Pixel 6a is now not only good and cheap, but also pretty: an in-depth review of Google plus’s affordable móvil inteligente for 2022
It seems Another cheap pixel more, but the reality is that with the new Pixel 6a, Google plus has just entered an area unexplored since the disappearance of Google plus Nexus: this is the High end affordable.
Because this new terminal, which launches worldwide today, inherits some characteristics of the models most expensive of the Pixel family, including a Google plus Tensor processor that made the Pixel 6 compete with the best of last year 2021, ultra-fast memory and storage technologies or support for up to 5 years in terms of updates. Everything, available Price almost 200 euros lower to the cheaper Pixel 6.
If we already like Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro that landed in Spain earlier this year, this Pixel 6a that keeps many of its features and is also cheaper, everything seems to conquer us.
And effective it is. That is ours in-depth analysis of the new Google plus Pixel 6a.
Google plus Pixel 6a, review and score
| Should you buy the Google plus Pixel 6a? | |
|---|---|
| In favor of |
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| versus |
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| Conclusions | Same processor as the “Pro”, two top-notch cameras and significantly cheaper than the iPhone 13. The Pixel 6a is the phone we need in 2022. |
Google plus Pixel 6A price and where to buy
He is Google plus Pixel 6a landed in Spain at a official price 459 euros in its version of 6 GB of RAM with 128 GB of internal memory.
cánido be purchased at on July 21 to Google plus storeand is available in three colors: green, chalk (white) and charcoal (black).
Additionally, Google plus has also put its new device up for sale through Amazon, where it’s available free with Pixel Buds A as an introductory promotion.
Technical data sheet
| Trains | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7mm |
| Screen | 6.1 inch rigid OLED Full HD+ 60Hz refresh rate Gorilla Glass 3 |
| processor | Google plus Tensor (GS101) Titan M2 security coprocessor |
| R.A.M. | 6GB LPDDR5 |
| operating system | Android 12 Android updates guaranteed for at least 3 years At least 5 years of security updates |
| storage | 128GB UFS 3.1 |
| cameras | back: Sony IMX363 12.2MP Dual Pixel, ƒ/1.7, 1.4μm Ultra wide angle Sony IMX386 12 MP, 112° front: Download Sony IMX 355 8 megapixels |
| battery | 4410 miliamperio-hora with 18W fast charge (charger not included) |
| Other people | On-screen fingerprint reader USB Type-C stereo speakers Dual microphone with noise reduction WiFi 6 and 6Y también Bluetooth 5.2 |
Where is the Google plus Pixel 6a?
The 6a is the cheapest model from the Pixel 6 series and the sixth móvil generation from Google plus’s “A” family.
In general, it’s a slightly slimmed down and more compact version of the Pixel 6 for some Changes to the screen, cameras and battery. Otherwise it retains most of the features of its older brother.
Today, its closest competitor is the Nothing Phone (1), a device to which, like the Pixel 6a, it is dedicated Clean programa, high-quality photo system and no unnecessary plus and above all a striking and different design. The Pixel 6a’s looks aren’t as innovative as the Nothing model, but the fact that it retains the looks of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro gives it a few points in its favor.
The other models with a afín price and concept that cánido be found on the market are the POCO F4 and the Xiaomi 12 Lite.
design
The look of the Pixel 6a is defined as a Pixel 6 smaller It would be correct, but would also come up short when talking about Google plus’s design work in this regard.
In a market segment where many of the best-selling mobile phones use plastic as their main construction material (this is the Realme GT Neo 3T or the POCO F4, two of the most habitual), Google plus has decided to become fashionableand replace the Pixel 6 glass with a Plastic material that shapes the back From the device.
Google plus relies on plastic with a glass-like effect for the Pixel 6a /
However, The content used by Google plus has one of the best touches and textures I’ve only touched one plastic phone so far, and it’s basically indistinguishable from the glass that forms the back of my Pixel 6 Pro. Also, this model keeps the cheaper waterproof under certification level IP67.
