Poco X6 vs Google Pixel 7a: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 7a emerges as the better choice. While the Poco X6 boasts faster charging and a brighter display, the Pixel 7a’s superior image processing and smoother software experience justify its slightly higher price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Poco X6 | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, January 11 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, January 12 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.2 x 74.3 x 8 mm (6.35 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, 500 nits (typ), 1200 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 13, up to 3 major Android upgrades, HyperOS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, 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, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, 100% in 44 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | 5100 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | 23122PCD1G, 23122PCD1I | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | € 279.99 / $ 213.57 / ₹ 17,990 | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
Xiaomi Poco X6
- Significantly faster 67W charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Strong gaming performance with Adreno 710 GPU
- Image processing likely inferior to Pixel 7a
- Software updates may be less frequent
Google Pixel 7a
- Superior camera image processing and quality
- Clean and optimized software experience
- Guaranteed software updates from Google
- Slower 18W charging
- Lower peak display brightness
Display Comparison
The Poco X6 features a display capable of reaching 1339 nits of peak brightness, significantly outshining the Pixel 7a’s 1070 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED panels, the Poco X6’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for media consumption in bright environments. However, the Pixel 7a’s color accuracy is likely superior, a hallmark of Google’s display calibration. We lack PWM frequency data, but the Pixel 7a is known for its excellent display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 7a leverages Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms, excelling in dynamic range and low-light performance. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel 7a’s image processing consistently delivers impressive results. The Poco X6 likely relies more on hardware capabilities, and while it can produce good images, it may not match the Pixel 7a’s consistency and detail in challenging conditions. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Poco X6 makes a direct sensor comparison difficult, but Google’s software advantage is substantial.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco X6 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm), while the Pixel 7a is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 (5nm). The Tensor G2, with its Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.85 GHz, holds a CPU performance advantage over the Poco’s 2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 cores. However, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2’s Adreno 710 GPU provides strong graphics performance, potentially exceeding the Tensor G2’s GPU in raw gaming benchmarks. The 5nm process of the Tensor G2 should offer better thermal efficiency, but the Poco X6’s larger thermal headroom may mitigate throttling during extended gaming sessions. Both phones feature octa-core CPUs, but their architectural differences dictate distinct performance profiles.
Battery Life
The Poco X6 boasts a significant charging advantage with its 67W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 44 minutes. The Pixel 7a’s 18W charging feels comparatively slow, taking considerably longer to reach 100%. While the Pixel 7a’s older endurance rating of 76h suggests good battery optimization, the Poco X6’s active use score of 10:11h indicates strong real-world battery life. The faster charging of the Poco X6 is a major convenience factor for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco X6 if you prioritize gaming performance and need the fastest possible charging speeds. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset delivers excellent frame rates, and the 67W charging gets you back to 100% in under an hour. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you value camera quality, a clean software experience, and long-term software support. The Tensor G2 excels in computational photography, and Google’s software updates ensure your phone stays secure and up-to-date.