I had a 3a for like 3 years and honestly the Pixel 6 lineup is so underwhelming that it made me switch to Apple. The 6 pro isn’t really competitive against the iPhone 13 Pro and the 6a doesn’t even seem good as a cheap alternative. The only one that seems worth it IMO is the regular 6, but you can still find better phones for less money
@@WVUCE I jumped on the regular Pixel 6 'cause I got a good deal on it right around it's launch. I know the Pro isn't a great value, but I really like my normal 6. There might be better options spec-for-spec, but it's definitely still a good phone all around :) I feel like the 6a has that potential too with a discount or rebate or something too
@@jesusbarrera6916 As a long time Pixel 3 user myself (Sony fanboy before that), I was very frustrated by the removal of the fingerprint sensor in the 4 and the downgrade of the processor in the 5. I switched to an S10e (the only small flagship left anymore) and I fucking hate it. The cameras are unusable garbage compared to my old Pixel 3. UI responsiveness is trash because TouchWiz is as laggy as ever. Apps don't stay open in the background even with 6 gigs of extra swap. And I'm just so mad that people put Samsung in the same ballpark as Pixel. Since then the Pixel 5 and 5a have grown on me but the 6 series is already a non-starter due to the under the display fingerprint sensor that I hate. I want a PHYSICAL sensor on the back or side that I can use for gestures. I really hate the smartphone industry right now.
5:00 I am 100% with you on the removal of the rear fingerprint sensor. The cheap underscreen sensor they went with on my Pixel 6 Pro is one of my pet peeves about the device.
I prefer under display because I can unlock my phone without taking it off my computer desk, but that unlock speed of the pixel 6 is slow compared to say my OnePlus. Although it is still less than a second so who cares really. People are too picky about things.
@@EikottXD I prefer the rear-mounted reader design because it's fast, and at least on my LG G7 it also unlocks the screen at the same time, making it a fast entry into the phone. The ergonomics for my large hands and a front-mounted sensor also seem poor. I don't usually want to unlock my phone without picking it up. Interesting point though; hadn't really thought about just unlocking it but not picking it up.
@@MichaelDetwiler Nothing is secure. Security is a myth. If someone wants to get into your phone they will. Prisons are not secure, government facilities are not secure, there's no such thing as secure just like there is no such thing as waterproof only water resistant. That being said I don't think a fingerprint sensor being slower makes it "more" secure. I do think people complaining about something taking to long that still takes less than a second is just silly, so I'm on your side with that part of it.
@@ro55mo22 Duuude. I used to be a Motorola man, and I still have a soft spot for them. The pixel 4a just hit it right when I had to upgrade last time. The g100 looks really good. If I was upgrading now I bet that's what I would get.
I'm a computer vision engineer and the high res sensors are pretty much all trash in mobile phones and the good image you see is mainly processing. Sensors are far better than in past years, but the ultra-high resolution sensors are either super-sampled or so obscenely full of noise from the tiny pixels and cheap optics that the processor is doing the heavy lifting, like in most phones. Megapixels are pure marketing for consumers to the point that the industrial and defense sectors rarely go above the 5-10 megapixel range unless the application needs much more data in a single image. The key thing here is the Tensor chip and how it was optimized to take great images from worse sensors. I agree that the 6a is lacking compared to last iterations and they should have done something more groundbreaking, but the Tensor chip is a huge step forward and will most likely get better with the next generations, and potentially force companies like Qualcomm to drop prices in order to keep their market share.
The thing is, while it's technically neat they can get the tensor core to take good photos with the older sensors, they still didnt lower the price to compensate, and that's why it's not worth it to the consumer. Ultimately, the consumer doesnt care how the phone gets it's good photos. If they're using their software to compensate for the cheaper components, then I want a cheaper price. To have the same specs for like 3 generations is kinda bad.
i both agree and disagree with you, For example, Compared to basically any iPhone or some older android phones without the Quad bayyer binned down sensors, my phone which has a midrange 64 mp sony sensor performs way better in RAW images in basically every way, dynamic range, noise, detail, color. Now why did I also agree with you? Well I compared my phone to the s21 ultra which has that 108mp sensor and by far even compared to the old beat Galaxy s8 it performed so much worse in every way, Less detail, so much more noise, color noise, artifacts and worse dynamic range (better DR than the s8 but worser than mine) which I dont understand how that is even possible.
@@masononemine1702 honestly probably pixel size and sensor architecture. That Sony sensor is probably 3D stacked BSI, or back side illuminated, which is a technology that Sony has mastered pretty well where the photoreceptor layer (pixel layer) is above the CMOS layer allowing for the electronics to be placed on a different layer giving you more pixel to work with than other CMOS sensors that aren't BSI. So the pixel size, sensor design, and overall component quality is most likely better in the Sony sensor. Not to mention the Sony sensors is probably quite a bit more expensive than the s8. Samsung also has bad processing compared to other SoCs for images. Lots of factors at play here to consider. I'd need to look at the breakdown and comparison on paper between the two. Might change my speculation on the differences, but that's my guess.
@@lunarwulfe I wish I could share RAW files from both phones. That said I have looked at the raw files from other Samsungs with 64mp sony sensors and they are all better than the s21 ultra's sensor in RAW performance.
Actually, I don't think Pixel ever ran stock Android. Nexus devices did, but ever since the first Pixel, Google introduced their "Pixel Experience" on top, so that means that they have features that are exclusive to their software, not built into Android as they should be. So when you see a new feature released on Pixel, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it on Samsung or whatever as well. In my opinion, the closest to stock nowadays is in fact Motorola. They have their nice-to-haves as well like that chop chop gesture and so on, but Pixel is far more bloated with extra things that aren't in Android by default. LE: People in the reply section are right: Even Nexus didn't run a 100% stock version of Android. My bad.
I think the 6a is a good phone and better than Sanmsung's offerings, especially the A53. Build quality and industrial design are on quite different levels from my perspective and the flagship chip of the 6a paired with the likely more optimized and lighter software it runs kinda justify its price tag and existence, not to consider the better cameras. I have to say that not taking the A52s in consideration when it's less than 300 Euros here where I live is difficult but in the end that remains a plasticky mid ranger while the 6a is a definitely higher end, more compact, faster and better built device.
I think the bigger argument here is leaving qualcomm behind, and going to tensor. The reason most phones lose updates, is due to qualcomm's disinterest in supporting their chip. I liken it to Steam deck people missing the greater point being proton development for gaming on linux.
@@itsbekenotbecky I think you're confusing security patches for the OS, and qualcomm firmware updates. Only qualcomm will have control over that. Samsung doesn't write the code for qualcomm.
@@JoeNokers perfect. So the reason I've stated you should leave Qualcomm behind, and go with tensor, remains because Qualcomm stops offering updates to their SoC. Those updates are not security or OS, they're firmware for the SoC specifically.
I love how he kept his Pixel 3 even though he is in a company that all about newest and greatest tech. Now, im so proud with my pixel 3 as my daily driver ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I miss the 3 XL... I had to buy a new one because the USB c was no longer registering properly on either side of things, neither the computer nor the phone was able to recognize each other correctly, and this resulted in getting locked out of the USB settings entirely... Then the battery almost exploded... I say almost because it is about as tight as a balloon and in the process of checking that out, the back was destroyed... So yet another phone that still "Technically" is working, but has some major problem that renders it unusable. When I got the 5, I was hoping that it would last longer, but it's specs were so similar to the 3 XL that it too failed to become my "daily driver" and it continues to fill in for where the 6 Pro fails, just as the 3XL was filling in for where the 5 was failing... I haven't had a good Pixel since the 3 XL.
Same here love the P3 but since the security updates stopped coming, I am in constant look for a new small phone. I had big hopes on P6a but I guess the search continues
The original Pixel will always be the best phone I ever had. I loved it, but when the battery became unusable I moved over to the 3XL which was perfect but sadly it died a death. Insurance company could only provide a 3A XL, which was not the same :( The pixel 5 was not winning me over at the time, and I dislike other Android phones, so I ended up jumping to Apple and I am now happily daily driving the 12. I would still love to use my Pixel 3 XL though, even now.
@@bisalwayswright88 my personal history with anything from apple is riddled with the device in question outright noping out on me. Essentially, I can break any electronic without even trying...but Apple is the worst offender when it comes to regaining the usability...other devices will eventually work, but Apple stuff just refuses regardless...and even people who are really good with Apple find my ability to break the software & os baffling. Particularly whenever I am objectively doing Nothing unusual with the device in question.😑
I actually upgraded to the 6a recently and really like it, then again I'm coming from a Pixel 2XL which was my favorite phone of all time so it's a pretty big upgrade haha.
The problem with the Pixel lineup is that Google wants to have a more "premium" brand out there. Remember the Nexus stuff? That was about great specs/great price and stock Android. Pixel is more like a Google club member offer, similar to Apple.
I loved my Nexus 5X. It was a good size for my hands, camera was great, it was light, the plastic on the back felt nice. My grandpa is still using it now, especially outside in daylight the pics are still really good for a phone so old.
Being also a current Pixel 3 holdout, I truly appreciated Riley's perspective on how lackluster the 6a really is (and how it's pretty similar in size, at least)
Watching this video on my 5th Google Pixel 6 Pro. Literally just installed it today and I can't wait to see how long this one lasts before it fails catastrophically or suffers from more defects. I shit you not, on launch my first one bricked itself mid-day on my 6th day of using it and refused to boot into android. Words cannot describe how much I loathe this phone for all the grief it's caused me. I can't even upgrade because I'm stuck in a lease so all I can do is constantly file insurance claims every time it develops some weird new bug that almost completely ruins the user experience. Genuinely have never had this much buyers remorse with any other phone and I bought a Windows phone in 2017, so that's saying something.
@@juubilo1509 you have no idea how much I envy your decision, though the S22 Ultra wasn't out yet. That's the phone I'm aiming for once I can afford the down payment so I can get out of this nightmare loop of dead pixels.
For those curious between this 6a or the Samsung Galaxy A53, since no one mentions it because tech youtubers only compare spec sheets, the A53 is limited to 1080p MAX in RUclips whether cellular or Wifi, no matter what, and the Wifi is hard capped at around 250Mbps, where my old Pixel 3a can do 400+ Mbps wifi (plan at home is 400 down) and can do 4K video with it's Snapdragon 630 or whatever. The experience was not good and I returned it, stuck onto my 3a for a bit ,and now am trading it in for $300 off the 6a. If you care about using the phone, go for the Google Pixel 6a over Samsung.
The A53 is a different budget phone. It's a lot cheaper than the 6a. Here a A53 is €285 and the 6a is €469. So not even sure why they compared the two. Not in the same ball park at all.
The pre order offer giving $300 trade-in credit for a pixel 3a (which only cost me $350 new to begin with) makes upgrading to the 6a a no-brainer. At essentially $150 the 6a is a fantastic value.
Personally, I LOVE my Pixel 4a. It is esentially a speced down version of the Pixel 5 but with a headphone jack. A couple of weeks ago I got display issues. Long story short: I decided to rather repair the 4a instead of buying a 6a...
Get the 5a5G, it's slightly faster, has a bigger screen, an UW, amazing battery life (thank 60Hz & 765G) & still retains the 3.5mm HP jack! But all that doesn't matter if you want a compact phone I guess, since the 6a is even smaller than the 5a.
Same, the 4a is like nothing else in the market... Only issue I've had is a green bar in the screen... A little disappointed about that especially with the prohibitive cost of repair
@@felixbelanger2659 What do you mean with "green bar" ? And yes, I feel you. Until now I had display issues two times, lucky enough, the first one was covered by warranty
@@toctoc9927 oh, so you at least have some better options than those living in NA in case you wanted to upgrade, but since you repaired the 4a, stick with it for another year at least imo!
For me, the biggest disappointment is the lack of a headphone jack. I still use mine all of the time because Bluetooth just doesn't cut it. I also regularly charge my phone and use headphone jack in the car, so an adapter for the usb-c port also won't work.
@@skytree3993 but why should I have to get that when they can just put a headphone jack in the phone. Others still do that on higher end phones so there is literally no reason that they can't.
@@PatrickEVRAable the audio quality is noticeably better on wired, I still haven't found Bluetooth headphones without delay, when traveling or at work it is not good to suddenly have to stop listening to what I am to charge them. Those are the problems that I have with Bluetooth and can't imagine being forced to use that.
@@PatrickEVRAable wireless audio quality is growing more passable, but some people don't wish to settle for mediocrity. Wireless peripherals are convenient, but if not for my cats having a penchant for attacking cables I'd still be running wired on my desktop.
