Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 4

70 out of 100

56 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 4, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and came out 31 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

Comes with 1610 mAh larger battery capacity: 4410 vs 2800 mAh
Shows 73% longer battery life (32:11 vs 18:36 hours)
Delivers 99% higher peak brightness (880 against 443 nits)
67% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (914K versus 549K)
Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
Has a 0.4 inch larger screen size
Fingerprint scanner
Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 3200 MHz
Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
The phone is 2-years and 7-months newer

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 4

Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
The rear camera has a 2x optical zoom
Handles wireless charging up to 11W
Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
Has 2 SIM card slots
Weighs 16 grams less

Review

Evaluation of Google Pixel 6a and Pixel 4 crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	OLED	POLED
Size	6.1 inches	5.7 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels	1080 x 2280 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	19:9
PPI	429 ppi	444 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	90 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	500 nits	450 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1100 nits	-
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Screen-to-body ratio	83%	79.8%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

RGB color space	96.9%	95.5%
PWM	240 Hz	367 Hz
Response time	3 ms	2.4 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	152.2 mm (5.99 inches)	147.1 mm (5.79 inches)
Width	71.8 mm (2.83 inches)	68.8 mm (2.71 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	8.2 mm (0.32 inches)
Weight	178 g (6.28 oz)	162 g (5.71 oz)
Waterproof	IP67	IP68
Rear material	Plastic	Glass
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	White, Black, Green	White, Black, Orange
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	No

Chipset	Google Tensor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
Max clock	2800 MHz	2840 MHz
CPU cores	8 (2 + 2 + 4)	8 (1 + 3 + 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 (Kryo 485 Silver) - 3 cores at 2.42 GHz: Cortex-A76 (Kryo 485 Gold) - 1 core at 2.84 GHz: Cortex-A76 (Kryo 485 Gold)
L3 cache	4 MB	2 MB
Lithography process	5 nanometers	7 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G78 MP20	Adreno 640
GPU shading units	1280	768
GPU clock	848 MHz	585 MHz
FLOPS	~2170.9 GFLOPS	~898.5 GFLOPS

CPU	-	175351
GPU	-	153028
Memory	-	85362
UX	913000	134196
Total score	914585	549054

Max surface temperature	41.4 °C	39 °C
Stability	56%	79%
Graphics test	37 FPS	18 FPS
Graphics score	6194	3045

Web score	6177	7221
Video editing	5806	7058
Photo editing	17969	23826
Data manipulation	9425	8960
Writing score	15432	12171

RAM size	6 GB	6 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	3200 MHz	2133 MHz
Channels	4	2

Storage size	128 GB	64, 128 GB
Storage type	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.0
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)	Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	Stock Android	-
OS size	14.3 GB	9.55 GB

Capacity	4410 mAh	2800 mAh
Max charge power	18 W	18 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	Yes (11 W)
Reverse charging	No	No
Fast charging	Yes (42% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:51 hr	1:20 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	10:54 hr	06:04 hr
Watching video	16:44 hr	08:41 hr
Gaming	06:05 hr	03:09 hr
Standby	91 hr	62 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12.2 megapixels	12.2 megapixels
Image resolution	4032 x 3024	4000 x 3000
Zoom	Digital	Optical, 2x
Flash	Dual LED	LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 30FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	240 FPS (1080p)	240 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens	114°	119°
Lenses	2 (12.2 MP + 12 MP)	2 (12.2 MP + 16 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	- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (BSI CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	-	- 16 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 - Focal length: 45 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron - Sensor: 1/3.09", Sony IMX481 (BSI 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)	-
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 4 from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	8 megapixels	8 megapixels
Image resolution	3840 x 2160	3264 x 2448
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.0
Focal length	24 mm	22 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	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5.2	5
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
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	1	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	-	Standby
eSIM support *	Yes	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	20	18
5G support	Yes	No

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

Category	Flagship	Flagship
Announced	May 2022	October 2019
Release date	June 2022	November 2019
SAR (head)	-	1.19 W/kg
SAR (body)	-	1.39 W/kg
Sensors	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Face recognition sensor
Bundled charger	Not included	-

Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 4

Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 4

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