The Google Pixel 6A was finally announced today at the company’s I/O conference following months of speculation and rumors surrounding the smartphone. The 6A is a great device for those looking for a new taste of the Pixel flavor without breaking the bank on the simultaneously announced Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
Google Pixel 6A design and display
The Pixel 6A takes after the Pixel 6 in terms of its design. Despite having similar-looking exteriors, the 6A uses cheaper materials than the base Pixel 6. This isn’t anything new for Google as the company always tries to keep a consistent design language across its various phone series and the Pixel 6A falls perfectly within that expectation.
The smartphone features a bezel-less 6.1-inch 1080p OLED display supporting up to 60Hz that’s covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The display has a single 8-megapixel front-facing camera at the top of the screen and an in-display fingerprint sensor toward the bottom. The phone has a stereo speaker and features two discrete microphones.
While all that is relatively standard for what we’ve come to expect from Google’s Pixel A smartphones, its internal frame is noteworthy. The Pixel 6A uses an aluminum frame to hold everything together, not a polycarbonate one, which is the typical standard for budget Android devices. This detail means that the Pixel 6A should be one of the sturdiest Android phones priced under $500, a great selling point for those looking for something on the cheaper side that’s built to last.
The Pixel 6A comes in black, white, and green.
Pixel 6A pricing and availability
Smartphones have had a tough few years in terms of availability due to the global chip shortage caused by the ongoing pandemic. It impacted the releases of both the Pixel 4A and the 5A, so many expect the Pixel 6A to see a limited regional release as well. Google didn’t comment on where fans can expect the 6A to be available, but it seems like a safe bet to assume that it will be following the 5A’s lead and launching exclusively in the U.S. and Japan.
The Pixel 6A will cost $449 when it goes up for preorder on July 21 and launches on July 28.
Pixel 6A cameras
The Pixel 6A features three cameras, same as the Pixel 6, one front-facing and two on the back. They share two of the three cameras: The 12-megapixel ultrawide lens on the back and the 8-megapixel front-facing lens. The main difference between the two is that the Pixel 6 features a 50-megapixel back-facing camera, while the 6A’s second back-facing camera is a 12.2-megapixel lens, the same camera featured on last year’s Google Pixel 5.
While not fitted with the absolute best cameras in mobile tech, the 6A has some nice lenses for the price. Google has been marketing its devices as good smartphones for taking pictures for social media and the Pixel 6A is no exception. Based on the specs of the cameras and what we’ve seen with the Pixel 5’s camera, the 6A will be a great device for snapping quality pictures on the go.
When looking at the Pixel 6A’s video-recording options, it’s a pretty capable device. The smartphone’s rear camera can record both 4K and 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) and 60 fps, respectively. Although the front-facing camera is limited to 1080p at 30 fps, the rear camera can also capture 4K time-lapses with stabilization. The phone also allows users to record in slow-motion with frame rates of up to 240 fps.
Google Pixel 6A specs
In terms of the processing power, the Pixel 6A stands out from other A-series devices as it features a Google Tensor chip, the same that will be inside the rest of the Pixel 6 line. This is a major step forward for budget-line Pixel phones as previous Pixel A phones featured weaker processors than their mainline and Pro counterparts. In addition to the Tensor chipset, the Pixel 6A features the Titan M2 security coprocessor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The Pixel 6A’s battery is a 4306mAh cell that supports Google’s fast-charging adapters. According to Google, the smartphone gets over 24 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 72 hours of life when in Extreme Battery Saver mode.
What about the Pixel Fold and Pixel Watch?
In an exciting, albeit predictable, move, Google showcased its first piece of wearable watch tech at I/O 2022, the Pixel Watch. Although the Pixel Watch was perhaps the company’s worst-kept secret in the weeks leading up to the announcement, fans are excited to see what’s in store for Google’s wearable tech with Wear OS 3.
After being plagued with supply chain issues in 2021, the new Pixel Tablet has finally reared its head. Fans have been itching to get their hands on Google-owned folding tech to try out Android 12L ever since the major update went live earlier this year. Because of 12L’s major focus on tablets and foldables, the Pixel Tablet will be the first time that users will be able to see exactly what Google had in mind with its most recent feature drop.
This article will be updated as more information on the devices listed is revealed.
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