Budget Smartphone Comparison: Google's $449 Pixel 6a vs. Apple's $429 iPhone SE

[MacRumors]

Google last week launched the Pixel 6a, a $449 budget smartphone that's designed to compete with more affordable smartphones like Apple's iPhone SE. We picked up a Pixel 6a to see how it measures up to the iPhone SE in terms of design, performance, and camera technology.

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The Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED display, which means it's quite a bit larger than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE. The Pixel 6a's display is higher quality as well because the iPhone SE is still using years-old LCD technology.

Compared to the Pixel 6a, the iPhone SE looks dated. It has thick bezels at the top and bottom, while the Pixel 6a is using a much more modern hole punch design for the camera, with minimal bezels. The iPhone SE does have a Touch ID Home button that's superior to the under-display fingerprint sensor in the 6a, which was slow and inaccurate in our testing.

With its glass back panel, the iPhone SE supports Qi-based wireless charging, but it does not have the MagSafe technology that's in more modern iPhones. The Pixel 6a has a plastic back that's not as premium feeling, and it does not work with wireless charging, but the smartphone does have a much higher battery capacity at 4500mAh.

Apple put its latest A15 chip in the iPhone SE, while the Pixel 6a is using a Google-designed Tensor chip. It's difficult to make a one-to-one comparison because of the software differences between the two devices, but both felt fast with no performance issues or hiccups.

As for the camera setups, the iPhone SE has a single Wide lens, while the Pixel 6a has both a standard wide-angle lens and an ultra wide-angle lens. We did a photo session with both smartphones, and as we often find with modern devices, both cameras performed admirably with just a few differences between them.

In lower lighting situations indoors, the Pixel 6a produces images that are more in line with the real look, while the iPhone SE will brighten things up a bit more. The iPhone SE trends warmer, with photos from the Pixel 6a coming out more neutral in tone.

With images that have bright colors, the iPhone SE tends to have more vibrancy and sharpness, but when it comes down to it, both are high quality and choosing one is a matter of preference.

As for Portrait mode, the Pixel 6a just does a better job. There's strong bokeh with sharp edges, better color accuracy, and no blurring of parts of the photo that aren't meant to be blurred. Both smartphones also have selfie cameras that offer similar performance.

If you're not locked into Apple's ecosystem and are looking for an affordable smartphone with a modern feature set, the Pixel 6a wins out over the iPhone SE hands down, with perhaps the exception of the processor. The Pixel 6a runs Android, though, so it's not ideal for those who are Apple device owners, and it's also not the best choice for those who prefer smaller smartphones because of its 6.1-inch size.

What do you think of the Pixel 6a? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Budget Smartphone Comparison: Google's $449 Pixel 6a vs. Apple's $429 iPhone SE

 

[shagberg1]

Coming from a Mac website, I appreciate the unbiased review - thanks Juli!

 

[tcgjeukens]

Deep pockets & big pockets. I prefer the smaller size.

 

[cjboffoli97]

Personally, I prefer the product in which the OS is fully integrated with the hardware (as both are made by the same company). Above all, the best feature of the iPhone is its security, and the fact that it does not compromise my privacy by monetizing everything I do on the device.

 

[snipr125]

The problem with the Pixel 6a is that it feels quite slow and laggy to use with its 60 Hz OLED screen, yet the Iphone SE3 with its own 'inferior' 60 Hz LCD screen is very fast and snappy. Amazon UK are selling the regular Pixel 6 for £450 ish, so your far better off getting this instead with its 90 Hz screen.

The Pixel 6a takes very good pictures though no doubts about that.

 

[bmot]

It is fascinating to me that Apple still sells such an outdated form factor. I hope they will switch to the iPhone 12/13 mini body for the next SE.

 

[mi7chy]

Hepatitis skin tone is a turn off.

 

[walnuts]

Its a personal thing but the wider "wide" camera on the iPhone is an unflattering perspective for humans. I immediately liked all the google phone photos for that more than any other metric.

 

[B4rbelith]

Which phone will still be getting updates 5 years down the line?

