Everything we know about Google's affordable phone for 2022, the Pixel 6a.

 

 

Everything we know about Google's affordable phone for 2022, the Pixel 6a.

 

Everything you need to know about Google's upcoming Pixel mid-range smartphone

Google's Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro marked a significant shift in the company's smartphone strategy. After years of fighting the tide with off-the-shelf components, Google's Tensor chip finally allows the Pixel 6 series to provide some truly novel and class-leading capabilities. This also adds to the excitement surrounding Google's impending mid-ranger, the Pixel 6a.

 

 

All these years, the low-cost Pixel 'a' phone has kept Google's phone lineup interesting, if not alive. Despite the fact that Google's Pixel 4a and 5a haven't sold in the millions like Xiaomi or Samsung's mid-range phones, the Pixels still have a loyal fanbase. The Pixel 6a was officially unveiled at Google I/O, and while the phone's official sale date is still a few weeks away, we now know almost everything there is to know about it.

 

 

Dimensions and design of the Google Pixel 6a.

 

 

The Pixel 6 has one major flaw: despite having a 6.4-inch display, it is not as compact as it could be. The Pixel 6a is significantly more compact than either of Google's flagship phones for 2021, despite the fact that we wouldn't call it a "tiny" phone. With a 6.1" 1080p 60Hz OLED display protected by Gorilla Glass 3, it's a touch simpler to hold than the Pixel 6's 6.4" screen. The Pixel 6's dimensions are 158.60 x 74.80 x 8.9mm, whereas the Pixel 6's are 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9mm. Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage are the three colors available.

 

 

3 Photographs.

 

The back of the phone resembles that of its predecessors, with a camera bar containing two lenses and an LED flash – more on that later. The Pixel 6a retains the metal bar and in-display fingerprint sensor from the larger Pixel 6 — but it's a separate sensor altogether — effectively matching its look while being significantly smaller. Unfortunately, this is the first time an A-series phone has been released without a 3.5mm headphone jack, therefore eliminating it from Google's Pixel lineup.

 

 

Specifications for the Google Pixel 6a.

 

 

Unlike in previous years, Google has chosen to employ the same processor for the A-series model as it does for its flagship phones. The Pixel 6a is powered by Google's Tensor SoC, a flagship CPU with considerable machine learning and AI processing capabilities that should give similar performance to the 2021 models. When compared to competing phones in this pricing bracket, the Pixel 6a should be a clear winner. Google has introduced all of the exclusive features from the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro to the A-series thanks to the Tensor chip, including Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, and Live Translate.

 

Chipset.

 

Storage: 6GB Google Tensor RAM

Battery 4410mAh, 18W wired charging, 128 UFS 3.1 Display 6.1" FHD+ (1080x2400, 20:9) OLED, 60Hz, Gorilla Glass 3 Display 128 UFS 3.1 Display 6.1" FHD+ (1080x2400, 20:9) OLED, 60Hz, Gorilla Glass 3

Cameras in the Back

12.2MP wide-angle f/1.7 (77° FoV), 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2 (114° FoV)

8MP f/2.0 front camera (84° field of view, fixed focus)

Connectivity

IP67, in-display fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1, Dual-SIM through eSIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2, NFC Misc. IP67, in-display fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1

178g, dimensions 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9mm.

Colors

Charcoal, chalk, and sage

Price $449

 

 

Unlike the Pixel 6 series, the Pixel 6a is only available in one configuration: 128GB of (non-expandable) storage and 6GB of RAM. It comes with a 4,410mAh battery, which Google claims will last all day and up to 72 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode. That's a touch smaller than the cell in the Pixel 6, but it's bigger than the one in the Pixel 5a from last year. With a smaller display and a lower refresh rate, the battery capacity drop shouldn't be too noticeable in everyday use.

 

The Pixel 6a, like its big brother models, will get five years of security upgrades out of the box, though Google hasn't said how many years of major OS updates it will get. Expect three years of support, however it's always conceivable that the firm will extend it.

 

 

Google is the source of this information.

 

 

Camera specifications for the Google Pixel 6a

One of Google's Pixel phones' greatest assets has always been its camera. If you anticipate the Pixel 6a to have the same primary 50MP camera as the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, you'll be disappointed. The Pixel 6a uses the same camera sensors as the Pixel 5a, which were first used on the Pixel 3 series in 2018. The primary camera is a 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor, while the ultra-wide sensor is a 12MP Sony IMX386 sensor. Thankfully, the front camera is the same 8MP module as the Pixel 6.

On paper, that doesn't sound particularly amazing. The Pixel 6a, on the other hand, is powered by Google's Tensor chip, which means that thanks to its bespoke ISP, it should be able to squeeze even more performance out of these sensors. Unlike in previous years, when Google prioritized camera performance over processing power, the camera quality decline is most likely owing to cost considerations. The Pixel 5a — and prior smartphones with similar hardware — took outstanding photos, and the Pixel 6a should still be difficult to better at this price point.

 

Google is the source of this information.

 

 

Software for the Google Pixel 6a

 

 

The Pixel 6a, unsurprisingly, ships with Android 12 out of the box, with an update to Android 13 available on day one once it's released later this summer. If you want to participate in the beta program, the Pixel 6a, like every other Pixel phone, will be able to do so. Although there are no major new software features for the Pixel 6a, Google has improved Magic Eraser with new color-shifting technologies for changing the hue of items in the scene. Google will offer Feature Drops for the Pixel 6a every three months, much like it does for other phones. Given its release date, the first post-launch drop should take place in September.

 

 

When will the Google Pixel 6a be released?

 

 

The Pixel 6a was revealed during Google I/O, but that doesn't mean it's ready to ship just yet. On July 21st, it will be available for pre-order, with in-store availability following a week later on July 28th. That's a touch sooner than last year's launch, but not nearly as early as the launch of the Pixel 3a in May of this year.

 

Google is the source of this information.

 

 

Price and availability of the Google Pixel 6a.

 

 

The Pixel 'a' series' price has always been its selling point. Despite having stronger features, last year's Google Pixel 5a had a lower price tag — $449 vs. $499 — than this year's Pixel 4a 5G. Even as smartphones — and, more broadly, everything else — become more costly, the Pixel 6a maintains its $449 price tag. For just a few of trade-offs, it's $150 less than the Pixel 6, making it an even better budget option and putting it up against Samsung's ever-popular A-series. This phone, with the Tensor chipset, could be one of the most powerful under $500.

 

 

Verizon will also sell a Pixel 6a with mmWave and C-band 5G capability. It's a little more expensive than the previous model, costing $499 instead of $449. It will be released on the same day.

Google doesn't generally release its phones all around the world, and the Pixel 6a is no exception. The new A-series phone will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, just like last year's phones. It has a significantly greater range than the Pixel 5a, which was exclusively available in the US and Japan.