I just went from a Pixel 2 to a Pixel 6 a few weeks ago. I really much prefer the finger print reader on the back, it's more ergonomic for me and unlocks faster and much more consistently. Other than that I quite like 6, wasn't really feeling the 6A.
The fingerprint sensor on back is great when you only carry the phone in pocket. The downside is when you put it in cradle on bike or mount it on car dashboard.
The lack of a 3.5mm jack is really what's killed it for me here. I would be willing to overlook all the rest of the flaws, since so few companies have kept around the jack.But that one decision has booted it off my list for my next device, when it would otherwise be near the top of it.
"This was a great phone, until it starting dying" This has been my experience with every pixel after about a year sadly. Yet here I am with my Pixel 6.
It'll be 2 years at the end of October with my 4a. It never had been "dying". Planning a definite way to get a battery replacement for that one. I LOVE it. I came from a Motorola G4 Plus before that one - I usually buy a new phone every 3 years and this one is looking to go even further! It's still so snappy as well.
@@jasonallison1913 The Pixels are good phones for custom ROMs though. Maybe you can try lineage os with GAPPS and still run new stock Android versions.
As an LG phone refugee, the headphone jack and rear fingerprint sensor is what got me to buy a Pixel 5a. With those gone, I have no reason to ever buy another Pixel.
I mean people complained when Apple made iPhone SE 3 with the same body as an iPhone SE 2 (iPhone 8) They wanted the XR or 11 body with new chip And now Google did what people wanted A cheaper Pixel 6 Alternative with corner cuts There still complaining! If you wanna buy a Samsung A53 with fantastic 120hz, decent camera, and bloatwares to your knees Nobody is stopping you But, you won't get Pixel exclusive features which comes with Pixel only devices
I agree 60hz screen isn't a deal breaker for me But, there are so many alternatives to Google Pixel Like Nothing (1) - that has every bells and whistles of Android 12 but has an average camera Samsung A53 - has the 120hz, decent camera processing but has Exynos chip OnePlus Nord phones - Great phones, but far from Pixel like camera, and it's Android 12 looks like the same as Android 10 So, i think I agree with you
I've just switched from 4a to 6a (I dropped it kinda hard, rip, i loved it) and for now I can say I'm having the same smooth experience as I used to have with my previous 4a. So I don't get why some people don't like this new 6a. I think it's amazing. Also, the new design is neat, and yes, the underscreen fingerprint sensor maybe is a little hard to understand at the beginning, but I think you can get used to it. Speaking of the headphone jack I don't really have anything to say, I've been using Bluetooth earbuds for some years now and my experience is great
I love the 3a so much that when my Pixel 3a broke, I bought another one. It's getting old but it's STILL fast as hell, and it does everything you need, is a size that I find comfortable, and still packs all the features I like.
My Pixel 3a has been 100% flawless, and I feel absolutely no need to upgrade. It's still fast, the battery still lasts days, has enough storage, and the camera is the same as the Pixel 6a. Literally the only reason to even consider changing phones right now is software support, and even then... They're still only giving 3 OS updates.
Still rocking my Pixel 2, never had a problem with it, never needed any repairs of any kind. Love the true forward facing speakers, the rear fingerprint sensor, a bezel that houses the camera and speakers instead of a notch and no rear camera bump. If they brought all those things back for the pixel then I'd upgrade. Until then I'll stick with my trusty old 2.
How does your battery not die in a few hours? I still am running mine, but even when the battery gets close to 50% it decided to randomly restart. Was hoping the 6a would be a winner.
@@Kevin-zo5gg I don't excessively use it lots during the day, I'll listen to audiobooks while working, maybe play a game or lurk on the interwebs while on a break and still leave work with at least 25% battery remaining.
Still rocking my Pixel 2XL and agree with everything you said. And my previous phone was the Nexus 5, which I also used for 4 years. I actually don't think I'll be sticking around with Pixels after this. Just too many tradeoffs.
I still have a Pixel 2 XL. But it's now permanently attached to my GameSir X2. I use it for HDR PC game streaming via moonlight. I flashed LineageOS on it with no GAPPs.
GG3 is actually the best option IMO if you can't do Victus. 4 and 5 were softer to prevent cracks from dropping but over time they get many many more micro scratches in them than GG3 devices. On top of that, the harder compound makes sense for a budget phone since you may want to keep it longer than a flagship, so those micro scratches over time matter even more.
@@oxeis916 Yeah for sure, there's ups and downs in both directions but IMO GG3 is the best they ever made until Victus came out which so far seems to be slightly more drop resistant than GG3 but nearly as scratch resistant, or at least I can't find any scratches on my Victus devices.
We need to be careful about how we compete these to a flagship. The people who generally buy the more affordable type of phones won’t care about the downgrades because the specs of these affordable phones is still fantastic. The quality of cameras has gotten to the point where most people can’t tell the difference, the same goes with the screen and speakers.
The big advantage of the pixel 6a is the size imo, all the other mid-range phones are huge. That i would say is the one thing that makes me consider it.
That's exactly why I bought the 6a (upgraded from a 3 because it was dying on me), but the speakers are pretty awful and I do really miss the rear fingerprint scanner. Also, no improvement with the camera is disappointing. I may just have to suck it up though, since I don't want a monster phone!
@@victoriaclark4170 Yeah on paper the camera tech seems disappointing. Though I saw a few direct comparisons to the pixel 6 and 6 pro and the difference is really minor, i couldn't rlly tell them apart
The 6a is also for people that want a smaller phone that's easy to understand. There is a different crowd for this and they mostly don't care for specs like most you tubers are talking about. I'm also coming from the 3 (as a back up phone) & am looking at either the iPhone 12 mini or 6a.
I wouldn't recommend the A53 5G, but the A52s 5G instead. It's basically the same phone, it has a slightly smaller battery and the display isn't as bright (but still decently) as the A53 ones but it has the way better SoC with the Snapdragon 778G instead if the Exynos with only 2 performance cores in the A53.
Yep, that's what I did. As a bonus, it's still got the headphone jack too! I don't think they sold the A52s in the US though, only the A52 5G, so it doesn't have the 778G chipset, but rather the 750G.
@@generalginger7804 Yeah, from CPU and camera standpoint, I think it's easy to say that Pixel 6a will beat A52s 5G, but not by much specifically for the CPU. Also, while being cheaper, A52s has: 1. Gorilla Glass 5 vs 3 2. 120 Hz OLED vs 60 Hz 3. Hybrid dual SIM 4. 8/256 GB vs 6/128 (microSD slot available) 5. *Headphone jack* 6. 4500 mAh vs 4410 (yeah not that big) 7. 25 W fast charger vs 18 So yeah, for the price, I definitely choose A52s 5G over Pixel 6a.
Im glad someone pointed out that the placement of the fingerprint sensor on the pixel 3 was perfect. your fingers already touch the back of the phone it was great. I have long switched to an iphone because I'm not a big fan of the new android ui or samsungs, I switched to a pixel to get away from samsung.
The rear mounted fingerprint sensor is one of my favorite things about my Pixel 4a and I'm dreading the day that it dies/stops being supported because I really don't want to give this feature up. First, it'll always be faster (maybe not in laboratory testing, but without exception in real-world use) than even the fastest under-screen sensor. With an under-screen sensor, I have to wait until I can see the screen in order put my finger in the right position with reasonable accuracy. With the rear mounted sensor, I can reliably unlock my phone as I'm taking it out of my pocket, ensuring that it is unlocked well before the phone is in front of my face. Second, the rear mounted sensor allows for the "swipe down on the fingerprint sensor to bring down the notification bar" function to work. On the rare occasions that this doesn't work for me (maybe the back of the phone or my finger is a bit wet), I always find the "traditional" method of bringing down the notification bar to be incredibly uncomfortable to do one-handed. And that's with a 4a's relatively compact design! I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to bring down the notification bar one-handed without adjusting my grip if I had to swipe down from the top of the screen on a 6 Pro (or other similarly sized phone). My hands aren't even all that small! I guess it makes sense, though. Alphabet/Google certainly has a history of taking away well regarded, widely used features without adequate replacement.
A traditional fingerprint reader has become my new headphone jack crusade. The side fingerprint sensor on my flip 3 is lightyears more responsive and accurate than any in-screen fingerprint reader I've even experienced. I don't even have a full grip on my phone before it's already unlocked and opened. And it works just as fast even when my finger is wet, dry, dirty, or has glue stuck on it. I'm happy to hear that the flip 4 will keep that sensor. I'd even be happy with a rear sensor. Lack of wireless charging I could live without but I do find it useful especially when having a battery bank around with wifi charging capability.
I love my Pixel 5a. The 6a just confuses me, though. The a phones are meant to be smartly cost-cut options for savvy buyers, but this one just looks like a cheap imitation of a Pixel 6 without delivering any of the nice features you'd want from that phone. I'm not in the market for a new phone yet, but in a couple years when I am, I'm going to look elsewhere if this is the direction Google is heading.
It's like a 5a just put into a new shell with a faster processor. The main deal breaker really is the 5 year old camera system, followed by the low RAM and lack of headphone jack... If they had included all of those features, I think they would have been well justified to charge even $500 for that phone, but of course, at that point it would cannibalise Pixel 6 sales.
I have similar feelings as a 5a owner as well. Not sure if the differences of this new model are worth trading in my 5a. I would prefer a smaller screen, longer support of updates, etc. This is tough because I can also relate with the things that you have mentioned.
5a user here too. I'm sticking with mine for a while yet. It hasn't seemed to have any of the issues the 6/6 Pro were plagued with. And I don't know if I'm getting a Pixel when I do upgrade; Google kind of lost me switching to the in-screen fingerprint scanner - I much prefer rear mounted ones.
@@Sci-Fi_Fan296 sorry but i dont get people on A series and changing every single year, why spending cheap money every single year? are you in a budget or you arent? if you arent then buy a galaxy (or similar) or so and keep it for 3 years, you will spend less money than surfing the budget level wave. My gf has the 4a since almost 2 years and she will keep it for prob another 2, because she actually IS in a budget.
@@xeon2k8 You make a valid point. The 5a was my 1st Pixel having traded an Iphone X for it. Its tough because I like the 5a but the 6a has some things that I have really wanted like the smaller form factor, pure google, etc etc I only bluetooth stream music so I wont miss the headphone jack. Plus, the trade in cost are elevated from Google right now if I pre-order the new phone. I will have a $150+tax cost outlay to upgrade from what I have now and could sell it and get another 5a for at least the cost if not more and be back to where I currently am or end up really liking the new phone and keeping it. Tough decision. Thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully this helps someone else also on the fence who's in a similar position.
Regarding the alternatives, I personally do not recommend the Galaxy A53 at all. It's basically exactly the same as the A52s, but with a slower chip, worse battery life (despite the larger battery), no headphone jack, and no charger in the box. The A52s is also cheaper. So in other words the A53 is worse than the A52s while costing more, which is why I can't recommend it. Aside from that though, I really enojoyed this one. Riley tends to be fun to watch, and this was no exception.
My aunt asked me to set up her new A53 for her. It was such an awful, sluggish experience. The part that kills me is Samsung’s decision to pack in a 120hz display. The chipset can’t keep up and it’s just sad. Why incur the cost and battery penalty of a 120hz panel when the rest of the hardware can’t maintain smooth animations even in the absolute best case scenario?
I love my pixel 3a and I've been so disappointed to see that every new generation after it has become less and less appealing. Honestly, I might just go with a fairphone
10:35 and 12:45 sounds like Google’s Pixel team cut corners in bad ways to meet a Price Point, and the Samsung Galaxy is just an objectively better long term value in durability, build quality, and longevity.
Agree that Google is drinking their own coolaid believing that the premium in price is well deserved. There's some things about the pixels that are good, but they're not longer better than anyone else at anything i think. Samsung releases phones with more stable software, better hardware quality, and better bang for your buck overall. No 90hz display on this pixel is a biiig disappointment.
They took away the headphone jack, installed fragile glass back and put in smaller battery. The 5a was the perfect phone except for short update support. Very sad😮💨
I've had the Pixel 6 Pro for months now and its easily the best phone I've ever had. My entire home is controlled by Google assistant so having that built-in menu helps with turning on and off devices/lights. Also, the battery is insane, I play 3-4 hours on emulators at work and still haven't seen my battery below 50%. I'm completely happy with it.
