As with Google’s other A-series phones, the Pixel 6a looks like a high quality budget smartphone. But to hit the $449 price point, it won’t have one of the best features of the game Google Pixel 6 or the Pixel 6 Pro.
First presented at Google I/O 2022, the Pixel 6a could arguably trump the cheapest iPhone. And it could potentially fix that too Problem with Pixel 6 finger scanner.
But the Pixel 6a has a 12.2-megapixel main camera and 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, rather than the larger 50-megapixel sensor we see on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. This differs from the A-series phones we’ve seen in the past, which have all pushed the flagship cameras to the cheaper variants, so we feel like we’ve got the best of both worlds. It’s worth noting that Google has stuck with 12-megapixel sensors since the original Pixel phone, only changing things up with the latest flagship Pixels).
In fact, the 12-megapixel sensor in the Pixel 6a is the same as we saw in the pixels 55a, Pixel 4 and Pixel 3.
Another gripe we have with the Pixel 6a is that it also omits the headphone jack – but that’s another story – and arguably not a big deal when wireless headphones are common. Check out our guide on the topic best wireless headphones.
But while Google doesn’t put its best cameras in the Pixel 6a, it does pack its flagship Tensor chipset that powers the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. On previous Pixel models, the cameras were what Google calls the “core experience”; now that has changed to tensor.
Still, that might be enough as the Tensor chip allows for some pretty neat photo tricks, such as: Magic eraser. So even if the hardware falls a notch short of our expectations, the software might make up for it.
Tensor also supports features like live speech recognition. Google even showed off the Pixel 6a’s night mode on the Google I/O, although that may have been Google’s response to Apple – or the lack of a night mode on the iPhone SE 2022.
Getting a powerful and intelligent Tensor chip on a non-flagship phone is definitely a major highlight and we can’t wait to see how the Pixel 6a fares when it launches in July for $449/£399/ 749 AU$ on the market.
If you’re already convinced, here is How to pre-order the Google Pixel 6a before its launch.
