The Pixel 6 Pro is one of the best cellphone Google has ever made and among the finest telephones you should buy proper now. With sturdy efficiency, some nice software program additions, a singular design and a very good digital camera system, it is obtained every part you’d search for in a flagship cellphone in 2021. And it gives all that at a value that, sensibly, undercuts its major rivals. The 6.7-inch base 128GB mannequin prices $899 (£849, AU$1,299), a large chunk lower than the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro’s $999 value and much more off the $1,099 Apple desires for the bigger 6.7-inch 13 Pro Max.
LikeExcellent camerasSolid all-round performanceNeat Android 12 interfaceAttractive design
Don’t LikeBattery is sweet, however not greatFast cost is not all that quickNo face unlock
While final 12 months’s Pixel 5 was greatest seen as a midrange cellphone with some higher-end touches, the Pixel 6 Pro is premium all the way in which. From its glass and steel design, to its high-resolution show and its very good triple digital camera, there’s so much to love right here. Then there’s the Tensor processor — a chip custom-made by Google for the cellphone — which supplies ample energy for your entire each day wants, higher safety features, 5G connectivity and a slick Android 12 interface. Battery life is sweet — actually above common — however not nice, with the iPhone 13 Pro placing in a stronger efficiency.
Google’s Pixel 6 Pro feels each bit as premium because it seems
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Its greatest Android rival is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra which does have some neat digital camera additions (that 10x zoom, for one factor) nevertheless it prices extra and the Pixel 6 Pro gives a extra user-friendly expertise. The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max supply very good all-round use, however come at a better value and in case you’re already entrenched within the Android ecosystem, it is doubtless not price switching and shopping for all these apps once more. Those searching for one of the best all-round Android expertise ought to completely look in direction of the Pixel 6 Pro.
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Pixel 6 Pro or Pixel 6? The stepdown $599 (£599, AU$999) Pixel 6 packs the identical Tensor processor and beautiful Android 12 software program for $300 lower than the Pro, however there are a couple of compromises it makes with the intention to come to that cheaper value. It has a smaller and decrease decision 6.4-inch show that lacks the curving finesse of the Pro. Its battery is smaller, it has 8GB quite than 12GB of RAM and it lacks the 4x telephoto zoom lens discovered on the Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.7-inch show whereas the Pixel 6’s measures 6.4 inches.
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But it is nonetheless a terrific cellphone that is effectively price contemplating. It supplies lots of the identical perks of the Pixel 6 Pro at a a lot cheaper price, particularly in case you do not care concerning the top-end efficiency supplied by the flagship. As my colleague Patrick Holland put it in his evaluate of the cellphone, “For the price, I can’t think of a better phone to recommend right now.” A recent design that stands out I did not love the look of final 12 months’s Pixel 5. The matte, rubberized again gave the cellphone a extra price range really feel than its $699 price ticket urged. The Pixel 6 Pro is worlds aside. The rear is all glass — toughened Gorilla Glass Victus, in truth — that curves on the edges to fulfill the 100% recycled aluminum body. The glass curves on the edges on the entrance, too, as does the show beneath it, making it not solely look extra premium, however really feel like a very flagship machine if you maintain it in your hand. It’s massive although, packing in a 6.7-inch show, which is able to make it extra cumbersome for some than the 6-inch Pixel 5 or 6.4-inch Pixel 6. That glass makes it slippery, too, so take into account one in every of Google’s protecting instances in case you’re nervous about dropping it. The Pixel 6 Pro, flanked by the iPhone 13 Pro (left) and Pixel 5.
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It is IP68-rated for water resistance, that means it may possibly stand up to being in 1 meter (about 3 ft) of water for as much as 30 minutes. No, that does not imply you possibly can take it swimming, nevertheless it does imply it ought to be capable to shake off having the odd beer spilled over it by your clumsy mates. An fascinating design alternative is the massive digital camera bar that stretches throughout the again. It protrudes from the cellphone by about 3mm, so it does not lie completely flat if you put it on a desk, however nor does it rock from nook to nook like telephones with digital camera bumps simply on one facet (just like the S21 Ultra). I just like the look of the cellphone and it actually stands out. One tip although: Get the Sorta Sunny orangey-peachy shade, if you will discover it in inventory. The black-and-gray choice, Stormy Black, seems quite boring by comparability. The digital camera strip protrudes from the cellphone by about 3mm. As a consequence, it will not lie flat on a desk.
