The Pixel 6a comes to this battle armed with the same Tensor chipset that powers Google’s Pixel 6 family, giving it a potential edge over potential Android rivals for its cheap phone crown. And there’s still Google’s undeniable strength with mobile photography that has helped past Pixel A Series phones stand out as the best camera phones for bargain hunters. If you’re familiar with the new look that Google unveiled with its Pixel 6 phones, then the Pixel 6a holds no surprises. The rear features the same two-tone design with a horizontal camera bar separating the brighter top from the more expansive muted color. In the case of the Pixel 6a, you can choose between chalk, charcoal and sage colors. Flip the Pixel 6a over, and it’s a slightly smaller version of the regular Pixel 6, right down to the thin bezel surrounding its screen and the hole-shaped cutout for the selfie camera in the center at the top of the screen. At 6 x 2.8 x 0.35 inches, the Pixel 6a is a bit more compact than its 6.2 x 2.9 x 0.4-inch big brother, but not as small as the 5.5 x 2.7 x 0.29-inch iPhone SE. Like that Google continues to use OLED panels for its low-cost Pixel A phones, while manufacturers of comparably priced handsets often turn to LCD. OLEDs offer deeper blacks and better contrast, and it shows when you watch videos or play games on the Pixel 6a’s 6.1-inch screen. While streaming Turning Red on Disney Plus, the orange-red fur of the titular panda was vibrantly displayed on the Pixel 6a’s screen. Even more impressive, all the textures that make a Pixar movie stand out were rendered in detail on the phone’s screen, from the lush fur to the green cap worn by one of Meilin’s girlfriends. The top and bottom speakers also produce clear sound, though you can muffle them when you hold the Pixel 6a horizontally to play a game.
