Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 6 Pro

70 out of 100

76 out of 100

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 Pro, which is powered by the same chip and came out 6 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6a

Shows 18% longer battery life (32:11 vs 27:15 hours)
Weighs 32 grams less
9% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 1467 and 1340 points
The phone is 6-months newer

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6 Pro

The rear camera has a 4x optical zoom
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
Has a 0.6 inch larger screen size
Has 2x more RAM: 12GB versus 6GB
Handles wireless charging up to 23W
Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
Comes with 593 mAh larger battery capacity: 5003 vs 4410 mAh
19% higher pixel density (512 vs 429 PPI)
Thinner bezels – 5.8% more screen real estate
Supports higher wattage charging (30W versus 18W)
The front-facing camera can record video at 4K

Review

Evaluation of Google Pixel 6a and Pixel 6 Pro crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	OLED	OLED
Size	6.1 inches	6.7 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels	1440 x 3120 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	19.5:9
PPI	429 ppi	512 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	Yes
Max rated brightness	500 nits	500 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1100 nits	800 nits
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10+
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Gorilla Glass Victus
Screen-to-body ratio	83%	88.8%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

RGB color space	96.9%	98.5%
PWM	240 Hz	360 Hz
Response time	3 ms	1 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	152.2 mm (5.99 inches)	163.9 mm (6.45 inches)
Width	71.8 mm (2.83 inches)	75.9 mm (2.99 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)
Weight	178 g (6.28 oz)	210 g (7.41 oz)
Waterproof	IP67	IP68
Rear material	Plastic	Glass
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	White, Black, Green	White, Black, Yellow
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, in-display

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 shading units	1280	1280
GPU clock	848 MHz	848 MHz
FLOPS	~2170.9 GFLOPS	~2170.9 GFLOPS

CPU	-	244572
GPU	-	272616
Memory	-	160815
UX	913000	190234
Total score	914585	869007

Max surface temperature	41.4 °C	40.4 °C
Stability	56%	56%
Graphics test	37 FPS	37 FPS
Graphics score	6194	6208

Web score	6177	8598
Video editing	5806	6884
Photo editing	17969	17970
Data manipulation	9425	11157
Writing score	15432	16291

RAM size	6 GB	12 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR5
Memory clock	3200 MHz	3200 MHz
Channels	4	4

Storage size	128 GB	128, 256, 512 GB
Storage type	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1
Memory card	No	No

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	14 GB

Capacity	4410 mAh	5003 mAh
Max charge power	18 W	30 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	Yes (23 W)
Reverse charging	No	Yes, (wireless)
Fast charging	Yes (42% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:51 hr	1:59 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	10:54 hr	08:47 hr
Watching video	16:44 hr	12:29 hr
Gaming	06:05 hr	04:43 hr
Standby	91 hr	93 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12.2 megapixels	50 megapixels
Image resolution	4032 x 3024	8192 x 6144
Zoom	Digital	Optical, 4x
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)	3 (50 MP + 48 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: 26 mm - Pixel size: 1.2 micron - Sensor: 1/1.31", Samsung GN1 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	-	- 48 MP - Aperture: f/3.5 - Focal length: 104 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2", Sony IMX586 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase 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 - Pixel size: 1.25 micron - Sensor: 1/2.9", Sony IMX386 (Exmor-RS CMOS)
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Google Pixel 6a from DxOMark	Photo samples of Google Pixel 6 Pro from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	8 megapixels	11.1 megapixels
Image resolution	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2880
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.0
Focal length	24 mm	24 mm
Pixel size	1.12 microns	1.22 microns
Sensor type	Exmor-RS CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/2.8"	-
Video resolution	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS	2160p (4K) at 30 FPS

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

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	No	No
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

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
Bundled charger	Not included	Not included

Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 6 Pro

Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 6 Pro

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion