Google Pixel 6a Review: A Camera-Centric Smartphone With Quirky Hardware Choices
Google’s Pixel line of smartphones has always been known for its exceptional camera capabilities and clean software experience. However, the company’s presence in India has been inconsistent, with the last Pixel device launched in 2020 being the budget-friendly Pixel 4a. Now, Google is back with the Pixel 6a, a successor to the Pixel 5a 5G, aiming to capture a slice of the Indian premium mid-range market. While the Pixel 6a boasts a powerful Tensor processor and a familiar Pixel camera experience, it’s priced aggressively at Rs. 43,999, raising concerns about its value proposition in a fiercely competitive market. After using the phone extensively, including enduring the Android 13 update, here’s a detailed look at the Google Pixel 6a and how it fares against its rivals.
Google Pixel 6a Price in India
The Google Pixel 6a is available in India for Rs. 43,999 for the sole variant featuring 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This price point makes it a significant jump from the Pixel 4a, which launched at Rs. 31,999 and was more of a mid-range device back then. Despite the price hike, Google has managed to improve the Pixel 6a’s design compared to its predecessor. It is available in two finishes – Chalk and Charcoal in India. Notably, the Sage color option is not available in the Indian market.
Google Pixel 6a Design
While the Google Pixel 6a’s design might not be as premium as the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, it still boasts good build quality and features an IP67 rating, making it a desirable feature for a smartphone in this segment in India. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 while the rear panel is made from plastic. An aluminum alloy frame holds the entirety of the phone together.
Despite the smudge-free display, the rear panel of the Google Pixel 6a proved to be a magnet for smudges and dust. It is also susceptible to scratches. While the raised camera module has a glass lens covering the two rear cameras, the remaining part of the strip, which is made of plastic, is prone to fingerprints. While the raised camera strip looks stylish, the dust accumulating above and below it is annoying and difficult to clean. This makes using the phone with a case a necessity.
The Google Pixel 6a features a hole-punch cutout in the display, contributing to reasonably thin bezels. However, the bottom bezel is considerably thicker than the others. Despite being a bit smudgy, the Google Pixel 6a feels comfortable in hand, thanks to its lightweight nature (178g) and compact size, enabling comfortable one-handed use. Users upgrading from the Pixel 4a might find it slightly bigger and heavier, but the larger display is a welcome change.
Google Pixel 6a Specifications and Software
The Pixel 6a shares the same Tensor processor found in Google’s flagship Pixel 6 and 6 Pro handsets. This SoC, designed by Google, has a maximum clock speed of 2.8GHz and also features Google’s Titan M2 security co-processor. Unlike most smartphones in this segment offering multiple RAM options, the Pixel 6a comes with only 6GB of RAM and limited storage of 128GB, with no expandable storage options.
Connectivity-wise, the Pixel 6a supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and the standard satellite navigation systems. The phone draws power from a 4400mAh battery and supports 18W charging, but it does not come with a charger in the box. Sadly, the Pixel 6a lacks the 3.5mm headphone jack present in the Pixel 4a. However, it retains the stereo speakers, offering decent, balanced sound but falling short of being best-in-class.
The Google Pixel 6a was used with both Android 12 and Android 13. While the Android 12 experience was plagued by stutters and unexpected bugs, the Android 13 update brought about several new features and felt more refined and stable compared to its predecessor.
Android 13 on the Google Pixel 6a introduces cosmetic improvements like a revamped media player with a cleaner layout, themes icons extending to third-party apps, and a plethora of color options for theming your device. Security-wise, all apps now require permission before posting notifications, and access to photos can be limited to select photos instead of granting full access to the Photos app. Android 13 also introduces the ability to assign a specific language to a specific app, offering convenience for users in India.
The new clipboard feature provides a visual representation of copied and saved items within the phone’s memory while performing daily tasks. Simply copy text, and a preview appears as a small block at the bottom left of the display. Tapping on it even allows you to edit text before copying it to another app. The same applies to images, enabling editing with markup before sharing them.
Google states that its Pixel smartphones will receive updates for a minimum of five years from the initial release date. With the Google Pixel 6a, Google guarantees software updates until July 2025, and security updates until July 2027.
Google Pixel 6a Performance
The Google Pixel 6a’s display offers saturated colors with the default Adaptive setting, but these are toned down when switched to the Natural color setting. The full-HD+ resolution delivers sharp text and images, providing a clear viewing experience even outdoors under direct sunlight. The 6.1-inch OLED panel supports HDR10+, delivering an excellent experience while viewing compatible content. Unfortunately, the Pixel 6a’s display is limited to a standard 60Hz refresh rate, a significant drawback in the premium mid-range segment.
