Nothing Phone (1) and Google Pixel 6a are the hottest mid-tier phones right now. They are the most talked about devices on social media. The hype is surreal. Both devices have their perks and benefits. Moreover, both offer a compelling set of features for the price. However, now the dilemma is choosing one of them. Although they both have their bonus points, there is a clear winner in our opinion. Firstly, let’s go through the specifications of both devices.

Google Pixel 6a

The device retains the camera visor at the back. There are dual rear cameras and a single LED flash housed in the camera module. Google has used the same camera system from the Pixel 5 on the 6a. There is an 8MP front camera while the dual rear cameras are 12.2MP and 12MP sensors. It also has a dual-tone finish with a plastic back and metal frame similar to its elder siblings.

The phone weighs 178g and is 8.9mm thick. There is a 6.1″ flat OLED display on the front which has a 60Hz refresh rate. It also features an in-display fingerprint scanner and a punch-hole selfie shooter in the center. In addition, there is a Type-C 3.1 port along with two grills, one for the speaker and one for the microphone. There are antenna bands on all four sides, and the SIM card housing is on the left side of the device with no headphone jack. Moreover, Google has featured the same Tensor chip in the 6a.

Furthermore, the 6a has NFC, WiFi6, and a Titan M2 chip for security. The device is also rated IP67 for water and dust resistance. The mid-ranger packs a 4410 mAh battery and will run Android 12. Google promises up to 3 OS upgrades and 5 years of security upgrades. The device comes in three color options – Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage. Lastly, the 6a starts at $449 for the 6GB/128GB configuration.

Nothing Phone (1)

Nothing Phone (1) is powered by the Snapdragon 778G+. Moreover, the display is a 6.55″ 120Hz flexible OLED panel. Bezels are symmetrical and the punch-hole is towards the top left. The display also houses an in-display fingerprint scanner. It weighs 194g and measures 8.3mm thick. The phone packs a 4500 mAh battery which will charge at a maximum of 33W. In addition, the device supports 15W wireless and 5W reverse wireless charging as well.

The device runs on Android 12-based Nothing OS. Moreover, it will get 3 years of major Android updates as well. Moving on to the camera system, the device has a 50MP main IMX766 sensor with OIS and EIS. It is accompanied by a 50MP ultra-wide sensor as well. The front selfie shooter is a 16MP lens. The base variant starts at £399.

Our Pick

No doubt both devices are great for their price. Firstly, let’s talk about the positives of both devices. The Pixel 6a has a more powerful Tensor chipset, Pixel-exclusive features, tried and tested cameras and it will receive quick software updates. On the other hand, Nothing Phone (1) has an aluminum build, 120Hz display, faster 33W charging, and a larger battery as well.

In our opinion, the Phone (1) offers the better package overall. The main reason for buying a Pixel has always been software magic. The Phone (1) comes with almost same software experience. Nothing OS comes with the same material you aesthetic and no bloatware. Moreover, the processor is also more stable the Tensor. Although the Tensor chip is more powerful but the 778G+ does almost all the things with a more stable experience.

When the software differentiator is killed, the Nothing Phone (1) demolishes the Pixel 6a in other categories except the cameras. The display is a much smoother 120Hz OLED rather than 60Hz on 6a. Moreover, it is also a better looking one with symmetrical bezels. In addition, Gorilla Glass 5 is used instead of 3 on Pixel 6a. Hand feel is also more premium on the Phone (1) due to an all glass build.

Another edge that the Phone (1) has, is the back design. The Glyph interface makes the Phone (1) feel more distinctive. Cameras are also not bad on the Phone (1). However, the Pixel takes the edge due to better optimization and stability. As the Pixel is known for its cameras and the 6a uses the same tried and tested sensors with the software magic, it yields better output. However, the Phone (1) being the first from a new brand, it performs significantly well. Moreover, users have also reported even better results with GCam. These are the reasons why we would prefer the Phone (1) over the Pixel 6a. Let us know what would you pick?