Hey there! If you‘re trying to decide between Google‘s latest flagship Pixel 7 Pro and their impressive mid-range Pixel 6A, this detailed comparison will break down how they stack up. I‘ll summarize their key similarities and differences before diving into an in-depth, spec-by-spec analysis. My goal is to provide expert insight to help you determine which Pixel best fits your needs and budget.
In short: The Pixel 7 Pro justifies its higher $899+ cost with extras like a sharper LTPO display, cutting-edge Tensor G2 chip, triple camera lenses, more RAM, and additional storage. But the $449 Pixel 6A still packs impressive performance, versatile photography, and excellent battery life into a less premium yet still striking design. Let‘s explore why both make compelling options this year!
At a Glance Comparison
Before getting to the nitty gritty details, here is a high-level overview:
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | Google Pixel 6A | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7" QHD+ LTPO OLED, 120Hz adaptive, 1300 nits peak | 6.1" FHD+ OLED, 60Hz, ~500 nits peak |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G2 | Google Tensor (Gen 1) |
| Memory | 12GB RAM 128/256/512GB ROM | 6GB RAM 128GB ROM |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (Wide) 12MP (Ultrawide) 48MP (Telephoto) | 12.2MP (Wide) 12MP (Ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 10.8MP | 8MP |
| Battery Life (Approx.) | 31 hours 72 hours (Extreme saver) | 29 hours 72 hours (Extreme saver) |
| Charging | 30W wired Fast wireless charging | 18W wired Wireless charger extra |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Biometrics | In-Display Fingerprint Scanner | In-Display Fingerprint Scanner |
| Price (USD) | $899+ | $449 |
So at over double the cost, the Pixel 7 Pro brings extras like a smoother 120Hz display, telephoto zoom lens, upgraded Tensor chip, more RAM, higher storage tiers, and slightly faster charging speeds.
But both deliver long battery life, vibrant OLED screens with fingerprint scanners, competitive performance from Google‘s Tensor chip, dual rear cameras for flexible shooting, and Android 13 software under the hood. Now let‘s examine those shared traits and differences in more detail!
Display Showdown
While their sizes differ, both Pixel displays utilize OLED technology for striking vibrancy. According to DisplayMate‘s lab analysis, the Pixel 7 Pro matches its predecessor at an impressive peak 1300 nits brightness along with perfectly calibrated color accuracy. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6A lands around 500 nits max brightness based on Tom‘s Guide testing – plenty bright for indoor and outdoor use.
I‘ll break down some key areas of distinction:
Screen Size
- Pixel 7 Pro: 6.7 inches
- Pixel 6A: 6.1 inches
The Pro‘s larger canvas provides more real estate for multimedia and games. But the 6A remains easily pocketable while giving you enough room to comfortably browse and text.
Resolution
- Pixel 7 Pro: 1440 x 3120 pixels (QHD+)
- Pixel 6A: 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+)
At over 500 PPI, visuals on the 7 Pro look incredibly sharp whether reading text or viewing media. The 6A dips slightly under 430 PPI but still delivers exceptional detail.
Refresh Rate
- Pixel 7 Pro: 10-120Hz adaptive
- Pixel 6A: 60Hz
By automatically adjusting between 10 and 120 Hz, animations and scrolling appear smoother on the Pro. But a constant 60 Hz still handles daily productivity and entertainment just fine on the 6A.
Protection
- Pixel 7 Pro: Gorilla Glass Victus
- Pixel 6A: Gorilla Glass 3
Both feature durable Corning glass. But the Victus shielding the more premium Pro rates a 7 out of 10 on Mohs scale of hardness versus 6 for the 6A‘s Gorilla Glass 3, according to 9to5Google testing.
Overall, only pixel peepers are likely to notice shortcomings of the 6A‘s excellent mid-range display versus the stunning Pro screen. But 90Hz+ variable refresh rates are growing more common in its price bracket if that matters to you.
Performance and Battery Benchmarks
Google‘s new second-generation Tensor G2 silicon powers the Pixel 7 Pro with upgrades focused on AI, security, photography, and efficiency. In benchmarks, that translated to a 20-37% processing boost over the already speedy first-gen Tensor in the Pixel 6A, per TechRadar and Tom‘s Guide testing.
Let‘s analyze the key performance specs powering each phone:
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | Google Pixel 6A | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G2 | Google Tensor (Gen 1) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.85 GHz + 2×2.35 GHz + 4×1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2×2.8 GHz + 2×2.25 GHz + 4×1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G710 MP07 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| AI Engine | Third-generation Tensor Core | Second-generation Tensor Core |
| Benchmark Performance* | Geekbench: 1,047 single / 3,257 multi 3DMark Wild Life: 4,030 | Geekbench: 1,047 single / 2,925 multi 3DMark Wild Life: 4,030 |
* via Tom‘s Guide
You can expect silky smooth response in apps, games, AR content and more on both Pixels thanks to those speedy Tensor chips. But the G2 nets around a 10-15% bump in benchmarks.
More importantly, their AI-focused design translates to big real-world wins:
- Enhanced speech processing for quicker, more accurate voice dictation and Recorder transcription
- Next-gen photography capabilities like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur
- Beefed up on-device security via the Titan M2 chip
As for battery life, the Pixel 7 Pro and 6A both excel according to Tom‘s Guide testing:
- Pixel 7 Pro: lasted 31 hours on average
- Pixel 6A: ran for 29 hours on average
So no matter which you pick, expect all-day endurance for messaging, web browsing, mapping, and more. When you do need to top up, the Pro juices up quicker at 30W speeds (with 50% charge in about 35 minutes) versus 18W charging on the 6A according to CNET. Wireless charging on Pixel stands is faster on the Pro as well. But wired charging remains speedy enough on both.
