Google Pixel 6a review: this mid-range master is a true bargain

The 6a looks just like the Pixel 6 hit with a shrink ray, too. It has a flat glass front, stereo speakers, painted aluminium sides and a two-tone back with a camera bar across the top. The 6a is 29g lighter and the back is made from high-quality plastic instead of glass, but still feels just as solid and well made as its larger sibling.

The smaller 6.1in OLED display lacks the fast refresh rate of the Pixel 6, making it slightly less smooth in operation, but is otherwise crisp, colourful and bright. The smaller display makes the 6a about the size of an iPhone 13 and an excellent balance between being large enough without being too big to comfortably hold.

The battery life is pretty good for a smaller phone, too, lasting about 34 hours between charges, which matches the larger Pixel 6 and puts it on a par with many top-flight rivals. That was with the screen on for about five hours in various messaging, note-taking and utility apps, the browser and taking about 20 photos, spending about two hours on 5G, the rest on wifi.

Google does not provide an expected lifespan for the battery but it should last in excess of 500 full charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity. The Pixel 6 is repairable by Google and third-party shops. Screen repairs cost £119 and battery replacements cost £69 out of warranty by Google.

The Pixel 6a is made with recycled glass, plastic and aluminium, accounting for about 20% of the phone by weight. The company publishes environmental impact reports for some of its products. Google will recycle old devices free of charge.

The Pixel 6a ships with Android 12, which includes a load of customisation options, smart refinements and impressive local AI features. For more, see the Pixel 6 Pro review. The 6a will be one of the first devices to receive the Android 13 update, which is due for release soon.

Google will provide at least five years of software and security updates including at least three major Android versions. Samsung supports many of its phones for five years, while Fairphone is aiming for six years and Apple supports its iPhone for up to seven years.

Portrait mode is very good and works on objects and pets as well as people, while video quality up to 4K at 60 frames a second is solid. The 8MP selfie camera is similarly effective capturing a great amount of detail.

The Google Pixel 6a costs £399 ($449/A$749) with 128GB of storage in a choice of three colours shipping on 28 July.

For comparison, the Pixel 6 costs £599, the Samsung Galaxy A53 costs £399, the Nothing Phone 1 costs £399, the Fairphone 4 costs £499 and the Apple iPhone SE costs £419.

The software is smart and refined, and will be updated for at least five years, which is longer than most rivals. The camera is miles better than any mid-range model, competing with phones twice the price or more.

While the back is less premium, plastic not glass, and screen is not as slick as rivals, it still looks great. The smaller size makes it easier to hold too.