With the Pixel 6a, Google is launching a new mid-range smartphone that breaks with the previous recipe of the a series. So far, this has meant packing the good camera of the flagship devices into a narrower housing with a smaller display and equipping it with a slower processor. This is how the Pixel 4a became one of the most popular smartphones in recent years, which particularly impressed with a photo quality that is unbeatable in its class. How Google rethought its approach to the Pixel 6a.
Anyone who wants to buy the Google Pixel 6a can pre-order it from the official Google Store from July 21, 2022, and it will be released a week later, on July 28, 2022. Google will provide the “Pixel Buds A-Series” headphones to those who pre-order. on top (new price 99 euros). The official price for the smartphone is 459 euros. In return, customers get a device that contains almost all the strengths of its big siblings, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. This applies in particular to Google’s Tensor chip, which enables AI options such as the dictation function, the “Magic Eraser” or real-time translations – offline and thus on the device itself instead of via the Internet and the cloud.
The considerable computing power also benefits the photo algorithm, which gets the maximum out of the two rear cameras and delivers great results. The Titan M2 security chip is also installed in the Pixel 6a to reliably secure private data. In comparison to Google’s Pixel 6 (8GB RAM) and 6 Pro (12GB RAM), on the other hand, 6 GB RAM is slightly less RAM, but this is only noticeable in normal everyday use under full load.
Photos, videos and more are displayed on a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,400×1,080 pixels (FHD) and a refresh rate of up to 60 Hertz. Here, 6a users have to accept losses compared to the big siblings, because they are slightly larger (6.4 and 6.7 inches) and have a refresh rate of up to 90 or 120 Hertz. The 24-bit color depth (16 million colors), which looks a bit more muted than the colors of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in the practical test, is convincing.
Google also continues to follow the trend of getting rid of the headphone jack. If you want to make phone calls or listen to music with a headset, you have to do this with Bluetooth devices. The smartphone is IP67-certified, meaning it is dustproof and waterproof. However, be careful with the latter, because unlike its bigger siblings (IP68), the Pixel 6a is only suitable for short-term submersion under water. Google also identifies the smartphone as dual-SIM capable and offers space for a physical nano-SIM card and a digital eSIM.
The whole thing is powered by a battery with a capacity of 4,410 mAh, which lasts a day with normal use and can be quickly charged with up to 18 watts. Unlike the other Pixel 6 models, users cannot charge the 6a wirelessly. Finally, the five-year security update guarantee promised by Google deserves praise. The Pixel 6a comes standard with Android 12, an update to Android 13 should follow soon. Google promises the Pixel 6a will be “among the first to receive the Android 13 update.”
The Pixel 6a is a great upper mid-range smartphone that, thanks to its AI-capable processor, provides features that are also available on Google devices in the upper range. The price of 459 euros is reasonable for this, but for many interested parties it should be worth taking a look at the regular Pixel 6. This costs 649 euros, but is currently available from various providers for well under 600 euros. Depending on how much discount wholesalers like Saturn or MediaMarkt grant, the relatively small surcharge can represent a really good deal.