Totally agree. I have the Pixel 6, and as I'm not a mobile gamer or anything, my battery routinely lasts 2+ full days on a single charge. I do very much miss my headphone jack and Quad DAC of my old LG V series phones though. Even with the latest spec, Bluetooth audio just sucks in my opinion.
Have it since release too and I personally find it pretty buggy AND weirdly hot since recently But also, I'm running the Android 13 Beta so I can't really complain about the software part
@@GeorgeThoughts it isn't a super high paying job but basically I work IT at a place with my wife who is at home nurse for an elderly person. I basically make sure her security, internet and medical services are up and running 24/7. So, when nothing is going on, I get to just chill and play emulators.
The size and price of pixel 6a are the most valuable features for me. And there is much more to this including a mighty chipset. Prior to buying the device I've done some research concerning the specs and it turned out pixel 6a was far ahead of its closest competitors. The shortcomings are not really an issue for me.
To me the pixel A series selling point was always about four things : - affordable price - headphone jack - high quality plastic - great software So seeing a new pixel with no jack, cheap back glass, 450$ price tag and a recent history of catastrophic software, yeah umm...
Keep the headphone jack and the rear fingerprint reader on the A series... I use the active edge function on my 3A daily, I don't know why they removed that feature either...
my biggest gripe with the A53 is for however cheap it is, it's massive... android needs more compelling [small] phones... otherwise, i'm sitting waiting for the plain S22 to drop in price...
@@K4LZ facts. I went from a pixel 4a 5g to the a53 and I hate this phone. The biggest issue with this phone is the processor. Photos taking up to 10 seconds sometimes to processor is unacceptable and that's with every possible Samsung bloatware disabled or uninstalled. Also I got better battery life with my pixel then I do with the a53. My pixel at end of shift would be around 18%. My a53 usually is around 5%.
I picked up a Samsung a53 5G. I returned in it less than a week. Lots of reviewers comparing. But I highly recommend against the a53 5G. The 120hz screen is fine. But the processor is soooooo slow. You click an app and wait 2-3 seconds for it to load properly. Which seems like a nitpick. But that time adds up quick. And the camera app was also quite slow.
I had Pixel 2XL for almost 4 years, then stuck one year with Xiaomi Mi 10 and now I'm rocking Pixel 6 Pro and I'm very satisfied. Yes, Pixel 6 / 6 Pro had some software issues and bugs but now with Android 13 (beta 4) it looks like, Google finally solved everything! I have no more problems with fingerprint reader or overheating, like i had before.
I'm planning on upgrading my Samsung S9 next year. And it's going to be either the pixel 6a or the galaxy S22. The size is the main factor. I also hate that after 3-4 years phones still have notches, a tiny bezel like the S9 had is a way better solution than cutting a hole in the screen.
I hear the S23 will be a killer upgrade from its predecessor! I'm a Galaxy user (S2, S7, and now S20), and it's an exceptional system--although I I got my mom a 5a last year, and it's extremely intuitive which makes me consider Pixel's lineup
I have no regrets for buying the Pixel 4a. Amazing phone in every way to me! Had the 3a before that and it was just as great but I broke it unfortuantely.
ikr, I bought it and recommended my gf to do so as well and we both have been happy with it or at least i am xD she really disliking the battery life, it calling emergency services etc
I was so hoping that this phone would be good, I have small hands like Linus and hate big phones. The Pixel A series are apparently the only ones that don't have huge screens. Unfortunately the lack of wireless charging, the slightly slow fingerprint reader and quite big price for it are killing it here. I don't even mind the 60Hz display or the lesser camera setup. Anyone know a stock Android phone that is around 15cm height around €400 with wireless charging, good battery / fingerprint? Doesn't seem to exist anymore :'(
A refurbished S20 would be your best bet I think. It's 15.17 cm, 120hz, and has wireless charging. If you can find a refurbished s21 in your budget definitely a good pick too. If you don't want to buy refurbished I don't think there is any option. These aren't stock android obviously but you can always flash a custom ROM or install a third party launcher. There are some good new phones like the Samsung A53, Poco x4 GT, Poco F4 and the earlier F3 if on a good deal. Those however don't support wireless charging and are somewhat big. Edit: The nothing phone one is also a good option, although it is 15.92 cm in height.
I am using an S22 which is decent for small hands. The software kinda sucks though and the settings menus are a mess compared to the OnePlus I had before.
I completely regret getting my Pixel 6. The battery life is unpredictable, the software is spotty at best. In low signal areas it is incapable of working out whether or not to use wifi calling or not. More often than not it drops calls in these cases as it tries and fails to switch back and forth. The fingerprint sensor is slow as hell and unreliable at best. Just all around not worth the hassle to own.
I completely agree. I also had issues with the Bluetooth connection (especially with wireless earbuds) and the phone gets way too hot when I'm doing simple things like browsing news articles
A note about the Galaxy A53 you mentioned: If you wanna get a Samsung phone, you should get the A52s instead. The A53 is an upgrade to A52 but a downgrade to the A52s. It lacks a headphone jack and has a slower SoC, for example.
I'm mostly disappointed it doesn't have a headphone jack. All I really want is that, a small screen and no bloatware. Guess I'll likely get it still unless I can wait to see the 7 and 7a.
I love the Pixel 6 series personally. Display is excellent, processor is excellent, haptics excellent, software though buggy at launch has become stable. I have had a great experience with mine but I also acknowledge that some users didn't have a good time when the phone first launched.
A53 has better spec than pixel 6a?!?! Firstly, Tensor vs. high mid-range Exinos chip?! No way the Exinos beat Tensor. Secondly, you were right about megapixels being not the most important camera spec. I owned a pixel 3 and 4a. But I also owned A52s which basically had the same camera with A53 and frankly, the 2-3 years older camera were out of its league. Wayyy better. Yeah it sucks that they increased the price and got rid of the headphone jack. Also sucks that the display tops at 60 Hz. But it seems like you were being harsh when comparing it to other phones
Riley needs to try an S22, not the plus or ultra. That seems like a logical upgrade, Samsungs UI is much much better than years past, the camera is excellent and the screen is top notch and an actually usable fast fingerprint reader.
I ended up going with the regular S21 about three weeks ago (it had dropped to half the price of the S22, and was even cheaper than the iPhone 11), and boy, was it worth it!
I used to argue that you should avoid Samsung as a whole just because they tried so hard to be different. Non configurable nav buttons. Forcing you to use bixiby. But found out the changed that since I used an S7 (I think. Dunno. Long time ago lol) but I decide to try the flip 3. Been happy with it. Samsung isn't getting in the way of my Android experience. Feels similar to my LG G8X with only a few changes
You didn't mention one of the most important things about Pixel. How long does it get OS and security updates compared to other Android brands? I think this is still a no-brainer purchase in favor of the Pixel
When I bought my Pixel 3a, I did it because Amazon had it for $100 off on Black Friday. Given Riley's review, they might have to do something similar this year to really move units.
@@Skyhanger Thanks, but when I started the order and got to the trade-in part, I clicked on the details and it says that another company is responsible for the trade-ins, not Google, they determine the value, and you agree that you may get nothing for the trade-in after the evaluation of your phone. Maybe that is standard fine print for trade-ins, but I got nervous and stopped the order when I found out it wasn't Google who was responsible for doing the trade-in.
@@jamesrobertson504 yeah I hear ya - it would be good to be confident that if they don't assess it at $300, that you are free to return the 6a. I'm quite certain my phone will be fine - battery at 90% capacity, screen has no cracks & the phone is usable. I'm willing to take the risk as the 3a is definitely on its last legs!
Still rocking a pixel 3 myself. When I need to upgrade, the path all the way up to 5 is nice and simple with no nonsense. As soon as I catch up to 6, I'm going to have to swap to something else instead. They've just screwed up most of what makes pixels great.
I had a Pixel 6 Pro and absolutely loved it! it was a great phone, but I replaced it because the curved screen cost me two replacements. waiting for the 7 series and hoping they don't have curved screens.
I went from a 3XL to a standard 6 because I required that my phone have official updates for work purposes. It's alright. My SO has been using a 3 (small hands) and we waited for the 6a for the size
I truly enjoy using my 5. Great battery life with my usage, reliable camera, and most importantly it's a small phone that I can take on multiday hikes without being annoyed at the extra weight in my pocket! Of course, it also fits perfectly in my pocket.
Very glad I'm not the only one that loves the rear sensor, it's in the pixel 5 as that's what Ive been running right now... Went from pixel 1 to 3 to 5 I don't think I'll upgrade to the 7 cause no rear sensor... It's that game breaking I'll gladly give up my camera for the rear sensor
I still have a 3a xl and it's also starting to go so I was hoping to jump up to the 6a but... no headphone jack, huh. The other stuff doesn't bother me that much, since this was going to my 2nd phone, but no headphone jack really killed it for me.
@@Niccckk I was looking at that recently bc I thought "maybe" but I'm not a fan of how the 5 line looks. It's kinda why I skipped it and the 4 line at first.
@@AamitMorthos agreed. 4 to 5 looks super bland. Pixel 2 & 3 was peak pixel. I had a pixel 2 and it was a really good phone. I have a 4a 5G now... Hoping to get the Pixel 7 this fall
still using my Pixel 3a, sad that the lines going down. 3a is still an amazing phone, never had any issues with speed, starting to have battery life issues with it only getting 15 to 25hrs of battery life depending on usage but it's still damn good
wow you're lucky. mine kept lagging more & more - ended up overheating 6 weeks ago & hasn't been the same since & thankful Google will take $300 for it - it's almost like they know a good chunk of 3a users will stay instead of jumping ship like I was ready to next month!
As someone who has a pixel 6 I think the 6a is a bit of a fumble. It's only 50 dollars cheaper than the cheapest I've seen the 6 on sale for while having some questionable downgrades such as the screen and camera. They put a glass back on it for seemingly no reason yet didn't include wireless charging. They kept the under screen finger print reader, which despite being patched over time, is still garbage in comparison to the back mounted one. And they removed the headphone jack, which was the saving grace if my 3a back when I had that. I'd hold off on pixel phones for the time being, or get an older "a series" device and install a custom ROM on it once Google's updates end.
The reason for the glass back is every phone company is doing it. Apple was one of the ones to truly push it, with their glass backs that would instantly shatter if you dropped them in earlier models. For me glass backs are truly moronic... Back when I was a kid, a phone was a phone. Glass will shatter instead of chip, and if it does chip it's much harder to repair than say plastic or aluminium. It's much heavier in your pocket. It shows fingerprints much easier. Honestly I just don't get phone companies today, it's like they are trying to kill off mobile phones for good.
I've got my eye on the Zenfone 9 right now waiting for more official info (should be making an announcement next week). Love the leaked form factor, look, and specs so far.
You did see the leaked product launch video?? It looks like a P50 mini from the rear! I wish we had more phones like the P50E as well, just cut down SoC but with everything else the same including the cameras! The X70 Pro was also another great phone imo, sad to see it's successor tho! ZF9 is incredible h/w wise but I just wish they release a *Lite/Dimensity* version too with *D8100/1300 or SD7G1/778G+/870* instead! I know the 8+G1 is more efficient and all but it's still a lot for that tiny FF & a more, shall I say sedate chip would give waaay better battery life while still being plenty powerful for 90% of the stuff!
that's on a whole other price bracket though. i don't see how they're gonna sell that thing at $800+ with barely any modifications from the Zenfone 8 other than the chipset. the 8 itself is an amazing compact alternative to this Pixel trainwreck right now, at like $550. Asus isn't the best software-wise though
My race is between the Xperia 5 iii , Samsung s22 and the Zenfone 8 or 9 (depending on the price of the 9, but I expect it to be too high ). These are all
@@felipecardel upgraded chipset (ofc), unlike some chinese phones re-releasing D1300/SD870 phones identical to their predecessors! But it also has an upgraded sensor (686->766) & a slightly larger battery & a redesigned body with side-mounted fps like the Sonys! But yeah I don't expect it to be priced anywhere near it's predecessor given QC's increased pricing! That's why I wish they release a Dimensity/Lite version too for sub-$500!
I was waiting for the Pixel 6a. Was within my budget but when I read the specs and found out it doesn't include wireless charging, I hopped on craigslist and bought a slightly used Pixel 6 Pro for $100 more. Also looked at the Galaxy A53 but it's not a huge leap vs the A52 and it ditches the headphone jack.
While I enjoy my A53, I absolutely hate that the Exynos chipset means for me that I can no longer install any Google Camera app ports, which, at least before, were the greatest in image quality and overall functionality in terms of the camera experience.
