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Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 5a: What's the difference and which should you buy?

Is Google's new Tensor chip and the revamped design enough to make you head for the flagship series?
By

Published onMay 20, 2022

google pixel 6 vs pixel 5a
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority

Google’s latest Android flagships, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, are finally here. They feature new designs, Google’s own chipset, and improved cameras. However, Google’s affordable Pixel 5a has only been available for a few months at this point. So, should you go for the latest and greatest from Google, or is the Pixel 5a a better option for you? Let’s find out in our Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 5a comparison.

We’ll dig into the most important specs and the prices of each model to give you a better idea of which Pixel is right for you. Let’s get to it.

If you want to make the choice even tougher, Google has also announced its Pixel 6a. It follows a closer design language to the Pixel 6, complete with the powerful Tensor chip onboard. Check out our Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6a and Pixel 5a vs Pixel 6a comparisons to learn more.

Our thoughts: Google Pixel 6 Pro review | Google Pixel 6 hands-on


Google Pixel 6 series vs Pixel 5a


Specs

Google Pixel 5aGoogle Pixel 6Google Pixel 6 Pro
Display
Google Pixel 5a
6.34-inch OLED
2,400 x 1,080 resolution
413ppi
20:9 aspect ratio
60Hz refresh rate
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Google Pixel 6
6.4-inch AMOLED
2,400 x 1,080 resolution
411ppi
19.5:9 aspect ratio
90Hz refresh rate
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Google Pixel 6 Pro
6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED
3,120 x 1,440 resolution
512ppi
19.5:9 aspect ratio
120Hz refresh rate
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Processor
Google Pixel 5a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Google Pixel 6
Google Tensor
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Google Tensor
RAM
Google Pixel 5a
6GB
Google Pixel 6
8GB
Google Pixel 6 Pro
12GB
Storage
Google Pixel 5a
128GB
Google Pixel 6
128GB
256GB
Google Pixel 6 Pro
128GB
256GB
512GB
Power
Google Pixel 5a
4,680mAh
18W fast charging
No wireless charging
Google Pixel 6
4,614mAh
30W fast charging
21W wireless charging
Google Pixel 6 Pro
5,003mAh
30W fast charging
23W wireless charging
Cameras
Google Pixel 5a
Main:
12.2MP dual-pixel
1.4μm pixel width
Autofocus with dual pixel phase detection
Optical + electronic image stabilization
ƒ/1.7 aperture
77-degree field of view

Secondary:
- 16MP ultra-wide
1.0μm pixel width
ƒ/2.2 aperture
117-degree field of view (107-degrees after distortion correction)

Front:
- 8MP
1.12μm pixel width
ƒ/2.0 aperture (fixed focus)
83-degree field of view
Google Pixel 6
Main:
50MP wide
1.2μm pixel width
ƒ/1.85 aperture
82-degree field of view
Optical + electronic image stabilization

Secondary:
12MP ultra-wide
1.25μm pixel width
ƒ/2.2 aperture
114-degree field of view
Lens correction

Front:
8MP
1.12μm pixel width
ƒ/2.0 aperture
Fixed focus
84-degree field of view

Google Pixel 6 Pro
Main:
50MP wide
1.2μm pixel width
ƒ/1.85 aperture
82-degree field of view
Optical + electronic image stabilization

Secondary:
12MP ultra-wide
1.25μm pixel width
ƒ/2.2 aperture
114-degree field of view
Lens correction

Tertiary:
48MP telephoto
0.8μm pixel width
ƒ/3.5 aperture
23.5-degree field of view
4x optical zoom
Up to 20x Super Res Zoom

