The Pixel 6a has arrived with a $450 price tag, so how does it measure up to the $900 Pixel 6 Pro? After killing the affordable Nexus line and going premium with its Pixel lineup of smartphones, Google announced the Pixel A-series as a pocket-friendly alternative. The first A-series smartphone, the Pixel 3a, was quite popular when it launched in 2019.

The Pixel 3a cost $399, half the price of the Pixel 3. Google also announced the Pixel 3a XL which had a bigger display and larger battery capacity, in addition to a more expensive $479 price tag. While Google no longer launches the Pixel A phones in two sizes — that ended with the Pixel 4a which had a bigger version that featured 5G — the price has gradually increased over the years. The 2021 Pixel 5a was announced with a $449 price tag, a $50 markup over the first A-series model.

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With the Pixel 6a, Google has adopted the same design as the Pixel 6 Pro but in a compact form factor. Both phones have a centered punch-hole for the front camera and a protruding black camera bar housing the rear cameras. However, there are some tradeoffs in the materials used for the Pixel 6a. Unlike the Pixel 6 Pro which has Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back, the Pixel 6a has Gorilla Glass 3 to protect its display and a 3D thermoformed composite back which is essentially reinforced plastic. Both devices have an alloy frame and fingerprint-resistant coating. They can also be immersed in water, although the Pixel 6a has an IP67 rating while the Pixel 6 Pro has a higher IP68 rating. The Pixel 6a is available in Sage, Chalk, and Charcoal while the Pixel 6 Pro can be purchased in Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, and Stormy Black colors.

The Same Google Tensor Chipset

The Pixel 6a also has a Google Tensor processor

The Pixel 6 Pro is the bigger of the two with a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO OLED panel and 120Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED panel that refreshes at 60Hz. Despite the price difference, both devices are powered by the same Google Tensor processor and Titan M2 security chip. There is 12GB of RAM on the Pixel 6 Pro with the option to choose between 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. In contrast, the Pixel 6a is available in a single configuration that has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Just like other Pixel phones, there is no microSD card slot for storage expansion on either phone. Google has carried over the primary camera of the Pixel 5a to the Pixel 6a. It is a 12.2MP f/1.7 sensor with OIS and it is paired with a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a 114-degree field of view. There's an 8MP front camera inside the punch-hole.

In contrast, the Pixel 6 Pro has a 50MP f/1.85 main rear camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera for 4x optical zoom and up to 20x Super Res Zoom. In addition, it has optical image stabilization on the main and telephoto sensors and a laser detect autofocus sensor. There's an 11.1MP camera in front for selfies and video calls. Google has packed the Pixel 6a with most of the same camera features as the Pixel 6 Pro except for Motion Mode, the motion blurring feature for moving objects. The Pixel 6a also can't record in 1080p at 60fps with its front camera and is missing the audio zoom feature. The two phones have an under-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, dual SIM (nano and eSIM), NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, and WiFi 6E. However, the Pro model is the only one with an Ultra-Wide Band chip. It also has dual-band GNSS and supports more GNSS systems which means it will have more accurate location tracking.

Another distinguishing feature is the battery capacity. Considering its smaller display, it comes as no surprise that the Pixel 6a has a smaller 4,410mAh battery. It also charges slower at 18W and doesn't support wireless charging. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 5,003mAh battery that charges faster but is not up to the advertised 3oW. It also supports 23W wireless charging and is capable of charging other devices wirelessly. Unfortunately, neither of the phones comes with a charger in the box. Google ships the Pixel 6a and Pixel 6 Pro with Android 12 and both phones will receive five years of software updates. Google has clarified that the Pixel 6 Pro will receive Android updates until October 2024 and security updates until October 2026. This means the last OS upgrade for the phone should be Android 15.

Considering the Pixel 6a launched seven months after the Pixel 6 Pro, there is a chance it might receive the Android 16 update. Nevertheless, it should receive security updates until May 2027. At $449, the Pixel 6a has a lot going for it such as its processor and IP67 rating, but it is disappointing to see that Google has stuck to a 60Hz panel and 18W fast charging for the fourth year in a row. While that may not be a dealbreaker for some, those who want a better display, superior cameras, and slightly faster charging are better off with the Pixel 6 Pro. They also get double the RAM of the Pixel 6a and three storage choices.

NEXT: Google Just Teased The Pixel 7 & 7 Pro, Featuring A New Tensor Chipset

Source: Google Store 1, 2