Ask any Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro user to tell you the most aggravating problem they’ve faced since purchasing Google’s new flagship phone, and you’ll likely be told it’s the fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor under the screen that Google uses is a cheaper optical version and sometimes does not register the user’s fingerprint.
Pixel 6a with improved battery scanner below the screen
To say that Pixel 6 series owners were outraged would be an understatement. Although subsequent software updates have significantly improved the performance of the biometric reader, there is still a lot of room for improvement. There has been speculation that Google planned to include facial recognition facial recognition system in the Pixel 6 Pro, but canceled it at the last minute.
The Pixel 6a has three color options
It will be interesting to see how Google approaches the fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 7 series, which is expected to land in October. If the scanner used on the Pixel 6a passes the audition, that’s the model Google could use for the follow-up models. Another possibility would be that Google would cut its profit margin to equip its 2022 flagship Pixels with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S22 line.
Want a flagship-sized Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro?
While we don’t know why Samsung put the kibosh on facial recognition for the Pixel 6 Pro, it remains a possibility for the Pixel 7 series. However, Google is dealing with some sort of public relations problem here. How will owners of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro react if the fingerprint scanner on the cheaper Pixel 6a seriously outperforms the scanners on the more expensive flagship units?
With the Pixel 7 less than half a year away, does Google owe those Pixel 6 buyers who have put a backseat on the team a special discount/trade-in deal when the Pixel 7 goes on sale?
Pixel 6a is expected to be released on July 28 and will cost $449
As for the Pixel 6a, pre-orders will start on July 21 with a price of $449 or 24 monthly payments of $18.71. The device has 6 GB LPDDR5 memory and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage. The phone will be released a week later, on July 28, with a 6.1-inch OLED display with an FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The cover glass is protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.
Under the hood, you’ll find the same Google Tensor chipset used in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The rear-facing camera array includes a 12.2MP dual-pixel wide camera with an aperture of f/1.7 and Super Res Zoom up to 7x. There is a 12 MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a field of view of 114 degrees.
The battery (4410 mAh) will last more than 24 hours, according to Google, and with the Extreme Battery Saver set to deny power to certain apps, the company says it can expect up to 72 hours between charges.
Color options for the Pixel 6a include sage, chalk and charcoal.