About a year ago the compact smartphone market was greeted with the Google Pixel 6a which is the first of its kind. This smartphone is the first in the Google budget A-series to feature the company’s in-house Tensor processor. In this article, we will review this device a year and a few months after it went official.
This article aims to see whether this device is still worth the hype after being succeeded by the Pixel 7a. If you’re considering buying a new budget flagship device, is the Google Pixel 6a a great choice for you? In what areas does this budget compact device stand out from the crowd launched together with it in 2022 as well as newer device entries?
The closest competitors to this device are in the mid-range smartphone market. Despite this segment of the smartphone market being super competitive the Google Pixel 6a outshines most of its competition. Lots of reviews of this device after its launch praised it for its performance and camera ability.
Well this device is now going on two years is it still worth the purchase for shoppers? In this article, we’ll give a detailed answer to this question to give you insight into this affordable yet feature-packed device. To kick things off let’s start with this device’s technical specifications.
Technical specification of the Google Pixel 6a
- Screen: 6.1-inch OLED HDR display, IP67 water and dust resistance, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection.
- Processor: Google Tensor.
- Graphics processor: Mali-G78 MP20.
- Operating system: Android 12 out of the box, upgradeable to Android 14.
- Memory: 6GB.
- RAM: 128GB.
- Rear cameras: 12.2MP (wide) and 12MP (ultrawide).
- Front camera: 8MP.
- Video: 4K video recording at 30/60fps on the rear cameras and 1080p at 30fps on the front camera.
- Battery: 4410mAh.
- Charging: 18W wired charging.
- Communication: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS positioning.
- Sensors: Under display optical fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer.
- Connectors: USB Type-C 3.1.
- Dimensions: 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in).
- Weight: 178g.
- Colour: Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage.
What’s in the box
Google keeps things very simple in the box of the Pixel 6a as it comes with just the basics. Pixel devices joined this simplified retail box trend with the launch of the Pixel 6 series. While being part of the Pixel 6 series the 6a launched a few months after the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro but it stuck to the simplified retail box trend.
Inside the box, all you’ll find is the device, a USB Type-C cord, a SIM eject tool, a data transfer adapter, and some paperwork. This simplified retail box design makes packaging less cumbersome and reduces the amount of waste from each box. Because this device is almost two years old, buyers might not get it with a retail box since most purchases might be directly from the used market.
Design: Simple and sweet
The Pixel 6 series marked the introduction of a new design language to Google smartphones. These devices feature a camera cutout that runs from one end of the smartphone to the other. Both camera lenses on the 6a sit on the left-hand side while the flash sits on the right-hand side of the device.
Unlike its predecessors in the Pixel 6 series, this more affordable device comes with a plastic back frame. Looking at this device from a distance will not reveal that it uses a plastic back as it might look more like a glass back as seen on its predecessors. On the side, we get an aluminium frame that runs around the side of the device to give users some grip.
On the left side of the frame, there is nothing other than the SIM tray that sits flush in the side frame. Under the device sits the USB-C charging port as well as speakers and a microphone. Moving over to the right-hand side of this device we find the power button and the volume rocker keys.
The screen and bezel size of this device are very impressive and competitive with other devices in its price segment. This device comes with a centre cutout selfie camera sensor just like with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices. On the other hand, this device feels impressive to the touch and its compact build makes it desirable to those who don’t like large-screen devices.
For overall build protection, this device doesn’t come with the best materials available as it settles for IP67 dust and water resistance. Over the past year and a few months that this device has been in our possession it has shown its durability. Despite passing through a ton of falls this device has never been repaired once or even sustained a crack.
Screen: An impressive screen for the money
The screen on this device is an OLED HDR panel which is a great choice for its price range. Most critics of this device complain that its refresh rate is not enough as it makes the device feel slower than the competition. However, after a year and a few months of usage, we can comfortably say that this device doesn’t feel slow despite its 60Hz refresh rate.
Certainly, other devices in the Pixel 6a price range come with 120Hz refresh rate but the Pixel 6a is an impressive device. Performing tasks on the screen is butter smooth and lag-free, however, you’ll notice that other competing devices are faster. This might be an issue for power users but regular users of this device won’t find this an issue as the device is still impressively fast.
Considering its 6.1-inch size this device fits perfectly in the hands of users. For some like gamers, this isn’t the best screen size to go for as they need more real estate to play. With a screen resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels players with smaller hands can put this device to good use while gaming.
At 429 ppi density, this might not be the brightest screen in the park but it sure is an impressive screen. Users also get Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection against drops and scratches. Well just like every other device the durability of this one is further enhanced with the preventive and protective measures that users take, but the screen on our unit has proved itself durable.
Performance: Packs a punch in a little body
At launch, the Pixel 6 series was praised for the new processor that they packed under their hood. This processor, the Google Tensor is also in use on the Pixel 6a and just like its siblings, it packs a punch. The Google Tensor processor isn’t the best processor on the block but it’s fine-tuned to suit Pixel devices.