He is “Camera Bar” from behind It is the most representative aspect of the design and espectáculos that we are dealing with a Google plus device. It’s surrounded by a metal bezel and runs horizontally across the top of the back of the phone. Inside we see the camera module and the LED flash.
Once again, Google plus has made a decision to provide a device with different surfaces, each showing a double hue. There is the “Carbon” model that we were able to test two shades of greyone at the bottom of the camera bar and one at the narrow edge above it.
“The camera bar is to the Pixel what the bar is to the iPhone”
The back is taken it has an anti-fingerprint coating, which prevents dirt from sticking so easily. The truth is it espectáculos Matte finish Instead of glossy it would be better and would eliminate the need for such a coating.
The entire edge of the device built from aluminumwith a matte finish that contrasts with the glossy one on the rear glass panel and as a connection to the Screenalso protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 glass panel that curves very slightly at its ends.
Two sensors and the LED flash are located in the “Camera Bar”, whose aluminum edge merges into the phone’s housing on the sides / / Photo: Christian Collado
With a 6.1-inch diagonal screen The Pixel 6a is one of the most compact phones in its class. It is significantly smaller than comparable models like the Nothing Phone (1) or the POCO F4 and also smaller than the Pixel 6.
He is extremely convenient format thanks to its height, width and thickness. In addition, with its 178 grams of weight, it manages to be among the best lightest phones in their category.
All of this will help you become one of the Mobile phones more convenient to use that we have tested for a long time, models like the Xiaomi 12 they have only surpassed.
Of course, not all changes are for the better. For the first time in the history of the “A” series, Google plus has the 3.5mm headphone jack. Thankfully, first-time buyers don’t lose that connection thanks to the Pixel Buds A as a gift that Google plus is offering when you pre-order the Pixel 6a.
Screen
Despite 60 Hertz, the Pixel 6a panel offers a good overall result / Image: Christian Collado
We now turn to one of the Pixel 6a’s few controversial parts: a Screen.
As I said in the previous article, there is 6.1 inch diagonal. It is about a rigid OLED panelwith Full HD+ resolution with 429 pixels per inch, protected by a glass pane Gorilla Glass 3 and coincidente with HDR and 24-bit color depth.
But in a year in which the High refresh rate screens They’re starting to get phones just over $100, although Google plus has decided to remain conservative and provide a phone for the Pixel 6a. Panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hertz.
Refresh rate aside for a moment, the truth is that the Pixel 6a is a good screen, who stands out in nothing, neither good nor bad. It perro be overlooked Shine a little more in some cases, but on the other hand that Color reproduction is very accurate. Because of its size and resolution, this is sharpness is good tooand the bezels around it are quite compact in size.
“After a few minutes of use, you quickly get used to the reduced refresh rate again.”
It’s true that You perro miss the plus soft what the Hertz 90 or 120 delivers, and how well they mezcle with the animation of Android 12. However, Google plus’s Fluid programa partially manages to increase the fluid effect and after a few minutes of use it’s easy to experience the reduced refresh rate.
Also, the iPhone 13 is $300 more and I don’t see anyone complaining about not having a 120 Hertz screen.
hardware and performance
Android 12 is the version that breathes life into the device, with Google plus’s exclusive additions to Pixel / Image: Christian Collado
For the first time in the four years that the company has been releasing “A” series teléfonos inteligentes, Google plus has decided to completely change its strategy when it comes to processors.
It’s over Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 and 700 series. This time around, the company has opted to outfit the Pixel 6a with its own the first self-designed processor, Google plus Tensor.
It’s the same chip that we find in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and that’s why we’re talking about an advanced processor.
Tensor is a processor derived from the Samsung Exynos 2100 chip.But Google plus has made many modifications to it, which have led from a completely different kernel configuration to a completely different kernel configuration two high-performance Cortex-X1 coresup to incl Titan M2 security chipwhat contributed to it ARM TrustZone technologymaking the Pixel 6a, Pixel 6 and 6 Pro one of the Teléfonos inteligentes with more layers of security hardware already there.
