Google Pixel 6a review: A budget phone that hits all the marks and easy to recommend for under $500

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• Google’s Pixel 6a is the most affordable option in the Pixel 6 lineup. 
• The Pixel 6a is smaller than the Pixel 6, but still powerful thanks to Google’s Tensor processor.
• The Pixel 6a is hard to beat for anyone looking to spend under $500 for a smartphone.

Here’s the deal: $1000 flagship smartphones aren’t for everyone. So we love when companies offer something compelling that won’t break the bank. That’s exactly what Google did with the Pixel 6a, the most wallet-friendly option in its Pixel 6 lineup that doesn’t compromise on performance and costs under $500. 

The same can’t be said about other phones in this price range, like Apple’s iPhone SE, which is top-heavy on performance but dramatically lacking in design, screen size, and camera options. The 6a’s other competitor, the Samsung Galaxy A53, is similarly unbalanced, offering long battery life and a smooth, high-refresh-rate screen, but an underpowered processor that makes for a stuttery experience.

Compared to its competition, the Google Pixel 6a is the most well-rounded option. To obtain the $449 pricepoint, Google cut back on premium features like wireless charging and a high-quality display. The camera isn’t on par with that of the Pixel 6, but it’s still very good. Despite the downgrades, the Google Pixel 6a is one of the best budget phones you can buy right now.

Google Pixel 6a

When it comes to price, performance, and smart features, the Google Pixel 6a is hard to beat. This budget Pixel comes with the same Tensor chipset that powers all of Google’s flagship phones, proving you don’t have to pay $1000 for a great phone.

$449.00 $370.00 from Amazon

$449.00 from Google

The Pixel 6a is powered by the same processor as the Pixel 6 

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Whether you spend $450 on the Pixel 6a, $600 on the Pixel 6, or $900 on the Pixel 6 Pro, you’re getting the same performance. How’s that? Because they all use Google’s Tensor processor. It’s a generous move on Google’s part, as you don’t need to buy a more expensive phone to run apps and games quickly and smoothly.

Google’s Tensor isn’t the fastest processor you’ll find on an Android phone. Recent Samsung and OnePlus phones running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors have the upper hand. However, Google wasn’t going for raw power when it decided to use its own Tensor processor. Instead, the company designed the chip to power more smart features and entirely new experiences.

The Tensor chip powers several smart features unique to all Pixel 6-series phones, which enhances the Android experience. For example, Live Translate interprets chat and in-person conversations smoothly and quickly in 11 different languages, and there’s the highly accurate speech recognition for writing texts with your voice. A popular feature that we wish was present on non-Google phones is Call Screen, which filters out spam calls surprisingly effectively

The screen’s refresh rate is limited, but that’s to be expected

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One of the Pixel 6a’s main draws is its smaller 6.1-inch screen, which will appeal to anyone who thinks the Pixel 6’s 6.4-inch screen is too big.

The Pixel 6a’s display runs on a typical 60Hz refresh rate, which means it refreshes what’s on the screen up to 60 times a second, compared to the Pixel 6’s 90Hz display. Other premium phones and a handful of mid-range models like the Samsung Galaxy A53 run on screens with 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates, which, theoretically, makes for smoother animations that offer a better viewing experience while swiping around the phone.

High refresh rates shouldn’t be expected on sub-$500 phones, nor is it a shortcoming. Afterall, the iPhone 13 also has a 60Hz display, and it’s our pick for the best phone overall for most people. And some 120Hz displays don’t deliver, either: The Galaxy A53’s is jarring and stuttery, due to the underpowered processor. 

This is one of the compromises Google made, but it doesn’t affect the overall experience. You would only notice the Pixel 6a display’s 60Hz refresh rate if you came from a phone with a higher refresh rate. Even then, you’d get used to it pretty quickly.

Google Pixel 6a specs

Using the Pixel 6a feels like using a smaller Pixel 6

With smartphones becoming increasingly larger, the Pixel 6a is perfect for people who miss the days of smaller phones. With a smaller screen size comes a smaller footprint in your hand, which makes the Pixel 6a easier to handle and tap around the screen with one hand. 

The Pixel 6a’s back is made of plastic rather than glass, like on the Pixel 6. However, the Pixel 6a’s plastic back doesn’t detract from the build quality at all. You, or anyone else for that matter, would be none the wiser that the Pixel 6a is a “cheaper” phone, whether you see it from afar or up close. 

The Pixel 6a doesn’t get a camera upgrade, but it’s still one of the best

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For several phone generations, Google used the same camera hardware on its Pixel phones until it finally introduced new camera hardware in the Pixel 6 series. The Pixel 6a, however, uses the old camera system, including a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. 

Sure, it would have been better if the Pixel 6a came with the same camera system as the Pixel 6, as the larger sensor can lead to better low-light shots. However, the Pixel 6a’s cameras are tried and tested, and among the most reliable camera systems on any phone. It captures incredibly accurate colors without excessive processing, which other phones are guilty of.

Combine that camera hardware with Google’s incredible camera software and the camera features made possible by Google’s Tensor processor, the Pixel 6a still has one of the best cameras on a phone. That’s amazing for a sub-$500 phone. 

A couple noteworthy camera features powered by Google’s Tensor include Magic Eraser, which lets you remove an unwanted object (or subject) from a photo, and Night Sight that produces amazing photos taken in low-light settings.

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The photo on the left is the same as the one on the right, except we removed all the geese using Google’s Magic Eraser feature. Although, to be honest, we would normally like to keep the geese in this photo. 

Quite frankly, it’s a stunning feature, but it’s not perfect. There are times when Magic Eraser leaves a blotchy blob in place of an erased object. But in this case, you wouldn’t be able to tell there used to be more geese in the original photo.

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We wish other phones took a page from Google’s book when it comes to how photos should look. This ultra-wide shot of a bird habitat lets the scenery speak for itself with accurate colors, brightness, and contrast.

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Google’s Night Sight produces amazing low-light photos that retain a ton of detail and brightens up dark settings in a natural way.

The Pixel 6a’s battery life is not outstanding, but it’s no deal-breaker

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The Pixel 6a saw us through every day of typical usage during testing — four hours of screen-on-time that were mostly spent on YouTube, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, messaging, as well as a few photos taken — without having to give it a top-up.

The Pixel 6a charges up to a speed of 18 watts, which is on the low-end of fast charging compared to 45W charging on Samsung’s Galaxy S22 phones, but it’s the same charging speed as the other Pixel 6 phones. Note that Google doesn’t include a charger. Wireless charging is also missing, but we aren’t surprised for a phone below $500. 

Should you buy the Pixel 6a?

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Those who aren’t seeking premium frills like wireless charging or high-refresh-rate screens will be extremely happy with the Pixel 6a. In fact, if you aren’t married to an operating system, we’d rather recommend the Pixel 6a over Apple’s iPhone SE for its sleeker design, better screen, and superior cameras if you’re looking to spend under $500. The Pixel 6a also offers one of the better Android experiences.

Just note that if you want access to your carrier’s fastest 5G network (mmWave), only Verizon models bought from Verizon or activated with Verizon from Google’s online store will support mmWave.