Models and concept art of the designs:
I like how you increasingly embrace asymmetry. It very much helps; I hope you'll find it helpful to introduce some to facial features as well, perhaps the symmetrical mouth ▀▄▀▀▄▀ could be shifted to a side to allow for ▀▄▀▄▀ or even ▄▄▀▄▀, depending on what expression you are trying to convey. Either that, or you can experiment with other shapes like ▀▄▀█▄▀ for more relaxed rather than pouting lips. I think mildly emulating a head tilt in one or more of the 3D axes, as the "realistic" 3D model does (perhaps shifting some eyebrow or nose details up/down "half" a pixel on one side), would also help with striking a natural pose much like the 2D concept art. The body position and clothes of the right pixel art are great, it shows that there are definitely enough pixels to add hands (if you wish) and finally a less static-looking head.