Unlike older Pixel A-series phones, the Pixel 6a comes with Google’s flagship Tensor chip, which catapults it into the same segment as flagship smartphones, including the iPhone 13 series. Price-wise, the iPhone SE is a worthy competitor to the Pixel 6a. But outside its price range, the flagship chipset and the unbeatable cameras help the Pixel 6a stand firm against other more expensive smartphones such as the iPhone 13 Mini.
The Pixel 6a, on the other hand, also borrows the design from its more premium sibling — the Pixel 6. But instead of using the same glass back panel, the Pixel 6a features what Google calls a “3D thermoformed composite” material, a sophisticated way of saying plastic. In addition to its relatively less premium design, the Pixel 6a also lags behind IP ratings with an IP67 certification.
The more compelling phone, in this case, is the iPhone 13 Mini. However, if you absolutely want a phone with a larger display, the Pixel 6a is the more logical choice.Performance, battery life, and charging Both the Pixel 6a and the iPhone 13 Mini come with custom flagship chipsets designed by the companies themselves. While Google chose the Tensor SoC, which powers the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, Apple equips the iPhone 13 Mini with the A15 Bionic chip.
In our camera comparison between the iPhone 13 and the Pixel 6 Pro, the Pixel emerges as the better camera phone in various scenarios. While that cannot be a benchmark for the Pixel 6a’s camera performance, we expect fierce competition between both phones. The Pixel 6a is also likely to get the Pixel 6’s incredible photo editing features, including Magic Eraser.
While the question between Android and iOS is fairly personal, the iPhone is much more likely to get more updates, and we’ve given it a narrow win.Special features Besides the features we have highlighted above, the iPhone has an advantage in terms of 5G connectivity. Although both phones support Sub-6GHz, only the iPhone 13 Mini supports mmWave 5G signals. Additionally, support for MagSafe brings support for multiple magnetically-attaching accessories.