Hands On With The Google Pixel 6a
Retail Price: $449
Disclaimer: Google sent us a unit of the Pixel 6a free of charge to review, but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are our own and were not discussed with the company prior to publishing.
A New Look
Today we are going to be taking a first look at the brand new Google Pixel 6a that just got delivered to our Sypnotix office. This is Google’s newest member of the Pixel lineup and a refresh of the mid-tier Pixel 5a. Retailing for $449 with a brand new look that matches the 6-series, is the 6a going to be a huge hit for Google? It’s a little too early for us to say, but let’s take a look at what the Pixel 6a brings to the table now that it’s finally here.
This year’s budget phone from Google only comes in one configuration. That makes it quite an easy decision for buyers as they don’t have to debate whether it’s worth it to ante up more money for more storage and ram. The Pixel 6a utilizes Google’s proprietary Tensor processor, the same one in Google’s Pixel 6 lineup of phones. This is still Google’s first in-house processor since leaving Qualcomm last year, so there are growing pains with this CPU. With 6 GB of ram and 128 GB of storage, this mid-ranger does have sufficient power to handle operating Android 12. If the Pixel 6 series is any indication, the problems we’re likely to encounter here aren’t necessarily CPU power driven. Google sent us the Chalk color, which is a classic white colorway that has been a staple of the Pixel lineup for a few years now. Charcoal, which is Google’s black, also makes a return. Sage, which is a minty green color, debuts on the mid-tier lineup for the first time as the 5a only had one color to choose from last year.
After two iterations of the A-line, Google has finally updated the design of the phone this year. It now resembles the design language of its 6-series family. It’s easily recognizable as a current generation design thanks to the Pixel exclusive camera bar on the rear of the phone. The design cue is a simple black strip that runs across the top of rear side where it houses the dual camera setup and the flash. Unlike the Pixel 6 Pro we reviewed last year which was made out of a glass back, the Pixel 6a utilizes a plastic back held up by a metallic alloy frame. This is also a slight difference in material to the A-series of past years as well, as the 5a had a metal unibody coated in resin. Still, the Pixel 6a feels smooth to hold and definitely feels more premium than a $449 price tag would suggest it should.
Initial Thoughts
From left to right: Pixel 6a, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 5a
The one major aspect that Google did cut corners with is using Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on the display instead of a newer, albeit pricier version of the popular glass. It most likely won’t make that huge of a difference as we’ve used so many phones over the years with Gorilla Glass 3 that we honestly don’t find it a major detractor to be back on an outdated version of the glass.
However, the other corner that had to be cut to hit this price tag could be a potentially bigger detractor to some buyers. The dual rear camera setup relies on a pair of sensors that we’ve seen before from Google. The 12.2 MP wide sensor and the 12 MP ultra-wide combo have been around since the Pixel 3. Google has relied on post-processing to compensate for their older sensor setup. In most cases, we’ve actually appreciated the results, especially when you consider what tier of phone this competes with. We’ll see how the cameras hold up in 2022 and save our thoughts for the full review, but we do have some idea of what to expect. The selfie camera is an 8 MP sensor.
Some other specs to throw out there is the 6.1 inch Full HD display. It uses an OLED panel that supports HDR with 60 hz refresh. That’s a 429 ppi screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio. None of that is too crazy nowadays, but straight out of the box, the display looks pretty good!
We also get 5G in this $400 price segment, which is great to see, considering where the market was just a year ago with these bands. Google threw in a 4,410 mAh battery that we’ll put to the test as the Pixel lineup has never really been over performers in battery life. Like the current 6-series phones, Google has transitioned the fingerprint sensor to an under display technology instead of the rear location the 5a predecessor had. Owners of Pixel phones should also be among the first to receive security updates and Android 13. That makes the 6a one of the cheapest phones to be able to upgrade quickly to the newest versions of Android.
More to Come
There’s a lot to be excited for about the Pixel 6a. We’ll definitely see if this phone pushes the boundaries of what a budget device can do. Let me know what you want to see in the full review of the Google Pixel 6a. We’ll be back with our full review of this phone very soon!
Lida
Always the number cruncher, the former narrative journalist turned data scientist, can’t help but find herself bursting with excitement with each new generation of tech gadgets. After all, predicting future trends is Lida’s forte. Any gadget that survives Lida’s torturous, adult working woman itinerary of over 700 notifications a day deserves praise!