Google Pixel 6a

At Rs. 94,999, the Google Pixel 6a is good value for buyers who care most about photos, compact size and clean software, and weaker value for gamers or anyone who wants a smooth high-refresh screen.

Its strengths are a reliable 12.2MP camera, an OLED display, an aluminium frame with IP67 dust and water protection, stereo speakers and years of updates. Its weaknesses are the 60Hz refresh rate, 18W charging with no wireless option, an 8MP selfie camera limited to 1080p video, and heat in hot weather.

The Google Pixel 7a costs Rs. 137,999 and adds a 90Hz screen, better cameras and wireless charging. Verdict: the 6a is worth buying when budget is tight; if you can stretch, the 7a is the more complete phone.

The Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch OLED display at 1080 x 2400 resolution, protected by Gorilla Glass 3. Colours are true to life in the Natural profile, contrast is strong, and HDR streaming works well on Netflix and other platforms.

The main limitation is the 60Hz refresh rate. Opinions differ on how much it matters: some find scrolling and animations noticeably choppy, while others find Google's software smooth enough that 60Hz is not a problem. Speeding up animations in developer settings can make it feel quicker.

Brightness is enough for reading messages outdoors, though reports differ on viewing angles and some note finicky auto-brightness. The bezels are thicker than on newer phones. The always-on display uses a lot of battery, so turning it off adds screen time.

The Google Tensor chip with 6GB RAM handles daily tasks well. Apps open quickly, memory management is good despite the 6GB RAM, and early bugs from launch have been fixed through updates.

Casual gaming is fine, with 60fps in PUBG Mobile possible, but demanding games such as Genshin Impact show unstable frame rates and make the back quite hot. Heat is the main weak point in Pakistan's long summers: the phone warms up on mobile data, and 5 to 10 minutes of outdoor camera use can trigger a heat warning that dims the screen.

Calls are loud and clear without drops in daily use, and the phone takes one physical SIM plus an eSIM. Opinions differ on the in-display fingerprint sensor: it was slow at launch, but updates made it as quick as other optical sensors. Haptics are excellent for the price.

The 12.2MP main camera with OIS uses an older sensor, but Google's processing gets the most out of it. Daylight photos are crisp and contrasty with accurate colours and dynamic range above most phones at this price. Close-ups get natural background blur without colour fringing.

The 12MP ultrawide is a highlight: its colours and contrast match the main camera closely, which many mid-range phones fail to do. Reports differ on night shots: colours stay good, but some find fine detail drops in low light. Portraits are the weakest area, with inconsistent skin tones and edge detection.

The rear camera records 4K video at up to 60fps with OIS and good dynamic range, and 4K is available on the ultrawide too. The 8MP selfie camera is fine for photos, but selfie video is limited to 1080p 30fps with average detail.

The Pixel 6a has a 4410 mAh battery. On moderate use it lasts a full day, helped by the efficient 60Hz screen, but heavy gaming on mobile data can mean charging by early evening. On older used units, expect around four and a half hours of screen-on time with the always-on display enabled; turning it off adds roughly 30 to 45 minutes.

Charging is slow: wired charging is rated at 18W, adding only about 28% in half an hour, and a full charge takes roughly two hours. No charger is included in the box, and there is no wireless charging.

If buying used, check battery health first, as it varies a lot between units.

The Pixel 6a launched with Android 12 and has been updated to Android 17, still running smoothly. Google promised three years of OS updates at launch; its official support page now places the Pixel 6a among phones that get five years of updates from their US release, which points to support until around July 2027. Android 17 is likely its last major version, with security updates continuing until then.

The interface is clean with no bloatware. Tensor-powered features include fast voice typing, call screening, live captions for calls and live translation, alongside Material You theming.

Customisation is more limited than on some Android skins, and some extras, such as a long-lasting always-on display style, need third-party apps.