Update: UK readers who can't wait for the Pixel 6a can get their hands on the Pixel 6 for Black Friday

There is a good news and bad news situation regarding the latest Google Pixel 6a specs leak Google's next budget smartphone will likely feature the same Tensor chipset that was just introduced in the Pixel 6 flagship, but the main camera will not be as powerful

This comes from 9to5Google, which says the news about the Pixel 6a's main camera comes from information in the Camera app discovered by the company's APK Insight Team According to the report, the Pixel 6a will use a 122MP Sony IMX363 primary sensor, which is what previous A-series Pixels have used This was also the main camera of the Pixel flagship until the Pixel 6 changed its main shooter to a 50MP sensor

In addition to the increased megapixels, the Pixel 6's sensor is larger than previous Pixels, allowing it to capture more light; if the Pixel 6a chooses the smaller Sony IMX363 sensor, it will not see such an advantage in low light photography

On the other hand, it makes sense for a flagship phone to use a better camera setup than a lower-priced budget phone However, Google has not always operated that way Instead, Pixel A phones often rely on the same camera sensors and features found on flagship Google phones According to this rumor, that policy appears to be coming to an end with the Pixel 6a

Other cameras on the Pixel 6a will reportedly match what the Pixel 6 offers These include a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens on the back and an 8MP front camera The upcoming phone is also expected to feature the horizontal camera bar that makes the Pixel 6 look distinctive, as we learned from the Pixel 6a renderings released this month

Both the Pixel 5a and Pixel 6 rank among the best camera phones we have tested in the past year The Pixel 6a, due out next year, is also expected to put up a good fight against other budget camera phones, but it may not be able to match the image quality of the Pixel 6

The Tensor news in the 9to5Google report is more encouraging: the Pixel 5a is powered by the Snapdragon 765G chipset, which debuted before Google introduced its own Tensor system-on-chip Since Tensor can keep up with the Snapdragon 8 series silicon, we can expect a big jump in performance in next year's Pixel 6a More importantly, Tensor will enable a number of machine learning-based features, such as improved call support and voice input on the device We are eager to see if these features make it to the Pixel 6a

It may be some time before we know; the Pixel 3a debuted in spring 2019, while the Pixel 4a and 5a both came out in August It is unclear whether Google will stick to that timeline for next year's Pixel 6a

And for those looking to get their hands on a Pixel earlier than the 6a's eventual release, there are some Black Friday smartphone deals out there These include the Pixel 5a for $349 and the Pixel 6, which has a reasonable discount at Best Buy, depending on the carrier Be sure to check out our best Black Friday sale deals for the latest discounts