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Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 3 XL

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Google Pixel 6a vs Pixel 3 XL

70 out of 100
Google Pixel 6a
VS
52 out of 100
Google Pixel 3 XL
Google Pixel 6a
Google Pixel 3 XL

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 3 XL, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and came out 44 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery life
  6. Camera
  7. Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6a
  • 2.1x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (914K versus 427K)
  • Delivers 112% higher peak brightness (880 against 416 nits)
  • Waterproof body (IP67 classification)
  • Comes with 980 mAh larger battery capacity: 4410 vs 3430 mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
  • More energy-efficient CPU – Google Tensor
  • Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 3200 MHz
  • Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
  • Has 50% more RAM: 6GB versus 4GB
  • The phone is 3-years and 8-months newer
  • Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
  • More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 12
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3 XL
  • Handles Qi wireless charging up to 10W
  • 22% higher pixel density (522 vs 429 PPI)

Review

Evaluation of Google Pixel 6a and Pixel 3 XL crucial features
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Performance
CPU and memory performance (apps, system)
Gaming
Capabilities for playing modern games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
Scores with a red asterisk ( * ) are approximate and may change in the future as we gather more data.
NanoReview Score
Final comparison evaluation

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Comparison table of technical specifications and tests
Phone:
Pixel 6a
vs
Pixel 3 XL

Display

Type OLED OLED
Size 6.1 inches 6.3 inches
Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels 1440 x 2960 pixels
Aspect ratio 20:9 18.5:9
PPI 429 ppi 522 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No No
Max rated brightness 500 nits 400 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR 1100 nits -
HDR support Yes, HDR10+ No
Screen protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Screen-to-body ratio 83% 83.39%
Display features - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display 		- DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Display tests
RGB color space 96.9% 100%
PWM 240 Hz 250 Hz
Response time 3 ms 15 ms
Contrast ∞ Infinity ∞ Infinity
Peak brightness test (auto)
Pixel 6a +112%
880 nits
Pixel 3 XL
416 nits

Design and build

Height 152.2 mm (5.99 inches) 158 mm (6.22 inches)
Width 71.8 mm (2.83 inches) 76.7 mm (3.02 inches)
Thickness 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) 7.9 mm (0.31 inches)
Weight 178 g (6.28 oz) 184 g (6.49 oz)
Waterproof IP67 IPX8
Rear material Plastic Glass
Frame material Metal Metal
Colors White, Black, Green White, Black, Pink
Fingerprint scanner Yes, in-display Yes, rear
Screen-to-body ratio

Performance

Tests of Google Pixel 6a and Google Pixel 3 XL in the benchmarks
SoC
Chipset Google Tensor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Max clock 2800 MHz 2500 MHz
CPU cores 8 (2 + 2 + 4) 8 (4 + 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: Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55)
- 4 cores at 2.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75)
L3 cache 4 MB 2 MB
Lithography process 5 nanometers 10 nanometers
Graphics Mali-G78 MP20 Adreno 630
GPU shading units 1280 512
GPU clock 848 MHz 710 MHz
FLOPS ~2170.9 GFLOPS ~727 GFLOPS

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Pixel 6a +120%
3611
Pixel 3 XL
1644
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
Pixel 6a +114%
914585
Pixel 3 XL
427521
CPU - 122802
GPU - 125452
Memory - 87997
UX 913000 90851
Total score 914585 427521
3DMark Wild Life Performance
Pixel 6a +272%
6194
Pixel 3 XL
1663
Max surface temperature 41.4 °C 44.7 °C
Stability 56% 94%
Graphics test 37 FPS 9 FPS
Graphics score 6194 1663
PCMark 3.0
Web score 6177 6966
Video editing 5806 6543
Photo editing 17969 18274
Data manipulation 9425 6666
Writing score 15432 9751

Memory

RAM
RAM size 6 GB 4 GB
Memory type LPDDR5 LPDDR4X
Memory clock 3200 MHz 1866 MHz
Channels 4 2
Storage
Storage size 128 GB 64, 128 GB
Storage type UFS 3.1 UFS 2.1
Memory card No No

Software

Operating system Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12)
ROM Stock Android Stock Android
OS size 14.3 GB 13 GB

Battery

Capacity 4410 mAh 3430 mAh
Max charge power 18 W 18 W
Battery type Li-Po Li-Ion
Replaceable No No
Wireless charging No Yes, Qi (10 W)
Reverse charging No No
Fast charging Yes (42% in 30 min) Yes, Quick Charge 4 (50% in 35 min)
Full charging time 1:51 hr 2:00 hr
Battery life tests
Web browsing 10:54 hr -
Watching video 16:44 hr -
Gaming 06:05 hr -
Standby 91 hr -
General battery life

Camera

Specs and camera test of smartphones
Main camera
Matrix 12.2 megapixels 12.2 megapixels
Image resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
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 120FPS
Slow motion 240 FPS (1080p) 240 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens 114° -
Lenses 2 (12.2 MP + 12 MP) 1 (12.2 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/1.8
- Focal length: 28 mm
- Pixel size: 1.4 micron
- Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS)
- Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
- 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 -
Selfie camera
Megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels
Image resolution 3840 x 2160 3264 x 2448
Aperture f/2.0 f/1.8
Focal length 24 mm 28 mm
Pixel size 1.12 microns 1.4 microns
Sensor type Exmor-RS CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.8" 1/3.2"
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 5 (802.11 a/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
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
Network
Number of SIM * 1 1
Type of SIM card Nano Nano
Multi SIM mode - Standby
eSIM support * Yes Yes
Hybrid slot No No
LTE Cat * 20 16
5G support Yes No

Sound

Speakers Stereo Stereo
Headphone audio jack No No
FM radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes No
Speakers test
Max loudness
Pixel 6a +4%
87.4 dB
Pixel 3 XL
84.2 dB

Other

Category Flagship Flagship
Announced May 2022 October 2018
Release date June 2022 November 2018
SAR (head) - 1.39 W/kg
SAR (body) - 1.4 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
- Fingerprint
Bundled charger Not included -
* Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.

Conclusion

After analyzing all the data, we think that the Google Pixel 6a is definitely a better buy.

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