Design – Old School vs Modern Minimalism
iPhone SE 3rd Gen
Classic iPhone 8-style design with thick bezels and a physical Home button
Glass and aluminum build
4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display (60Hz)
Touch ID
Pixel 6a
More modern design with edge-to-edge OLED display (6.1″, 60Hz)
Rear camera bar and flat back
In-display fingerprint sensor
✅ Winner – Pixel 6a: Offers a larger OLED screen and modern aesthetic, better suited for content consumption and gaming.
Performance – A15 Bionic vs Google Tensor
iPhone SE
Powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic (same chip as iPhone 13)
4GB RAM
iOS updates for at least 5 years
Great for multitasking, gaming, and long-term use
Pixel 6a
Powered by Google Tensor chip (same as Pixel 6)
6GB RAM
Android 14+, 3 years of OS updates, 5 years of security patches
✅ Winner – iPhone SE: While both are smooth in everyday use, A15 Bionic outperforms Tensor in raw speed and efficiency.
Camera – AI vs Consistency
Rear Camera:
iPhone SE: Single 12MP wide camera, Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, 4K at 60fps
Pixel 6a: Dual camera – 12.2MP wide + 12MP ultra-wide, Google’s AI image processing, Night Sight
Front Camera:
iPhone SE: 7MP
Pixel 6a: 8MP
Camera Comparison Verdict:
Pixel 6a offers better low-light performance, more detail, and AI-backed enhancements
iPhone SE delivers sharper video and better color accuracy in daylight
✅ Winner – Pixel 6a for photos, iPhone SE for video
Battery Life & Charging
| Feature | iPhone SE 3rd Gen | Pixel 6a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Size | ~2000mAh | 4410mAh |
| Charger Included | ❌ | ❌ |
| Charging Speed | 20W wired (no MagSafe) | 18W wired |
| Battery Life (avg) | ~5 hours screen-on time | ~7 hours screen-on time |
Verdict – Which One Is Right for You?
| Criteria | Winner |
|---|---|
| Design | Pixel 6a |
| Performance | iPhone SE |
| Camera (photos) | Pixel 6a |
| Camera (video) | iPhone SE |
| Battery | Pixel 6a |
| Software updates | iPhone SE |
| Value | Pixel 6a |
Final Thoughts:
Choose the iPhone SE if:
You love iOS and want top-tier performance in a small phone
You plan to keep the phone for 4–5 years
You shoot a lot of videos
Choose the Pixel 6a if:
You prefer Android and a modern design
You want better photo quality and longer battery life
You want more screen space for games and media