Unlocking Google Pixel 6A: Tech Specs and Review

Now that it has finally made its way to stores a few months after its initial introduction, the Google Pixel 6a 5g has a formidable challenge: it must once again prove itself to be the best budget phone to buy, especially among those who place a premium on having a high-quality camera. 

Google’s flagship products have been met with mixed reviews, while the company’s mid-range handsets have been well-received by consumers. Their selling point was always easy to summarize: top-tier cameras with respectable specs. Now, with the Google Pixel 6a 5g, the company is increasing the stakes by including its own flagship Google Tensor SoC in addition to a Google-tier camera, just like on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Google Pixel 6a 5g review on Design and Display

The Google Pixel 6a 5g’s body is noticeably thicker than that of the Google Pixel 6 Pro, and it also feels bulkier in the hand. The camera module makes the Google Pixel 6a thicker, yet it is still slimmer overall. The top grille acts as a microphone and a speaker for stereo sound. 

There is no curve to the screen; instead, there is a thin bezel on all four sides. The rear is curved just a bit, making it both more slippery and more prone to fingerprints. The Google Pixel 6a 5g “Charcoal Gray” model has a two-tone back, with the area just above the camera visor being a lighter shade of gray than the rest of the back. The back is plastic, while the frame is aluminum.

The screen of the Google Pixel 6a 5g is an AMOLED panel with full HD resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate. The display’s brightness is satisfactory, and the camera hole isn’t too large. Sunlight does make it a little hard to read, but keep in mind that this is a mid-range device. 

Google Pixel 6a 5g review on Camera

The Google Pixel 6a 5g phone keeps the same two-camera arrangement as its predecessor, the Pixel 5a, but the ultrawide-angle lens’s resolution has been reduced. The Google Pixel 6a 5g has a 12MP camera, whereas the Pixel 5a has 16MP. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 6a 5g phone’s ultrawide angle lens should let in more light thanks to the larger sensor. A 12.2-megapixel sensor is still used for the primary camera.

In discussing Google’s Pixel phones, it’s tempting to center on still photography due to the excellent picture quality that can be achieved with the company’s mobile devices thanks to Google’s efforts. The Google Pixel 6a 5g, on the other hand, has some great video features as well, including the ability to record 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. This phone’s Tensor chipset allows for Live HDR+ in 4K, which results in more vibrant colors, while a voice enhancement tool for selfie videos helps to reduce background noise.

Google Pixel 6a 5g review on Performance

Now that Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones (both released last autumn) have switched to Google’s own custom-made Tensor processor, it’s the turn of the Google Pixel 6a 5g to do the same. The purpose of Google’s hardware is to contain cores specialized to compute-intensive AI activities; these are the kinds of capabilities that set apart the Pixel experience from other Android phones, such as on-device translation and dictation.

The emphasis on AI and ML means that ultra-fast performance may not be a high priority for Tensor. The Pixel 6a’s single-core and multi-core Geekbench 5 scores were significantly higher than the Galaxy A53’s: 1,057 and 745, respectively. The Google Pixel 6a 5g phone’s score of 41 fps on the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited benchmark was significantly higher than the Galaxy A53’s score of 13.

Google Pixel 6a 5g review on Battery Life and Charging Speed

The Google Pixel 6a 5g phone’s poor battery life has been a real mystery. Google claims that the phone will last for up to 24 hours of typical use and that by activating the Extreme Battery Saver Mode and turning off features, and suspending numerous programs, the phone will last for up to 72 hours. Even though the Google Pixel 6a 5g phone’s 4,410 mAh battery is less than the 4,680 mAh battery in the Pixel 5a, the Google Pixel 6a 5g still manages to outperform its predecessor.

The Google Pixel 6a 5g can be charged at up to 18W, though the appropriate adapter must be purchased separately. In 30 minutes of charging with a 15W charger I had on hand, I was able to get a completely dead Google Pixel 6a 5g to 80%. 

Google Pixel 6a 5g review on Special Features

The Google Pixel 6a 5g, like the rest of the Google Pixel 6 series, includes all the typical Google features. Whether it’s the customizable Material You experience or the now-playing music discovery tool (personally, one of my all-time favorite features), everyone can find what they’re looking for here. Tensor’s advantages include things like real-time, high-quality voice dictation.

Not much has changed from previous Pixel 6 models, and the experience is the same as usual. Google’s new “camouflage” function is rumored to be driven by Tensor, but it will also be available on the Pixel 6 family of devices. The way it functions is by adjusting an object’s hue to blend in with its surroundings. This indicates that an object need not be removed from a photograph in order to avoid distracting from the main subject; rather, it can be altered to better blend in with its surroundings.

Google Pixel 6a 5g review on Price

Starting at $449, you can now get your hands on a Google Pixel 6a 5g. That’s $20 more than Apple asks for their entry-level iPhone SE and $20 more than Samsung costs for its midrange Galaxy A53 (2020). Verizon’s Google Pixel 6a 5g, which can be purchased for $499, is the only one to support the carrier’s mmWave-based 5G network.

Conclusion 

The Google Pixel 6A 5G is an easy phone to suggest if you do not place a high value on having an extremely large display and instead want a phone with a reasonable size that you could actually be able to carry in your pocket. It has outstanding performance, a camera system that is dependable, extremely good battery life, and it is going to get a lot of positive reviews. If you have any other ideas, let us know in the comment below!