We’re less than a month away from the debut of Google’s next mid-range phone, and the Pixel 6a is shaping up to be an impressive product. Here’s everything we know about the Pixel 6a’s specs right now.
Google Pixel 6a specs
Google’s “A-Series” is the company’s line of mid-range smartphones. Previous models were distinguished by their low-end specs, plastic build and lack of wireless charging.
While Google isn’t releasing some official specs ahead of the Pixel 6a launch, as we saw with last year’s Pixel 6 series, we do have some concrete evidence of what to expect. Here’s everything we know about the Pixel 6a’s specs.
Chip: Google Tensor
Under the hood, the biggest change to the Pixel 6a from a few years ago is the chipset. Unlike the Pixel 3a and 4a, which use mid-range Snapdragon chips, the Pixel 6a will run on top of the Google Tensor chipset. Specifically, the same chipset as Google’s flagship Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
We first broke the news that the Pixel 6a would be running Tensor late last year, a detail that was confirmed by a benchmark leak from March 2022.Based on this benchmark, 6a also scores slightly That’s higher than the flagship model, suggesting Google may have tweaked the chip since last October.
Google Tensor is Samsung’s flagship processor based on Google’s design, borrowing from Exynos. The chip is roughly similar in performance to the Snapdragon 888, scoring only slightly lower than that chip in the overall test. Throttling performance is one of the biggest issues, especially preventing the GPU’s “beast” performance. In day-to-day use, though, we found the Tensor to be largely indistinguishable from the Qualcomm chip. As mentioned in our reviews of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, the chip is particularly good at processing voice and camera information, and makes for a very smooth user experience overall.
Memory and Storage: 6GB
Aside from the Tensor chip, Google’s Pixel 6a is expected to follow a tried and true formula. A recent benchmark test pretty much confirmed the use of 6GB of RAM, which is the same allotment offered by the Pixel 4a and 5a. While that’s half the size of the Pixel 6 Pro and many other Android flagships, it’s more than enough to provide a solid experience for things like multitasking.
There aren’t any details on the Pixel 6a’s storage specs yet, but it’s easy to see what Google will do. 128GB is definitely going to be the core offering, and probably the only tier available, as it has been in previous years. There may be a 256GB model, but don’t expect a microSD card slot — Google never included one on the Pixel.
Full Google Pixel 6a specs
- chip: Google Tensor
- Screen: 6.2 inches, 1080p (not confirmed)
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB (not confirmed)
- camera: 12.2MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 8MP Front
- aspect: 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7 mm
- Headphone jack? : Do not
- networking: 5G, LTE, mmWave (some models)
Camera: 12MP
The camera is at the heart of every Pixel smartphone, and the Pixel 6a is certainly no exception. The Pixel 6 series gets its first major upgrade for the series in years with a 50MP primary sensor.
Unfortunately, the upgrade doesn’t appear to appear in the Pixel 6a spec sheet. As our Kyle Bradshaw first reported in November, the camera setup on the Pixel 6a will be essentially the same as most past Pixels, which is almost definitely a cost-saving measure. The lineup includes:
- 12.2-megapixel IMX363 primary
- 12-megapixel IMX386 ultra-wide
- 8-megapixel IMX355 front
It’s a little disappointing that we don’t see an upgrade here, but the good news is that this setup is still one of the best on the market thanks to Google’s software prowess. The Pixel 5 still excels at this setting, but it does fail at zooming, as it doesn’t have a telephoto lens.
The Pixel 6a will have the same camera as the Pixel 5a
renew: However, according to some new findings, the Pixel 6a’s camera hardware also appears to limit the software’s capabilities. The “Sport Mode” feature on the Pixel 6a flagship Pixel 6 series appears to be due to the backup sensor.
Screen and size: 6.2 inches or smaller
One gripe with the Pixel 6 series is the sheer size of the phones.Fortunately, the Pixel 6a is expected to be a small amount smaller. Early leaks of Pixel 6a dimensions suggest a screen size of around 6.2 inches or less. Based on data from a few years ago, the screen is almost certainly a 1080p OLED panel at 60Hz or 90Hz. Those specs haven’t leaked, though.
Screen size mostly depends on size, the Pixel 6a measures 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7mm. That’s smaller than the Pixel 6, 6 Pro and Pixel 5a. Here’s how they compare:
- Pixel 6a: 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7 mm
- Pixel 6: 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm
- Pixel 5a: 154.9 x 73.7 x 7.6 mm
Everything else: no headphone jack
Rounding out the Pixel 6a specs, more details emerge. Early renders suggest the device will have no headphone jack, a first for the Pixel A series. Of course, the headset and other wireless connections will support Bluetooth.
The FCC recently stopped pointing out that there are at least four variants of the Pixel 6a in the US, with at least one model supporting mmWave 5G. All models will support Sub6 5G networks, although C-Band is not yet known, but it is likely.
Another report in March identified at least three color variants of the Pixel 6a — black, white, and green. This is in stark contrast to the Pixel 5a, which only offers very deep greens. Aside from the limited but definitely pleasing blue option, the Pixel 4a is also limited to just one color.
How much does the Pixel 6a cost?
Perhaps our biggest question about the Pixel 6a right now is how much the phone will cost. Normally, a few years ago would give us a good idea of what to expect, but the tensor chips in this year’s models can throw a wrench into the equation.
For context, here are the launch prices for previous Pixel A-series devices:
- Pixel 3a – $399
- Pixel 3a XL – $479
- Pixel 4a – $349
- Pixel 4a 5G – $499
- Pixel 5a 5G – $449
Based on our educated guesses, the Pixel 6a will likely be priced somewhere between the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5a. Expectations of $449 or $499 are reasonable, and given the Pixel 6’s $599 position, we think $449 is the most likely. Google, though, could throw us in the towel with the Pixel 6’s introductory price and launch the phone for $399. For now, though, we just don’t know.
When will the Pixel 6a be released?
So, when will it come? The launch of the Pixel A-series has not been “normal” since the Pixel 3a. The series was launched at Google I/O 2019 with a release date in May. COVID-19 and shipping delays delayed the Pixel 4a’s launch until August, with the 4a 5G until later that year alongside the “flagship” Pixel 5. The Pixel 5a 5G launches in late August 2021.
Between a few rumors and a recent arrival at the FCC, all indications are that the Pixel 6a will debut at Google I/O in May 2022. We’ll likely see a limited release by then, but it seems safe to mark May 11th as the official launch date for the Pixel 6a for now. Of course we’re happy to see it.
This article will be continuously updated as new Pixel 6a specs and other details emerge.
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