Front:
11.1MP
1.12μm pixel width
ƒ/2.2 aperture
Fixed focus
94-degree field of view
Audio
Google Pixel 5a
Stereo speakers
Headphone jack
Google Pixel 6
Stereo speakers
No headphone jack
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Stereo speakers
No headphone jack
Biometrics
Google Pixel 5a
Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
Google Pixel 6
Under-display fingerprint reader
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Under-display fingerprint reader
Software
Google Pixel 5a
Android 11
Google Pixel 6
Android 12
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Android 12
Dimensions and weight
Google Pixel 5a
154.9 x 73.7 x 7.6mm
183g
Google Pixel 6
158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm
Google Pixel 6 Pro
163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm
Colors
Google Pixel 5a
Mostly Black
Google Pixel 6
Kinda Coral
Sorta Seafoam
Stormy Black
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Cloudy White
Sorta Sunny
Stormy Black

Design and display

the google pixel 5a display with app icons on the pixel launcher home screen

The Google Pixel 5a sticks to a tried and true formula, and it launched with an almost identical design to the Pixel 5. It keeps the corner-mounted punch hole camera, corner-mounted rear cameras, and the same button layout that Pixel users know and love. Google’s Pixel 5a has a headphone jack as well, something you won’t find on the OEM’s proper premium devices.

Read next: Google Pixel 5a review

The Pixel 5a is also slightly larger than Google’s previous flagship, offering a 6.34-inch display compared to the 6.0-inches of its namesake. It packs a Full HD+ resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. It also sports an aluminum body design and an IP67 rating that can handle a little more adventure than the previous plastic versions.

However, the Pixel 5a seems to be the last of its kind. With the Pixel 6 series, Google has thrown the previous rulebook out the window. Gone are the corner-mounted cameras on both sides, and the bio resin-coated aluminum of the Pixel 5 has made its exit as well. Now, the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro sport a glass sandwich design for a more premium look and feel.

Google is back to the glass sandwich design for the Pixel 6 series.

Google’s new duo features the company’s largest displays yet, with the Pixel 6 opting for a 6.4-inch display and the Pixel 6 Pro soaring to 6.7 inches. Both offer AMOLED panels, though the Pixel 6 stops at a Full HD+ resolution while the Pixel 6 Pro heads for Quad HD+. Once again, the Pro model holds an edge on the refresh rate, offering 120Hz to the vanilla model’s 90Hz. The front-facing camera resides in a central punch hole, but the most noticeable change lies in the new camera bump. It’s a drastic departure for Google, and we’ll dig into the nitty-gritty in the next section.


Hardware and cameras

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera bump
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Google Pixel line has always been at the forefront when it comes to smartphone photography. While the Pixel 5a didn’t shake things up in terms of hardware, the image processing has never been better. The mid-range device stuck with a very familiar setup on the back, with a 12.2MP main shooter and a 16MP ultrawide option. It’s the same setup you’ll find on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.

See also: The best camera phones you can get

However, the Pixel 6 series offers something completely different. The camera bar is impossible to miss, and it looks nothing like Google’s traditional corner-mounted arrays. Both the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro have finally bid farewell to the 12.2MP primary shooter in favor of a 50MP wide option. The pair offers a 12MP ultrawide lens as well, but you’ll have to go for the Pixel 6 Pro if you want Google’s first triple camera. It carries a 48MP telephoto lens that’s capable of up to 4x optical zoom.

Google’s upgrades don’t stop at the cameras when comparing the Pixel 6 vs the Pixel 5a. The mid-range device comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage on board, as well as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC. It’s once again unchanged from the Pixel 5, and it helps to keep the costs low.

Gone are the days of the Snapdragon 765G; the Pixel 6 series means that it's Tensor time.

The Pixel 6 series, on the other hand, is the first to offer Google’s brand-new Tensor chip. It’s been a long time coming, and the new silicon promises the best photo and video results of any Pixel device to date. Another key aspect of the new chip is that it allows Google to offer a whopping five years of guaranteed security updates. The company also promises three years of OS updates. Google added the Titan M2 security chip for good measure, which brings end-to-end security into the picture with anti-phishing and anti-malware protection.

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro one on top
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

You’ll also find more RAM and storage options on Google’s latest flagships. The Pixel 6 offers a familiar 8GB of RAM, along with either 128GB or 256GB of storage. If you need a bit more kick, the Pixel 6 Pro packs 12GB of RAM as well as up to 512GB of storage space.

