Google Pixel 6 review
The Google Pixel 6 is unlike any Pixel before it, and it’s not just because of the phone’s eye-catching camera bar that runs across the back of the two-tone design. This Pixel, along with the Pixel 6 Pro with which it will be released, is the first to use Google’s Tensor chipset, which opens up a world of possibilities for voice-activated chores and other features that leverage Google’s machine learning prowess.
Price
Despite all of the premium features, Google is just charging $599 for the Pixel 6, which is only $150 more than the Pixel 5a. Add an additional $100 if you want the phone with 256GB of storage. Google’s shop now has unlocked versions of the Stormy Black and Seafoam Sage Pixel 6 models for $699; the Kinda Coral variant appears to only be available in 128GB unlocked. Pre-orders for the Pixel 6 are now open, with a ship date of October 28.
Display & Design
The Pixel 6 is equipped with a 6.4-inch FHD+ OLED display. Furthermore, Google has equipped the Pixel 6 with a refresh rate that automatically varies between 60Hz and 90Hz based on the activity on the screen. In High Brightness Mode, the Pixel 6 has a rated regular max brightness of 500 nits and a peak brightness of 800 nits for HDR content. The phone’s display is coated in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for improved scratch resistance than prior Pixels, in addition to IP68 water resistance.
Instead of a camera array in the phone’s corner, the cameras are placed in a horizontal strip that runs the length of the device. The bright strip above the horizontal bar contrasts with the more subdued color that makes up the majority of the Pixel 6’s rear. The Pixel 6 also has an in-display fingerprint sensor and a punch-hole cutout for the front camera, which helps to reduce bezels.
Camera
The Pixel 6 comes with two back cameras, much as previous Pixel flagships. The main camera of the Pixel 6 is a 50MP wide-angle lens. A 12MP ultrawide angle camera with a 114-degree field of view is also included. Despite the hardware upgrades to the Pixel 6’s camera arrangement, computational photography is still an important aspect of the phone’s photographic strategy. Magic Eraser, which allows you to eliminate unpleasant persons and objects from the background of your photos with a single swipe, is one of the features included with the Pixel 6 release.
Performance
The Tensor chip will boost Google’s phones’ capabilities by allowing them to filter for robocalls, transcribe phone tree menus, and forecast wait times so that you may call back when you’re more likely to get through to a real person. The Pixel 6 is equipped with an older Qualcomm X55 5G modem, which is a year behind the competition.
Battery life & charging
To work with the Tensor chip’s stated power efficiency, the Pixel 6 will feature a larger battery – Google puts the Pixel 6 battery as 4,614 mAh. This new phone supports 30W wired charging, however, you’ll have to buy one separately because one isn’t included in the box. The Pixel 6 will be able to charge wirelessly at a pace of 21W, which is significantly slower than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W.
Google Pixel 6 Pro review
The Pixel 6 Pro has all of the makings of a fantastic Android phone, particularly for the price. It has a large 120Hz display, a telephoto lens, and a completely unique style that attracts attention. On paper, the Pixel 6 Pro demonstrates that Google is serious about its flagship smartphones this year. And with an entry price of $899, it’s possible.
Price
The Pixel 6 Pro, which starts at $899 for the 128GB variant, offers a lot of hardware value on top of Google’s great software design and support. Pre-orders for the Pixel 6 Pro are now open, with a ship date of October 28. Stormy Black, Cloudy White, and Sorta Sunny are the three colors available for the Pixel 6 Pro.
Display & Design
The Pixel 6 Pro’s curved 6.71-inch QHD+ OLED display looks excellent. According to Google, it has a standard maximum brightness of 500 nits, with a maximum of 800 nits for HDR content in High Brightness mode. The Pixel 6 Pro features a refresh rate of 120Hz that can be scaled down to 10Hz. The Pixel 6 Pro is also dust and water-resistant, with an IP68 rating.
The Pixel 6 Pro feels more luxurious and substantial, with a 7.4-ounce weight that isn’t overly weighty. The design is eye-catching, with a large camera bar that runs the length of the phone. The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a Gorilla Glass Victus display on the front that is up to 2x more scratch-resistant than previous Pixel phones. Glass Victus is also used on the back, which is enclosed by a polished aluminum frame. Instead of a fingerprint sensor on the rear, the phone is unlocked via an under-display fingerprint reader.
Camera
On the Pixel 6 Pro, there’s a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom. A front-facing 11MP camera with a 94-degree field of view is also included. Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, and Motion Mode are among the latest AI capabilities enabled by the Tensor chip. Magic Eraser is a brilliant piece of software that allows you to erase undesired elements from the background of your images with ease.
Performance
Tensor is more concerned with AI and machine learning than with raw and gaming performance. Apart from the camera, the Pixel 6 Pro also has Call Assistance capabilities (such as Wait Times, Hold for Me, and Direct My Call), Assistant speech typing, Live Translate from texts and the camera, and the still-excellent Recorder app. The tensor will be able to transcribe call menu selections, provide improved robocall filtering, and predict wait times so you don’t spend time. The bad news is that the Pixel 6 Pro has an older Qualcomm X55 5G modem than the iPhone 13 and Galaxy S21 series, which is a year older.
Battery life & charging
The Pixel 6 Pro is the largest battery in a Pixel to date, with a capacity of 5,000 mAh. Google claims it can last for 24 hours, but with the battery-saver mode turned on, that figure jumps to 48. The charging power has also been increased to 30W, up from the Pixel 5’s measly 18W. Even though typical Qi charging is restricted to 12W, the new Pixel Stand can deliver up to 23W. This year, Google followed Apple and Samsung’s lead by omitting the charger, meaning you’ll have to buy the 30W wall charger separately.