@@nintendoatarikiller That is exactly what I mean, but the Exynos chipset means that the Camera2 API for the app is not supported as it is only available on Qualcomm CPUs. Because of this, the only thing that works is Open Camera on Play Store, but it's nowhere near the GCam.
My Pixel 3 was also dying and I finally upgraded to a Pixel 6 and my biggest issue is the size/weight difference. Phones are just too big and heavy to my liking now. The 6a is slightly smaller than the 6 but it still looks to be noticeably bigger than the 3. Here's hoping the 7a or 8a is smaller
@@superhamz7 I’ll give you that, but saying it was worse than the 5a is off. I remember everyone dunking on the 5a because it was a worse value than the 4a
I don't take short circuit serous for phone reviews since they are first impressions and unboxings. and it's hard to take influencer phone reviews seriously since they can switch phones at a drop of a hat and get them for free. but to me at least it does feel like the Pixel 6 it the better deal, if google had priced the pixel 6a at $399 it would blow the Pixel 6 away.
I'm also a little disappointed by the 6a. I finally got rid of my original pixel for a 5a and I love it. The 6a really seems like it's not an upgrade from the 5a. It has the same camera, a smaller display, a smaller battery, and no headphone jack. It really just isn't a tempting upgrade for me at all. I'm hoping that the 7a is a bigger jump as I will probably be looking for another upgrade around then.
Basically no phone released this year is an upgrade to the last one. Better CPUs don't matter anymore for everyday user and as long as they are going to keep the punchhole there will be no reason to upgrade from a 2020/21 phone.
@@DanKaschel The performance benifit is something I thought about, but it's not a huge benefit to me. There's nothing I use my phone for that the 5a feels slow doing. Do you know if the tensor chip makes up for the smaller battery? I'm also a little sad that they got rid of the headphone jack. i understand that it's not something a lot of people care about, but I still like using wired headphones.
@@duckaerobics the battery life is reportedly pretty good (not amazing but better than the pixel 6). The tensor chip helps but the 60hz screen helps even more. I personally value performance a ton, but in fairness most performance issues are related to the OS more than the hardware as long as you're not using bottom tier hardware. Except for gaming and I don't understand gaming on phones. If it's not sudoku I want a decent screen :p
I for one have never cared about the camera experience, I just want a camera that is good enough. so I’m glad to see that “midrange” phones are stepping up and being the good enough option so we don’t have to spend obnoxious amounts on phones with features you don’t care about just to make sure you get processors that aren’t horrible. I want to get hands on with a 6a, but I’m fairly sure its gonna be bigger than I’d like so I’m gonna be on the fence between dealing with samsung’s nonsense with an s22 or possibly looking at the asus zenfone 9
fellow Pixel 3 fan here! I upgraded to the 5a and have been really happy with it. I agree that Pixel seems to have lost its way, but the 5a (with 5g) seems like maybe the next "peak" since the 3
FYI, USD $449 at the current exchange rate is CAD$578.33, but the Canadian Google Store lists the 6a at CAD$599, a twenty-dollar difference. I guess they thought the higher price was sexier.
Samsung phones has had object eraser for over 2 years (though it isn't that amazing). They also have reflection eraser & picture recommended upscaling which is extremely useful.
@Benjamin Jagun lmao... Samsung has the best phone editing software. Miles ahead of Google and Apple. Changing portrait background effects, upscaling, object eraser, reduces blur automatically, removes lines from monitor screens, reflections eraser. And apple will get Android features like this probably never lol. Every android phone has bloatware. It's like if you're smart enough to get rid of all the bloatware, Samsung is still better than a pixel in pretty much every aspect of the device both hardware and software. Google has had nothing but issues with the 6 and 6 pro. Samsung got them in virtually every category
@Benjamin Jagun if the pixel 6 pro would've had less buggy software I would've traded in my S21 Ultra. I have had 0 bugs or issues with Samsung software why go to something less reliabile, and significantly less powerful hardware
@@JaY_PLaY_YT I disagree. I would prefer a phone manufacturer to release 10 features and 9 of them work well rather than bloating a phone with a 100 features and 20 work well. This is where Google is better than Samsung (bugs are different, Google is much buggier at present) and Apple is much much better than Android.
As soon as they added a hole punch it went downhill. I'm really sad about it, too. I wanted to upgrade my 4 into a 7 but it's more likely I'm getting an SE 2022. Not having a rear fingerprint reader or face unlock makes Pixels rather unappealing. Android 12 is also unbearably gross compared to 10. It's just getting less and less enticing.
Get the 5a5G if HRR isn't necessary (I'm assuming it isn't since u r considering the SE3). Or get any other phone from among the sea of alternatives instead of the SE3!
I loved my early Pixels. It just didn't seem to make sense though to upgrade from the 3 to 4. I would have still been using my 3 if it didn't start having issues with bugs that annoyed me in the UI. But instead it just ended up being better for me (and cheaper) to move from the Pizel 3 to an older iPhone.
I used to be a nexus owner and a pixel aficionado for mostly the same reasons as you Riley. After Samsung started supporting their phones for 4 years there really aren't many reasons left to buy a pixel these days with the subpar hardware and issues they have. On my last phone upgrade I got a A52 5g (last one with a headphone jack) and it still is ok other than the usual software bloat which I can live with it turns out. Also Samsung hasn't missed a beat so far with the software updates which used to be one of their low points especially for mid range phones.
the reason is that one UI is pure shit but don't worry Google is doing it's best t fuck up Android every iteration since 7 has gotten worse and worse , since they got rid of the vertical app switcher menu and copied the inferior IOS one , all they do is remove features and add useless garbage nobody wants or asked for or some broken gimmick 9 was worse than 8 , 10 was better that 9 , 11 was worse and 12 even is worse and removes even more useful stuff like the power button menu smart home control in exchange for garbage
Yeah, Samsung currently offers the best software support out of everyone. 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates starting with all S20 series further, and they included the A53 as well, so future A series phones will also get that support.
I personally loved the 4a . It costed 350 usd and nailed all the basics . Now that they’ve increased the price up to 450 2 years in a row it’s a lot less appealing.
As I said on MKBHD's review, the fingerprint reader change is a huge disappointment for me. A major reason I chose the Nexus 5X, and then the Pixel 3a when the Nexus crapped out, was the rear-mounted reader. I absolutely LOVE being able to unlock my phone as I pull it out of my pocket, using the same hand position I used to grab it in the first place. And I absolutely LOVE the ability to swipe down the notification shade without having to shift my grip or get my other hand involved. These are small benefits, but they make a huge difference. Once my 3a dies, I thought I might begrudgingly accept an in-screen reader-IF it performed just as well. But learning that it doesn't is a big bummer. I seriously regret not getting the 5a when I had the chance. I would seriously consider finding a refurbished 5a at this point.
The fingerprint reader is fine, I've had the Pixel 6 Pro for 4 months now and not once has an issue with it. Even this review was like "it's slow" and they demonstrated it working perfectly.
It's nice to have a Google Pixel phone user's opinion on other Pixel phones.
kinda sounds like confirmation bias tho... would rather have someone who doesn't marry to a single product
@@jesusbarrera6916 do you think he gave a positive review on everything? he ensured to point out the negative aspects
I had a 3a for like 3 years and honestly the Pixel 6 lineup is so underwhelming that it made me switch to Apple. The 6 pro isn’t really competitive against the iPhone 13 Pro and the 6a doesn’t even seem good as a cheap alternative. The only one that seems worth it IMO is the regular 6, but you can still find better phones for less money
@@WVUCE I jumped on the regular Pixel 6 'cause I got a good deal on it right around it's launch. I know the Pro isn't a great value, but I really like my normal 6. There might be better options spec-for-spec, but it's definitely still a good phone all around :) I feel like the 6a has that potential too with a discount or rebate or something too
@@jesusbarrera6916 As a long time Pixel 3 user myself (Sony fanboy before that), I was very frustrated by the removal of the fingerprint sensor in the 4 and the downgrade of the processor in the 5. I switched to an S10e (the only small flagship left anymore) and I fucking hate it. The cameras are unusable garbage compared to my old Pixel 3. UI responsiveness is trash because TouchWiz is as laggy as ever. Apps don't stay open in the background even with 6 gigs of extra swap. And I'm just so mad that people put Samsung in the same ballpark as Pixel.
Since then the Pixel 5 and 5a have grown on me but the 6 series is already a non-starter due to the under the display fingerprint sensor that I hate. I want a PHYSICAL sensor on the back or side that I can use for gestures. I really hate the smartphone industry right now.
5:00 I am 100% with you on the removal of the rear fingerprint sensor. The cheap underscreen sensor they went with on my Pixel 6 Pro is one of my pet peeves about the device.
I prefer under display because I can unlock my phone without taking it off my computer desk, but that unlock speed of the pixel 6 is slow compared to say my OnePlus. Although it is still less than a second so who cares really. People are too picky about things.
@@EikottXD I prefer the rear-mounted reader design because it's fast, and at least on my LG G7 it also unlocks the screen at the same time, making it a fast entry into the phone. The ergonomics for my large hands and a front-mounted sensor also seem poor. I don't usually want to unlock my phone without picking it up. Interesting point though; hadn't really thought about just unlocking it but not picking it up.
@@AbsalomIndustries fast = not secure. I'll take secure over a millisecond of waiting.
@@MichaelDetwiler If you think any phone-based fingerprint reader is secure you are fooling yourself.
@@MichaelDetwiler Nothing is secure. Security is a myth. If someone wants to get into your phone they will. Prisons are not secure, government facilities are not secure, there's no such thing as secure just like there is no such thing as waterproof only water resistant. That being said I don't think a fingerprint sensor being slower makes it "more" secure. I do think people complaining about something taking to long that still takes less than a second is just silly, so I'm on your side with that part of it.
My Pixel 4a is rocking hard yet. Probably my favorite phone ever. I wish the new a versions where still $350 and had a headphone jack.
Have a look at the Motorola G100.
I have a 4a too and it has been really good
@@ro55mo22 Duuude. I used to be a Motorola man, and I still have a soft spot for them. The pixel 4a just hit it right when I had to upgrade last time. The g100 looks really good. If I was upgrading now I bet that's what I would get.
also rocking the 4a, going to replace the battery when it starts failing and rock it for as long as possible.
Got the a4 myself, gotta say pretty underwhelming I'm upgrading soon
I'm a computer vision engineer and the high res sensors are pretty much all trash in mobile phones and the good image you see is mainly processing. Sensors are far better than in past years, but the ultra-high resolution sensors are either super-sampled or so obscenely full of noise from the tiny pixels and cheap optics that the processor is doing the heavy lifting, like in most phones. Megapixels are pure marketing for consumers to the point that the industrial and defense sectors rarely go above the 5-10 megapixel range unless the application needs much more data in a single image. The key thing here is the Tensor chip and how it was optimized to take great images from worse sensors. I agree that the 6a is lacking compared to last iterations and they should have done something more groundbreaking, but the Tensor chip is a huge step forward and will most likely get better with the next generations, and potentially force companies like Qualcomm to drop prices in order to keep their market share.
The thing is, while it's technically neat they can get the tensor core to take good photos with the older sensors, they still didnt lower the price to compensate, and that's why it's not worth it to the consumer. Ultimately, the consumer doesnt care how the phone gets it's good photos. If they're using their software to compensate for the cheaper components, then I want a cheaper price. To have the same specs for like 3 generations is kinda bad.
i both agree and disagree with you, For example, Compared to basically any iPhone or some older android phones without the Quad bayyer binned down sensors, my phone which has a midrange 64 mp sony sensor performs way better in RAW images in basically every way, dynamic range, noise, detail, color. Now why did I also agree with you? Well I compared my phone to the s21 ultra which has that 108mp sensor and by far even compared to the old beat Galaxy s8 it performed so much worse in every way, Less detail, so much more noise, color noise, artifacts and worse dynamic range (better DR than the s8 but worser than mine) which I dont understand how that is even possible.
@@masononemine1702 honestly probably pixel size and sensor architecture. That Sony sensor is probably 3D stacked BSI, or back side illuminated, which is a technology that Sony has mastered pretty well where the photoreceptor layer (pixel layer) is above the CMOS layer allowing for the electronics to be placed on a different layer giving you more pixel to work with than other CMOS sensors that aren't BSI. So the pixel size, sensor design, and overall component quality is most likely better in the Sony sensor. Not to mention the Sony sensors is probably quite a bit more expensive than the s8. Samsung also has bad processing compared to other SoCs for images. Lots of factors at play here to consider. I'd need to look at the breakdown and comparison on paper between the two. Might change my speculation on the differences, but that's my guess.
