Google Pixel 6 vs. Google Pixel 5a

Design

One thing that may make one upgrade to the Pixel 6 from the 5a is the design. The Pixel 6 series saw the company overhaul its design, packaging them in a fashion that feels new and way different from the norm.

The Pixel 6 design includes a large camera bump on the rear that goes from side to side. While that design may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it makes the phone stand out. It also switches the camera cutout on the front of the Pixel 5a from the corner to the center top of the display.

The Pixel 6 ships in a variety of fun colorways (Stormy Black, Kinda Coral, and Sorta Seafoam) compared to just the one black color of the Pixel 5a. Unlike the Pixel 6, the 5a uses a more traditional square camera bump.

The Pixel 6 swaps the rear fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 5a for an in-display one. Another thing that you can tell just from holding the two on your hands is the lack of a headphone jack on the Pixel 6. The available 3.5mm headphone jack on the 5a is a plus, making it more suitable for audiophiles.

Finally, the Pixel 6 has a glass back and front with an aluminum frame, while the Pixel 5a’s back is made out of aluminum.

Display

Moving to the screen, the Pixel 6 packs a slightly bigger display. It features a 6.4-inch 90Hz AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution, and has Corning’s latest and greatest Gorilla Glass Victus on top as well. On the other hand, the Pixel 5a has a 6.34-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with the old Corning Gorilla Glass 3 atop.

Another compromise with the Pixel 5a’s display is the lack of the 90Hz refresh rate, which has become commonplace on mid-range phones.

Camera

In the camera department, you get two dedicated lenses on the rear of both phones—a wide and an ultrawide shooter. The older Pixel 5a uses Google’s well-liked 12.2MP f/1.7 wide camera with dual-pixel PDAF and optical image stabilization (OIS). The secondary camera on the Pixel 5a is a 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens with a 119-degree field of view.

The Pixel 6 is upgraded to a 50MP f/1.9 wide camera (laser autofocus and OIS alongside available) and a 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide with a 114-degree field of view.

Both phones can shoot up to 4K video at 30 or 60fps. And finally, for selfies, they rely on an identical 8MP f/2.0 wide lens, similar to what was available on the Pixel 5.

The Pixel 6 ships with different camera features. Examples include Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Motion Mode.

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Performance

The Pixel 6 has the edge over the 5a in raw performance, and its greatest stronghold is the chip. It uses Google’s AI-powered Tensor chip, which brings aboard a variety of AI and machine learning tricks. Tensor uses a 5nm die, and it is way more powerful than Qualcomm’s 7nm Snapdragon 765G running the Pixel 5a.

The Snapdragon 765G runs in tow with 6GB RAM on the Pixel 5a. Although the duo doesn’t stand a chance against more powerful chips from Qualcomm, it does bring aboard 5G support. You get 128GB of onboard storage on the Pixel 5a. Sadly, there is no other memory/storage configuration.

If you want more memory and storage, then go with the Pixel 6. The base variant includes 8GB RAM with 128GB ROM, but you can get a 256GB variant with identical memory by digging a bit deeper in your pockets.

Software

When it comes to software, you get the same clean Pixel experience as has always been the case. The Pixel 6 runs Android 12 out-of-the-box, while the 5a is upgradable to Android 12. Nevertheless, the Pixel 6 gains an advantage due to the extended software support.

The Pixel 6 will receive security updates for five years, two more than the usual three, thanks to Google’s Pixel 6 update policy. Both phones, however, will receive three major Android updates. But since the Pixel 6 debuted later, it will get up to Android 15, while the Pixel 5a will only receive up to Android 14.

Battery and Charging

The 6 and 5a don’t significantly differ in battery capacities. A 4680mAh battery powers the Pixel 5a, while the Pixel 6 draws its juice from a 4614mAh battery. However, the Pixel 6 stands out for its support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The latter allows you to use your device to charge compatible devices like the Pixel Buds.

The Pixel 6 supports up to 30W wired (the Pixel 5a tops out at 18W) and 21W wireless charging. According to Google, the 30W charging brick (sold separately) will charge the phone up to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Price

Although many things have changed from the Pixel 5a to the Pixel 6, the retail price doesn’t differ significantly. The Pixel 6 with 128GB goes for $599, while the 256GB variant costs $100 more. On the other hand, the Pixel 5a only sets you back $449. It’s only available in the US and Japan, however.

Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 5a: Which Should You Buy?

Between the two devices, the Pixel 6 does provide more value for money. Although it is slightly more expensive than the older model, the additional features like Google’s Tensor chip, the camera upgrades, more storage and memory, wireless charging support, extended software support, and faster charging make it worth the extra dollars.

The Pixel 5a feels a little older at the moment, with outdated design, and does struggle to keep up with modern mid-range devices.