Google Pixel 6a
Announced May 11, 2022
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Google Pixel 6a offers a compelling, compact Android experience by packing the flagship Tensor processor and high-end camera capabilities into an affordable package. While it sacrifices modern amenities like a high-refresh-rate display and wireless charging, it remains a top-tier value for those prioritizing software intelligence and image quality.
Weighted from 74 reviewer scores
Pros
- Flagship-grade performance from the Google Tensor chip
- Excellent camera quality and computational photography features
- Compact, manageable design that is easy to use one-handed
- Competitive pricing and long-term software update support
- Helpful, clean software experience with smart AI tools
Cons
- Standard 60Hz display refresh rate
- Lack of wireless charging and slow wired charging speeds
- Inconsistent or slow under-display fingerprint sensor
- Thermal management issues during intensive tasks
- Absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack
- Launch price $449 (USD)
- Main camera 12MP f/1.7 + 12MP Ultrawide
- Video 4K 60p
- Display 6.1-inch OLED 60Hz
- Chipset Google Tensor 6GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 74 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 8/10
Maybe it’s a testament to Google’s software pedigree that a phone like the Pixel 6a is a worthy choice as a competent shooter.
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Ultimately, the price drop of the Pixel 6a means it’s one of the best-value smartphones you can buy right now, and as long as you’re comfortable with what it can and can’t do, you can be confident you’re getting a great phone at an outrageously good price.
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[T]he Google Pixel 6a turns out is really all about the Google software experience and the camera for the price; that's where it excels.
- The Verge 8/10
[I]f a really big screen isn’t a priority and you (like me) prefer a sensibly sized phone that might actually fit in your pocket, then the 6A is easy to recommend.
- WIRED 8/10
Regardless, the Pixel 6A nails many of the most important functions most people care about and has an attractive price.
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For those who prefer a smartphone with a compact design, the Pixel 6a will be a good choice but others will probably look elsewhere.
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The Pixel 6a is the best mid-range phone you can buy and a fantastic option if you’re looking for a smaller Android.
- Android Authority 8/10
The Google Pixel 6a pulls some of the best Pixel 6 features into a smaller and more affordable package. It's easy to use with one hand and offers more of a processing punch than previous Pixel A phones, even if the battery life takes a big hit.
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For me, folks, the answer is yes to anyone who values the total package ahead of a single specification. It's got the best cameras in its class and it's got features you can't find on any other phone.
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The Pixel 6a is an easy-to-recommend Android phone in 2023 that doesn’t break the bank. You’re getting plenty of phone for the money with this device, especially if you’re after a more compact device that will pick up updates for years to come.
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The Google Pixel 6a is a very good phone that might rehash years-old camera hardware, but it updates the line's computational photography to keep things competitive. It also adds Pixel 6 and 6 Pro power, water resistance, a premium, playful design, and runs stock Android.
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[T]he Google Pixel 6a is the midrange Android phone to buy. Between its vivid OLED display, excellent battery life, top-notch performance, and solid cameras, the phone gets almost everything right.
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The Google Pixel 6a has features that might appeal to Pixel fans including its smaller form and faster fingerprint scanner, but those are largely cancelled out by its weak battery life and slow charging.
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It's once again one of the best camera phones among midrange devices, capable of competing with phones that are much more expensive.
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I think it's time we stopped seeing the Pixel A series as a "budget" line. With its refined design, powerful processor and satisfying cameras, there are more similarities than differences between the 6a and its flagship siblings.
- Digital Trends 8/10
Despite the fact that the display still has a 60Hz refresh rate, there’s no wireless charging, and the cameras are just 12.2MP, the Pixel 6a remains a great buy in 2023.
- CNET 8.7/10
With a great camera, attractive design and early software updates, the Pixel 6A is the best phone in this price range for Android fans.
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The Google Pixel 6a is a triumph for Google and consumers alike.