@@lunarwulfe I wish I could share RAW files from both phones. That said I have looked at the raw files from other Samsungs with 64mp sony sensors and they are all better than the s21 ultra's sensor in RAW performance.
I think I read somewhere that the 50mp sensor on the p6 is capped at 12.5mp or something. If that's even possible idk
Actually, I don't think Pixel ever ran stock Android. Nexus devices did, but ever since the first Pixel, Google introduced their "Pixel Experience" on top, so that means that they have features that are exclusive to their software, not built into Android as they should be. So when you see a new feature released on Pixel, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it on Samsung or whatever as well.
In my opinion, the closest to stock nowadays is in fact Motorola. They have their nice-to-haves as well like that chop chop gesture and so on, but Pixel is far more bloated with extra things that aren't in Android by default.
LE: People in the reply section are right: Even Nexus didn't run a 100% stock version of Android.
My bad.
Long live Nexus
no the pixel never did, it had stock android and a pixel skin on top
Then you run apk on samsung...or other phone lol
Xperia ui is also very close to stock
---
Yah, for the most "stock" Android-experience nowadays you'll have to go with devices that are run under "AndroidOne"-enviroment.
---
I think the 6a is a good phone and better than Sanmsung's offerings, especially the A53. Build quality and industrial design are on quite different levels from my perspective and the flagship chip of the 6a paired with the likely more optimized and lighter software it runs kinda justify its price tag and existence, not to consider the better cameras. I have to say that not taking the A52s in consideration when it's less than 300 Euros here where I live is difficult but in the end that remains a plasticky mid ranger while the 6a is a definitely higher end, more compact, faster and better built device.
I agree. You can have better specs and the SOC Is hot garbage then your experience is horrible. The 6a felivers
I think the bigger argument here is leaving qualcomm behind, and going to tensor. The reason most phones lose updates, is due to qualcomm's disinterest in supporting their chip. I liken it to Steam deck people missing the greater point being proton development for gaming on linux.
@@itsbekenotbecky I think you're confusing security patches for the OS, and qualcomm firmware updates. Only qualcomm will have control over that. Samsung doesn't write the code for qualcomm.
@@joevwgti. Samsung does 4 years of OS updates, and 5 years of security updates starting with the S21 series and newer.
@@stefanoliveira8718 Yes, but are those for the modem(radio) and the SoC's(qualcomm) firmware?
@@joevwgti. It's an OS update, as in from android 12-13, they aren't confused, 4 years of OS, 5 years of security.
@@JoeNokers perfect. So the reason I've stated you should leave Qualcomm behind, and go with tensor, remains because Qualcomm stops offering updates to their SoC. Those updates are not security or OS, they're firmware for the SoC specifically.
I love how he kept his Pixel 3 even though he is in a company that all about newest and greatest tech. Now, im so proud with my pixel 3 as my daily driver ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I miss the 3 XL... I had to buy a new one because the USB c was no longer registering properly on either side of things, neither the computer nor the phone was able to recognize each other correctly, and this resulted in getting locked out of the USB settings entirely... Then the battery almost exploded... I say almost because it is about as tight as a balloon and in the process of checking that out, the back was destroyed... So yet another phone that still "Technically" is working, but has some major problem that renders it unusable. When I got the 5, I was hoping that it would last longer, but it's specs were so similar to the 3 XL that it too failed to become my "daily driver" and it continues to fill in for where the 6 Pro fails, just as the 3XL was filling in for where the 5 was failing... I haven't had a good Pixel since the 3 XL.
Same here love the P3 but since the security updates stopped coming, I am in constant look for a new small phone. I had big hopes on P6a but I guess the search continues
@@kramo you can install custom Rom if you want
The original Pixel will always be the best phone I ever had. I loved it, but when the battery became unusable I moved over to the 3XL which was perfect but sadly it died a death. Insurance company could only provide a 3A XL, which was not the same :( The pixel 5 was not winning me over at the time, and I dislike other Android phones, so I ended up jumping to Apple and I am now happily daily driving the 12. I would still love to use my Pixel 3 XL though, even now.
@@bisalwayswright88 my personal history with anything from apple is riddled with the device in question outright noping out on me.
Essentially, I can break any electronic without even trying...but Apple is the worst offender when it comes to regaining the usability...other devices will eventually work, but Apple stuff just refuses regardless...and even people who are really good with Apple find my ability to break the software & os baffling.
Particularly whenever I am objectively doing Nothing unusual with the device in question.😑
I actually upgraded to the 6a recently and really like it, then again I'm coming from a Pixel 2XL which was my favorite phone of all time so it's a pretty big upgrade haha.
Hey, I am planning to buy 6a in a month. Can you tell me about the battery life and heating issues (if any) in android 13 update?
I did that as well, missed headphone jack both times by a generation
@@N0t0rious666 they have gotten fixed as of now
@@zoraizzia958 well wireless headphones are getting really affordable nowadays and you can get solid USB c headphones
The problem with the Pixel lineup is that Google wants to have a more "premium" brand out there.
Remember the Nexus stuff? That was about great specs/great price and stock Android.
Pixel is more like a Google club member offer, similar to Apple.
I loved my Nexus 5X. It was a good size for my hands, camera was great, it was light, the plastic on the back felt nice. My grandpa is still using it now, especially outside in daylight the pics are still really good for a phone so old.
My Nexus 6 was great, sucked that they couldn't figure out how to glue a plastic back to it tho.
I miss the Nexus 7 :(
@@JakeobE I had one too and no phone at the time matched it's size lol. Loved it though.
The back of the 6a is actually plastic and not glass. It does feel pretty convincing though
Being also a current Pixel 3 holdout, I truly appreciated Riley's perspective on how lackluster the 6a really is (and how it's pretty similar in size, at least)
Watching this video on my 5th Google Pixel 6 Pro. Literally just installed it today and I can't wait to see how long this one lasts before it fails catastrophically or suffers from more defects.
I shit you not, on launch my first one bricked itself mid-day on my 6th day of using it and refused to boot into android. Words cannot describe how much I loathe this phone for all the grief it's caused me. I can't even upgrade because I'm stuck in a lease so all I can do is constantly file insurance claims every time it develops some weird new bug that almost completely ruins the user experience.
Genuinely have never had this much buyers remorse with any other phone and I bought a Windows phone in 2017, so that's saying something.
@@juubilo1509 you have no idea how much I envy your decision, though the S22 Ultra wasn't out yet. That's the phone I'm aiming for once I can afford the down payment so I can get out of this nightmare loop of dead pixels.
holy shit how did you end up with a Windows phone this late?
I've had a 6 pro since launch. Sounds like you've just had extremely bad luck
@@michaelrichter2528 I was curious and it was cheap.
ngl, I kinda digged the UI, but man there weren't enough apps.
@@loganchamb that's what every other Pixel 6 user I meet tells me. My carrier is just as shocked every time.
For those curious between this 6a or the Samsung Galaxy A53, since no one mentions it because tech youtubers only compare spec sheets, the A53 is limited to 1080p MAX in RUclips whether cellular or Wifi, no matter what, and the Wifi is hard capped at around 250Mbps, where my old Pixel 3a can do 400+ Mbps wifi (plan at home is 400 down) and can do 4K video with it's Snapdragon 630 or whatever. The experience was not good and I returned it, stuck onto my 3a for a bit ,and now am trading it in for $300 off the 6a. If you care about using the phone, go for the Google Pixel 6a over Samsung.
The A53 is a different budget phone. It's a lot cheaper than the 6a. Here a A53 is €285 and the 6a is €469.
So not even sure why they compared the two. Not in the same ball park at all.
And if you can get 52s in your region it's probably better slightly slow than pixel 6a but much cheaper. Its basically a 53 but faster.
The pre order offer giving $300 trade-in credit for a pixel 3a (which only cost me $350 new to begin with) makes upgrading to the 6a a no-brainer. At essentially $150 the 6a is a fantastic value.
What the hell do you wanna do with +400Mbps connection on a phone, let alone mid-range one?
Why would I need 4k for a 1080p screan?
Personally, I LOVE my Pixel 4a. It is esentially a speced down version of the Pixel 5 but with a headphone jack. A couple of weeks ago I got display issues. Long story short: I decided to rather repair the 4a instead of buying a 6a...
Get the 5a5G, it's slightly faster, has a bigger screen, an UW, amazing battery life (thank 60Hz & 765G) & still retains the 3.5mm HP jack!
But all that doesn't matter if you want a compact phone I guess, since the 6a is even smaller than the 5a.
@@sushimshah2896 Not available in Europe / Germany :))
Same, the 4a is like nothing else in the market... Only issue I've had is a green bar in the screen... A little disappointed about that especially with the prohibitive cost of repair
@@felixbelanger2659 What do you mean with "green bar" ?
And yes, I feel you. Until now I had display issues two times, lucky enough, the first one was covered by warranty
@@toctoc9927 oh, so you at least have some better options than those living in NA in case you wanted to upgrade, but since you repaired the 4a, stick with it for another year at least imo!
For me, the biggest disappointment is the lack of a headphone jack. I still use mine all of the time because Bluetooth just doesn't cut it. I also regularly charge my phone and use headphone jack in the car, so an adapter for the usb-c port also won't work.
There are adapters that can adapt to usbc + headphone jack so you can charge and listen to music at the same time.
@@skytree3993 but why should I have to get that when they can just put a headphone jack in the phone. Others still do that on higher end phones so there is literally no reason that they can't.
I actually can't believe people are still moaning about headphone jacks. Couldn't imagine anything worse than having to go back to wired headphones.
@@PatrickEVRAable the audio quality is noticeably better on wired, I still haven't found Bluetooth headphones without delay, when traveling or at work it is not good to suddenly have to stop listening to what I am to charge them. Those are the problems that I have with Bluetooth and can't imagine being forced to use that.
@@PatrickEVRAable wireless audio quality is growing more passable, but some people don't wish to settle for mediocrity. Wireless peripherals are convenient, but if not for my cats having a penchant for attacking cables I'd still be running wired on my desktop.
I just went from a Pixel 2 to a Pixel 6 a few weeks ago. I really much prefer the finger print reader on the back, it's more ergonomic for me and unlocks faster and much more consistently. Other than that I quite like 6, wasn't really feeling the 6A.
The fingerprint sensor on back is great when you only carry the phone in pocket. The downside is when you put it in cradle on bike or mount it on car dashboard.
The lack of a 3.5mm jack is really what's killed it for me here. I would be willing to overlook all the rest of the flaws, since so few companies have kept around the jack.But that one decision has booted it off my list for my next device, when it would otherwise be near the top of it.
And considering microsdxc cards are pretty dirt cheap, up to 1TB capacity
"This was a great phone, until it starting dying" This has been my experience with every pixel after about a year sadly. Yet here I am with my Pixel 6.
It'll be 2 years at the end of October with my 4a. It never had been "dying". Planning a definite way to get a battery replacement for that one. I LOVE it. I came from a Motorola G4 Plus before that one - I usually buy a new phone every 3 years and this one is looking to go even further! It's still so snappy as well.
@@Lebon19 awesome, my pixel 3 did pretty well then just became unusable. I really miss that form factor, the pixel 6 is huge.
@@jasonallison1913 The Pixels are good phones for custom ROMs though. Maybe you can try lineage os with GAPPS and still run new stock Android versions.
I have my 2 XL for 4 years now and I even changed its battery, still going strong.
My Pixel 3 just started being kind of weird and battery was getting worse. So I got a Pixel 6 :)
As an LG phone refugee, the headphone jack and rear fingerprint sensor is what got me to buy a Pixel 5a. With those gone, I have no reason to ever buy another Pixel.
Still hanging on strong to my 4 year old v30+, having a properly placed rear fingerprint sensor and lock button really is underrated
I mean people complained when Apple made iPhone SE 3 with the same body as an iPhone SE 2 (iPhone 8)
They wanted the XR or 11 body with new chip
And now Google did what people wanted
A cheaper Pixel 6 Alternative with corner cuts
There still complaining!
