{"id":476673,"date":"2022-07-21T19:59:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T16:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-07-21T19:59:54","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T16:59:54","slug":"serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#Serious Bang For Your Buck \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3dcd0f88093\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3dcd0f88093\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#%E2%80%9CSerious_Bang_For_Your_Buck_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Serious Bang For Your Buck \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like\" >Here&#8217;s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#Hardware_Design_and_Build_Quality\" >Hardware, Design, and Build Quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#The_Display\" >The Display<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#About_Those_Cameras\" >About Those Cameras<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#Software_and_Battery_Life\" >Software and Battery Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like-2\" >Here\u2019s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/serious-bang-for-your-buck-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont-2\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CSerious_Bang_For_Your_Buck_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Serious Bang For Your Buck \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<div class=\"single-review-card\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"rating\" style=\"width: 30%;\">Rating:<br \/>\n<strong>8\/10<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"more-info-hover\">?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"rating-info\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage<\/li>\n<li>3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design<\/li>\n<li>4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons<\/li>\n<li>5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect<\/li>\n<li>6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale<\/li>\n<li>7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class<\/li>\n<li>8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some Footnotes<\/li>\n<li>9 &#8211; Shut Up And Take My Money<\/li>\n<li>10 &#8211; Absolute Design Nirvana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<p>Price: <strong>$449<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-123638 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p-badge\/123638\/5454c51df3c44b25dedcfbaef6586867.png?width=1200\" alt=\"Pixel 6a held in person's hand\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Justin Duino\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Pixel A-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> is back, and Google has another winner on its hands. The new Google Pixel 6a is arguable the best bang for your buck and easy to recommend. If you\u2019re on a budget, buy this phone. However, I also have mixed feelings, mainly because Google\u2019s regular Pixel 6 is already so affordable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"review-card-body-inline\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like\"><\/span>Here&#8217;s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Great value<\/li>\n<li>Solid specs and performance<\/li>\n<li>Typical Pixel experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Smaller battery than its\u00a0predecessor<\/li>\n<li>No wireless charging<\/li>\n<li>Older cameras<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong. The Pixel 6a looks great and does just about everything well, considering it\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0B3Q23BT4?tag=reviewgeekreviews-20\">only $449<\/a>. On the flip side, the Pixel 6a has a smaller battery and screen than the previous Pixel 5a, which we loved, and is only $150 less than the flagship Pixel 6 from late last year.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a killer phone that\u2019s not crazy expensive. You get the same updated design, Tensor processor, and software as the Pixel 6. However, being a budget phone, there are shortcomings. The screen is smaller and only 60Hz, it offers an IP67 rating instead of an IP68 rating, the back is plastic, and there\u2019s no wireless charging. We\u2019re also getting the same 12MP camera Google used since the Pixel 3, not the latest and greatest.<\/p>\n<p>Still, there\u2019s plenty to like about the phone, so don\u2019t count it out yet.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hardware_Design_and_Build_Quality\"><\/span>Hardware, Design, and Build Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-123490 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/c440d924.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 6a sage color\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Cory Gunther\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Cory Gunther<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"greybox_callout\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dimensions:<\/strong>\u00a0152.16 x 71.8 x 8.85, 178g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Colors:<\/strong> Charcoal, Chalk, and Sage color options<\/li>\n<li><strong>Design:<\/strong> IP67, In-display fingerprint sensor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>With the Pixel 6a, we\u2019re getting the same overall look, feel, and design as the flagship Pixel 6 series. Meaning Google delivered the same minimal yet modern style with the huge camera visor on the back. At first, I didn\u2019t like the camera bar look, but it allows the phone to lay flat on a table without wobbling, which is a big plus. It\u2019s almost flat and not nearly as pronounced as the Pixel 6.