Faisal Ghaffar 
This year, Google is really going to swing for the fences. The Pixel 6a is not only the latest addition to the consistently excellent Pixel A series; it also receives a massive upgrade in the shape of a premier system on a chip. Yes, the Pixel 6a includes the Google Tensor SoC that debuted in the Pixel 6. Because it’s the same chip, the Pixel A series’ speed doubles year after year. Have we said the phone still costs $449?
Overview
The Pixel 6a is unmistakably a member of that new smartphone family, and it feels more like a third, smaller frame of the Pixel flagship line than a completely new mid-range product. The Pixel 6 Pro is the 6.7-inch model with a 120 Hz display, 5000 mAh battery, 12GB of RAM, and a price tag of $899. The Pixel 6 measures 6.4 inches, has a 90 Hz display, a 4600 mAh battery, and costs $599. The Pixel 6a, at 6.1 inches, has a 60 Hz display, a 4410 mAh battery, and 6GB of RAM for $449. They have same layout and SoC, are water-resistant (the Pixel 6a is IP67), and have in-screen fingerprint sensors. Google’s product line is now
Overall, the hardware is excellent, especially given the low price. Yes, the back is made of plastic, but the plastic does its best imitation of glass, and it mostly works. The hardware even outperforms the Pixel 6 Pro in terms of fit and finish. Cutting mmWave support eliminates the need for an unsightly plastic window on the top edge of the display, allowing the device’s perimeter to be all aluminum. The Pixel 6a screen, like the base model Pixel 6, is flat, which is a significant improvement over the contorted, curved sides of the Pixel 6 Pro. The fit and finish would be excellent at any price, and it is far superior to what we typically see in the often-subpar mid-range market.
The Pixel 6a is equipped with the Google Tensor SoC, which is also found in the more costly Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6a performs identically to its more expensive siblings, with identical scores in CPU, GPU, and storage benchmarks. Google didn’t skimp on the Pixel 6a’s performance; this is now a flagship smartphone. The chip provides an amazing year-over-year improvement over the Pixel 5a, which you can see completely destroyed in the standard charts below. CPU and GPU speeds have more than doubled.
Final Words
The Pixel 6a is more than just a good phone. It’s also a sign that Google is finally settling into a consistent smartphone development strategy. The Pixel 6, 6a, and Pixel 7 are all iterative improvements on a single design and manufacturing process, after years of nonstop having to switch makers, dramatically revamping the design every year, tinkering with biometric methods, and exiting the flagship market.
