Poco F6 vs Google Pixel 8a: A Deep Dive into Performance, Battery, and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and fast charging, the Poco F6 is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 8a excels in battery life, camera consistency, and software support, making it the better choice for everyday users who value reliability and a seamless experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Google Pixel 8a |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - G6GPR (International) |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G6GPR (International) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, May 23 | 2024, May 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, May 23 | Available. Released 2024, May 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) | 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~430 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 500 nits (typ), 1200 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 735 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, HyperOS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 64 MP (16 MP eff.), f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra HDR, panorama, Best Take |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.8µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS (B1I+B1c) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual/tri-band (market/region dependent) |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD3.0, 2-100% in 35 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4492 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Green, Titanium | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe |
| Models | 24069PC21G, 24069PC21I | GKV4X, G6GPR, G8HHN, G576D |
| Price | $ 319.99 / £ 215.00 / € 284.99 / ₹ 20,499 | $ 229.98 / C$ 417.99 / £ 279.00 / € 299.99 / ₹ 33,300 |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 40:06h endurance, 1000 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class A (270 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
Xiaomi Poco F6
- Significantly faster processor for gaming and demanding tasks
- 90W fast charging dramatically reduces charging time
- Potentially lower price point for comparable performance
- Shorter battery life compared to the Pixel 8a
- Less refined software experience compared to Google’s Pixel UI
Google Pixel 8a
- Exceptional battery life and endurance
- Superior camera image processing and consistency
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed software updates
- Slower processor compared to the Poco F6
- Significantly slower charging speeds
Display Comparison
The Pixel 8a boasts a brighter display, reaching 1508 nits compared to the Poco F6’s 1218 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize a 4nm process for their respective chipsets, the display technology differs significantly in practical terms. The Pixel 8a’s higher peak brightness is immediately noticeable, while the Poco F6’s panel, though dimmer, likely prioritizes power efficiency. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel type (OLED/LCD), but given the market segment, OLED is highly probable for both. Bezels are not specified, but the Pixel 8a’s design language generally favors slimmer borders.
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are absent, the Pixel 8a’s strength lies in Google’s renowned computational photography. The Tensor G3’s dedicated image signal processor (ISP) excels at processing images, delivering consistent results across various lighting conditions. The Poco F6, relying on a less specialized chipset, may struggle to match the Pixel 8a’s dynamic range and low-light performance. Sensor size and aperture are unknown for both, but Google’s software algorithms often compensate for hardware limitations. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device makes it difficult to assess video stabilization capabilities.
Performance
The Poco F6’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) is architecturally more powerful than the Google Tensor G3 (4nm) found in the Pixel 8a. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 features a 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 prime core, alongside 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 performance cores, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520 efficiency cores. The Tensor G3 utilizes a nona-core configuration with a 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3, 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715, and 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510 cores. The X4 core in the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 generally delivers higher single-core performance, crucial for responsive UI and app loading. The Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3, however, is optimized for Google’s AI and machine learning tasks, potentially offering advantages in features like voice recognition and image processing. The Poco F6 likely benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM, though the exact speed isn’t specified, contributing to its overall performance edge.
Battery Life
The Pixel 8a dominates in battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 11:25h and a remarkable 40:06h endurance rating based on 1000 cycles. This significantly surpasses the Poco F6’s 10:36h active use score. While the Poco F6 compensates with incredibly fast 90W wired charging (0-100% in 35 minutes), the Pixel 8a’s 18W charging is considerably slower. The Pixel 8a also offers 7.5W wireless charging and bypass charging, features absent on the Poco F6. The Pixel 8a’s superior battery life is a major advantage for users who prioritize all-day usage without frequent charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco F6 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, or frequent multitasking, and value the fastest possible charging speeds. Buy the Google Pixel 8a if you prioritize all-day battery life, a consistently excellent camera experience powered by Google’s computational photography, and a clean, regularly updated Android experience with guaranteed software support.