Google Pixel 6a vs OnePlus Nord: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 6a emerges as the superior choice. While the OnePlus Nord offers more storage options and slightly longer endurance, the Pixel 6a’s significantly brighter display and the processing power of the Google Tensor chip provide a smoother, more future-proof experience, especially for camera enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe | 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) |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 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) |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 78 SA/NSA - India | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 21 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 04 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~408 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.6 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, OxygenOS 12 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | 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 |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.5, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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 | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4115 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue Marble, Gray Onyx (Gray Ash) | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | AC2001, AC2003 | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | € 101.45 / £ 119.99 | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | $ 299.00 | - |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | $ 329.99 | - |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | C$ 865.00 | - |
| RENEWED | £ 172.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.6 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 315641 (v8) GeekBench: 7844 (v4.4), 1953 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
OnePlus Nord
- Superior processing power with Google Tensor chip
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Exceptional camera performance thanks to Google’s software
- Guaranteed software updates directly from Google
- Slower charging speed (18W)
- Slightly lower battery endurance rating
Google Pixel 6a
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Longer battery endurance rating
- More storage options available
- Competitive pricing
- Less powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Dimmer display compared to the Pixel 6a
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 876 nits measured, compared to the Nord’s 756 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors and a more vibrant viewing experience. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks, but the Pixel 6a’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage. While neither specifies refresh rate, the brightness difference is the defining factor for everyday usability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the Pixel 6a benefits from Google’s renowned computational photography expertise. While sensor sizes and apertures aren’t specified, the Tensor chip’s image signal processor (ISP) is a key differentiator. Google’s software algorithms excel at dynamic range, noise reduction, and detail preservation, resulting in superior image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Nord’s camera system is likely capable, but it won’t match the Pixel 6a’s consistently high performance. Ignoring the likely low-resolution macro lenses on both devices, the Pixel 6a’s processing is the deciding factor.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 6a’s Google Tensor (5nm) is architecturally more advanced than the OnePlus Nord’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The Tensor’s octa-core configuration, featuring Cortex-X1 and A76 cores, provides a substantial performance uplift over the Kryo cores in the Snapdragon 765G. This is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. The 5nm process node of the Tensor also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling under sustained load. The Nord’s 6GB/12GB RAM options are competitive, but the Tensor’s raw processing power gives the Pixel 6a the edge.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord claims an endurance rating of 100 hours, slightly exceeding the Pixel 6a’s 94 hours. However, endurance ratings don’t tell the whole story. The Nord supports 30W wired charging, achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes, while the Pixel 6a is limited to 18W with PD3.0. This means the Nord can replenish its battery faster. Despite the slightly lower endurance rating, the Pixel 6a’s more efficient Tensor chip may offset some of the capacity difference in real-world usage, but the Nord’s faster charging is a tangible benefit.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord if you prioritize maximum storage capacity for the price and value a longer, though not necessarily faster-charging, battery life. It’s a solid all-rounder for users who don’t heavily rely on demanding apps or mobile gaming. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prioritize camera quality, a brighter and more vibrant display, and the performance benefits of Google’s Tensor chip, even if it means slightly less battery endurance and potentially faster depletion during intensive tasks.