Now trying with a newer d/l:
<code>
SQLite version 3.34.0 2020-12-01 16:14:00
Enter ".help" for usage hints.
Connected to a transient in-memory database.
Use ".open FILENAME" to reopen on a persistent database.
sqlite> select x'c3a1',hex('???');
á|16EC168E16A1
echo "SELECT x'c3a1', hex('á');" | sqlite
á|C3A1
</code>
The first attempt above would not let me paste the command in. So I had to type 'c3a1' while holding Alt. But rendered as displayed with 3 question marks.
Definitely a glitch in my system somewhere.