Google Pixel 6A is one of the many products launched at Google’s latest I/O event which was held recently. This is an economic choice compared to the already launched Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Pixel phones are usually known for their unique design, solid build, good camera quality and a custom Google processor.
Since Google Pixel 6A is the economical version of the Pixel 6 series, one cannot expect top-notch performance from the phone like Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The performance of the phone is toned down but is decent enough for the price range it is being offered. This phone is also powered by Google’s own chipset, has an adaptive battery and comes out with the latest Android straight out of the box.
Let’s get into the details of the phone.
Specifications
| Dimensions | Height: 152.5mm Width: 71.8mm Thickness: 8.9mm Weight: 178 grams |
| Display | 6.1 inches OLED, 60Hz |
| Sim | Dual sims |
| Resolution | 1,080*2,400 pixels, 429 PPI density |
| OS | Android 12 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor (5nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| Storage | UFS 3.1 128GB |
| SD card slot | No |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Camera | Front: 8MP, f/2.0, Auto-HDR Rear: 12.2MP, f/1.7, dual pixel PDAF 12 MP, 114 degrees (ultrawide) |
| Sound | Loudspeakers with stereo speakers No 3.5mm headphone jack 2 microphones |
| Battery | 4410 mAh, Li-Po, non-removable 18W Fast charging USB power delivery 3.0 |
| Sensors | Under display fingerprint sensor Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyrometer Magnetometer Barometer |
| Colours | Chalk, charcoal, sage |
| Price | Rs 60,000-65,000 |
Design and display
Google Pixel 6A has a glass front, an aluminium frame and a plastic back build. It shares a similar design seen on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The phone has a similar camera bar design on the back and a centre punch-hole camera on the front. There is a small change in the design of the new Pixel 6A; the cameras now lie under a single glass cover making them more noticeable. The Google branding lies in the middle of the phone, and it looks neat. The phone also has an IP67 dust/water resistant certification.
The phone weighs lightly at 178 grams and is 8.9mm thick. It is available in chalk, charcoal and sage colours.
On the front is a 6.1-inch punch-hole OLED display with a resolution of 1,080*2,400 pixels with 429 PPI density. The display supports a 60Hz refresh rate which is a bit concerning as most smartphones these days at a similar or even lower price range offer a 90Hz or even 120Hz refresh rate. Similarly, it has an under-display fingerprint sensor like its siblings and gets gorilla glass 3 protection.
Cameras
Google Pixel 6A features a dual-camera setup on the back. The 12.2MP main camera with an aperture of f/1.7 features dual pixel PDAF which helps in the immediate and accurate focus. The main camera is accompanied by another 12MP ultrawide lens with a FOV of 114 degrees and an LED flashlight. On the front is an 8MP selfie shooter with an auto-HDR feature.
Pixel phones offer some interesting photography features which are not usually seen on other smartphones. The photography option on Google Pixel 6A includes real tone, face unblur, panorama, manual white balancing, locked folder, night sight, top shot, portrait mode, portrait light, super res zoom, motion autofocus, frequent faces, dual exposure controls, live HDR+ and cinematic pan. It also features an interesting magic eraser tool.
For the video, the main camera on Google Pixel 6A can record 4K resolution videos up to 60fps. Meanwhile, the front camera is capable of recording 1080p resolution videos at 30fps. The dual-pixel PDAF will help in the stabilisation of the videos. Some interesting videography features on the phone include 4K timelapse with stabilisation, astrophotography timelapse, 4K cinematic pan video stabilisation and 4K locked video stabilisation. The phone also offers stereo recording, speech enhancement and wind noise reduction while recording.
Performance and storage
Google Pixel 6A runs on the latest Android 12 and is said to receive five years of security updates and at least three years of OS updates. The phone is powered by Google’s own Google Tensor (5nm) chipset while the graphical duties of the phone are handled by Mali-G78 MP20. This is the same chipset used on the flagship Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and should give an upper hand in terms of power compared to its competitors.
Google Pixel 6A gets a single variant of 128GB internal storage coupled with 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM. There is no option of expanding the memory with an external SDcard and also the new generation of Pixel phones does not get the privilege of unlimited Google cloud storage.
Battery life, connectivity and others
Google Pixel 6A features a 4410 mAh non-removable li-po battery backup. Comparatively, this is the smallest battery backup on the Pixel 6 series. It also features the smallest fast charging system of just 18W, which too is a bit concerning while competitors are offering better battery backup and a faster charger. However, the phone features an adaptive battery feature that learns your favourite apps and saves power from those rarely used. This will allow the phone’s battery to last all day. There is also an extreme battery saver mode, which when enabled will help the battery to last for up to 72 hours.
The phone features dual sim card slots that support 5G network connectivity. For Wifi connectivity, the phone supports Wifi 6 as well as Wifi 6E. The phone is NFC-enabled and has multi-system GPS support. For wireless connectivity with other devices, the phone features Bluetooth 5.2 while for charging and wired connectivity, the phone uses a USB Type-C 3.1 cable.
Google Pixel 6A features stereo speakers but does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone also features two microphones.
Google Pixel 6A is launched at USD 449 and pre-orders will start from July 21 while the full retail release will be on July 28. There is no official importer or distributor of Google phones in Nepal currently, but the phone could be available from unauthorised dealers.
Should the phone arrive in Nepal, one can expect a price range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000.
