Should You Upgrade From the Google Pixel 6a?

How the Google Pixel 6a compares with phones you can buy today: how long it still gets updates, what a new phone would add and what you’d give up. Every number comes from official specs and update policies.

Operating system
What matters most (optional)

Your phone

Google Pixel 6a

Announced May 2022 · 4 years old

5.6
Security updates
Until around 2027
OS upgrades
Until around 2027

Our take

Time to upgrade

Security updates end around 2027 Newer phones are about 2.1× faster The best upgrade scores 2.6 points higher on battery and 2.4 on performance

Based on specs and official update policies. It’s your call.

Upgrades we’d look at

Phones with a US launch price up to $600, close to what the Google Pixel 6a cost at launch. Choose “Any price” above to also see phones sold without a US price.

Same family

Google Pixel 10a

7.1From $499

What you’d gain

  • 1.4× faster
  • Camera score: 5.6 → 6.2
  • Display score: 6.5 → 8.0
  • Battery: 4,410 → 5,100 mAh
  • Security updates until around 2033
  • 120 Hz display (yours: 60 Hz)

What you’d give up

  • Bigger phone: 6.1″ → 6.3″ screen

Best overall upgrade

OnePlus 13R

7.9From $599.99

What you’d gain

  • 2.1× faster
  • Camera score: 5.6 → 6.8
  • Display score: 6.5 → 8.8
  • Battery: 4,410 → 6,000 mAh
  • Security updates until around 2031
  • Telephoto lens (2× optical zoom)

What you’d give up

  • Heavier: 178 → 206 g
  • Bigger phone: 6.1″ → 6.8″ screen

Best value

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

6.7From $459

What you’d gain

  • Camera score: 5.6 → 7.1
  • Display score: 6.5 → 7.8
  • Battery: 4,410 → 5,000 mAh
  • Security updates until around 2031
  • Telephoto lens (3× optical zoom)
  • 120 Hz display (yours: 60 Hz)

What you’d give up

  • Heavier: 178 → 211 g
  • Bigger phone: 6.1″ → 6.8″ screen

Best camera

Motorola Edge (2026)

7.1From $599.99

What you’d gain

  • Camera score: 5.6 → 7.7
  • Display score: 6.5 → 8.8
  • Battery: 4,410 → 5,000 mAh
  • Security updates until around 2029
  • Telephoto lens (3× optical zoom)
  • 120 Hz display (yours: 60 Hz)

What you’d give up

  • Bigger phone: 6.1″ → 6.3″ screen

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Scores, speed and updates come from official specs, chip benchmarks (Geekbench 6, 3DMark) and the makers’ update policies. How we rate phones

More upgrade checks for Google phones

Google Pixel 6a upgrade FAQ

Is the Google Pixel 6a still supported?

Google promises 5 years of security updates for the Google Pixel 6a, counted from its announcement in May 2022, so they should continue until around 2027. It gets 5 years of OS upgrades, until around 2027.

What is the best upgrade from the Google Pixel 6a?

Based on specs, the best upgrade we found is the OnePlus 13R, with a PhoneRanked score of 7.9 vs 5.6 for the Google Pixel 6a. The newest model of the same family is the Google Pixel 10a. If you want to spend less, look at the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. We looked at phones with a US launch price up to $600, close to the Google Pixel 6a’s launch price.

How much faster is the OnePlus 13R than the Google Pixel 6a?

Going by the benchmarks of their chips, the OnePlus 13R is about 2.1 times as fast as the Google Pixel 6a. In Geekbench 6 multi-core it scores 6,750 vs 3,235.

Check another phone · Google Pixel 6a specs and reviews