Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a – which budget phone should you pick?

Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a – which budget phone should you pick?
Amaar Chowdhury Updated on by

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If you’re looking for a budget phone – comparing the Moto G Power versus Pixel 6a might interest you.

The Moto G Power and Google Pixel 6a are actually wildly different phones on the opposite ends of the budget spectrum. While the Moto G Power is incredibly affordable and offers great value for money, the Pixel 6a is slightly more premium, and even toys with being one of the best mid-range phones.

We’ve already compared the Moto G Power versus the Moto G Stylus, so now lets see how the Moto G Power stands up to a phone with a bit more processing power to it.

The Google Pixel 6a was released in Summer 2022 as a follow up to the Pixel 6. It was generally received as a great budget smartphone and was far superior to the Google Pixel 5a.

Conversely, the Moto G Power launched in Spring 2020 and immediately was recognised as one of the best value for money phones out there – especially with its three day battery life and incredibly low cost.

While these two phones are inherently quite different – their statuses as value-for-money phones invite comparisons between the two. Whether you’re using the phone for consuming entertainment content, music, or for photography – finding out which phone suits best you will be important.

We’ll take a look at battery life, screen size, camera quality, design, and key features to help you decide on the best phone for your needs. So, without further ado: let’s get into the Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a.

Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a – specs

SpecsMoto G PowerPixel 6a
Screen size6.4-inch IPS LCD6.1-inch OLED
Dimensions6.30 x 2.98 x 0.38 in5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in
Resolution1080 x 23001080 x 2400
CPUOcta-core 2.0 GHzOcta-core 2.8 GHz
RAM4GB6GB
Storage64GB128GB
Rear CamerasTriple – 16MP, 8MP, 2MP12MP, 12MP
Front Camera16MP8MP
Battery5000mAh4410mAh
Charging speed10W18W

The specs are often the most important to start when you’re comparing phones – so let’s have a look how the Moto G Power stacks up against the Pixel 6a specifications.

The displays are composed of varying quality – with the Moto G Power having a 6.4-inch IPS LCD and the Pixel 6a having a slightly smaller 6.1-inch OLED display. Despite being smaller, the difference between OLED and IPS LCD is blindingly visible, and the Pixel phone takes a clear advantage here.

Read More: Google Pixel 4a vs 5 – which should you go for?

There’s not much noticeable difference in resolution, however there are differences in processing capabilities. The Pixel 6a takes the advantage once again having a much more capable processor which won’t slow you down throughout the day.

Similarly, it has 6GB or RAM, which is 2GB more than the Moto G Power. This will also make a huge difference if you’re used to running intensive applications such as games and image editing apps.

Then, the Pixel 6a has 128GB of storage compared to the Moto G Power’s 64GB. Having enough storage for all of your photos and apps is crucial these days, and the Google phone picks up even more points here.

At this point, the Pixel 6a looks to be the better option than the Moto G Power. Until we take a look at battery and camera specifications.

Read More: Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro – which one should you go for?

The triple camera on the Moto G Power actually appears to have a better camera than the Google Pixel 6a as it’s maximum resolution is 16MP. However, when you consider the Pixel 6a has two 12MP camera, they actually even out in terms of quality.

The battery on the Moto G Power is its saving grace – with the 5000mAh battery lasting up to three days on a full charge thanks to the low energy demands of the processor and memory.

From the looks of things the Moto G Power and Pixel 6a are actually extremely different in terms of their specs and performance. The Google Pixel 6a comes out on top in this section.

Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a – features

There’s not really much between the Moto G Power and Pixel 6a in terms of standout features. They’re both good-value smartphones without any shiny bells and whistles. That said, they perform their functions extremely well.

A notable feature on the Moto G Power is the long-lasting battery. With up to three-days if being used conservatively, this is an incredibly endurable battery life for the phone. The Pixel 6a’s battery isn’t anywhere near as impressive, however the trade-offs for performance speak for themselves.

Read More: Moto G Power vs Moto G Stylus – which phone should you pick?

The Pixel’s key features are more software-rich, with the hardware across both phones being quite standard. The access to the full Google-ecosystem is really handy, especially when the Moto G Power’s Android OS is slightly more cluttered and disorganised.

Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a – design

An important factor in deciding on a phone is the design. If you’re carrying a phone around with you everywhere – you’re going to want to make sure it looks alright. The design on the Moto G Power is fairly basic – with the matte plastic back protecting the phone as it can’t really shatter easily. Similarly, the Pixel 6a has a plastic back – though it’s clear a much more refined design process has been executed for this product.

The camera is cleanly embedded into the phone so as not to jut out too much, and the Google logo is cleanly embedded into the back.

Read More: Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 5a – which should you go for?

Both phones have a subtle bezel that doesn’t detract too much from the screen itself. While the design on the Moto G Power is perhaps less appealing than the Google Pixel 6a – when you consider the price differences between the phones it almost doesn’t matter.

Moto G Power vs Pixel 6a – value for money

The price of the Moto G Power wavers a lot as the phone is a few years old now – though at the time of writing you might be able to pick up a version of this phone for as low as $110.

Being frank, this is a fantastic price for a phone with as much going for it as the Moto G Power. We think that this one of the best budget phones out there, offering a great camera, battery life, and simple form factor for what is undeniably a steal of a price.

Read More: Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6a – which should you go for?

However, we’re comparing it against the Google Pixel 6a – which also offers a fantastic value for money. You can pick up the phone for roughly $300 at the time of writing – which is also a great price for a phone as good as this.

You’re receiving a sleek design, OLED display, and great technical specifications for a relatively low price. It is significantly more than what you’d pay for the Moto G Power, however you’re receiving a much better package.

— Check Price: Moto G Power (64GB) at Amazon
— Check Price: Google Pixel 6a (128GB) at Amazon

Which phone should you pick?

With the aforementioned factors considered, there’s no clear winner in this comparison. When it boils down to it, both phones present compelling enough arguments for themselves. The Moto G Power is a fantastic budget phone – with any complaints about it being justified by the incredibly conservative price. Anybody looking for the cheapest phone with the best performance and quality should side with this one.

Conversely, the Google Pixel 6a is also a fantastic budget phone, and while it does cost much more, it also offers much more. The Pixel 6a is great for anyone seeking more processing power and functionality – and will provide you with a much smoother user experience thanks to the Google Android OS.

Realistically, whatever phone you choose – you’re going to be happy to save bags of money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which phone is better for gaming?

The Google Pixel 6a will likely be much better for gaming than the Moto G Power.

Is the Moto G Power good for taking pictures?

For the price, the Moto G Power has a surprisingly good camera.