Google Pixel 6a vs Google Pixel 4a

Compared 2 smartphones : Google Pixel 6a Manufactured in June, 2022, with display 6.1 with chipsetGoogle Tensor, vs Google Pixel 4a, Manufactured in October, 2020 with chipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 730G. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Google Pixel 6a
  • Larger display: 6.1in
  • Higher battery capacity: 4410mAh vs 3140mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.2 vs 5.1
Reasons to choose Google Pixel 4a
  • Higher pixel density: 443ppi
  • Lighter design: 143g vs 178g
  • Supports Dolby Atmos

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options 6/128 GB 6/128 GB

Review

Key Specs Google Pixel 6a and Google Pixel 4a
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Camera
Main & front camera tests
Performance
App & system performance
Games
3D gaming performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
Connectivity
Connectivity features
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
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Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison

Display

Display quality comparison
Type OLED OLED
Size 6.1 in 5.81 in
Resolution 1080x2400 pixels 1080x2340 pixels
Aspect ratio 20:9 19.5:9
Pixel density 429 ppi 443 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No No
Max brightness 500 nits 700 nits
HDR support Yes HDR10+ Yes HDR10
Screen-to-body ratio 82.2 % 82.9 %
Features - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Always-On Display
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Google Pixel 6a
869 nits
Google Pixel 4a
802 nits
sRGB gamut96.9 %95.3 %
PWM (Flicker)240 Hz255 Hz
Response time3 ms6.2 ms
Contrast∞ Infinite∞ Infinite

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 152.2 mm (5.99 in) 144 mm (5.67 in)
Width 71.8 mm (2.83 in) 69.4 mm (2.73 in)
Thickness 8.9 mm (0.35 in) 8.2 mm (0.32 in)
Weight 178 g (6.28 oz) 143 g (5.04 oz)
Water resistance IP67 No
Back panel Plastic Plastic
Frame Metal Plastic
Colors - White
- Black
- Green
Black
Fingerprint sensor Yes In-Display Yes rear
Screen-to-body ratio
Google Pixel 6a
82.2 %
Google Pixel 4a
82.9 %

Performance

Testing Google Pixel 6a and Google Pixel 4a In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Google Tensor Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Max Frequency 2800 MHz 2200 MHz
CPU Cores 8 (2 + 2 + 4) 8 (2 + 6)
Architecture - 4/1.8 (Cortex A55)
- 2/2.25 (Cortex A76)
- 2/2.8 (Cortex-X1)
- 6/1.8 (Kryo 470 Silver (Cortex-A55))
- 2/2.2 (Kryo 470 Gold (Cortex-A76))
Process Samsung Samsung
Transistor Size 5 nm 8 nm
Neural Processor Tensor Processing Unit Hexagon 688
Graphics Mali-G78 MP20 Adreno 618
GPU Cores 1280 256
GPU Frequency 848 MHz 825 MHz
FLOPS 2170.9 GFLOPS 422.4 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Google Pixel 6a
1448
Google Pixel 4a
680
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Google Pixel 6a
3412
Google Pixel 4a
1816
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)1448680
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)34121816
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Google Pixel 6a
909498
Google Pixel 4a
357020
CPU250722115287
GPU32478670626
Memory14382978602
UX19016192505
NanoReview Score909498357020
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Google Pixel 6a
6194
Google Pixel 4a
1003
Max Surface Temp.41.4 °C41.4 °C
Stability56 %99 %
Graphics Test37 fps6 fps
Graphics Score61941003
PCMark 3.0
PCMark 3.0
Google Pixel 6a
9940
Google Pixel 4a
n/a
Writing score15353n/a
Web score6280n/a
Video editing5843n/a
Data manipulation9519n/a
NanoReview Score9940n/a

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 6 GB 6 GB
Memory Type LPDDR5 LPDDR4X
Memory Frequency 3200 MHz 2133 MHz
Channels 4 2
Storage
Storage Capacity128 GB128 GB
Storage TypeUFS 3.1UFS 2.1
Memory CardNoNo

Software

OS Android 12 (Upgradeable to Android 15) Android 10 (Upgradeable to Android 13)
OS Size 14.3 GB 15 GB
UI Skin Stock Android Stock Android

Battery

Volume 4410 mAh 3140 mAh
Max Charging Power 18 W 18 W
Battery Type Li-Po Li-Po
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No No
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes (42% in 30 min) Yes (50% in 25 min)
Full Charge Time 1:51 h 1:27 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Google Pixel 6a
20:44
Google Pixel 4a
17:58
Web Browsing08:25 h06:35 h
Video Playback14:20 h11:24 h
Games05:34 h04:08 h
Standby Mode89 h90 h

Main camera

Matrix 122 MP 122 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4000x3000 pixels
Zoom Digital Digital
Flash Dual LED Dual LED
Stabilization Optical Optical
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 30 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 120 fps (1080p)
Wide-angle lens 114 ° n/a
Lenses count Standard: 12.2 MP
Ultra-wide: 12 MP
Standard: 12.2 MP
Features - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
- Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Main lens
Matrix122 MP122 MP
Aperturef/1.7f/1.7
Focal length27 mm27 mm
SensorSony IMX363Sony IMX363
Sensor size1/2.551/2.55
Pixel size1.4 μm1.4 μm
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Ultra-wide lens
Matrix12 MPn/a
Aperturef/2.2n/a
Focal length17 mmn/a
SensorSony IMX386n/a
Sensor size1/2.9n/a
Pixel size1.12 μmn/a
StabilizationDigitaln/a
Main camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Google Pixel 6a
133
Google Pixel 4a
116
Video quality
Google Pixel 6a
126
Google Pixel 4a
100
Overall camera score
Google Pixel 6a
122
Google Pixel 4a
100
Bokeh6555
Preview6747
Zoom7448

Front camera

Matrix 8 MP 8 MP
Photo resolution 3840x2160 pixels 3264x2448 pixels
Aperture f/2.0 f/2.0
Focal length 24 mm 24 mm
Sensor Sony IMX355 Sony IMX355
Sensor size 1/2.8 1/2.8
Pixel size 1.12 μm 1.12 μm
Autofocus No No
Stabilization Digital Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5.2 5.1
Bluetooth features LE, A2DP LE, A2DP
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 3.1 3.1
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
- Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo
- QZSS
- GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo
- QZSS
NFC* Yes Yes
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*12
SIM TypeNanoNano
SIM Moden/aDual SIM Standby
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G BandsGSM/EDGE Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)GSM 700 / 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 / 2300 / 2500 / 5200 / 3500 / 600
3G BandsUMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19UMTS 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B48/B66/B71)LTE (B600/B700/B800/B850/B900/B1700/B1800/B1900/B2100/B2300/B2500/B2600/B3500/B5200)
LTE category2015
5G SupportYesNo

Sound

Speakers Stereo Stereo
3.5 mm Jack No Yes
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos No Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Google Pixel 6a
87.4 dB
Google Pixel 4a
86 dB

Other

Class Mid-range Mid-range
Announced May, 2022 yr August, 2020 yr
Release Date June, 2022 yr October, 2020 yr
Launch Price ($) 449 350
Sensors - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint sensor
- Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint sensor
Charger Included No n/a
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

After analyzing the data, we consider Google Pixel 6a the clear winner in this comparison.

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