Software performance, in terms of overall fluidity, saw a considerable improvement after the Android 13 update. Multitasking with 6GB of RAM was not an issue. However, the software did not feel as smooth when compared to other smartphones in this price range, which benefit from high-refresh rate displays.
The Google Pixel 6a’s fingerprint sensor had a major security flaw upon initial release in July. We could unlock the phone even with an unregistered finger. This issue was later resolved with a software update. While unlocking was generally reliable after the Android 13 update, there were sporadic occurrences where the fingerprint sensor refused to unlock, despite repeated attempts, forcing the use of the security PIN.
In benchmarking tests, the Google Pixel 6a scored 7,07,603 points in AnTuTu and 1,047 and 2,923 points in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, respectively. Graphics performance saw the phone achieve 60fps and 52fps in GFXBench’s T-Rex and Car Chase tests. These scores are in line with most premium smartphones competing with the Pixel 6a, including the Xiaomi 11T Pro, which outperformed in graphics benchmarks.
While synthetic benchmarks painted a positive picture, the Google Pixel 6a struggled with real-world gaming performance. Call of Duty: Mobile ran smoothly at High graphics and High framerate settings. Performance declined after playing for around 15 minutes on Very High settings, leading to lag and stutters. The Pixel 6a held up better with more casual games. While the phone did not overheat excessively during gameplay, it did become quite hot when recording videos outdoors. Serious gamers should explore other options.
In our HD video loop battery test, the Google Pixel 6a lasted for 13 hours and 12 minutes, slightly lower than anticipated considering its standard 60Hz refresh rate display. With heavy usage, including an hour of gaming and 30 minutes of camera usage, the phone lasted for about a day. Avoiding gaming or camera usage extended the battery life to a day and a half, providing ample battery life for casual users.
Due to the lack of a bundled charger, the Google Pixel 6a was plugged into a 61W USB PD charger, taking one hour and 50 minutes to reach a full charge. This charging speed falls behind devices like the Realme GT Neo 3 (150W) and the OnePlus 10R 5G Endurance Edition, which support 150W charging.
Google Pixel 6a Cameras
The Google Pixel 6a boasts a modest camera setup compared to its rivals in this segment. It features a 12.2-megapixel primary camera with OIS and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera on the back. The front-facing camera is an 8-megapixel unit. The camera interface remains similar to previous Pixel smartphones, with quick settings hidden behind a gear icon.
The Tensor processor enables software features like Magic Eraser, allowing users to erase or camouflage unwanted objects within an image. While the results are not perfect, the feature proves handy when needing to clean up a picture for Instagram.
Photos captured in daylight were sharp and clear, exhibiting good dynamic range and the characteristic contrast-heavy look known to Google’s Pixel smartphones. The ability to adjust white balance and exposure using sliders in the viewfinder before capturing a shot was a welcome feature, but these only became visible upon tapping the screen to focus.
Google’s decision to use tried and tested sensors (the primary camera originating from the Pixel 3), along with extensive machine learning optimizations, delivers exceptional detail capture. This applies to both the primary and ultra-wide-angle cameras. The ultra-wide camera is noteworthy, offering an exceptional experience at this price point and capturing high-quality images with excellent dynamic range across various lighting conditions.
Selfies were sharp and clear in daylight, but appeared slightly softer and lacking detail in low light. Edge detection in Portrait mode was flawless, as was the dynamic range.
In low light, the primary camera captured sharp images with satisfactory dynamic range. By default, it automatically switched to Night Sight, taking longer exposures when necessary.
Videos captured at 1080p were average, with a cropped view and mild purple fringing. 4K videos exhibited better detail and dynamic range. Low-light video quality was average, and 60fps footage had excessive noise.
Verdict
At Rs. 43,999, the Google Pixel 6a effectively fulfills the needs of casual users and mobile photography enthusiasts. Google’s strategic approach of using a high-end processor while compromising in areas like design, display, and system memory appears to have paid off. However, power users seeking premium build quality, robust gaming performance, faster charging speeds, and a more fluid software experience should explore alternative smartphones.
The Xiaomi 11T Pro (starting from Rs. 39,999), the Oppo Reno 8 Pro (priced at Rs. 45,999), and the OnePlus 10R Endurance Edition (available for Rs. 39,999) are excellent alternatives to the Pixel 6a.
There’s also the Google Pixel 6, currently available unofficially (without warranty) for around Rs. 43,500. Considering its 90Hz display, IP68 rating, 8GB RAM, 50-megapixel primary camera, larger battery, and wireless charging, it offers better value than the 6a.
The Google Pixel 6a is far from an all-rounder, but it remains a unique offering appealing to buyers prioritizing good camera performance and timely software updates.
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