09/09/2022
Google Pixel 6a screen & sound: not so refreshing
In most respects, the Pixel 6a’s 6.1in OLED display delivers exactly what we’d expect: a perfectly crisp 2400×1080 resolution, exceptional contrast and punchy, vibrant colours. The “adaptive” colour mode is perhaps a little too boosted for our liking, with the “natural” preset delivering more lifelike saturation. Bezels aren’t the skinniest, but then this isn’t a flagship phone.
Viewing angles are great, and the screen gets plenty bright too – enough to give HDR videos real impact. The sunlight boost mode kicks in as soon as you step outdoors, and makes it easy to see what’s onscreen.
The 60Hz refresh rate is a sore spot, though. Google has clearly had to avoid stepping on the pricier Pixel 6’s toes here, and in doing so has left the door open for rivals with much smoother 120Hz panels. You can see the difference immediately when scrolling through websites or even the app drawer. If you’ve used a high refresh rate phone previously, this feels like a real step back.
Things are more cut-and-dry in the sound department. The stereo speakers (one down-firing driver, one earpiece tweeter) are impressively crisp, with a clear mid-range that doesn’t impede on the high-end. There’s no real bass, as is typical for most smartphones, but they otherwise punch above their weight and won’t send you running for a pair of Bluetooth ‘buds.
