Search results for

All search results
Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

It looks like the Google Pixel 6a will be missing a camera feature

The camera in Google's upcoming Pixel 6a may be more closely related to the Pixel 5a rather than the Pixel 6.
By

Published onApril 18, 2022

Google Pixel 6 on Pixel Stand with phones in background
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
  • The Google Pixel 6a may not include Motion Mode photos.
  • The upcoming phone’s camera may be more closely related to the Pixel 5a.

The Google Pixel 6a could be just around the corner, but it may arrive without a popular camera feature of its more expensive sibling.

The Pixel 6a is expected in the coming months, possibly as early as May. As with all of Google’s Pixel a-series devices, the 6a will be a budget-friendly version of the Pixel 6, sharing the same basic design and many of the same features. One notable exception is the camera, with the 6a’s camera rumored to be missing Motion Mode photos.

See also: Google Pixel 6 review

Motion Mode uses AI to combine multiple photos into a single photo with a motion blur effect. The feature made its debut on the Pixel 6 but, according to Android Police, the 6a’s camera may be more closely related to the Pixel 5a’s camera. If true, and the 6a has the 5a’s main sensor, it’s unlikely it would support Motion Mode. This appears to be supported by a snippet of code that excludes “bluejay” devices from using Motion Mode, with “bluejay” being the codename for the 6a.

The good news is that Motion Mode’s omission appears to be one of the only significant ways the Pixel 6a doesn’t live up to the 6. The new phone is believed to sport the same design as the Pixel 6 — a major departure from its predecessors — as well as Google’s home-grown Tensor chip. As a result, it’s believed the Pixel 6a will offer roughly the same performance as the 6.

Should the 6a’s price tag be comparable to previous a-series models, the missing Motion Mode will probably not matter to most buyers, especially if everything else is roughly on par with the Pixel 6.

You might like