If you wanna buy a Samsung A53 with fantastic 120hz, decent camera, and bloatwares to your knees
Nobody is stopping you
But, you won't get Pixel exclusive features which comes with Pixel only devices
I agree
60hz screen isn't a deal breaker for me
But, there are so many alternatives to Google Pixel
Like Nothing (1) - that has every bells and whistles of Android 12 but has an average camera
Samsung A53 - has the 120hz, decent camera processing but has Exynos chip
OnePlus Nord phones - Great phones, but far from Pixel like camera, and it's Android 12 looks like the same as Android 10
So, i think I agree with you
I've just switched from 4a to 6a (I dropped it kinda hard, rip, i loved it) and for now I can say I'm having the same smooth experience as I used to have with my previous 4a. So I don't get why some people don't like this new 6a. I think it's amazing. Also, the new design is neat, and yes, the underscreen fingerprint sensor maybe is a little hard to understand at the beginning, but I think you can get used to it. Speaking of the headphone jack I don't really have anything to say, I've been using Bluetooth earbuds for some years now and my experience is great
@桜の園 I registered my finger twice and never had a problem unlocking my 6a.
I love the 3a so much that when my Pixel 3a broke, I bought another one. It's getting old but it's STILL fast as hell, and it does everything you need, is a size that I find comfortable, and still packs all the features I like.
3a crew represent. I've had the same one since launch, with no major problems
@@Smitty_Werbenjagermanjenson i feel like these days the reason to buy upgrade phones on a regular cycle is really withering away
I always wanted to have one! Unfortunately pixel availability is very limited worldwide
@@ramr7051 what a shame
My Pixel 3a has been 100% flawless, and I feel absolutely no need to upgrade. It's still fast, the battery still lasts days, has enough storage, and the camera is the same as the Pixel 6a. Literally the only reason to even consider changing phones right now is software support, and even then... They're still only giving 3 OS updates.
Still rocking my Pixel 2, never had a problem with it, never needed any repairs of any kind. Love the true forward facing speakers, the rear fingerprint sensor, a bezel that houses the camera and speakers instead of a notch and no rear camera bump. If they brought all those things back for the pixel then I'd upgrade. Until then I'll stick with my trusty old 2.
How does your battery not die in a few hours? I still am running mine, but even when the battery gets close to 50% it decided to randomly restart. Was hoping the 6a would be a winner.
Yeah, the front facing speakers are great. The 6a really seems like a downgrade from the Pixel 2.
@@Kevin-zo5gg I don't excessively use it lots during the day, I'll listen to audiobooks while working, maybe play a game or lurk on the interwebs while on a break and still leave work with at least 25% battery remaining.
Still rocking my Pixel 2XL and agree with everything you said. And my previous phone was the Nexus 5, which I also used for 4 years. I actually don't think I'll be sticking around with Pixels after this. Just too many tradeoffs.
I still have a Pixel 2 XL. But it's now permanently attached to my GameSir X2. I use it for HDR PC game streaming via moonlight. I flashed LineageOS on it with no GAPPs.
GG3 is actually the best option IMO if you can't do Victus. 4 and 5 were softer to prevent cracks from dropping but over time they get many many more micro scratches in them than GG3 devices. On top of that, the harder compound makes sense for a budget phone since you may want to keep it longer than a flagship, so those micro scratches over time matter even more.
Ooh, super interesting! Thanks for sharing this!!
I legit bought a 6a instead of a 6 because of that.
I kept my 4a for 2 years without screen protector and the screen is still pristine, thanks to GG3.
@@oxeis916 Yeah for sure, there's ups and downs in both directions but IMO GG3 is the best they ever made until Victus came out which so far seems to be slightly more drop resistant than GG3 but nearly as scratch resistant, or at least I can't find any scratches on my Victus devices.
We need to be careful about how we compete these to a flagship. The people who generally buy the more affordable type of phones won’t care about the downgrades because the specs of these affordable phones is still fantastic. The quality of cameras has gotten to the point where most people can’t tell the difference, the same goes with the screen and speakers.
Agreed,
Agree about the fingerprint reader!!! It's the best for one handed operation if you don't want to be limited to your thumb.
I have 4a for 2 years and it's amazing, looking forward to upgrading to 6a best value for price
I had a Samsung A series I didn't like it at all
can trade the 4a in if it's not cracked and turns on for $300 towards the 6a
The big advantage of the pixel 6a is the size imo, all the other mid-range phones are huge. That i would say is the one thing that makes me consider it.
exactly. same here.
That's exactly why I bought the 6a (upgraded from a 3 because it was dying on me), but the speakers are pretty awful and I do really miss the rear fingerprint scanner. Also, no improvement with the camera is disappointing. I may just have to suck it up though, since I don't want a monster phone!
@@victoriaclark4170 Yeah on paper the camera tech seems disappointing. Though I saw a few direct comparisons to the pixel 6 and 6 pro and the difference is really minor, i couldn't rlly tell them apart
The 6a is also for people that want a smaller phone that's easy to understand. There is a different crowd for this and they mostly don't care for specs like most you tubers are talking about. I'm also coming from the 3 (as a back up phone) & am looking at either the iPhone 12 mini or 6a.
I wouldn't recommend the A53 5G, but the A52s 5G instead. It's basically the same phone, it has a slightly smaller battery and the display isn't as bright (but still decently) as the A53 ones but it has the way better SoC with the Snapdragon 778G instead if the Exynos with only 2 performance cores in the A53.
Yep, that's what I did. As a bonus, it's still got the headphone jack too! I don't think they sold the A52s in the US though, only the A52 5G, so it doesn't have the 778G chipset, but rather the 750G.
That phones sloww
@@generalginger7804 Compared to what?
@@b1txh pixel
@@generalginger7804 Yeah, from CPU and camera standpoint, I think it's easy to say that Pixel 6a will beat A52s 5G, but not by much specifically for the CPU.
Also, while being cheaper, A52s has:
1. Gorilla Glass 5 vs 3
2. 120 Hz OLED vs 60 Hz
3. Hybrid dual SIM
4. 8/256 GB vs 6/128 (microSD slot available)
5. *Headphone jack*
6. 4500 mAh vs 4410 (yeah not that big)
7. 25 W fast charger vs 18
So yeah, for the price, I definitely choose A52s 5G over Pixel 6a.
I am PISSED about them removing the back fingerprint scanner, like THATS WHERE MY FINGERS ARE ALREADY
Im glad someone pointed out that the placement of the fingerprint sensor on the pixel 3 was perfect. your fingers already touch the back of the phone it was great. I have long switched to an iphone because I'm not a big fan of the new android ui or samsungs, I switched to a pixel to get away from samsung.
The rear mounted fingerprint sensor is one of my favorite things about my Pixel 4a and I'm dreading the day that it dies/stops being supported because I really don't want to give this feature up.
First, it'll always be faster (maybe not in laboratory testing, but without exception in real-world use) than even the fastest under-screen sensor. With an under-screen sensor, I have to wait until I can see the screen in order put my finger in the right position with reasonable accuracy. With the rear mounted sensor, I can reliably unlock my phone as I'm taking it out of my pocket, ensuring that it is unlocked well before the phone is in front of my face.
Second, the rear mounted sensor allows for the "swipe down on the fingerprint sensor to bring down the notification bar" function to work. On the rare occasions that this doesn't work for me (maybe the back of the phone or my finger is a bit wet), I always find the "traditional" method of bringing down the notification bar to be incredibly uncomfortable to do one-handed. And that's with a 4a's relatively compact design! I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to bring down the notification bar one-handed without adjusting my grip if I had to swipe down from the top of the screen on a 6 Pro (or other similarly sized phone). My hands aren't even all that small!
I guess it makes sense, though. Alphabet/Google certainly has a history of taking away well regarded, widely used features without adequate replacement.
I really hate rear mounted fingerprint readers. I love the in screen one. And I dont see why everyone says its slow... its really not?!
@@anonymgamer3416 compared to other finger print sensors it is. You probably don’t notice cause of the fancy animation
@@johncarolin51 I hate my Pixel 4a sensor. Looking forward to 6a. After a $300 trade-in it is a no-brainer.
Side mounted is the best!!!
Okay so why did literally ever phone manufacturer go backwards and make literally worse and less capable phones after the s10 and iPhone X?
It's missing the headphone jack.......................................................so much for being the budget friendly alternative.
A traditional fingerprint reader has become my new headphone jack crusade. The side fingerprint sensor on my flip 3 is lightyears more responsive and accurate than any in-screen fingerprint reader I've even experienced. I don't even have a full grip on my phone before it's already unlocked and opened. And it works just as fast even when my finger is wet, dry, dirty, or has glue stuck on it. I'm happy to hear that the flip 4 will keep that sensor. I'd even be happy with a rear sensor. Lack of wireless charging I could live without but I do find it useful especially when having a battery bank around with wifi charging capability.
I love my Pixel 5a. The 6a just confuses me, though. The a phones are meant to be smartly cost-cut options for savvy buyers, but this one just looks like a cheap imitation of a Pixel 6 without delivering any of the nice features you'd want from that phone. I'm not in the market for a new phone yet, but in a couple years when I am, I'm going to look elsewhere if this is the direction Google is heading.
It's like a 5a just put into a new shell with a faster processor. The main deal breaker really is the 5 year old camera system, followed by the low RAM and lack of headphone jack... If they had included all of those features, I think they would have been well justified to charge even $500 for that phone, but of course, at that point it would cannibalise Pixel 6 sales.
I have similar feelings as a 5a owner as well. Not sure if the differences of this new model are worth trading in my 5a. I would prefer a smaller screen, longer support of updates, etc. This is tough because I can also relate with the things that you have mentioned.
5a user here too. I'm sticking with mine for a while yet. It hasn't seemed to have any of the issues the 6/6 Pro were plagued with. And I don't know if I'm getting a Pixel when I do upgrade; Google kind of lost me switching to the in-screen fingerprint scanner - I much prefer rear mounted ones.
@@Sci-Fi_Fan296 sorry but i dont get people on A series and changing every single year, why spending cheap money every single year? are you in a budget or you arent? if you arent then buy a galaxy (or similar) or so and keep it for 3 years, you will spend less money than surfing the budget level wave. My gf has the 4a since almost 2 years and she will keep it for prob another 2, because she actually IS in a budget.
@@xeon2k8 You make a valid point. The 5a was my 1st Pixel having traded an Iphone X for it. Its tough because I like the 5a but the 6a has some things that I have really wanted like the smaller form factor, pure google, etc etc I only bluetooth stream music so I wont miss the headphone jack. Plus, the trade in cost are elevated from Google right now if I pre-order the new phone. I will have a $150+tax cost outlay to upgrade from what I have now and could sell it and get another 5a for at least the cost if not more and be back to where I currently am or end up really liking the new phone and keeping it. Tough decision. Thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully this helps someone else also on the fence who's in a similar position.
Regarding the alternatives, I personally do not recommend the Galaxy A53 at all. It's basically exactly the same as the A52s, but with a slower chip, worse battery life (despite the larger battery), no headphone jack, and no charger in the box. The A52s is also cheaper. So in other words the A53 is worse than the A52s while costing more, which is why I can't recommend it.
Aside from that though, I really enojoyed this one. Riley tends to be fun to watch, and this was no exception.
My aunt asked me to set up her new A53 for her. It was such an awful, sluggish experience. The part that kills me is Samsung’s decision to pack in a 120hz display. The chipset can’t keep up and it’s just sad. Why incur the cost and battery penalty of a 120hz panel when the rest of the hardware can’t maintain smooth animations even in the absolute best case scenario?
I love my pixel 3a and I've been so disappointed to see that every new generation after it has become less and less appealing.
Honestly, I might just go with a fairphone
I'm on 6a as well and none of these newer phones appeal to me.
I am surprised your didn't brick during android 12 updates, a ton of people did and it is not recoverable
@@dustcake2576 oof that sucks. Yeah mines been a very stable workhorse honestly
@@dustcake2576 That was a thing? I'm still rocking a 3a too and never had any issues
@Benjamin Jagun day 1 updates is what bricked tons of pixels with EDL
1:51 It should be noted that the Pixel 6a does NOT have a glass back. It's actually made of "thermoformed plastic" as Google puts it.
10:35 and 12:45 sounds like Google’s Pixel team cut corners in bad ways to meet a Price Point, and the Samsung Galaxy is just an objectively better long term value in durability, build quality, and longevity.
Doesn't the pixel get longer software support tho? I feel like longevity goes to the pixel.
@@ren8 nope! Samsung gets 4 years of updates, this pixel gets 3.
Agree that Google is drinking their own coolaid believing that the premium in price is well deserved. There's some things about the pixels that are good, but they're not longer better than anyone else at anything i think. Samsung releases phones with more stable software, better hardware quality, and better bang for your buck overall. No 90hz display on this pixel is a biiig disappointment.
