measures 5.99 by 2.83 by 0.35 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.27 ounces. It's similar in size to the Pixel 5a (6.15 by 2.88 by 0.35 inches, 6.45 ounces), though the Apple iPhone SE (5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches, 5.09 ounces) is considerably smaller and lighter. Thanks to the 6.1-inch OLED display, this mid-range Google smartphone is more manageable than the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. With a Full HD+ resolution and a pixel density of 429 ppi, it promises a sharp display of content. It supports HDR and colours are vivid thanks to the 24-bit colour depth. However, there is one downside: the refresh rate remains at 60 Hz. The fingerprint sensor is located under the display glass. The selfie camera with an 8-megapixel resolution is located behind the hole on the edge of the display. The Camera Could Give More As for video, the Pixel 6a is capable of recording up to a maximum 4K resolution at 60fps. All modes are fully stabilised, and footage looked very good in my tests, recording judder-free video with a good amount of detail, even in dark conditions. That’s disappointing, but it’s worth noting that previous Pixels punched well above their weight in the photography stakes. So, when you consider that the Pixel 6a borrows various sensors from past releases, there’s no reason to believe things have changed for the worse here.