The Google Pixel 6a is expected to be revealed at Google I/O on May 11-12. Design, screen, chip, photo… here is everything we already know about it.
Traditionally, Google releases a mid-range version of its Pixels by appending the letter “a” to their number. For the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, this should unsurprisingly result in the Pixel 6a. With a Pixel 6 already very inexpensive for the level of quality offered (count 650 euros in recommended price), there is reason to wonder about the concessions that Google will be able to offer to produce an even cheaper smartphone. We take stock of the leaks and rumors.
The same, but smaller
The previous Pixel ranges shared one characteristic: they were phones that, although premium, retained a significant compactness. With the Pixel 6, it’s over! The smallest phone is 6.4 inches diagonally. Fortunately, according to the renderings of 91Mobiles and OnLeaks and their adjoining information, the Pixel 6a would have a 6.2-inch Oled panel, probably in Full HD +. The fingerprint reader should be under the screen and it could well take advantage of the setbacks of the Pixel 6 and display a decent speed from the outset.
The refresh still raises questions: will Google make the same choice as for the Pixel 5 and 5a by offering 60 Hz on its mid-range? We don’t know yet.
In terms of design, it would be very close to the Pixel 6, almost taking up its lines and its photo block almost line by line. Note, however, that the chin seems slightly more prominent than on the Pixel 6.
There would be a glass back on the back and its measurements should look like this: 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7 mm (10.4 mm at the level of the photo block). The lack of jack also seems on the table.
The same sensor as the Pixel 5
According to 9to5Google, the Pixel 6a would swap the Samsung GN1 of the Pixel 6 for the sensor used on the previous Pixels from 3 to 5a: the Sony IMX363. Given the results of this 12.2 megapixel sensor on previous ranges, there is not too much to worry about. The ultra wide-angle should be equipped with a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 and the selfie part should be provided by an 8-megapixel Sony IMX355 sensor. A flash will also be housed on the photo block.
Also note that some very secondary photo features should be dropped here. One thinks in particular of the “Motion mode”, such as the advance Android Police.
Disagreement on Soc, but advantage on Tensor
On the chip chosen by Google, it would be very surprising if the Pixel 6a did not offer a Google Tensor, even in a lighter version, as this marks a real turning point in the strategy of the Mountain View firm to stand out. We can even dream that Google is adopting the same strategy as Apple, which has equipped its iPhone SE with the same chip as the iPhone 13, and integrates its Tensor GS101, the same chip as on the other two models.
If Google actually makes this choice, we should therefore be able to take advantage of the many exclusive features of Pixel 6 on this 6a, such as the magic eraser or instant translation.
On the RAM side, if no information has leaked for the moment, it seems reasonable to expect 6 to 8 GB of RAM. On the battery side, we will probably have to expect a lower value than the Pixel 6, which displayed 4614 mAh.
An older leak at 91Mobiles however, evoked a much more classic SoC, such as a Snapdragon 778G, but a consensus seems to have led to a Tensor for a few months.
The phone could claim three years of major updates like its predecessors and five years of security patches and should be offered with Android 12 out of the box.
Pixel 6a announcement price and date
The Pixel 6a should be presented at the annual conference of the Mountain View company, the Google I / O, scheduled between May 11 and 12, 2022.
As a reminder, the launch of the Pixel 5a had been limited to the United States and Japan. However, the Pixel 6a should follow in the footsteps of the Pixel 6 more and could therefore benefit from a more global launch.
On the price side, no leak allows us to safely advance a price list. On the other hand, we can rely on the prices of the previous Pixel Xa: 449 dollars for the Pixel 5a, but also 349 euros for the Pixel 4a. If the phone keeps the Google Tensor, a price around 500 euros therefore seems possible, but without any certainty.
A leak from the phone box suggests that three colorways will be available: black, white and green. Only one version would be offered with 128 GB of storage.
If you haven’t followed all the news of the last few months on the smartphones coming in 2022, don’t panic, here is a summary of the devices we are waiting for the most and those already released.
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