Google Pixel 6a: Release date, Price, Specifications, and More details

The Pixel 6 series of smartphones was released late last year, with one notable omission: the 6a. The Pixel 6a, like the previous two generations, where the 4a and 5a pushed their more costly siblings hard, is highly anticipated and could be the phone that most people consider when seeking an affordable but high-quality Android device, particularly in the United States. Here's everything we've seen so far about the Google Pixel 6a in terms of news and rumors.

When will the Google Pixel 6a be available for purchase?

There's no official word from Google on anything related to the Pixel 6a yet, but leaks have given us some ideas. Max Jambor, a dependable source, predicts that the 6a will debut in May. On the 11th and 12th of May, Google will convene its I/O conference. It has previously unveiled Pixel a-series items at the event, so the 6a would make sense to see there this year. A different leaker, Jon Prosser, has added that the 6a will be unveiled at I/O with the Pixel Watch, but that the phone would "launch" on July 28 — most likely referring to the on-sale date. Looking for more proof? Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet (Google's parent company), mentioned the impending event during an earnings call, hinting at new items just after introducing the Pixel 6 line:

"Pixel 6 is a major step forward for the Pixel range, and the feedback from Pixel consumers has been fantastic. It's the fastest-selling Pixel ever, and we're making good progress in raising customer knowledge of the brand. I'm looking forward to discussing more the items we'll be releasing at Google I/O." According to Android Police, both the 6a and the Watch have lately emerged in the backend of an undisclosed US carrier inventory system, adding to anticipation that a launch is imminent; however, no precise date is included in the leak. Droid Life also discovered the 6a in FCC certification data, indicating that the phone is almost ready for release. Here are the release dates of prior models as a guide:

• August 2021 - Google Pixel 5a (only in North America and Japan)
• August 2020 - Google Pixel 4a
• May 2019 - Google Pixel 3a

There is one more snag. Due to its limited availability, the Pixel 5a was never seen in the United Kingdom, Europe, or most other markets. We're not sure if the 6a will follow that strategy and only launch in select areas, or if it will revert to a proper global launch. Oh, and if you need more proof that the Pixel 6a is coming, Google inserted a reference to the phone in a coloring book it gave out to its Pixel Superfans group by accident. The book's table of contents mentions the Pixel 6a, but the phone isn't on the page where it should be. Of course, the Pixel 6a should be joined by the Pixel 7 flagships and the long-rumored Pixel foldable phone later this year.

What is the price of the Google Pixel 6a?

As you can see from the table below, the pricing of the less expensive Pixel variants has remained quite stable over the years:

• Google Pixel 5a - $449 (around £339/€399)
• Google Pixel 4a 5G - £499/€499/$499
• Google Pixel 4a - £349/€349/$349
• Google Pixel 3a - £399/€399/$399

The Pixel 4a 5G was an exception, costing about £150/€150/$150 more than its predecessors, but with the Pixel 5a costing less, it could signal a return to a more accessible pricing range for most people. Google's pricing should hopefully follow the 5a pricing model and end up at around £449/€449/$449. However, the worldwide chip scarcity and supply chain problems, which are rising prices across the board, could have an impact. We'll have to wait and see.

What features will the Google Pixel 6a have?

As previously stated, there have been no official announcements on the Pixel 6a, but various rumors have surfaced recently that throw some light on the device's likely setup. One of the most convincing comes from OnLeaks, a reliable tipper who, on this occasion, collaborated with the Indian tech site 91Mobiles to give facts and 3D renders. The smartphone would include a 6.2-inch flat OLED display with an inbuilt fingerprint sensor and a centered punch-hole camera aperture, according to the report. Yogesh Brar adds that the display would cap at a 90Hz refresh rate, while GSMArena predicts a resolution of 1080 x 2400 and 424ppi.

The renders from 91Mobiles show a design that is extremely similar to that of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The phone's color options are supposedly black, white, and green, according to the Android Police carrier leak. The measurements are estimated to be 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.7mm, with a 10.4mm hump around the back camera. The classic raised camera ring on the back, which houses a dual-camera array and the LED flash, keeps the similarities going.

The 3.5mm headphone jack is conspicuously absent, making this the first 'a-series' Pixel phone without one. Although wireless earphones are becoming more inexpensive, it seems a shame to lose what some consider to be an essential phone feature. A purportedly legitimate Pixel 6a case from Poetic, received by DigitalTrends, adds to the above hardware placement. Journalist Adam Doud, who got the case, points out that the camera bar cut-out is shorter than on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, and that the overall proportions are only a few centimeters different from the ordinary Pixel 6's.