- Android Police 9/10
The Pixel 6a isn't just the best smartphone you can get for $450, it's probably the best value you can get in an Android phone, with a great camera, good performance, and fantastic software features.
- PhoneArena 5.4/10
The Google Pixel 6a is one of the most impressive budget phones available in 2023.
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[T]he Pixel 6a is a phone that fits nicely into Google’s line of phones, at least on paper, but it still fails to check all the boxes we wanted.
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For the past three years Google has attempted to repackage its flagships phones into A Series phones that capture the Pixel essence at a far more attractive price point.
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[T]he Pixel 6a is a good upgrade to the Pixel 4a, since it has a more powerful chip, comes with dual cameras, has IP67 ratings and a better battery life.
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If you need to spend under $500 for a phone and aren’t looking to get into the Apple ecosystem, the Pixel 6a is easily one of the best choices you could make.
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So the Google Pixel 6a is an ideal phone for someone looking for a compact and powerful device, offering great value for money with the bonus of 5 years of software support.
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In many ways I really love the Google Pixel 6a. It's a model example of a small-screen Android phone, which is what I think will appeal the most to those not wanting a massive device that's hard to use with one hand.
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So there’s plenty to like about the Pixel 6a, then. Not that you should be surprised – after all, Google’s pedigree is well-documented at this point – but the Pixel 6a should still be applauded for squeezing this much stuff into a handset this affordable.
- SlashGear 9/10
At $449, the Pixel 6a makes a strong case for being the most compelling budget smartphone on the market.
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The Google Pixel 6a is a brilliantly well-rounded phone that continues Google’s track record for killer cameras.
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It's great to see that Google is offering a smaller phone size compared to the flagship 6 Pro while still including impressive camera capabilities.
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[...] I think if you saw the images that we took, nothing's really going to match this in its price range.
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The Pixel 6a is the best Android phone you can get for under $500. Its optimal size and balanced power rips through everyday tasks and runs the latest games.
- How-To Geek 7/10
Google's inclusion of the flagship Tensor processor made the Pixel 6a feel premium from a speed and performance standpoint, but other aspects of the phone degraded the experience.
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A superlative mid-range phone and one of the best value Android phones you can buy, the Pixel 6a crams in the best bits from the more expensive Pixel 6 and 6 Pro at a very attractive price, but you might be tempted by the newer Pixel 7a.
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My experience over the last two weeks with the Pixel 6a proves that your phone doesn’t need to have the best parts and pieces to provide the best experience.
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The Google Pixel 6a sets a new bar for mid-range phones, thanks to its excellent performance, great camera, and smooth software experience.
- IGN 8/10
If you’re shopping for a phone today, you won’t go wrong with the Pixel 6a. But if you can wait, it’ll likely be worth your while.
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[I]t is a highly enjoyable everyday blower and one that is pretty much perfect for any amateur photographers who want great looking pics and home movies with minimal effort.
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I’m therefore always a little cautious when I get to try an Android phone that isn’t using the most common flagship chip. But I needn’t have worried about the Pixel, because the TensorTitan M2 is clearly up to the task.
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Just like the phones that came before it, the Google Pixel 6a is still the best device for folks who want an affordable Android smartphone, and it's especially true this time around thanks to its high-end Tensor chip from Google and more premium-looking design.
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For the past two weeks or so, I have been using the Google Pixel 6a as my primary phone, and I am really surprised by how good this phone is.
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The phone lacks quite a few modern features like a high refresh rate display and fast charging, but the camera output is second to none in the 30K to 35K price band.
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The Pixel 6a is highly recommended: this is the midmarket smartphone done right, with the right mix of features and flagship-class performance at an affordable price.
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This is easily one of the best midrange devices money can buy and I kid you not.
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[B]efore Google launches its next generation phones along with Android 13, the company has one more lesson to teach Android phone makers, and that’s how to make a mid-range budget phone that packs great value for the price.
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Honestly, for the price, this is the best Pixel 6. The Google Pixel 6a may not be perfect; it's lacking wireless charging, which is a big kick to my nuts, but it is what it is, and I would have loved it to have a more bright OLED display.