Synthetic evidence espectáculos it is so Tensor reaches the level of platforms like Snapdragon 888 or Apple A15 as far as superpower is concerned. Which could be a disadvantage if we are talking about a móvil inteligente of 800, 900 or 1000 euros, but not in one of a little over 450 euros.
msgid “The 6 GB of RAM may seem scarce in the not too distant future.”
For The effort is worth it a top móvil. much tension in any kind of daily tasks, and it works well when running heavy games or heavy applications that require a large number of resources. In that sense only 6GB of RAM They might look a bit sparse in the not too distant future.
As I mentioned in my Pixel 6 Pro review, this might not be the best móvil in its class Get the highest score in a benchmark or achieve gaming experiences more worthy of a portable console than a mobile phone. But I have no doubt that it is one of the most suitable for those who want it Enjoy a fair, smooth, and consistent experience for some years.
programa and experience
A large clock widget takes over the Android 12 lock screen and takes its color from the wallpaper thanks to You Content / Image: Christian Collado
If you’re buying a Pixel 6a, it’s probably because of this the experience your programa provides. Before analyzing this phone, I reviewed the Nothing Phone (1), a device that, like the Pixel, boasts clean programa and an aesthetic very close to native Android programa.
But the difference between the two programa It’s like day and night. He is Pixel 6a offers a much more cohesive and consistent experience generally without the problems of weak that in some cases I found myself in nothingness.
In general, it’s not very different from the version we’ve already received in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The programa is based on Android 12, Google plus’s own extensions are introduced as a function “Herring”, which allows us to recognize the music that sounds around us without requiring an internet connection; the widget “Appearance”, which perro proactively display interesting information; Wave direct translation in up to 11 languages.
Otherwise, the version of Android 12 installed in the Pixel 6a is identical to that of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Support in the form of updates for at least three years system updates and five years of monthly security updatesincluding feature updates for Pixel released every three months.
That Google plus has promised to update the cheapest phone for one at least five years this is definitely good news. However, it’s about time the brand decided to extend the system update period to at least four years. If Samsung could do it, Google plus should be able to too.
To continue with other features that complete the usuario experience, we must stop at the Excellent vibration motor Hidden in this device, one of the best I’ve tried on an Android móvil inteligente so far. Response is firm, precise and pleasant, and Google plus manages to capitalize on this by spreading various vibration effects across the surface.
He is Stereo speaker system It is also of high quality to be able to Sound at very high volume without distortionand advanced with sound quality.
Finally, mention that the fingerprint reader integrated into the screenIt appears to be the same one we already got in the Pixel 6. So it is a little slower than other competing models, but it’s accurate enough to prevent a lack of speed from being an issue.
battery and charging
The Pixel 6a cánido only be charged vía USB Type C: no wireless charging on this model / Photo: Christian Collado
Google plus isn’t exactly famous for packing their devices with very large batteries, although they showed us that with the Pixel 6 It wasn’t really necessary either. above-average independence to reach.
Another good example of this is the Google plus Pixel 6a. It fits a 4410miliamperio-hora battery, slightly below the 4500miliamperio-hora of some competing models in the same price range. But because of the chosen processor or because of the lack of a high refresh rate screen, the truth is Results are more than satisfactory.
find the day of use With just over 30% battery remaining, it’s easy to use the device normally, which consists of Take photos, record vídeos, navigate with Google chrome or navigate with Google plus Maps for half an hour.
If we use the device less intensively, Even the day and a half perro be reachedwith between four and five hours of screen time.
Inside the Pixel 6a is led by a battery with a capacity of 4410 miliamperio-hora / Photo: Christian Collado
This is where the Pixel 6a cánido’t keep up with its main competitors load. The device supports a 18W maximum power vía USB-C with technology Programmable power supply 3.0. Use a coincidente charger It takes just over an hour and twenty minutes to charge from 0 to 100.
