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Pixel 6a
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Galaxy S21 Ultra
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

The Google Pixel 6a is a budget-friendly choice with commendable camera quality, especially for still photos, and offers a decent battery life. It features a plastic body and a smaller screen compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which might be less appealing if premium build and large display are priorities. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts superior screen and camera capabilities, with a prominent display, higher screen resolution, vibrant colors and higher camera quality overall, but at a higher price point. For extended usage and multimedia consumption, the S21 Ultra has a larger battery and more advanced screen features like a higher refresh rate. The choice between the two phones largely depends on whether you value a more affordable price and satisfactory performance or are willing to pay more for premium features and top-notch camera quality. Both run on Android, but the Pixel offers a more stock experience, while Samsung provides additional features and a customized interface. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Google Pixel 6a
  • Good battery life
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • Very good display quality
  • Good performance

Key differences

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Battery

7.6 Hours
Pixel 6a
Galaxy S21 Ultra
6.7 Hours
The Google Pixel 6a has 7.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.

Screen Size

The Google Pixel 6a has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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Key similarities

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Overall Camera Quality

7.6
Pixel 6a
Galaxy S21 Ultra
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Google Pixel 6a both have good overall cameras quality.

Photo Quality

7.4
Pixel 6a
Galaxy S21 Ultra
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Google Pixel 6a both have good photos.

Video Quality

7.2
Pixel 6a
Galaxy S21 Ultra
7.1
The Google Pixel 6a and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both have good videos.

Cost

$400
Pixel 6a
Galaxy S21 Ultra
$423
Product imageProduct image

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

The Google Pixel 6a has a price of $400 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.

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We’re constantly working to improve.

How the Google Pixel 6a and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones

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Spec Comparison

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Google Pixel 6aSamsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Google Pixel 6aSamsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

GENERAL

Price
$400
$423
Brand
GoogleSamsung
Operating System
AndroidAndroid
Release Date
July 21, 2022January 29, 2021

SCREEN

Screen Size
6.1"6.8"
Resolution
2400 x 10803200 x 1440
Variable refresh rate
NoYes
Pixels Per Inch
429515
Display Type
OLEDOLED

INTERNAL

Processor
TensorSD888
Internal Storage
128 GB128 GB
RAM
6 GB12 GB

CAMERA

Overall Camera Quality Score
7.6/107.9/10
Photos Score
7.5/107.8/10
Videos Score
7.3/107.1/10
Rear Cameras
Main, UltrawideMain, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto
Main Camera
12.2 megapixels + OIS108 megapixels + OIS

BATTERY

Battery Life
7.6 Hours6.7 Hours
Battery Capacity
4410 mAh5000 mAh
Wireless Charging
NoYes
Wireless charging Speed
0 W15 W
Reverse wireless charging
NoYes (4.5 watts)

PHYSICAL

Size
5.99" x 2.83"6.5" x 2.98"
Weight
6.28 oz8.01 oz
Back Material
PlasticGlass
Stereo Speakers
NoNo

CONNECTIVITY

Dual SIM
YesYes
Bluetooth Version
5.25.2
A2DP
YesYes
WiFi Version
6e6e
NFC
YesYes
US 5G Bands
(SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78

OTHER FEATURES

Biometric unlock
Fingerprint sensor: Under DisplayFace unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display
Unlockable Bootloader
Yes (Except Verizon Models)No
Color
Chalk, Sage, CharcoalPhantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium
Stock Android
YesNo
SD Card
NoNo

Shopping

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Google Pixel 6a

See more

Dig into reviews and images

Ars Technica

Ron Amadeo | July 2022
"it's very hard to find fault with the Pixel 6a. It has a processor that, in the US at least, blows away other Android phones in this price range. The design is great, the camera is fine, and the price is right. What's not to like?"

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

See more

Dig into reviews and images

Android Authority

David Imel | January 2023
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."

Get a great deal on the Google Pixel 6a or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

About Google

Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.

About Samsung

Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
147,900
Recommendations made
83,810
Consumer hours saved

About the phone team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Seth Peoples

Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.

Efthimis Kotanidis

Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.

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