Google Pixel Phones have become synonymous with having excellent cameras – it’s in their DNA. Pixels have also long been some of the best devices for consistent software updates, ranging from version upgrades and Pixel Drops that add new features to monthly security updates that keep phones safe. So it is disappointing when these pillars start to crack.
Pixel 6A is the latest from the company. It’s an excellent smartphone, and without a doubt the best value for money at $ 449. It has a great screen and offers great performance. It also houses a pretty good camera, but the days are gone when the camera on the mid-range Pixel practically outclassed its peers. Same with software support: The new Pixel has a good level of support, but what is offered is not the best package it used to be. The competition in this mid-range price category is intensifying, so even though I would not normally gnaw on the little things, I have to today. Outside the United States, there is one a staggering number of good, affordable phones to choose from. And here in the US, companies like Samsung are giving Google a chance for the money in the Android market at mid-range prices.
Silky soft
I have to repeat that the Pixel 6A has one lot of strengths and I have really enjoyed using it over the last few weeks. The size is a big reason. The 6.1-inch screen is only slightly larger than the Pixel 5, which places it on the smaller spectrum of most smartphones today. It’s just very easy to hold and use, and the on / off and volume buttons on the recycled aluminum frame are satisfactorily clickable.
It also comes in Sage! Forget the sad black and white phones, go for the green ones. Phones that stand out with sleek design are important, and Google is one of the few companies that does not limit good design to the more expensive handsets. That said, note that the screen uses the older Gorilla Glass 3, which may be more prone to scratching than other phones. A screen protector is a good idea, though luckily you do not have to worry about tearing the back as it is a plastic composite. (However, it definitely does not feel like the cheap plastic on many budget and mid-range phones.)
Photo: Google
A long-standing problem with Pixel phones has been the brightness of the screen. It has always been difficult to see the display clearly when you are under the sun, but that is solved here. The screen rattles all the way up to 800 nits in high brightness mode and I have had no trouble reading on it in these suffocating hot days.
It is a pity that the screen is stuck at a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Most phones in this price range have taken 120-Hz screens, like Nothing Phone (1) and Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G. I noticed it right away when I switched from the Nothing phone; away were the buttery rolling animations. But I adjusted pretty quickly to 60 Hz, and that’s quite it lived. Again, I’m kidding here. On a similar note, the Pixel 6A does not have wireless charging, nor does it have a MicroSD card slot or a headphone jack – features that not everyone needs but would have been nice to have, as they are available on phones for the same price .
Pixel 6A compensates for these shortcomings with a flagship processor – the same Tensor chip that is in Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro – which means you get the best performing Android phone for the money (at least in the OS). I have not yet seen this phone delay or hack, and I can not say the same for Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G. This Pixel did not struggle when I set it up and downloaded all my apps, a process that spoils many mid-range phones for a few minutes, nor did it slow down during intense fights in Apex Legends mobile.