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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Google Pixel 6a is significantly less expensive and offers a solid camera and decent battery life. However, if you prioritize camera quality and battery life and don't mind spending extra, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is superior in these areas. The 8 Pro also has a larger and brighter display with a higher refresh rate, which makes for a smoother visual experience. Both phones have the same operating system and offer similar functionality, but the 8 Pro has more advanced specifications such as higher RAM, more powerful processor, and it is built with glass versus the plastic body of the 6a. The 8 Pro's camera system is more versatile with higher image quality and it has features such as wireless charging, whereas the 6a does not. Keep in mind the 6a is lighter and more compact, which might be preferable for ease of handling and carrying. 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 Google Pixel 6a
- The Google Pixel 6a has no clear advantages over the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
Advantages of the Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Excellent for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.6
9.1
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has excellent overall camera quality, while the Google Pixel 6a has good overall camera quality.
The Google Pixel 6a boasts an excellent selfie camera, proficient in delivering clear and vibrant self-portraits, supported by software that enhances detail and performance in varied lighting conditions. The Google Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, provides not only a top-tier selfie experience but also brings additional camera versatility with more lens options and higher photo and video resolution, offering an impressive array of capabilities for photography enthusiasts.
Photo Quality
7.4
9.3
The Google Pixel 8 Pro takes excellent photos, while the Google Pixel 6a takes good photos.
The Google Pixel 6a offers good performance with its software experience, dynamic range, and low light capabilities, along with a fair selfie quality, adequate for everyday photography. In contrast, the Google Pixel 8 Pro exceeds this with best-in-class software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, coupled with a very good selfie quality, making it ideal for more demanding photographic tasks.
Video Quality
7.2
8.0
The Google Pixel 8 Pro takes very good videos, while the Google Pixel 6a takes good videos.
The Google Pixel 6a has a very good overall video experience with solid stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and mic quality, making it a competent choice for videos. However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, offering excellent stabilization and dynamic range, with very good low light performance and mic quality, gives you an even more superior video experience if you're looking for the best video capabilities.
Screen Size
The Google Pixel 6a has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Google Pixel 8 Pro is 6.7 inches.
Cost
$400
$999
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Google Pixel 6a has a price of $400 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro costs $999.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.6 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Google Pixel 6a has 7.6 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel 8 Pro has 7.8 hours of battery life.
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How the Google Pixel 6a and the Google Pixel 8 Pro compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Google Pixel 6a | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | |||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 21, 2022 | October 12, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.7" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2992 x 1344 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 429 | 489 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Tensor | TensorG3 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12.2 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.6 Hours | 7.8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4410 mAh | 5050 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 23 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.99" x 2.83" | 6.4" x 3.01" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.28 oz | 7.51 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 7 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (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 | (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 | Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | |
Color | |||
Color | Chalk, Sage, Charcoal | Bay, Porcelain, Obsidian | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
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?"
Google Pixel 8 Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
The Guardian
Samuel Gibbs | October 2023
"The screen, body, performance and battery life are all good. The Pixel has a distinctive look that elevates it from the many of the competition, too. It has a really great camera system, with an array of advanced AI-infused editing tools that blur the line between what’s real and what’s fake.
But the biggest upgrade is in the full seven years of software support, bringing the Pixel up to par with Apple and outlasting all but the Fairphone 5 on the Android side."
Get a great deal on the Google Pixel 6a or the Google Pixel 8 Pro
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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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
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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