During usage, you’ll find that this device doesn’t lag and performs smoothly. Whether you’re gaming or surfing the internet this device can perform either task without any performance challenges. By far this is one of the best-performing devices in its price range as a series of tests have shown.
Paired with 6GB RAM as standard this device gets the job done but some might ask for a little bit more. The AnTuTu 9 benchmark score of this device is 712092 which is impressive considering its price. This device also comes with 128GB worth of storage as standard which is a bit small for some power users.
Thanks to the processor on this device it comes with some impressive software features. These features can be seen in its photography abilities as well as in other areas. Let’s now take a look at how this device performs when it comes to the photography department.
Camera: One of the best out there
On the rear, this device features a 12.2MP wide and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Up front is an 8MP selfie camera sensor, and both the front and rear-facing cameras feature some impressive abilities. Most of these abilities are enhanced thanks to the Google Pixel camera algorithm which helps images taken with this device stand out.
In 2022 this device came out tops in MKBHD’s blind camera comparison test. This competition put this device up against the likes of other top-selling and camera-centric flagship devices. From this comparison test, it became clear that the Pixel 6a was built for an affordable market but with a ton of photography features.
All these photography features can be attributed to the Tensor chip as well as the device’s photography software. From the year and a few months of using this device, we have seen a ton of improvements in software photography features that keep this device on par with newer devices. Details on images that this camera takes are very clean and bright regardless of the amount of lighting in the area.
Here are some images that we’ve taken on this camera over the years of its usage:
Battery life: Great for everyday usage
This device features a 4410mAh battery which is okay for everyday usage. For regular usage, this device takes us almost two days on a single charge. But for extreme usage, this device can last about 10 to 12 hours on a single charge.
While 18W isn’t as fast as some netizens might want, this charges up from 0% to 100% in about 2 hours. But note, that this device doesn’t sell with a charging brick so buyers will need to get one by themselves. Compared to the competition this device faces, its battery is impressive.
Sound: Great sounding but don’t expect to start a party
This device doesn’t have the best speaker that the smartphone market has to offer. So if you’re purchasing this device don’t expect to start a party using just its speakers. The bottom-firing and front-facing speakers are great for use and are compatible with a lot of other devices out there today.
But a great thing we have noticed about this device in our time of using it is that it produces clean sound. This means that this device’s speakers don’t produce distorted sound. Overall they are great sounding speakers but not the best that are available in the smartphone market.
Software: Offers the true Android experience
For most people, to experience Android at its best you’ll need to get a Pixel smartphone. To a great extent that is a fact and after using the Pixel 6a for a year we can agree to that line of thought. This device launched out of the box with Android 12 which gives users that pure stock Android experience.
Google offers a 5-year OS upgrade on this device and the Pixel 6a got the Android 13 upgrade months after its launch. Pixel smartphones are generally the first smartphones to get each OS or security upgrade once available. This allows users to try out new features before other users with each update.
With the amount of OS upgrades that this device will get it’ll stay relevant till 2027. So if you aren’t in the mood to keep upgrading your budget-level device every two years the Pixel 6a is a great buy for you. Features such as Live Caption, and Live Translate, are standard on this device for calls and other aspects of its usage.
Another very impressive feature of this device built into its software is its haptic feedback. Users will be able to adjust the intensity of this feedback directly from their Pixel 6a’s settings. Feedback is gotten after a user locks or unlocks their device while typing, and as well as taking other actions.
Conclusion
After a year and a few months of active usage, we can say that the Google Pixel 6 is a great device. Unlike other devices in its price point, this device keeps getting better with the passing months. Its performance is still as good as when it was new, its camera quality is still awesome, and it has stood the test of time.
Some people might hold back due to the size of this device but we can assure you that is nothing to worry about. This was also an issue for us at initial purchase but after a few weeks of regular usage, we got the hang of things. The only this we found a bit off about this device is that it tends to be a bit slippery when in the hand.
Well, that issue solely depends on how you hold your device and will be present for those who let their device lay flat on their palms while in use. If you fall into this category of people then using your device with a pouch will help eliminate its textured feel. But if you grip your device by the sides then the aluminium frames will help keep it in place thanks to their textured feel.
Aside from this, there’s not much complaint about this device as it is a great device for Android users. Considering its pricing at this moment parents can consider this device as a used option for their children. Despite this device already having a successor, it is still a great buy for most people.
Where to buy
In some regions getting a Google Pixel device is a real challenge for those living in these regions. This is because Google’s official stores do not exist in all regions at this time so buyers opt for various means to purchase this device. But if you live in a region where Google Store is active you can easily purchase this device.
To confirm whether you live in a region where a Google Store is active click on this link. If you don’t live in such a region then you’ll have to opt to purchase this device from other official retail platforms available globally. You can purchase this device via this link as it is available in one storage option but in various colours.