<\/p>\n<p>The thought behind the \u201cA\u201d series is delivering the basics of a phone at an affordable price tag while keeping the Pixel experience. A watered-down Pixel, if you will. In that sense, the Pixel 6a is perfect.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll still enjoy the same overall style, but Google made a few adjustments to keep the price down. This phone has a plastic back, not glass, but you wouldn\u2019t notice just by looking at it. And while that\u2019s a downgrade for some, it means you won\u2019t have to worry about cracking the back glass.<\/p>\n<p>Taking a look around the phone, you\u2019ll find a USB-C port and dual speaker ports on the bottom, but only one is an actual speaker. On the right side of the Pixel 6a, we\u2019re getting the power button and volume rockers, while the left side houses the SIM slot. It\u2019s a clean, slim, and minimal look, but we do have antenna lines on both sides of the otherwise aluminum housing and a pinhole microphone at the top.\u00a0The fingerprint sensor is inside the screen, and so far, it\u2019s arguably better than the Pixel 6, but more on that below.<\/p>\n<p>Just like the bigger Pixel 6 series, this is a slippery phone. That\u2019s ok, though, because most people use a case anyway. The smaller 6.1-inch screen is not massive, so whether you use a case or not, it\u2019ll be easy to hold and operate one-handed.<\/p>\n<p>My only real complaint regarding the design is sometimes you can feel where the aluminum sides meet the plastic back, which is bothersome. It\u2019s not a sharp edge, but it\u2019s noticeable enough that I feel it whenever I use the Pixel 6a without a case.<\/p>\n<p>That said, the hardware, design, and build quality are all pretty great at this price point.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Display\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_1\">The Display<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the biggest differences between the Pixel 6 and the new Pixel 6a is the display. Google gave the Pixel 6a a smaller 6.1-inch FHD+ screen with a 60Hz refresh rate. The bezels around the screen are relatively large, colors are vivid, but the brightness could undoubtedly be better. As for protection, this screen has Gorilla Glass 3 to prevent scratches and damage, compared to the durable Victus glass on the Pixel 6.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-123491 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/d8fea297.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 6a display on outside\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Cory Gunther\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Cory Gunther<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"greybox_callout\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Display Size:<\/strong> 6.1-inch FHD+ 1080\u00d72400 OLED<\/li>\n<li><strong>Refresh Rate:<\/strong> 60Hz<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scratch-Resistance:<\/strong> Corning Gorilla Glass 3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Pixel 6 packs a 6.4-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. And the Pixel 6 Pro is even bigger and sports a 120Hz screen. If those are too big, the Pixel 6a will be refreshingly compact. And while it makes sense that Google\u2019s affordable phone drops things down a notch when it comes to size and specs, we\u2019ve seen high refresh rate displays in several midrange devices.<\/p>\n<p>Going from a 120Hz display on my daily phone to the Pixel 6a made the refresh rate highly noticeable. If you\u2019ve never owned a 90 or 120Hz phone, this won\u2019t matter, but it\u2019s still a bummer.<\/p>\n<p>Google went with a flat display on the Pixel 6a, and I prefer it over the curved glass on many other phones. The look and feel are great, especially while using Android 12\u2019s gesture navigation controls.<\/p>\n<p>Like previous phones from Google, the Pixel 6a has a warmer natural look, rather than the oversaturated colors you\u2019ll find on something from Samsung. The colors are nice and vibrant, the blacks look great, and my only real complaint is the brightness, which is a reoccurring problem. Even the more expensive Pixel 6 had brightness issues, and the glitchy auto-brightness certainly doesn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n<p>The screen is a bit dim indoors. During daily use, I have it set around 70% brightness. That\u2019s far more than my regular setting on other phones. Thankfully, things are better outdoors, as Google still has its high brightness mode to boost display brightness in direct sunlight. That\u2019ll drain the battery, though, so use it sparingly.