Camera Capabilities
Google is well known for its computational photography prowess – and that continues with the 7 Pro and 6A. Despite having just two rear lenses compared to the Pro‘s three, the Pixel 6A captures shots that can rival far pricier phones according to CNET, Tom‘s Guide and Wired testing.
Rear Camera Hardware
- Pixel 7 Pro: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto
- Pixel 6A: 12MP wide (w/OIS), 12MP ultrawide
The Pro pulls ahead with its sharper main sensor, 4x optical zoom capabilities from 48MP telephoto lens, and wider f/1.85 aperture for better low light shots.
Photo Quality
But thanks to Google‘s image processing, the 6A still takes stellar photos with accurate exposure, lifelike detail, and vivid color in good lighting. When the lights drop, its OIS stabilization and Night Sight mode aid low light shots too.
The Pro has better heavy cropping flexibility thanks to its high-res main lens. And its telephoto optic beats the 6A‘s 8x Super Res Zoom digitally zoomed shots. But expect great results suitable for sharing straight from camera regardless of environment on both models.
Special Features
You‘ll also find the same Magic Eraser, Motion blur removal and improved Real Tone skin tone rendering on both to enhance things further. So unless you need deeper zooming ability, their dual cameras cover most every mobile photographer‘s needs.
Selfie Cams
- Pixel 7 Pro: 10.8MP, f/2.2
- Pixel 6A: 8MP, f/2.0
Their front facing shooters both capture tons of fine detail in good light. And leveraging AI smarts for portrait photography duties, shots showcase crisp foreground focus with artfully blurred backgrounds. If you take lots of selfies and video calls, the Pro does maintain sharpness better in low light. But the 6A holds its own nicely again given the price difference.
Video Recording
Either Pixel shoots stable looking 4K footage at 30 or 60 fps that exhibits fine detail and accurate colors during playback. Their stabilization keeps handheld clips steady as well. So you truly can‘t go wrong capturing crisp mobile video and timelapses to share online or archive personally.
Design Showcase
The Pixel 7 Pro sports a more premium design befitting its flagship status. Its metal frame features a continuous polished aluminum band flowing around the phone‘s perimeter according to 9to5Google. Paired with a 3D curved rear glass panel, the phone looks elegant yet remains easy to grip thanks to its thickness tapering at the edges.
The Pixel 6A opts for a punched aluminum frame plus two-tone glass polymer back instead as a cost saver according to The Verge. But featuring the same camera bar housing its lenses across the back as the 7 Pro, it retains a stylish look. And its matte texture feels great while resisting fingerprints too.
Here is how they compare dimension and weight wise:
- Pixel 7 Pro: 6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches, 7.27 ounces
- Pixel 6A: 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 inches, 6.28 ounces
Despite the larger screen, Google efficiently packs things into the Pixel 7 Pro so that height and weight remain comparable to average 5.7 to 6.1-inch phones. And the 6A stays ultra pocketable.
You can also choose from three tasteful color options with either model:
- Hazel, Snow, Obsidian (Pixel 7 Pro)
- Sage, Chalk, Charcoal (Pixel 6A)
So whether you prefer green, off-white, or black, they look beautiful while resisting fingerprints fairly well. All said, the Pixel 7 Pro and 6A both deliver attractive hardware inside and out.
Storage and Memory: Possible Dealbreakers?
Google equips more storage and memory baseline in the Pixel 7 Pro versus 6A:
Built-In Storage
- Pixel 7 Pro: 128GB/256GB/512GB
- Pixel 6A: 128GB
While 128GB suits basic apps, some music/movies, and mobile photography, power users may want 512GB or the freedom of adding microSD cards.
Memory (RAM)
- Pixel 7 Pro: 12GB
- Pixel 6A: 6GB
Abundant memory aids heavy multitaskers but makes less difference for everyday chat, email, browsing etc. Still, 6GB remains sufficient for most.
Lacking a memory card slot in either model may frustrate though. Just recognize cloud backup costs if packing them full of high-res video, for example. For many shoppers, picking the 6A simply means more diligent local storage management is required.
Software Support: A Key Similarity
A core strength for Pixel phones lies in Google providing software updates directly for at least 3 years after release according to the company‘s support page. So both the 7 Pro and 6A will receive:
- Annual Android OS updates
- Monthly software patches
- Regular camera/AI enhancements
That exceeds support typical among Android brands like Samsung, LG, Motorola and others reliant on chipmakers for updates. And matched with their durable Tensor chipsets built for machine learning, the 7 Pro and 6A should both stay speedy over time.
The Verdict: Flagship or Mid-Range?
The Pixel 7 Pro earns its $899+ price tag with showstopping upgrades like:
- Brighter, smoother 120Hz LTPO display
- Faster Google Tensor G2 providing 20%+ better benchmark performance
- More RAM for intensive gaming/multitasking
- Triple camera array enabling 4x optical zoom
- Higher storage tiers up to 512GB
- Refined polished metal/glass design
- Optional wireless charging at faster speeds
But at less than half the cost, the $449 Google Pixel 6A keeps up extraordinarily well. Without feeling cheap, it retains:
- The same versatile dual camera quality
- Smooth Tensor G1 responsiveness
- Long battery life
- Vibrant OLED display
- Sleek modern aesthetics
- Extensive software support direct from Google
As such, the Pixel 6A stands mightily as 2022’s best mid-range value. Non-mobile photographers and hardcore gamers need not spend extra on the 7 Pro. But the latest Pixel flagship still rewards shoppers wanting those enhanced features I outlined. Whichever route you choose, bask in getting one of the best Android phone user experiences around!
I hope mapping out their key specs and capabilities helps determine which Google Pixel suits your needs best. Let me know if any other questions come up!
