Google Pixel 6a review

Design, build quality, handling

The Google Pixel 6a dresses a lot like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro - mostly the former with its flat display and uniform bezel around the frame. Where the 5a was softer and curvier around the corners and edges, the 6а's corners are a bit tighter, making for a more squarish appearance. Overall, the Pixel 6a manages to look more expensive than it is.

The Pixel 6a measures 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm and weighs in at 178g, just a few grams lighter than the slightly larger Google Pixel 5a. Additionally, the Pixel 6a brings IP67 water and dust resistance.

While most devices - even in the mid-range - are using displays larger than 6.5-inches, the Pixel 6a's screen is more manageable for one-handed use, though you may still need to do some finger gymnastics to reach the status bar unless you have larger-than-average hands.

Plus, this 6.1-inch panel is tiny and will be a "Goldilocks" size for many. It isn't often we see devices of this size with flagship-level performance on this side of the Android/iOS divide, despite it being the most popular on the other.

A round opening centered below the top edge of the display houses an 8MP selfie camera, unchanged from previous generation Pixel phones. Ambient and proximity sensors are a little further below, directly underneath the display - while the fingerprint scanner sits at the opposite end. The cover glass on top is Gorilla Glass 3.

The placement of the fingerprint scanner is well-chosen on the 6a - it's high enough that you don't have to grip too far down to reach with a thumb. Yet we always found that you need to shift your hand when pressing the power key to wake the device and then scan a thumb. This could easily be avoided if you y wake the phone by double-tap or lift-to-wake, both of which are enabled on the Pixel 6a by default.

The backside of the phone, though identical to the Pixel 6, is constructed differently here. The rear cover of the Pixel 6a is made of high-gloss plastic that looks convincingly like glass. Google even managed to emulate the camera bar using mostly plastic.

The cameras have glass lenses and are surrounded by a black camera bar made of mostly plastic. The inserts above and below the camera bar are made of metal, however. We'd be wary of the back panel getting scratched up under regular use if it is not in a case. Plus, the glossy plastic easily gets covered in fingerprints.

The frame is made from aluminum and features an anodized black finish.

There are several antenna inlais along its perimeter with physical buttons on the right side, a USB-C port on the bottom, and a single nanoSIM tray on the lower-left edge of the device.

The power and volume keys are satisfyingly tactile, and you shouldn't need to worry about accidental presses.

There are loudspeaker ports on the bottom of the frame and top-edge of the screen, but the headphone jack has made its permanent departure from the A Series.

Moving on to our lab tests. We'll look at the display, battery endurance, and take a look at the loudspeakers.