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_Those_Cameras\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">About Those Cameras<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-123632 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/60953b5f.png\" alt=\"Google Pixel 6a's rear camera bar\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Justin Duino\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"greybox_callout\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rear Cameras:<\/strong>\u00a012.2MP f\/1.7 main with 77\u00b0 view, 12MP f\/2.2 ultrawide rear camera 114\u00b0 view<\/li>\n<li><strong>Front Camera:<\/strong>\u00a08MP fixed f\/2.0 with an 84\u00b0 wide field of view<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>What about the camera, though? The other significant cost-saving change Google made was reusing the old\u00a012MP Sony IMX363 primary sensor from the Pixel 3-5 in this new Pixel 6a. It doesn\u2019t have the 6\u2019s 50MP camera, but that\u2019s not a deal-breaker. It did, however, get the same 12MP f\/2.2 ultrawide camera as its more expensive sibling, and they both perform great.<\/p>\n<p>As expected, the Pixel 6a has a fantastic camera thanks to all of Google\u2019s computational photography magic. And because it\u2019s running the Tensor chip and upgraded ISP, all of Google\u2019s fancy features are along for the ride. We\u2019re talking about Google Photos Magic Eraser, Real Tone, Portrait Light, Face Unblur, Top Shot, Portrait Mode, SuperRes Zoom, and Live HDR.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re all well aware of what Google\u2019s camera hardware and software can do. Unfortunately, this old camera needs software help in dim-lit environments, and moving subjects could be a little better. However, I did snap quite the excellent photo of my pup in a dark room, which you can see in the gallery above.<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel 6a cameras are capable, but they\u2019re not quite as good as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Even the front-facing camera is still 8MP instead of 10MP, but it\u2019ll certainly get the job done.\u00a0As for video, you\u2019ll get both 1080p or 4K video recording at 30\/60 FPS, slow-mo up to 240 FPS, and 5x digital zoom. And again, many of the Pixel 6\u2019s video features are here, thanks to the processor on the inside.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-123492\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/4c23560f.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 6a cameras\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Cory Gunther<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Basically, the affordable Pixel 6a has the same solid camera experience we\u2019ve all come to know and love. It might not be the absolute best considering the aging sensor, but this phone produces consistent results.<\/p>\n<p>That does bring me back to those mixed feelings I mentioned at the beginning. The Pixel 6a is solid, but for only $150 more, you could get the Pixel 6 (or less on sale) with things like a better screen and camera\u2014two important aspects of a smartphone.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Software_and_Battery_Life\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">Software and Battery Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-123634 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/d95bcdee.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel6a software and homescreen\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Cory Gunther\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Cory Gunther<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"greybox_callout\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Software:<\/strong> Shipped with Android 12<\/li>\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Google Tensor SoC<\/li>\n<li><strong>Storage &amp; RAM:<\/strong> 128GB storage (UFS3.1) with 6GB of RAM<\/li>\n<li><strong>Battery:<\/strong>\u00a04,410 mAh with 18w fast charging (no wireless charging)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Pixel 6a comes with Android 12 (for now), and it\u2019s one of many strong suits of the Pixel line. You\u2019ll always have the latest and greatest version of Android, Google drops exclusive features constantly, and we can\u2019t forget things like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/85061\/forget-the-camera-the-real-google-pixel-superpower-is-phone-calls\/\">phone call management\u00a0to kill spam or sit on hold for you. Being a Pixel, you\u2019ll get five years of security updates and three years of OS updates. The Pixel 6a will still be chugging along in 2025 with Android 15.<\/p>\n<p>When you get a Pixel, you\u2019re getting pure, unbloated Android, and it\u2019s amazingly refreshing coming from a Samsung phone. And starting with Android 12, Google put effort into options and customization. The software can quickly match the standout colors of your wallpaper, then apply them throughout the OS, and the widgets are vastly improved.<\/p>\n<p>However,\u00a0Android 12 isn\u2019t perfect, and there are certain changes I don\u2019t enjoy. The quick-setting tiles in the notification bar are massive, but at least we have tons of tiles to choose from.<\/p>\n<p>Pulling down the notification shade twice to access the frustrating brightness slider seems silly, as does ditching the power menu and putting that button in the pulldown bar. I also hate that I can\u2019t put the Google search bar at the top or remove the weather widget. I guess I\u2019ll need to download a 3rd party launcher.<\/p>\n<p>This is Google\u2019s hardware running on Google\u2019s software, so it\u2019s certainly smooth and seamless. However, I have experienced a few times when it gets hot, especially while out and about using 5G, and the phone seems to throttle performance a little bit. During daily use though, it runs solid and handles all my tasks.