price, release date, technical sheet, all about the Google mid-range

The Pixel 6a, the direct successor to the Pixel 5a, is a watered down version of the Pixel 6. Tech specs, price, design, release date, here’s everything you need to know about Google’s mid-range smartphone.

It has become a habit, each year Google launches a mid-range version of the premium smartphone released the previous fall. In 2022, the Pixel 6a came to replace the Pixel 5a. It enriches a range consisting of a Pixel 6 with an innovative design and the Pixel 6 Pro, which had been rather well received a few months ago.

The “a” versions of the Pixels are interesting because they allow you to benefit from Google’s know-how in terms of interface, software and photo processing for a more affordable price than the other smartphones in the range. News, technical specifications, release date and price, we tell you everything about the Pixel 6a.

🗓️ When was the Pixel 6a released?

Pre-orders for the Pixel 6a started on July 21, 2022 in Europe and the United States, and was officially marketed on July 28, 2022. It comes in three colors: Sauge (green), Pebble (white) and Charcoal (black). The smartphone was officially presented at the Google I/0 2022 conference, which took place on Wednesday May 11, 2022.

💰 How much does the Pixel 6a cost?

While the Pixel 6 was initially trading at €649, the Pixel 6a is much more affordable. The mid-range smartphone is offered at €459 on the Google online store in France, an interesting quality/price ratio which makes it one of the most popular smartphones from the Mountain View company.

For its launch, the Google Pixel 6a was offered cheaper at Orange and Sosh at a price of €379, or €80 less than the recommended price, and that’s not counting the value of the Pixel Buds-A earphones offered. The smartphone thus returned virtually to 279 €.

The Pixel 6a has helped boost Google’s earnings, as the company said during Alphabet’s Q3 2022 results that the Pixel 6a had been the ” major “responsible for” solid hardware revenue growth “. The smartphone has therefore probably sold several million copies. The company believes in its potential so strongly that it has decided to continue selling the Pixel 6a at a discount, even after the launch of the Pixel 7a, its successor.

BUY THE GOOGLE PIXEL 6A AT THE BEST PRICE AT €379 AT ORANGE

BUY THE GOOGLE PIXEL 6A AT THE BEST PRICE AT 379 € AT SOSH

Also read: Where to buy the Google Pixel 6a at the best price?

📱 What design for the Pixel 6a?

After the first visuals, we were finally treated to some official images on June 16, 2022. The Pixel 6a retains most of the lines of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which had constituted a small revolution in design and aesthetics at their output, thus breaking the image of conservatism of Google, which was until then to follow trends rather than print them. We therefore find on this Pixel 6a a rear panel in two colors and the prominent photo block which makes all the originality of the device.

The front camera is housed in a punch located in the center of the slab. As a demonstration video confirms, the fingerprint reader is integrated under the screen and allows the Pixel 6a to unlock faster than its big brothers. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro scanner had experienced too many bugs, so Google decided to equip the youngest with another component. Finally, the Pixel 6a adopts a more compact size than his elders with dimensions of 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7mm.

👉 A smaller screen on the Pixel 6a

This makes sense since the Pixel 6a’s chassis is smaller than that of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The smartphone also has a screen with a shorter diagonal: 6.1 inches, compared to 6.4 and 6.7 inches respectively for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The slab rests on the OLED technology and displays Full HD+ 1080p definition.

It has a refresh rate of 60Hz compared to 120Hz on the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6a will therefore delight users who regret not having more choices of smaller Android devices that are easier to handle and store.

🏎️ As powerful as Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

The Pixel 6a is equipped with a Tensor chip, the same one found in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. As a reminder, this SoC is the first to be developed by Google for a mobile device, in partnership with Samsung. According to Google, the Pixel 6a performs so well that it is 5 times faster than the Pixel 5a, and its excellent performance makes it one of the fastest smartphones in its segment.

The Pixel 6a has 6 GB of RAM. It is certainly less than on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but Google has become a master in the art of optimizing its smartphones so that a limited amount of RAM is sufficient to offer an excellent experience. The base storage space is 128 GBa mass memory that is altogether limited, especially when you know that the mobile does not have a microSD card slot.

🔋 What autonomy for the Pixel 6a?

Regarding the battery capacity, it is less generous than on the Pixel 6. You will have to be satisfied with a 4410 mAh battery, compared to 4614 mAh on the Pixel 6. According to Google, users will be able to enjoy a battery life of 24 hours, or even push up to 72 hours, thanks to the ultra energy saver. Fast charging is also part of it, but its power is only 18W.

Google is far from leading when it comes to charging power, and the Pixel 6a is no game changer. Despite a rather large battery, the Pixel 5a was for example limited to 18W.

📸 Camera compromises?

Google has always been able to compensate for the limited optics of Pixel smartphones with excellent software processing and thus offer users photophones that can be classified among the best. A policy that has evolved with the Pixel 6 series, which has benefited from new, more efficient photo sensors. Cameras of which the Pixel 6a is deprived, which is satisfied with a well-known configuration with hardware already used on previous generations of Pixel phones.

We thus find a IMX363 main sensor 12.2 MP, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm pixels, with f/1.7 aperture, optical image stabilization and Dual Pixel phase detection autofocus. It is accompanied by a 12 MP IMX386 ultra wide-angle lens. At the front, there is also a sensor from Sony whose mission is to support selfies: an 8 MP IMX355.

This return to old components forced Google to remove certain photography-related features on the Pixel 6a, while the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro brought several new features thanks to their updated hardware. This is particularly the case of Motion Modewhich allows you to capture photos with a motion blur effect to better capture the feeling of movement of an object.

However, several features answer the call, such as anti-blur mode, Night Vision mode or Real Tone which allows you to highlight all skin tones in an authentic way. We even find the famous magic eraser, which will also improve for the occasion. While it already allowsEasily erase unwanted people or objects from a snapshot using artificial intelligence, Google added a new Camouflage mode.

In particular, this allows you to reduce distractions in an image without distorting or removing an object. Instead, this tool allows you to easily change the color of anything in the shot, all to better blend into the background or foreground. Regarding the video component, the Pixel 6a can shoot in 4K and Full HD at 30 and 60 FPS while the selfie camera is content with 1080p at 30 FPS. Slowmotion videos in 240 FPS are also included.

🤖 What version of Android and what about updates?

While waiting for Android 13, the Pixel 6a is shipping Android 12, with no big surprise. Users will therefore be able to take advantage of the Material You design to customize the interface of their Pixel 6a as they see fit. Instant translation, which allows chatting in 11 languages, will be included.

As for software tracking, Google promises updates to major versions for 3 years and Android security patches for five years. The Pixel 6a came with Android 12, but will also support Android 14, which will be available in fall 2023.