vivo S15 Pro vs. Google Pixel 6a: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing gaming and fast charging, the vivo S15 Pro is the clear winner. Its Dimensity 8100 chipset offers superior CPU and GPU performance, complemented by 80W charging. However, the Google Pixel 6a excels in camera quality and software experience, making it ideal for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S15 Pro | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 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, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 19 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 27 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.34 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 | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MC6 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 12, OriginOS Ocean | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB 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 |
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 116˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF | 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 dual speakers (closed type) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | 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/6, 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 | 80W wired, 70% in 18 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | V2207A | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 480 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
vivo S15 Pro
- Significantly faster 80W charging
- More powerful Dimensity 8100 chipset for gaming
- Potentially better thermal management
- Camera performance is unknown and potentially inferior to Pixel 6a
- Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel 6a
Google Pixel 6a
- Exceptional camera quality powered by Google Tensor
- Clean and intuitive Android software experience
- Guaranteed software updates and long-term support
- Slow 18W charging
- Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a measured peak brightness of 876 nits, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the S15 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, vivo typically equips its ‘Pro’ models with vibrant OLED panels. The Pixel 6a’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, delivers deep blacks and vivid colors. However, without knowing the S15 Pro’s panel technology (LTPO or standard OLED) and refresh rate, a definitive display winner is difficult to declare. The Pixel 6a’s brightness is a known quantity, giving it an edge in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6a is renowned for its computational photography, leveraging Google’s Tensor chip to deliver exceptional image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. While the S15 Pro’s camera specs are unknown, vivo often focuses on high megapixel counts. However, sensor size and image processing algorithms are more critical than megapixel count alone. The Pixel 6a’s image processing excels at dynamic range and detail preservation. Without knowing the S15 Pro’s sensor size and aperture, the Pixel 6a’s proven track record in computational photography gives it a significant advantage.
Performance
The vivo S15 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 8100 (5nm) and its octa-core CPU (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) are geared towards performance. The Dimensity 8100 generally outperforms the Google Tensor (5nm) in raw CPU and GPU benchmarks. The Tensor’s CPU configuration (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) prioritizes AI tasks, but lags behind in sustained peak performance. The S15 Pro is likely to exhibit less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions due to the Dimensity 8100’s efficiency and potentially superior cooling solutions. The Pixel 6a’s strength lies in its machine learning capabilities, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 94 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the charging speeds differ dramatically. The vivo S15 Pro’s 80W wired charging can replenish 70% of the battery in just 18 minutes, a substantial advantage over the Pixel 6a’s 18W wired charging with PD3.0. While the Pixel 6a’s battery life is respectable, the S15 Pro’s charging speed offers unparalleled convenience for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S15 Pro if you need a phone for demanding mobile games, frequent video recording, or simply value the convenience of incredibly fast charging. You’ll benefit from a smoother, more responsive experience in resource-intensive tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prioritize a clean Android experience, exceptional camera capabilities powered by Google’s AI, and long-term software support. It’s the better choice for everyday users who value simplicity and photographic excellence.