Need lots of RAM? The best phones with 8GB of RAM | The best phones with 12GB of RAM

The Pixel 5a also boasted the largest battery of any Google Pixel phone until the Pixel 6 series arrived. It offers a solid 4,680mAh cell with 18W fast charging, though you still won’t find wireless charging as an option. As for the new Pixel 6, it offers a slightly smaller 4,614mAh cell with 23W wired charging and 21W wireless charging to get you back on the go faster.

However, the Pixel 6 Pro is Google’s new battery king. It sports a 5,003mAh cell with the same 23W wired and wireless charging. Google’s Pixel family has finally made a move to USB PD PPS charging, which is part of what allows for reliably faster speeds.


Price and colors

the google pixel 5a on a bench with water splashed droplets
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
  • Google Pixel 5a: $449 / 51,700 Japanese Yen
  • Google Pixel 6: $599 / £599 / €649
  • Google Pixel 6 Pro: $899 / £849 / €899

With just one version of the Pixel 5a on the market, it’s not hard to find the right price. You’ll get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for just $449 in the United States or 51,700 Japanese Yen — the only two countries in which the device launched. The Pixel 5a is also available in just one color, Mostly Black. It looks more like midnight green in the right lighting, and it’s an attractive option among Google’s history of Just Black devices.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro offer more flexibility in storage options, but that comes at a cost. You can pick up the Pixel 6 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $599 or 256GB of storage for $699 in any of the three colors. Google once again dipped into its list of creative names and selected Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam, and Stormy Black for its more affordable flagship. The Pixel 6 finally brings back the two-toned designs that so many loved from the early days of the series.

Over on the Pixel 6 Pro, you’ll find 12GB of RAM as the standard. You can pair that with 128GB of storage for $899, 256GB for $999, or a whopping 512GB for $1,099. The color options are slightly more muted, with Sorta Sunny and Cloudy White joining Stormy Black.


Google Pixel 6 series vs Pixel 5a: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 6 against wall with plants
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Choosing between the new Google Pixel 6 series and the Pixel 5a is easier said than done. The most significant decision you’ll have to make is whether you need the power of a flagship device or if you want to keep your wallet comfortable with a mid-range alternative.

Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have a clear advantage when it comes to the cameras, charging speeds, and future update support with the Tensor chip. However, you’ll have to splash out quite a bit more cash — at least $150 for the Pixel 6 and $450 for the Pixel 6 Pro. The flagship duo offers more screen real estate and an IP68 rating compared to the Pixel 5a’s IP67 rating.

Which phone would you consider buying?

577 votes

Although the new Tensor chip is one of the Pixel 6 series’ best selling points, it may also be a reason to stick with the Pixel 5a. After all, this is Google’s first chipset, so there may be a few kinks to iron out along the way. It’s also tougher to damage aluminum than glass, so the Pixel 5a might put up with a bit more abuse in everyday situations. However, the Gorilla Glass Victus on the Pixel 6 Pro will handle more scratches and drops than the Gorilla Glass 3 of the more affordable device.

If you already have the Google Pixel 5a, the choice to upgrade is even tougher. You’ll have to weigh out how badly you want new features like the improved camera and refined design. If you’re enjoying your Pixel 5a and not facing any problems, there’s no need to make the change while we wait to see how the Tensor chip performs.

google pixel 6 press image sorta seafoam
Google Pixel 6
The more affordable Pixel
The Google Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch FHD+ display and runs on the all-new Google Tensor SoC. It has an upgraded camera system, exclusive software features, and offers some of the best hardware Google has ever produced.
google pixel 6 pro camera
Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Pixel 6 Pro outshines its little brother with a 6.7-inch QHD+ display and 120Hz refresh rate. It has the same two rear cameras as the Pixel 6 but with an additional 4x optical telephoto lens.
Google Pixel 5a Unlocked
Google Pixel 5a
Water resistance comes to the Pixel A-series
Google's Pixel 5a offers a few quality-of-life upgrades over its previous devices that may make you want to join Team Pixel. It has a metal unibody design, an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and a battery that just won't quit.
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