The Google Pixel 6a and PixelBuds Pro earbuds are now available for preorder and will ship to customers starting July 28. Both devices will be available in 13 launch countries plus select retailers in India.
“At I/O we shared our upcoming hardware including Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro,” Google’s Alicia Cormie writes. “As of today, both devices are available for pre-order on the Google Store. Pixel 6a starts at $449 and Pixel Buds Pro are available for $199.”
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I won’t be getting or reviewing the Pixel 6a, so I checked out the early reviews and wasn’t surprised at what I saw: great value, good performance, and decent if aging cameras. But it’s hard to argue with the asking price: $449 for the Tensor-based Pixel 6a seems like a good deal. You can learn more here.
The PixelBuds Pro are, to me, more interesting: these are Google’s first earbuds with active noise cancelation (ANC) and they utilize a custom 6-core audio chip running Google-developed algorithms. There’s also a Silent Seal feature that adapts to your unique ear shape, plus multiple eartip sizes to help ensure that unwanted sound stays out. The PixelBuds Pro cost $199.
dftf
<p>Seen some mixed reviews, myself… especially if you follow any tech <em>YouTube</em> reviewers.</p><p><br></p><p>Essentially, they agree the phone is good overall, with the usual clean Android experience and <em>Google’s</em> extras, like the call-screening. But they argue the <em>Android</em> mid-range is so-competitive now, that unless you really want to get those <em>Google</em>-y extras, you may get more elsewhere.</p><p><br></p><p>The <strong>Samsung Galaxy A53</strong>, for example, is £379 on the high-street (with a free pair of "Galaxy Buds Live" you can claim), or cheaper, if you’re willing to get one from <em>Amazon</em>. For that £20 less (than the <em>Pixel 6a</em> at £399), you’ll get Gorilla Glass 5, not 3; an AMOLED screen at up-to 120Hz (not OLED and 60Hz); a 64MP main-camera (not the 12MP one used since the <em>Pixel 2</em>!); a 32MP front-facing camera (not 8MP); a larger 5000mAh battery (versus 4410mAh); and slightly-faster 25W charging (versus 18W). Plus you can expand the storage with a microSD card, and you’ll get more <em>Android</em> OS updates during it’s lifetime.</p><p><br></p><p>Or the <strong>Nothing Phone (1) </strong>for £399, which similarly offers the Gorilla Glass 5; 120Hz screen; 2GB of extra RAM (starts at 8GB versus 6GB); has a 50MP main camera, and 16MP selfie camera; and 33W fast-charging, or 15W wireless-charging. (As a negative: only IP53 rated; the other-two are IP67).</p><p><br></p><p>So… the only real advantage hardware-wise on the <em>Pixel </em>would be the <em>Tensor</em> chip (assuming <em>Google</em> have ironed-out the issues some had with the <em>6 </em>and <em>6 Pro); </em>it’s slightly-smaller; it has the "always on display" (if you use that); and the USB C port operates at USB 3.1 speeds, not USB 2.0 speeds. (Initial reviews seem to suggest the in-screen fingerprint-reader does seem faster than on the <em>6</em> and <em>6 Pro</em>).</p>
dftf
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you order direct from </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Samsung</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, they also offer a trade-in programme — for </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pixel </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">devices (original </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pixel</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, up-to the </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pixel 5</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">) you can get "up to £200" off a new phone, depending on condition.</span></p><p><br></p><p>It would appear as of now, <em>Nothing</em> do not offer any trade-in, no.</p>