Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 6
Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.1-inch Google Pixel 6a (with Google Tensor) that was released on May 11, 2022, against the Google Pixel 6, which is powered by the same chip and came out 7 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the gadgets.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6a
- Shows 8% longer battery life (32:23 vs 30:01 hours)
- The phone is 7-months newer
- Weighs 29 grams less
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- Supports wireless charging up to 21W
- Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
- Has a 0.3 inch larger screen size
- Has 33% more RAM: 8GB versus 6GB
- Reverse charging feature
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Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Performance
CPU/GPU performance in apps and games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
NanoReview score
Final comparison evaluation
Value for money
You can enter your local price of these phones (in USD or any other currency) and click on the "Calculate" button to see which one has a better value for money.
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | OLED | OLED |
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| PPI | 429 ppi | 411 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Max rated brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Max rated brightness in HDR | 800 nits | 800 nits |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10+ | Yes, HDR10+ |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 83% | 83.4% |
| Display features | - DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | 96.9% | 99.8% |
| PWM | 240 Hz | 397 Hz |
| Response time | 3 ms | 5 ms |
| Contrast | ∞ Infinity | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 152.2 mm (5.99 inches) | 158.6 mm (6.24 inches) |
| Width | 71.8 mm (2.83 inches) | 74.8 mm (2.94 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) | 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 207 g (7.3 oz) |
| Waterproof | IP67 | IP68 |
| Rear material | Plastic | Glass |
| Frame material | Metal | Metal |
| Colors | White, Black, Green | Black, Blue, Yellow |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, in-display | Yes, in-display |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Google Tensor | Google Tensor |
| Max. clock | 2800 MHz | 2800 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (2 + 2 + 4) | 8 (2 + 2 + 4) |
| Architecture | - 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex A55 - 2 cores at 2.25 GHz: Cortex A76 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-X1 |
- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex A55 - 2 cores at 2.25 GHz: Cortex A76 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-X1 |
| L3 cache | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| Lithography process | 5 nanometers | 5 nanometers |
| Graphics | Mali-G78 MP20 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| GPU clock | 848 MHz | 848 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~2171 GFLOPS | ~2171 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 9
| CPU | 208269 | 187698 |
| GPU | 305908 | 298218 |
| Memory | 110039 | 100887 |
| UX | 144068 | 137683 |
| Total score | 775868 | 728678 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Stability | 55% | 55% |
| Graphics test | 37 FPS | 38 FPS |
| Graphics score | 6230 | 6391 |
| PCMark 3.0 score | 9715 | 10569 |
AnTuTu Benchmark Android Ranking (120th and 138th place)
Memory
| RAM size | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 |
| Memory clock | - | 3200 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 4 |
| Storage size | 128 GB | 128, 256 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) |
| ROM | Stock Android | Stock Android |
| OS size | 14.3 GB | 17.6 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 4410 mAh | 4614 mAh |
| Charge power | 18 W | 30 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes (21 W) |
| Reverse charging | No | Yes, (wireless) |
| Fast charging | Yes (42% in 30 min) | Yes (41% in 30 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:51 hr | 1:53 hr |
| Web browsing | 11:03 hr | 08:58 hr |
| Watching video | 16:44 hr | 16:38 hr |
| Gaming | 06:15 hr | 05:24 hr |
| Standby | 91 hr | 92 hr |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 12.2 megapixels | 50 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 8192 x 6144 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | Dual LED | Dual LED |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (1080p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 114° | 114° |
| Lenses | 2 (12.2 MP + 12 MP) | 2 (50 MP + 12 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens | - 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
- 50 MP - Aperture: f/1.9 - Focal length: 25 mm - Pixel size: 1.2 micron - Sensor: 1/1.31", Samsung GN1 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization |
| Ultra-wide lens | - 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 17 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/2.9", Sony IMX386 (Exmor-RS CMOS) |
- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 17 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode |
- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
| Samples | Photo samples of Google Pixel 6a from DxOMark | Photo samples of Google Pixel 6 from DxOMark |
| Megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.0 |
| Focal length | 24 mm | 24 mm |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | 1.12 microns |
| Sensor type | Exmor-RS CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.8" | - |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
DxOMark camera tests
Photo quality
Video quality
Generic camera score
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) |
| Wi-Fi features | - Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth features | LE, A2DP | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS |
| NFC* | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM* | 1 | 1 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| eSIM support* | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat* | 20 | 20 |
| 5G support | Yes | Yes |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | No | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
Speakers test
Max. loudness
Other
| Category | Flagship | Flagship |
| Announced | May 2022 | October 2021 |
| Release date | June 2022 | October 2021 |
| Sensors | - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
These smartphones have a lot in common, but we would recommend the Google Pixel 6. It has a better camera and design.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 526