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So is this phone still the default recommendation for people when they ask me, "Kevin, what phone should I buy?" For those people who are not looking for a very spec heavy phone [...] the Google Pixel 6a is gonna be the choice.
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If you are someone who values experience on top of everything else, if you just want a device that, well, just works in the Android world, the Google Pixel 6a is definitely a phone that I would recommend to you.
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In my mind this phone doesn't make much sense to purchase when you've got a slightly better phone that costs just a little more.
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[...] I think the Google Pixel 6a here packs a good amount of value. It's a nicely performing device, it's got a decent enough camera for the market that they're targeting, it's got a very nice display, excellent performance; there's not much to complain about here.
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The Pixel 6a refines what worked on the original Pixel 6 and delivers it all in a more affordable package.
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With a sleek design, quality screen and reliable cameras, the Google Pixel 6a is an easy recommendation if you're on a tight budget.
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Considering the fact that this is a 500 US dollar phone, I think the pros here definitely outweigh the cons.
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Ok there are so many Pixels and numbers in there but I would say that you should only buy this phone if you just have to get a new phone though. This would be perfect for an older family member that doesn't want to use eBay, Amazon or any other internet site to find a phone.
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[S]ure it's a little more expensive than previous A series products, but the Pixel 6A is a stunning mid-ranger with flagship level cameras and processors [...]
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All the magic of Google at a low price: we tested the new one Pixel 6a for this review and we must tell you immediately, it impressed us. The chip Tensor e artificial intelligence developed in Mountain View make it do things that other smartphones simply cannot do.
- PureWow 94/100
If you’re looking for a solid phone that can keep up with an on-the-go, continually-scrolls-Instagram-when-she-should-be-doing-anything-else lifestyle—without killing your budget—this is it. It’s durable, dependable and chic.
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The cameras and just the overall package is really hard to beat.
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For 449, I can definitely recommend the Pixel 6a as a great all-around wallet-friendly Android phone.
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If you don’t care about the biggest and best display, and you want a reliable device that will last you for a few years, take awesome photos, and give you a good bang for your buck, you can’t go wrong with Pixel 6a.
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The Pixel 6a is a solid upgrade from its predecessor and is worth every penny of its $449 asking price.
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In the case of the Google Pixel 6a, I would say that based on my first impressions with it, it's a really solid phone that most people will enjoy.
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So my experiences with this phone, I would recommend this if someone's trying to switch over from Apple and trying to get into the Google ecosystem.
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If you enjoy taking pictures of people, this is the phone to buy.
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[T]he Pixel 6a offers a great camera, display, and performance - effectively making it the best mid-range Android phone for under $500.
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The Pixel 6a performs exceptionally well and is in the same leagues as phones that cost double the [...] price tag.
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To wrap up, I actually think the Google Pixel 6a is probably one of the best smartphone camera performances in this price range.
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The Google Pixel 6a is an interesting phone and certainly one worth considering if shopping for a new smartphone priced under $500. While it is not perfect, it borrows enough from the rest of the Pixel 6 series to offer great value overall.
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If you find the Google 6a below $350, then yes, it is worth buying the phone, as it has the Google Tensor, high quality pictures and Magic Eraser feature. Although, the battery can be considered OK, as it lasts for a day with normal use.
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On top of that, you don't have a 90Hz panel, again, which is kind of weird, but I think overall on the outside of this phone they did a good job and I think for that price tag it elevates that up to a great job.
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So if you're looking for a mid-range phone that's average in most specs but has a fantastic camera and performance for its price, then the Google Pixel 6a is for you.
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Okay, so to sum things up, the Google Pixel 6a is an incredible smartphone for its price.
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From my experience, the Google Pixel 6a is still one of the best budget phone.
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For 450, this is one of the best Android phones that you can buy. The Pixel line is my go-to recommendation device to my green bubble friends because Google's experience is such a good one.