<\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, the in-display fingerprint sensor works better than I expected. While it\u2019s still not an ultrasonic sensor, it\u2019s fast and rarely fails to unlock my phone. Judging by all the Pixel 6 fingerprint sensor drama, I\u2019d say Google managed to find a better solution here. It still struggles with dirty or wet fingers, but for the most part, I didn\u2019t dislike it.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-123636 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/c083f84a.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 6a fingerprint sensor\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Cory Gunther\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Cory Gunther<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Pixel 6a is fast, fluid, and runs great. I won\u2019t bore you with benchmark results, as those don\u2019t indicate real-world usage. Just know that Google put the same high-performance Tensor chip from the Pixel 6 Pro in the budget-friendly Pixel 6a, and performance shouldn\u2019t be an issue.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to battery life, I\u2019ve had a mixed bag. The Pixel 6a battery is \u201cfine\u201d but not great. The battery pack is smaller than what\u2019s in the Pixel 5a, which is frustrating, but it\u2019s enough to last an entire day usually.<\/p>\n<p>On a typical day of scrolling Instagram reels, checking Twitter, trying to ignore emails, getting Slack notifications and endless texts from friends and family, or watching a YouTube clip or three, I\u2019ll usually get around 5-7 hours of screen-on time and end the day with about 30-35% remaining. It\u2019s not great, but I\u2019m not super worried I\u2019ll need a charger either. The smaller 60Hz display is probably helping here, so that\u2019s a plug.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a moderate to heavy user, you can absolutely crush through the battery before the end of the day. I did once or twice, but that was an exception, not the norm. On the flip side, on a lighter day, when I forgot to charge it overnight and started around 80%, after an hour of social media, some texts, streaming music, and using Google Maps, I ended the day around 44%. That\u2019s pretty solid, but obviously, your mileage may vary.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that Google\u2019s software could still be learning my habits, even after over 10 days of use. Plus, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro had wildly different battery life results depending on the user or reviewer. So again, it\u2019s fine, but we\u2019ll have to wait and see.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-123493 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/07\/48385c3d.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 6a rear\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Cory Gunther\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Cory Gunther<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So should you buy the Pixel 6a? Probably! It\u2019s one of the best budget phones and follows the same recipe as previous A-series phones. It looks good, runs fast, takes sweet photos, and you know it\u2019ll always have the latest software. It\u2019s a Pixel A experience through and through.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the screen could be brighter, and I\u2019d love a higher refresh rate, the latest cameras, or wireless charging, but this is still a solid package. Someone that constantly buys budget devices likely won\u2019t miss those extras.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have any major complaints about the Pixel 6a for $450. If you\u2019re on a budget and still want an excellent Android phone, this is the one for you. The only <em>problem<\/em> is that Google\u2019s better <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/pixel_6?hl=en-US\">Pixel 6 is only $150 more<\/a>. If you can swing a few more bucks, get the flagship phone with high-end cameras and a fancy screen.<\/p>\n<p>Then again, these days, $150 is a big deal, and for 25% less than Google\u2019s flagship phone, this Pixel will let you enjoy much of the same experience. Overall, the Pixel 6a delivers some serious bang for your buck.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to give\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/818881\/google-pixel-6a-review\/\"><em>How-To Geek\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0Pixel 6a review<\/a>\u00a0a read for additional insight on Google\u2019s latest budget-friendly smartphone.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single-review-card border\">\n<div class=\"review-card-body\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like-2\"><\/span>Here\u2019s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Great value<\/li>\n<li>Solid specs and performance<\/li>\n<li>Typical Pixel experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont-2\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Smaller battery than its\u00a0predecessor<\/li>\n<li>No wireless charging<\/li>\n<li>Older cameras<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('init', '1137093656460433');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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