It is also worth noting that The device charger is not included close to the phone, so we must either use one that we already have at home or buy one that is coincidente with the device’s fast charging system.
cameras
The Google plus Pixel 6a’s dual rear cameras do a great job / Photo: Christian Collado
Cánido you be competitive at a photographic level with a sensor that is more than five years old? Surprisingly yes.
Google plus relies again on a classic elabora to bring the Pixel 6a’s camera system to life: a pair of sensors old but reliableWith the support of thousands of lines of code that are responsible for the fact that the sensor that carried a mobile phone of just over 100 € at the time, for example the Redmi 8 from Xiaomi, was able to be truly amazing and a mockery of 50 years Sensors age. a good handful of phones that cost hundreds of dollars more.
The Pixel 6a only includes one two cameras behind: one main and another related to an ultra wide angle lens 12.2 and 12 megapixels respectively.
And if that configuration sounds like you, it makes sense: they’re the exact same cameras that got installed on the Pixel 4, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a. It is therefore not surprising that the results are also primordial even.
He is The quality of the catches is commendable considering it’s using a sensor that’s more than half a century old and the price Google plus is selling this device for. He is way to process The scenes are still one of the most attractive, even more so than Google plus saw fit Refine color interpretation so that they are no longer as despicable as before.
This year Google plus has also added a number of improvements inherited from the Pixel 6, including this one better representation of different skin tonesor the “Face Focus” feature that combines different images into you Faces don’t blur in moving pictures.
Another remaining tool is the “Magic Destroyer” integrated and able to google plus photos Destroy objects or materials without wanting to slip into our scenes. Thanks to the power of Tensor, the process takes a few secondsand the results are in most cases stunning.
The main flaw that we find in this model compared to the Pixel 6 is this Modes of “movement”For some reason, Google plus decided not to include them in this model.
Looking at the results, we find again with the Display Pixels attribute, which consists of offer a neutral white cómputo, almost on the cold side, and with a very pronounced contrast, but maintaining a good dynamic range of each scene and the ability to recover a lot of data from the shaded areas, sometimes after a certain increase in the noise level. Deserves special mention Option to control highlights and shadows independentlya feature that to this day only Google plus includes in its devices.
Another added value of this camera system is the Possibility to see the scene with the HDR effect applied in the viewfinder the camera application that helps control the dynamic range of the final shot. Nevertheless, once the picture is taken, Complete processing takes a few seconds.
The ultra wide angle sensor makes a Good for you, although they have a 112-degree angle, the grips aren’t as wide as other competing devices. However, this lack of angle is complemented by a good distortion control and very accurate color representation, almost identical to the color of the main sensor.
At night both rooms offer a excellent result thanks to the already famous “Night Visión”. And thanks to the white cómputo adjustment made through processing the images appear relatively neutralalbeit a bit artificial.
He is pictures also on the lie cutting accuracy (It cánido be a bit aggressive but perro be adjusted later vía Google plus Photos) and the naturalness of the blur, although it wouldn’t be bad if Google plus found a way to do it at this point Preview the blur effect in the camera viewfinder. This also extends to the front camerawhich is also helped by the processing to mitigate the weaknesses of the modest 8-megapixel sensor and achieve more than correct results.
Secure, the cameras of the Pixel 6a The best that cánido be found today is found in the premium mid-range segment, in photography and vídeo, where we perro also get very good results despite the small size of the sensor. The Nothing Phone (1) may use two more modern sensors, but Carl Pei’s fledgling brand is light years away from catching up with Google plus’s advances in computational photography.
Photo and vídeo gallery with Google plus Pixel 6a
This device has been thoroughly tested Independently thanks to a move of the brand. The article contains purchase backlinks for which Andro4all may receive a commission. take part to the market channel Andro4all to find out about the best deals before anyone else.