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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If high performance and a premium build are important to you, the Apple iPhone 15 Plus is a superior choice with a more powerful processor, better camera quality for both photo and video, and a larger screen. It also comes with a higher price. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 6a offers a good balance of features at a budget-friendly price, with commendable camera quality, a decent battery life, and a plastic build which may be less premium but potentially more durable. The iPhone operates on iOS, while the Pixel uses Android, which might influence your decision based on your preference for either ecosystem. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 15 Plus
- Very good for taking photos
- Excellent for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Very good display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Google Pixel 6a
- The Google Pixel 6a has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.6
7.6
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Google Pixel 6a has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus excels with its excellent selfie quality as well as top-tier photos with very good dynamic range and low light performance, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing camera versatility and higher-end photo capabilities. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 6a offers very good selfie quality and good photo dynamic range and low light performance at a more accessible price point, although it's not as versatile as the iPhone 15 Plus in camera performance.
Photo Quality
8.5
7.4
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes very good photos, while the Google Pixel 6a takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes the best photos due to its superior selfie quality, better photos software experience, and stronger performance in both dynamic range and low light conditions, while the Google Pixel 6a delivers very good photos, but has less versatility in its camera capabilities, showing limitations in comparison to the iPhone's performance in aforementioned areas.
Video Quality
9.1
7.2
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes excellent videos, while the Google Pixel 6a takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus provides the best video quality experience, including superior video resolution and framerate, video software, stabilization, dynamic range, and low-light performance compared to the Google Pixel 6a; additionally, the iPhone 15 Plus offers significantly higher microphone quality which contributes to better overall video capturing capabilities.
Battery
8.9 Hours
7.6 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 8.9 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel 6a has 7.6 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Google Pixel 6a is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$829
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a price of $829 and the Google Pixel 6a costs $400.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and the Google Pixel 6a compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Google Pixel 6a |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$829 | $400 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | July 21, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 429 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | Tensor | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.2/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 12.2 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.9 Hours | 7.6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4383 mAh | 4410 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.33" x 3.06" | 5.99" x 2.83" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.09 oz | 6.28 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | |
Color | |||
Color | Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, Black | Chalk, Sage, Charcoal | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Eric Zeman | October 2023
"Apple's iPhone 15 Plus is the phone to get if battery life and budget are your top concerns. It outlasts the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, coming in second only to the top-shelf Pro Max. Otherwise, it includes a larger display than the standard iPhone 15, the same speedy processor, a fine pair of cameras, excellent wireless radios, and a waterproof build."
Google Pixel 6a
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Dig into reviews and images
Ars Technica
Ron Amadeo | July 2022
"it's very hard to find fault with the Pixel 6a. It has a processor that, in the US at least, blows away other Android phones in this price range. The design is great, the camera is fine, and the price is right. What's not to like?"
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus or the Google Pixel 6a
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
152,100
Recommendations made
86,190
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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