The Google Pixel 6a has been confirmed, at the keynote conference of Google IO 2022 (we’ve got a live blog running for the whole event here).
This is a budget spin on the Google Pixel 6, judging at least by the ‘a’ in its name and the conventions of the series. So far, though, we’re waiting to hear more about the phone.
It has a surprising amount of its big siblings’ features, though some downgrades in select areas do mean the Pixel 6 will remain a key member of the line.
The release date for this phone is quite a way away, but before we get our hands on it, here’s everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 6a.
Price and availability
The Google Pixel 6a costs $449 / AU$749 – that converts to around £360, though we’re waiting to hear about when the thing will go on sale.
Pre-orders in the US and Australia start on July 21, and will go on sale from July 28. That’s quite a way away, so it’s surprising we’re hearing about it so soon.
It comes in white, green and black.
Design and display
The Google Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch screen, with a punch-hole cut-out like the other Pixel 6 phones. It has FHD+ resolution, but only a 60Hz refresh rate, which may disappoint some.
At least the display supports an Always-on Display, a feature not all mid-range handsets get.
The phone has a similar design to its siblings with the same camera bar, but with smaller lens cut-outs – this makes it look a little more discreet, in our eyes.
We haven’t heard what material the phone is made of, but guessing based on previous phones, it’s likely plastic. That does make it more resistant to drops, at least.
Cameras and battery life
The Google Pixel 6a cameras are a 12MP main, and 12MP ultra-wide, sitting in that chunky bar. The front-facer is only 8MP, so don’t expect to take any super-high-res selfies here.
Some camera features are carried over from the Pixel 6 including Magic Eraser for removing annoying extras in photos, and Real Tone for more accurately balancing portrait mode for people with non-white skin.
What’s the battery capacity here? 4,800mAh, which according to Google will last for over a day of use. The charging speed is 30W.
Performance and specs
The Google Tensor chip is carried over from the older phones to the Pixel 6a – this should make the Pixel 6a just as powerful as those other devices, and explains why they get the same camera features.
Beyond that, you’re getting 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, both of which are fairly standard for a mid-range phone like this.
The software is Android 12 – the handset is too early for Android 13, unfortunately, though it’ll likely receive that update in due time.