The Pixel 6a could be even more impressive than we initially thought
Last weekend, we got our first glimpse at the Google Pixel 6a, learning that Google doesn’t plan on keeping the conservative design of the Pixel 5a around anymore. Instead, the 6a will look and feel like the standard Pixel 6. However, this has led to a few questions about what Google plans to do in the specs department. Considering that the Pixel 6 is already priced at $599, where could the “cuts” be made to bring the price even lower and make the Pixel 6a more affordable.
Thanks to the folks over at 9to5Google, it seems that we have our answer courtesy of an APK teardown. The teardown reveals a few things about the Pixel 6a. First of which, the device is internally codenamed Bluejay, and will use the Sony IMX363 camera as its primary sensor. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same main lens that has been used in every phone between the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 5a.
Accompanying the main IMX363 lens will be a 12MP Sony IMX385 ultra wide camera, as the Pixel 6a will only feature a dual-rear camera system. Moving to the selfie camera, the Pixel 6a is said to use the same 8MP IMX355 sensor found in the smaller Pixel 6, instead of the 11MP lens offered by the Pixel 6 Pro.
Perhaps the most exciting discovery made was that the Pixel 6a will, in fact, be powered by Google’s new Tensor processor. With this move, it’s entirely plausible to assume that some of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro features are coming to the Pixel 6a, including things like Magic Eraser, Google Assistant voice typing, and more.
If the findings of this APK teardown are true, along with the previously leaked specs, this is what the Pixel 6a will offer:
- 6.2-inch OLED display (flat)
- Google Tensor SoC
- 6GB or 8GB of RAM
- 128GB of storage
- 8MP selfie camera
- 12.2MP wide-angle camera / 12MP ultra wide camera
- ~152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7mm
- In-display fingerprint scanner
The only other question that one could pose at this point is whether the clock speeds of the Tensor will be the same for the Pixel 6a. If that’s the case, releasing a phone that is just as powerful as the Pixel 6 Pro, at around half the price, could really send shockwaves through the industry.