@@ramr7051 Very true, the only advantage pixel 6a has over competition at this point is small size, but even that isn't a pro for everyone
They took away the headphone jack, installed fragile glass back and put in smaller battery. The 5a was the perfect phone except for short update support. Very sad😮💨
I've had the Pixel 6 Pro for months now and its easily the best phone I've ever had. My entire home is controlled by Google assistant so having that built-in menu helps with turning on and off devices/lights. Also, the battery is insane, I play 3-4 hours on emulators at work and still haven't seen my battery below 50%. I'm completely happy with it.
I personally think that this time these creators just doing injustice with pixel..
Totally agree. I have the Pixel 6, and as I'm not a mobile gamer or anything, my battery routinely lasts 2+ full days on a single charge. I do very much miss my headphone jack and Quad DAC of my old LG V series phones though. Even with the latest spec, Bluetooth audio just sucks in my opinion.
Have it since release too and I personally find it pretty buggy AND weirdly hot since recently
But also, I'm running the Android 13 Beta so I can't really complain about the software part
I'm gonna be that guy and ask what job you have where you can play 4hrs of emulators at work?! Because you know we all want that haha
@@GeorgeThoughts it isn't a super high paying job but basically I work IT at a place with my wife who is at home nurse for an elderly person. I basically make sure her security, internet and medical services are up and running 24/7. So, when nothing is going on, I get to just chill and play emulators.
The size and price of pixel 6a are the most valuable features for me. And there is much more to this including a mighty chipset. Prior to buying the device I've done some research concerning the specs and it turned out pixel 6a was far ahead of its closest competitors. The shortcomings are not really an issue for me.
My Pixel 6 has been a buggy mess since I got it.
To me the pixel A series selling point was always about four things :
- affordable price
- headphone jack
- high quality plastic
- great software
So seeing a new pixel with no jack, cheap back glass, 450$ price tag and a recent history of catastrophic software, yeah umm...
The back is still plastic tho....
Keep the headphone jack and the rear fingerprint reader on the A series... I use the active edge function on my 3A daily, I don't know why they removed that feature either...
They want you to buy the more expensive phones.
@@smurfyday none of those features are on the Pixel 6 Pro, the most expensive Google phone... so that logic falls flat
But this phone still won MKBHD's camera test though... So the camera should be more than just decent right?
my biggest gripe with the A53 is for however cheap it is, it's massive... android needs more compelling [small] phones... otherwise, i'm sitting waiting for the plain S22 to drop in price...
It's also very very slow and choppy. Idk why none of these reviewers are talking about that.
@@K4LZ It's fast when new
@@K4LZ facts. I went from a pixel 4a 5g to the a53 and I hate this phone. The biggest issue with this phone is the processor. Photos taking up to 10 seconds sometimes to processor is unacceptable and that's with every possible Samsung bloatware disabled or uninstalled.
Also I got better battery life with my pixel then I do with the a53. My pixel at end of shift would be around 18%. My a53 usually is around 5%.
I picked up a Samsung a53 5G. I returned in it less than a week. Lots of reviewers comparing. But I highly recommend against the a53 5G. The 120hz screen is fine. But the processor is soooooo slow. You click an app and wait 2-3 seconds for it to load properly. Which seems like a nitpick. But that time adds up quick. And the camera app was also quite slow.
I had Pixel 2XL for almost 4 years, then stuck one year with Xiaomi Mi 10 and now I'm rocking Pixel 6 Pro and I'm very satisfied. Yes, Pixel 6 / 6 Pro had some software issues and bugs but now with Android 13 (beta 4) it looks like, Google finally solved everything! I have no more problems with fingerprint reader or overheating, like i had before.
I am a long time Samsung user but recently switched to the Pixel 6 Pro now running beta 4 of Android 13 and couldn't be happier.
I'm planning on upgrading my Samsung S9 next year. And it's going to be either the pixel 6a or the galaxy S22. The size is the main factor.
I also hate that after 3-4 years phones still have notches, a tiny bezel like the S9 had is a way better solution than cutting a hole in the screen.
my gf is still rocking my old S8, which has a really slim and nice design. This and S9 have the sexiest timeless design
I hear the S23 will be a killer upgrade from its predecessor! I'm a Galaxy user (S2, S7, and now S20), and it's an exceptional system--although I I got my mom a 5a last year, and it's extremely intuitive which makes me consider Pixel's lineup
I've never owned a pixel but I think the goal is the software experience as opposed to other device manufacturers that focus on hardware
I have no regrets for buying the Pixel 4a. Amazing phone in every way to me! Had the 3a before that and it was just as great but I broke it unfortuantely.
Same experience here! (Except I came from a Motorola G4 Plus, not the Pixel 3a)
ikr, I bought it and recommended my gf to do so as well and we both have been happy with it or at least i am xD she really disliking the battery life, it calling emergency services etc
Google doesn't sell Pixel 6 here in India ,only 6a . But people are selling imported units on Amazon for the same price.🙃
I was so hoping that this phone would be good, I have small hands like Linus and hate big phones. The Pixel A series are apparently the only ones that don't have huge screens. Unfortunately the lack of wireless charging, the slightly slow fingerprint reader and quite big price for it are killing it here. I don't even mind the 60Hz display or the lesser camera setup.
Anyone know a stock Android phone that is around 15cm height around €400 with wireless charging, good battery / fingerprint? Doesn't seem to exist anymore :'(
A refurbished S20 would be your best bet I think. It's 15.17 cm, 120hz, and has wireless charging. If you can find a refurbished s21 in your budget definitely a good pick too. If you don't want to buy refurbished I don't think there is any option.
These aren't stock android obviously but you can always flash a custom ROM or install a third party launcher.
There are some good new phones like the Samsung A53, Poco x4 GT, Poco F4 and the earlier F3 if on a good deal. Those however don't support wireless charging and are somewhat big.
Edit:
The nothing phone one is also a good option, although it is 15.92 cm in height.
I am using an S22 which is decent for small hands. The software kinda sucks though and the settings menus are a mess compared to the OnePlus I had before.
Asus has their Zenfone line which is pretty much top of the line and compact. If also runs close to stock Android
It might be that something like the Nothing One is what you are looking for.
@@arjdroid Nothing phone is 6.55 inches in size. Almost the same size as 13 pro max.
Found it. Funny that he dissed the fingerprint reader on the pixels and then a few seconds later he went to unlock his Samsung and took twice as long
I completely regret getting my Pixel 6. The battery life is unpredictable, the software is spotty at best. In low signal areas it is incapable of working out whether or not to use wifi calling or not. More often than not it drops calls in these cases as it tries and fails to switch back and forth. The fingerprint sensor is slow as hell and unreliable at best. Just all around not worth the hassle to own.
I completely agree. I also had issues with the Bluetooth connection (especially with wireless earbuds) and the phone gets way too hot when I'm doing simple things like browsing news articles
interesting, I have none of these problems, at all
Dunno what you're talking about. Mines great and I constantly get 8½-9 hours on my battery
This is exactly my experience
It's a real shame about people's poor experiences and googles inconsistency, mine has personally been nearly flawless and only improving with software
I'd love a follow up video of Riley unboxing the Samsung phones.
A note about the Galaxy A53 you mentioned: If you wanna get a Samsung phone, you should get the A52s instead. The A53 is an upgrade to A52 but a downgrade to the A52s. It lacks a headphone jack and has a slower SoC, for example.
I'm mostly disappointed it doesn't have a headphone jack. All I really want is that, a small screen and no bloatware.
Guess I'll likely get it still unless I can wait to see the 7 and 7a.
I love the Pixel 6 series personally. Display is excellent, processor is excellent, haptics excellent, software though buggy at launch has become stable. I have had a great experience with mine but I also acknowledge that some users didn't have a good time when the phone first launched.
Same! Love my 6 Pro
Love my 6, so simple and a great user experience
Agreed. My experience with the P6P has been wonderful.
Ditto
Have had a 6 since launch after upgrading from a 3a. Absolutely love it, haven't had any issues that people are reporting online.
A53 has better spec than pixel 6a?!?! Firstly, Tensor vs. high mid-range Exinos chip?! No way the Exinos beat Tensor. Secondly, you were right about megapixels being not the most important camera spec. I owned a pixel 3 and 4a. But I also owned A52s which basically had the same camera with A53 and frankly, the 2-3 years older camera were out of its league. Wayyy better. Yeah it sucks that they increased the price and got rid of the headphone jack. Also sucks that the display tops at 60 Hz. But it seems like you were being harsh when comparing it to other phones
Riley needs to try an S22, not the plus or ultra. That seems like a logical upgrade, Samsungs UI is much much better than years past, the camera is excellent and the screen is top notch and an actually usable fast fingerprint reader.
I ended up going with the regular S21 about three weeks ago (it had dropped to half the price of the S22, and was even cheaper than the iPhone 11), and boy, was it worth it!
I used to argue that you should avoid Samsung as a whole just because they tried so hard to be different. Non configurable nav buttons. Forcing you to use bixiby. But found out the changed that since I used an S7 (I think. Dunno. Long time ago lol) but I decide to try the flip 3. Been happy with it. Samsung isn't getting in the way of my Android experience. Feels similar to my LG G8X with only a few changes
The Google Pixel 2 XL is my favorite handset I've owned, I have and iPhone now but am thinking of buying a Pixel 7 because the software rocks!
You didn't mention one of the most important things about Pixel. How long does it get OS and security updates compared to other Android brands? I think this is still a no-brainer purchase in favor of the Pixel
i think samsung now grants the same if not more years even on A series
Samsung currently offers updates for longer. 3 years for security on Pixel, 4 on Samsung.
Nothing is going to make me give up my Pixel 4a. Its compact size is so rare these days and I love the camera.
Absolutely,, stunning camera
When I bought my Pixel 3a, I did it because Amazon had it for $100 off on Black Friday. Given Riley's review, they might have to do something similar this year to really move units.
Yes Google is offering $300 trade-in credit for a Pixel 3a right now
@@Skyhanger Thanks, but when I started the order and got to the trade-in part, I clicked on the details and it says that another company is responsible for the trade-ins, not Google, they determine the value, and you agree that you may get nothing for the trade-in after the evaluation of your phone. Maybe that is standard fine print for trade-ins, but I got nervous and stopped the order when I found out it wasn't Google who was responsible for doing the trade-in.
@@jamesrobertson504 yeah I hear ya - it would be good to be confident that if they don't assess it at $300, that you are free to return the 6a. I'm quite certain my phone will be fine - battery at 90% capacity, screen has no cracks & the phone is usable. I'm willing to take the risk as the 3a is definitely on its last legs!
Still rocking a pixel 3 myself. When I need to upgrade, the path all the way up to 5 is nice and simple with no nonsense.
As soon as I catch up to 6, I'm going to have to swap to something else instead. They've just screwed up most of what makes pixels great.
I had a Pixel 6 Pro and absolutely loved it! it was a great phone, but I replaced it because the curved screen cost me two replacements. waiting for the 7 series and hoping they don't have curved screens.
I went from a 3XL to a standard 6 because I required that my phone have official updates for work purposes.
It's alright.
My SO has been using a 3 (small hands) and we waited for the 6a for the size
I truly enjoy using my 5. Great battery life with my usage, reliable camera, and most importantly it's a small phone that I can take on multiday hikes without being annoyed at the extra weight in my pocket! Of course, it also fits perfectly in my pocket.
Very glad I'm not the only one that loves the rear sensor, it's in the pixel 5 as that's what Ive been running right now... Went from pixel 1 to 3 to 5 I don't think I'll upgrade to the 7 cause no rear sensor... It's that game breaking
I'll gladly give up my camera for the rear sensor
Same here! After the Pixel 5, I'll probably move away to Samsung
I still have a 3a xl and it's also starting to go so I was hoping to jump up to the 6a but... no headphone jack, huh. The other stuff doesn't bother me that much, since this was going to my 2nd phone, but no headphone jack really killed it for me.
5a 5G is still a super good deal if it's still available
@@Niccckk I was looking at that recently bc I thought "maybe" but I'm not a fan of how the 5 line looks. It's kinda why I skipped it and the 4 line at first.
