Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 6: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Pixel 6a offers incredible value with its excellent Tensor performance and impressive battery life, making it a top pick for budget-conscious buyers. The Pixel 6, however, provides a larger display, faster charging, and a more versatile camera system, justifying its higher price for those seeking premium features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 6a | Google Pixel 6 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GB7N6, G9S9B16 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G9S9B |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GB7N6 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 11 | 2021, October 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 21 | Available. Released 2021, October 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) | 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 207 g (7.30 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor (5 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP20 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD3.0 | Wired (based on 30W charger), PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 21W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4410 mAh | Li-Ion 4614 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage | Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, Stormy Black |
| Models | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L | GB7N6, G9S9B16, G9S9B, GR1YH |
| Price | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 | $ 172.48 / C$ 238.84 / £ 169.99 / € 191.89 / ₹ 23,719 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 94h | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 676831 (v9) GeekBench: 2899 (v5.1) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Google Pixel 6a
- Exceptional value
- Excellent battery life (94h)
- Smooth performance with Tensor chip
- Compact and comfortable size
- Clean Android experience
- Smaller display
- Slower charging
- No wireless charging
- Less versatile camera system (no telephoto)
Google Pixel 6
- Larger, more immersive display
- Faster charging (wired & wireless)
- More versatile camera system (telephoto lens)
- Wireless charging & Reverse Wireless Charging
- Slightly better sustained performance (8GB RAM)
- Shorter battery life (86h)
- Higher price
- Can be less comfortable for one-handed use
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6 features a larger 6.4-inch OLED display compared to the Pixel 6a's 6.1-inch OLED. While both offer excellent color accuracy and contrast (both listed as 'Infinite' nominal), the Pixel 6's larger size and potentially slightly brighter panel (though specific brightness data for the Pixel 6 is not provided, it's generally understood to be brighter than the 6a's 876 nits) provide a more immersive viewing experience. The 6a's smaller size, however, can make it more comfortable to hold and use one-handed.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6 boasts a more versatile camera system with a wider range of features and capabilities. While both phones deliver excellent image quality thanks to Google's computational photography, the Pixel 6's telephoto lens provides optical zoom, allowing for closer shots without significant quality loss. The Pixel 6 also generally offers more advanced video recording options. The 6a's camera is still very capable, but lacks the telephoto lens.
Performance
Both phones share the same Google Tensor chipset and CPU configuration, ensuring comparable performance in everyday tasks and demanding applications. You'll experience smooth multitasking, responsive app launches, and excellent AI-powered features on both devices. Differences in RAM (Pixel 6 has 8GB vs 6a's 6GB) might lead to slightly better sustained performance on the Pixel 6 with heavy multitasking, but the difference is likely minimal for most users.
Battery Life
The Pixel 6a takes a clear lead in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 94 hours compared to the Pixel 6's 86 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage times on a single charge for the 6a. The Pixel 6 does offer faster wired charging (up to 30W) and wireless charging (21W), which can offset the slightly shorter battery life for some users.
Buying Guide
The Google Pixel 6a is ideal for users who prioritize value, long battery life, and a smooth Android experience without breaking the bank. The Pixel 6 is a better choice for those who want a larger, more vibrant display, faster charging speeds, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and a more advanced camera system with additional features.