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The Pixel 6a from Google is an outstanding mid-range smartphone that comes equipped with a potent Tensor chip and a camera configuration that is up to the task. It is the follow-up to one of the most affordable and capable Android phones currently available on the market. And then there’s the Nothing Phone 1, which is the company’s first phone.
It has a one-of-a-kind design, a Graphical user experience, and a great deal of buzz supporting it. Even if the excitement that surrounded the phone when it was first released has died down quite a bit since then, you still can’t ignore the Phone 1 if you are looking to get a new mid-range phone.
Google Pixel 6a vs Nothing Phone 1 Comparison Table
| Google Pixel 6a | Nothing Phone 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display | 6.1″ FHD+ (1080×2400) OLED, 60Hz, Gorilla Glass 3, Always-on Display, High brightness mode, In-display fingerprint scanner | 6.55″ FHD+ (1080×2400) OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ support, 700 nits max brightness, Always-on Display, Gorilla Glass 5, In-display fingerprint scanner |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR5 | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP20 | Adreno 642L |
| Front Camera | 8MP f/2.0 | 16MP f/2.45 |
| Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.7 primary, OIS, 1.4μm pixel width; 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide with 114° field of view and 1.25μm pixel width | 50MP f/1.88 Sony IMX766 sensor, OIS, 1μm pixel width; 50MP f/2.2 ultrawide Samsung JN1 sensor with 114° field of view |
| Battery | Li-Po 4410 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable (17.42 Wh) |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
| Price | $450 | €399-€549 |
google pixel 6a vs nothing phone 1: Design and durability
The Pixel 6a is made in the same way as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The front isn’t anything special, but the back is made of a 3D thermoformed composite with a coating that prevents fingerprints. It has a camera bar where the two cameras and the LED flash are located. The Pixel 6a looks different from other mid-range Android phones, but it can’t beat Nothing’s phone in this area.
The Nothing Phone 1’s back is made of clear glass, so you can see what’s inside. For a clean look, all the important parts are covered by white (or black) plates. On the back of the device, there are LED strips with more than 900 individual LEDs. This helps the device stand out even more. They are part of the phone’s Glyph interface and flash when you get a call or get a notification. You can get this smartphone from its official website.
google pixel 6a vs nothing phone 1: Pricing and availability
Even though the Pixel 6a has a new design, a faster chip, and other improvements, it costs $449, the same as previous mid-range Pixel phones. On Amazon, the phone is often on sale for as low as $399, which makes it a lot cheaper. The phone costs €459 in Europe.
In Europe, the Nothing Phone 1 costs between €399 and €549. The phone didn’t come out in the US at first, but if you sign up for Nothing Beta, you can now get it. This is a $299 membership programme where the company will send you a Phone 1 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage that runs Nothing OS 1.5 on Android 13.
The company does say that the phone might not work with all US carriers, so keep that in mind before you sign up for the membership. You can buy this smartphone from its official website.
google pixel 6a vs nothing phone 1: Camera
The Pixel series has always been praised for its photos that are bright, colourful, and have a lot of contrast. The same is true here. If you like the photos taken by the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, you will also like the photos taken by the Pixel 6a.
Even though the hardware is different, much of Google’s success in photography comes from its software. You also get all the features of the Pixel camera, like Magic Eraser, Real Tone, Face Unblur, and more.
The only problem is that the resolution on all three cameras, which include a 12.2MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP front lens, isn’t as good as it could be. The Nothing Phone (1) also has three cameras, but they have a higher resolution, so you can zoom and crop the photos you take later to make them more detailed.
Both phones have Optical Image Stabilization to keep videos from shaking, but the Pixel 6a can record smoother 4K video at 60fps on the back while its competitor can only do 30fps.
google pixel 6a vs nothing phone 1: Performace
The Google Pixel 6a has the same Tensor chip as its flagship sibling, which always seems to do worse in Geekbench tests (2,918 multi-core) than the 3,000 of Nothing phone (1). However, the Tensor chip is a very different type of chip that does a great job in most situations.
When we review phones, we usually load a few dozen Google Chrome tabs, play a Netflix video in the background, and then switch between Twitter, YouTube Music, Gmail, and a few other apps.
The Pixel 6a didn’t have any trouble with this load, and I was able to quickly switch between tabs and apps without the operating system or video stuttering. Plus, it’s great for tasks that need a lot of graphics, like gaming and editing videos. We didn’t see any lagging when we played Call of Duty: Mobile.
Which one should you buy?
The Nothing phone (1) and the Google Pixel 6a have both done a lot of damage to each other in this fight, but when the dust settled, it was the Pixel 6a that came out on top. With its unique design, better screen, and ability to charge wirelessly, nothing else came so close to a quick knockout. Some of these wins could be seen as signs that Google is getting a little too comfortable with its “a” line of phones.
The Pixel 6a won this round because it has a better processor, better Google-focused software, and a longer battery life. There are still reasons to check out the phone (1), and if what it does best is the only thing you care about when making a buying decision, you’ll love it. But for most of you, the Google Pixel 6a is the best way to spend your money.
nothing phone 1 PROS AND CONS
Pros:
- Quirky and unusual design
- Slick, easy-to-use software
- Glyph Interface is eye-catching
Cons:
- Older, mid-range chipset might put some off
- Underwhelming battery life
google pixel 6a PROS AND CONS
Pros:
- Excellent camera
- Great compact 6.1″ size
- Clean Android, timely updates
Cons:
- Poor performance on our battery test
- Cheaper materials than the Pixel 6
FAQS
Is Google Pixel 6a good in 2023?
Even in February 2023, the Google Pixel 6A is a great device as a whole. The powerful performance you get for as little as $249 is great and hard to find in some of the best flagship smartphones.
Is Google Pixel 6a worth buying?
Pixel 6a is an amazing deal. Since the highly anticipated Pixel 7A is rumoured to come out in Q3 of 2023, Pixel 6A is still one of the few options for Android purists who want a clean and stable Android experience. Note: The writer’s thoughts are being shared.
Why Google Pixel 6a is best?
The Pixel 6a is a good camera phone, but it’s not a million times better than phones like the Nothing Phone 1. The other reason to buy a Pixel phone is that it runs stock Android. Even though the device came out of the box with Android 12, it can now be updated to Android 13.