@@AamitMorthos agreed. 4 to 5 looks super bland. Pixel 2 & 3 was peak pixel. I had a pixel 2 and it was a really good phone. I have a 4a 5G now... Hoping to get the Pixel 7 this fall
I've only had my Pixel 5a for 11 months. Glad there isn't any pressure to swap it out for this.
still using my Pixel 3a, sad that the lines going down. 3a is still an amazing phone, never had any issues with speed, starting to have battery life issues with it only getting 15 to 25hrs of battery life depending on usage but it's still damn good
wow you're lucky. mine kept lagging more & more - ended up overheating 6 weeks ago & hasn't been the same since & thankful Google will take $300 for it - it's almost like they know a good chunk of 3a users will stay instead of jumping ship like I was ready to next month!
As someone who has a pixel 6 I think the 6a is a bit of a fumble. It's only 50 dollars cheaper than the cheapest I've seen the 6 on sale for while having some questionable downgrades such as the screen and camera. They put a glass back on it for seemingly no reason yet didn't include wireless charging. They kept the under screen finger print reader, which despite being patched over time, is still garbage in comparison to the back mounted one. And they removed the headphone jack, which was the saving grace if my 3a back when I had that.
I'd hold off on pixel phones for the time being, or get an older "a series" device and install a custom ROM on it once Google's updates end.
The reason for the glass back is every phone company is doing it. Apple was one of the ones to truly push it, with their glass backs that would instantly shatter if you dropped them in earlier models. For me glass backs are truly moronic... Back when I was a kid, a phone was a phone.
Glass will shatter instead of chip, and if it does chip it's much harder to repair than say plastic or aluminium. It's much heavier in your pocket. It shows fingerprints much easier. Honestly I just don't get phone companies today, it's like they are trying to kill off mobile phones for good.
I've got my eye on the Zenfone 9 right now waiting for more official info (should be making an announcement next week). Love the leaked form factor, look, and specs so far.
Me too i want a compact phone but still have flagship specs not just a cut down mini ver for cheaper price
You did see the leaked product launch video??
It looks like a P50 mini from the rear!
I wish we had more phones like the P50E as well, just cut down SoC but with everything else the same including the cameras! The X70 Pro was also another great phone imo, sad to see it's successor tho!
ZF9 is incredible h/w wise but I just wish they release a *Lite/Dimensity* version too with *D8100/1300 or SD7G1/778G+/870* instead!
I know the 8+G1 is more efficient and all but it's still a lot for that tiny FF & a more, shall I say sedate chip would give waaay better battery life while still being plenty powerful for 90% of the stuff!
that's on a whole other price bracket though. i don't see how they're gonna sell that thing at $800+ with barely any modifications from the Zenfone 8 other than the chipset. the 8 itself is an amazing compact alternative to this Pixel trainwreck right now, at like $550. Asus isn't the best software-wise though
My race is between the Xperia 5 iii , Samsung s22 and the Zenfone 8 or 9 (depending on the price of the 9, but I expect it to be too high ). These are all
@@felipecardel upgraded chipset (ofc), unlike some chinese phones re-releasing D1300/SD870 phones identical to their predecessors!
But it also has an upgraded sensor (686->766) & a slightly larger battery & a redesigned body with side-mounted fps like the Sonys!
But yeah I don't expect it to be priced anywhere near it's predecessor given QC's increased pricing!
That's why I wish they release a Dimensity/Lite version too for sub-$500!
The rear fingerprint scanner should never have been taken. It is a must.
My favorite host in the whole LTT
My least favorite, but at least they have a lot of them.
Riley’s alt account detected
Arrived here from Juan Bagnells channel and this feels like going back in time. Feature check list shallow reviewers. This style is so 2000s.
I was waiting for the Pixel 6a. Was within my budget but when I read the specs and found out it doesn't include wireless charging, I hopped on craigslist and bought a slightly used Pixel 6 Pro for $100 more. Also looked at the Galaxy A53 but it's not a huge leap vs the A52 and it ditches the headphone jack.
The used market has the Pixel 6 for cheaper than a new pixel 6a. Unless you like the smaller screen, the used market has made the 6a pointless
While I enjoy my A53, I absolutely hate that the Exynos chipset means for me that I can no longer install any Google Camera app ports, which, at least before, were the greatest in image quality and overall functionality in terms of the camera experience.
@@drakulaman You can probably sideload the APK (i.e. manually install the app onto your A53)
@@nintendoatarikiller That is exactly what I mean, but the Exynos chipset means that the Camera2 API for the app is not supported as it is only available on Qualcomm CPUs. Because of this, the only thing that works is Open Camera on Play Store, but it's nowhere near the GCam.
A53 is just disappointing
My Pixel 3 was also dying and I finally upgraded to a Pixel 6 and my biggest issue is the size/weight difference. Phones are just too big and heavy to my liking now. The 6a is slightly smaller than the 6 but it still looks to be noticeably bigger than the 3. Here's hoping the 7a or 8a is smaller
calling the 4a eh felt very weird. It was even more well received than the 3a or the 5a.
No way, the 3a was way more monumental and we'll received
@@superhamz7 I’ll give you that, but saying it was worse than the 5a is off. I remember everyone dunking on the 5a because it was a worse value than the 4a
I don't take short circuit serous for phone reviews since they are first impressions and unboxings. and it's hard to take influencer phone reviews seriously since they can switch phones at a drop of a hat and get them for free. but to me at least it does feel like the Pixel 6 it the better deal, if google had priced the pixel 6a at $399 it would blow the Pixel 6 away.
As a Pixel 4 owner, I got a coupon from Google a while ago to upgrade to the vanilla 6 for less than the cost of the 6a. I've been enjoying it so far!
I'm also a little disappointed by the 6a. I finally got rid of my original pixel for a 5a and I love it. The 6a really seems like it's not an upgrade from the 5a. It has the same camera, a smaller display, a smaller battery, and no headphone jack. It really just isn't a tempting upgrade for me at all. I'm hoping that the 7a is a bigger jump as I will probably be looking for another upgrade around then.
Basically no phone released this year is an upgrade to the last one.
Better CPUs don't matter anymore for everyday user and as long as they are going to keep the punchhole there will be no reason to upgrade from a 2020/21 phone.
Pretty huge uplift in performance if that matters to you
@@DanKaschel The performance benifit is something I thought about, but it's not a huge benefit to me. There's nothing I use my phone for that the 5a feels slow doing. Do you know if the tensor chip makes up for the smaller battery? I'm also a little sad that they got rid of the headphone jack. i understand that it's not something a lot of people care about, but I still like using wired headphones.
How I felt with the Pixel 4XL vs the Pixel 5. I ended up waiting, and getting the Pixel 6 Pro.
@@duckaerobics the battery life is reportedly pretty good (not amazing but better than the pixel 6). The tensor chip helps but the 60hz screen helps even more.
I personally value performance a ton, but in fairness most performance issues are related to the OS more than the hardware as long as you're not using bottom tier hardware. Except for gaming and I don't understand gaming on phones. If it's not sudoku I want a decent screen :p
Are we not gonna talk about Ryle casually doing ShortCircuit without roasting non-Techlink LMG channels?
I for one have never cared about the camera experience, I just want a camera that is good enough. so I’m glad to see that “midrange” phones are stepping up and being the good enough option so we don’t have to spend obnoxious amounts on phones with features you don’t care about just to make sure you get processors that aren’t horrible. I want to get hands on with a 6a, but I’m fairly sure its gonna be bigger than I’d like so I’m gonna be on the fence between dealing with samsung’s nonsense with an s22 or possibly looking at the asus zenfone 9
Traits a pixel needs to have:
1. Fingerprint sensor on back
2. Small formfactor
fellow Pixel 3 fan here! I upgraded to the 5a and have been really happy with it. I agree that Pixel seems to have lost its way, but the 5a (with 5g) seems like maybe the next "peak" since the 3
5a wasn’t even available in a lot of countries the regular 5 was in
FYI, USD $449 at the current exchange rate is CAD$578.33, but the Canadian Google Store lists the 6a at CAD$599, a twenty-dollar difference. I guess they thought the higher price was sexier.
Samsung phones has had object eraser for over 2 years (though it isn't that amazing). They also have reflection eraser & picture recommended upscaling which is extremely useful.
@Benjamin Jagun lmao... Samsung has the best phone editing software. Miles ahead of Google and Apple. Changing portrait background effects, upscaling, object eraser, reduces blur automatically, removes lines from monitor screens, reflections eraser. And apple will get Android features like this probably never lol. Every android phone has bloatware. It's like if you're smart enough to get rid of all the bloatware, Samsung is still better than a pixel in pretty much every aspect of the device both hardware and software. Google has had nothing but issues with the 6 and 6 pro. Samsung got them in virtually every category
@Benjamin Jagun if the pixel 6 pro would've had less buggy software I would've traded in my S21 Ultra. I have had 0 bugs or issues with Samsung software why go to something less reliabile, and significantly less powerful hardware
Samsung as a company tries to be the 'first' to introduce new features, even if they're crap at launch.
@@nyesExpress but you still never know the situation where it works while the others don't have the opportunity at all
@@JaY_PLaY_YT I disagree. I would prefer a phone manufacturer to release 10 features and 9 of them work well rather than bloating a phone with a 100 features and 20 work well. This is where Google is better than Samsung (bugs are different, Google is much buggier at present) and Apple is much much better than Android.
The back of the phone isn't glass. They state it's a "3D thermoformed composite back".
As soon as they added a hole punch it went downhill. I'm really sad about it, too. I wanted to upgrade my 4 into a 7 but it's more likely I'm getting an SE 2022. Not having a rear fingerprint reader or face unlock makes Pixels rather unappealing. Android 12 is also unbearably gross compared to 10. It's just getting less and less enticing.
Get the 5a5G if HRR isn't necessary (I'm assuming it isn't since u r considering the SE3).
Or get any other phone from among the sea of alternatives instead of the SE3!
The se has awful battery life and the camera is meh
Wrong. 3 was good. 4 had the worst battery life. 5 was great. 5a was peak Pixel.
who need "wireless charging" when you need to completely stick it on the charging pad all the time, and you cant use your phone at the same time.
I loved my early Pixels. It just didn't seem to make sense though to upgrade from the 3 to 4. I would have still been using my 3 if it didn't start having issues with bugs that annoyed me in the UI. But instead it just ended up being better for me (and cheaper) to move from the Pizel 3 to an older iPhone.
I used to be a nexus owner and a pixel aficionado for mostly the same reasons as you Riley. After Samsung started supporting their phones for 4 years there really aren't many reasons left to buy a pixel these days with the subpar hardware and issues they have.
On my last phone upgrade I got a A52 5g (last one with a headphone jack) and it still is ok other than the usual software bloat which I can live with it turns out. Also Samsung hasn't missed a beat so far with the software updates which used to be one of their low points especially for mid range phones.
the reason is that one UI is pure shit but don't worry Google is doing it's best t fuck up Android
every iteration since 7 has gotten worse and worse , since they got rid of the vertical app switcher menu and copied the inferior IOS one , all they do is remove features and add useless garbage nobody wants or asked for or some broken gimmick 9 was worse than 8 , 10 was better that 9 , 11 was worse and 12 even is worse and removes even more useful stuff like the power button menu smart home control in exchange for garbage
Yeah, Samsung currently offers the best software support out of everyone. 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates starting with all S20 series further, and they included the A53 as well, so future A series phones will also get that support.
I personally loved the 4a . It costed 350 usd and nailed all the basics . Now that they’ve increased the price up to 450 2 years in a row it’s a lot less appealing.
I just miss LG phones. They didn't have much if any bloatware and had amazing cameras for their price point.
Still driving my 4a 5g. Served me well, but I was considering this as an update
Bruh you got years to go on that. The 4a is really solid.
I had a pixel 3xl for years, only upgraded to the 5a last year because it was the first pixel that felt like an actual upgrade to the 3xl
As I said on MKBHD's review, the fingerprint reader change is a huge disappointment for me.
A major reason I chose the Nexus 5X, and then the Pixel 3a when the Nexus crapped out, was the rear-mounted reader. I absolutely LOVE being able to unlock my phone as I pull it out of my pocket, using the same hand position I used to grab it in the first place. And I absolutely LOVE the ability to swipe down the notification shade without having to shift my grip or get my other hand involved. These are small benefits, but they make a huge difference.
Once my 3a dies, I thought I might begrudgingly accept an in-screen reader-IF it performed just as well. But learning that it doesn't is a big bummer. I seriously regret not getting the 5a when I had the chance. I would seriously consider finding a refurbished 5a at this point.
The fingerprint reader is fine, I've had the Pixel 6 Pro for 4 months now and not once has an issue with it. Even this review was like "it's slow" and they demonstrated it working perfectly.