As far as mid-range Android phones are concerned, there are a lot of compelling options for buyers with different needs and wants, but in the case of the Pixel 6a, there’s just a unique way that it stands out from the rest. It’s not meant to compete with phones like the Galaxy S22 or S23, or even the iPhone 14 – instead, it goes after other wallet-friendly Android phones like ones from Nokia and Motorola for example.
The Pixel 6a pretty much represents how much Pixel features you can get for not much cash, and while it’s not perfect, I’d like to think that it’s managed to break some boundaries when it comes to cheap smartphones. Is it still worth getting in 2023 however? Let’s take a look.
Great Cameras
Perhaps one of the main reasons to get a Pixel smartphone (no matter the price) is camera performance. In the case of the Pixel 6a, imaging quality has remained very consistent since the day I first got it despite the 12MP main lens, and for long-time Pixel users, the Pixel 6a’s approach to image processing and computational photography will be very familiar, especially when it comes to point-and-shoot situations.
I’m not really a professional photographer, so I won’t go into the specifics of what makes a great and balanced picture, but for the type of scenarios that I use the Pixel 6a for like social media posts and such, it’s pretty much on point. Photos aren’t too saturated, exposure isn’t blown out, and there’s just enough detail so photos mostly look solid, with decent dynamic range. Perhaps the biggest weakness of the 6a’s camera performance is with video quality, as Google still has a long way to go in catching up with rivals like Apple’s iPhone series in terms of video quality.
Good Performance
While it’s not a powerhouse like a lot of high-end phones out there which are powered by Snapdragon and Dimensity chipsets, the 6a comes with the Tensor chip, Google’s first-party flagship SoC that can hold its own when it comes to both moderate use and even gaming sessions.
Casual tasks like scrolling through the Pixel 6a’s user interface, switching between apps, video and music streaming, browsing the web and social media are easily handled by the Tensor chip, and unlike bloated versions of Android like MIUI or One UI, you get a very clean Android interface thanks to Google’s focus on keeping Android clean, with a reasonable level of customization, just so that things don’t get to boring in terms of visuals.
As for gaming, the Pixel 6a will be able to run most games on the Play Store, although more graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact will really push the Tensor to its limits, and you’ll most likely experience some heating and occasional lag on the phone. But then again, we have to go back to the price tag when taking factors like these into consideration. For casual smartphone users though, the Pixel 6a will be more than enough for general use.
Software Updates
In terms of software, the Pixel 6a manages to provide a polished approach to Android in terms of software, a trademark quality of Google’s smartphones. For one, it already has the latest Android 13 version (on the way to Android 14 now), whereas other budget Android phones are still launching with Android 12 even in 2023, despite it being somewhat old now.
In the several months that I’ve owned it, the 6a has also received monthly updates, which immediately gives it an advantage over other budget smartphones that are provided with less regular updates, and some that get no software patches at all. This ensures that any bugs are addressed quickly, and you also get some of the latest Pixel features.
In terms of stability, Android 13 on the Pixel 6a has been a more refined experience as well, and it’s a lot better than the hot mess that a lot of users got when Android 12 arrived for the Pixel 6 a year ago. I’ve gotten none of the connectivity and performance issues with Android 13 on the 6a, and it’s pretty much been stable overall, especially in day-to-day usage.
It’s not Perfect Though
With all that being said, I do have a few issues with the phone. For one, it does tend to heat up with constant data and camera usage, something that I’ve noticed when using the phone outdoors to take photos while connected to the internet, or when using GPS and navigation apps. Gaming does result in some heating as well, which you’ll want to take into consideration.
Another thing to take note of is that despite coming with pretty much the same hardware and software configurations as more expensive Pixel phones, the Pixel 6a does lack features like Cinematic Video mode, and the spatial audio feature, although on one hand it’s kinda understandable given the older Tensor chipset.
Should you still Get it?
After spending a lot of time with it, I’m still happy with the Pixel 6a’s general performance. I’ve mostly moved over to Google’s own brand of Android since the Pixel 3a and 4a handsets, and to be able to continue this experience on a relatively new device is certainly a nice experience.
With all that being said, it’s not a perfect smartphone, but folks after a considerably affordable device that manages to check a lot of the essential boxes will find a lot to love with the 6a. It manages to do a lot of what a modern Android phone is expected to – you just have to respect some of its limitations.
