🏊 Happy Friday, everyone! I spent the week in Madrid, which in hindsight was not the greatest idea with a heatwave making temperatures unbearable. Thank goodness for swimming pools!

Pixel 6a reviews are in and it looks like a winner… mostly

Google’s latest mid-range device releases next week, and reviews are now available around the web. So is it worth your hard-earned cash? Well, sort of.

• Our own Ryan Haines wrote in our review that it “pulls some of the best Pixel 6 features into a smaller and more affordable package.”
• And considering how much we liked the Pixel 6, that’s high praise.
• We’re also happy to report that it doesn’t retain the connection problems that have plagued the Pixel 6 since launch.
• Essentially, you’re getting great image processing (with an admittedly worse lens) and the same great software and long-term update support.
• Granted, that update promise is still a bit shy of Samsung, with just three years of Android version updates compared to Samsung’s four on select devices. Both offer five years of security updates, however.
• The real kicker is that you can actually use it with one hand, which can’t be said for the rest of the Pixel family.
• Plus, it offers the same flagship Tensor processor as its more premium siblings. Although in testing it did run a bit hot.
• Other reviewers around the web largely had the same sentiment:
  • The Verge‘s Allison Johnson was particularly taken by the Tensor’s performance, although she noted that the fingerprint sensor was a bit slow.
  • The Guardian‘s Samuel Gibbs was even more positive, calling it the “best mid-range phone you can buy.”
  • Engadget‘s Cherlynn Low called it “The tiny Pixel phone I’ve been hoping for,” writing that “In the US, there is no better Android phone under $500 than the Pixel 6a.”

The catch

• Although the Pixel 6a is still a better value at launch than the Pixel 5a was, it’s in a strange place in the market.
• At just a hair under $450, it’s creeping up right behind the base model of the Pixel 6 ($600).
• $150 is nothing to scoff at, but in this case, you really are getting a lot for the money.
• It’s more resistant, has better cameras, better battery life, faster charging, wireless charging, and a 90Hz screen. Check out our full comparison for more details.
• Not to mention the fact that it’s been out for a while now and can frequently be found at a hefty discount.

Availability

• The Pixel 6a goes on sale on July 28 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan.
• The phone will also be available in India later in 2022.
• Pre-orders are open now and come with a free pair of Pixel Buds A earbuds.

Roundup

🐢 If you do pick up a Pixel 6a, you gotta check out these killer Ninja Turtle-themed skins from Dbrand (Android Authority).

📅 As for foldables, the Motorola Razr 2022 will launch in August, just ahead of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 on August 10 (Android Authority).

💸 Speaking of which, rumors indicate that the Z Flip 4 might be significantly more expensive than last year’s model. Thanks, inflation (Android Authority).

🏭 Samsung apparently plans to build 11 chip factories in Austin, Texas, with a more than $200 billion price tag. It will be over a decade before it’s operational, though (Bloomberg).

💻 The Windows 11 taskbar is getting better for people who open tons of apps. Or it might, if it makes it out of the Dev Channel (Arstechnica).

💰 How does Apple manage to avoid antitrust threats for its App Store? By spending a record amount on lobbying in 2022 (Bloomberg).

🙅 Unsurprisingly, just about everyone hates the idea of ads on your phone’s lock screen (Android Authority).

🐶 Oh no: Robot dog not so cute with a submachine gun strapped to its back (Vice).

🔥 It’s getting too hot to play the Steam Deck or Switch outside, with makers setting the limit at 35° C (95° F). My limit is significantly lower than that (Arstechnica).

🐲 You Can Now Learn High Valyrian On Duolingo to prepare for the House of the Dragon series on HBO Max (Gamespot).

🍿 What movie is so perfect that if it were remade, it would be a crime against humanity? (r/askreddit).

Friday fun

Lego has been absolutely killing it lately. The company has released a huge variety of sets recently, from the new monstrous 2,800-piece Bowser set to expansions of the dainty Lego Botanical collection.

Now, the company has announced a new set based on the iconic Atari 2600 console, coming out in August. It joins the (perhaps even more awesome) NES set released back in 2020, with tons of hidden details for extra nostalgia. Granted, the sets cost nearly as much as a brand new console, but that’s no surprise to Lego fans.

If you’re more of a minifig collector, there’s also a Lego The Office set coming out in October with 15 minifigs based on your favorite characters. It’s a small consolation for The Office no longer being available on Netflix.

Until next week,

Nick Fernandez, Editor.