 

[DTphonehome]

The next SE has got to be in the mini 12/13 form factor (since it's likely going to be killed off anyway in the 14 lineup). The current design and specs (except for the processor) are horribly outdated.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Personally, I prefer the product in which the OS is fully integrated with the hardware (as both are made by the same company). Above all, the best feature of the iPhone is its security, and the fact that it does not compromise my privacy by monetizing everything I do on the device.

Well this is as close to fully integrated as you can get for android . It runs Google’s own custom chip and runs Google’s unadulterated version of android.

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

I ordered a pixel 6A for testing, and it’s not here yet. But I did notice that Google offers three (3) years of software updates. Srsly?🍸🙀

 

[Orange Bat]

I would buy a Pixel 6a sight unseen before buying the SE. My Pixel 3 was a pretty great phone and the new ones look even better. While I prefer iPhone, the Pixel would be my go to phone if I couldn’t buy an iPhone.

 

[BuffaloJim]

The Pixel 6a would be an absolutely fantastic low priced phone if it ran iOS. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Save up and buy a better iPhone. You’ll be glad you did.

 

[LeeW]

I just have an iPhone, not looked at anything else in a few years, but when I was picking up my M2 MBA my wife forced me to stay in the shopping centre longer than I wanted. Whilst there I took a look in a Mobile phone shop. To be honest the iPhone was the least interesting in there.

Quite a few stood out for their screen quality and general feel, Samsung phones were really nice. One I have not even heard of, think it was Opo? Stunning device. Not interested in changing but was interesting to see and I was surprised that the iPhone was really not a stand-out device among everything else on display.

 

[The Mad Kiwi]

Apple need to move the SE line to full front larger screens. The SE line is looking super tired. It’s the only product that Apple make that looks cheap.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

My 6a just shipped today. Took advantage of a $300 trade-in credit for a 4a 5G that t-mobile sent me for free. Plus got some Google Buds (or whatever they are called). $150 + tax. We'll see. It's my secondary phone that I use for "Android things".

 

[Zmmyt]

I like my SE a lot, but a better camera and battery would be very much appreciated.

 

[Leshita]

The SE serves all my current needs. I love this little device.
I kinda wish I got the 256GB instead of 128GB though, but too late now I guess.

 

[temende]

If you're not locked into Apple's ecosystem and are looking for an affordable smartphone with a modern feature set, the Pixel 6a wins out over the iPhone SE hands down, with perhaps the exception of the processor.

That's a very interesting and unexpected (to me) takeaway. Maybe I should try a Pixel for my next phone...

 

[sevoneone]

The thing about Android is that when a device gets it right, it really shines as a platform. I switched away from iPhone for a few years with an original Moto X and the Moto X2. Absolutely wonderful experience with both devices. I got non-stop comments about how much better the X2 looked than the iPhone the entire time I had it. I was using someones Pixel 4a the other day and I still think Android does notifications and widgets 10x better than iOS. It's just so hard to beat Apple's full hardware/software integration. My iPhone 12 Pro really does just work 99.95% of the time.

 

[dumastudetto]

That Pixel 6a looks so bland and dated against the insanely affordable, desirable and distinguishable iPhone SE. On top of that, you've got to worry about Google's awful reputation for lowly QA with its hardware products. They still didn't get it right with the Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro. And of course, run the gauntlet of privacy and security issues associated with Android.

I would choose the iPhone SE every time if the only alternative was a Pixel phone.

 

[temende]

It's just so hard to beat Apple's full hardware/software integration. My iPhone 12 Pro really does just work 99.95% of the time.

Just curious, what was the % for your Pixel 4a for when it "just worked"?

 

[R1PPER]

lol competition. 6a is a 8/10 the iPhone or whatever the antiquated **** that is is a 1/10...lol

those scores are based on my unbiased view of the smartphone industry in 2022.

 

[pdxrevolution]

I don't doubt that the Pixel 6a is a better phone than the SE, but the pseudo bokeh effect on the 6a just looks awful. I'm surprised that Google's cloud processing isn't better than it appears to be.