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The rear-mounted fingerprint scanner seen on the Pixel 5 has been eliminated, changed as a substitute with an in-screen scanner, which I discovered labored precisely and rapidly more often than not, though Patrick discovered the Pixel 6’s scanner to be rather more hit or miss in his evaluate. There’s no face unlock capacity, which is a little bit of a disgrace, however with masks nonetheless being a requirement in lots of indoor areas as a consequence of COVID-19, having a fingerprint scanner is arguably extra helpful anyway.
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Three glorious cameras That massive bar on the again hides three cameras: a 12-megapixel ultrawide; a 48-megapixel telephoto that gives 4x optical zoom; and a major digital camera that makes use of a bigger 1/1.3-inch sensor, which Google says captures 2.5x extra gentle than the Pixel 5. The cameras on the Pixel telephones have at all times been glorious, and this new technology isn’t any totally different.
Images from the principle digital camera lens are gorgeous. They’re vibrant, they’re full of element and there is a tremendous steadiness of publicity, with shiny skies saved underneath management and shadowy areas being simply seen. Pixel 6 Pro, major digital camera.
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The golden colours of the leaves have been captured fantastically right here, with a wealthy blue sky seen behind. iPhone 13 Pro, major digital camera.
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And here is the identical picture taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. There’s little to decide on between them, but when I used to be being hypercritical, I’d say that the white steadiness on the Pixel 6 Pro has resulted in a hotter, extra orange tone on the tree trunk, which I believe seems higher. You can see how the Pixel 6 Pro’s digital camera actually stacks up towards the iPhone 13 Pro’s in my pictures shootout. Pixel 6 Pro, major digital camera.
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This scene wanting in direction of the attractive Edinburgh fortress is a difficult shot, with darkish shadows and a particularly shiny sky past the bushes. The Pixel 6 Pro has dealt with it effectively although, sustaining a stunning publicity total. Pixel 6 Pro, major digital camera.
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And it is a lot the identical right here, with vivid blue skies, very good publicity and loads of element. Pixel 6 Pro, ultrawide digital camera.
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Switching to the ultrawide lens, the scene maintains the wealthy colours and publicity. Zoom nearer in and it is clear it has much less total element, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a stunning shot. Pixel 6 Pro, ultrawide digital camera.
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Another from the Pixel 6 Pro’s ultrawide lens. But take a look at the iPhone 13 Pro’s: iPhone 13 Pro, ultrawide lens.
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The iPhone’s gives a a lot wider view that permits you to seize extra within the scene. They’re each glorious large lenses and each do a terrific job in packing in these lovely colours, however I’d wish to have seen the Pixel providing a barely wider scene. The 4x zoom lens is wonderful too, offering tons of element because of its excessive decision sensor. I believe 4x is a good zoom stage for a cellphone as effectively; it means that you can discover compositions that may be past the attain of lesser zoom ranges, nevertheless it’s not fairly as restrictive because the 10x zoom you may discover on the Galaxy S21. It’s a zoom stage I really feel I’d use so much on my travels and have already taken a couple of 4x photographs with the cellphone that I’m actually happy with as inventive photographs. Pixel 6 Pro, 4x zoom.
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This zoomed-in picture is so pin-sharp I can truly learn the headline on the newspaper. It’s a extremely spectacular lens that does not pressure you to make any form of compromise on high quality with the intention to obtain these zoom ranges. By comparability, the iPhone 13 Pro’s optical zoom maxes out at 3x, so the Pixel 6 Pro is ready to obtain a closer-up picture. Which, frankly, I’d take any day over a wider-angle view. Pixel 6 Pro, 4x zoom.
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It’s useful as effectively for focusing your view on a smaller scene like this, capturing intimate little still-life scenes, quite than grand, sweeping vistas. The positive textures on the leaves listed below are extraordinarily sharp. Google has thrown some further options in too, together with a instrument that mechanically removes individuals from the background in a picture, which generally works effectively, and generally leaves a giant splotch the place an individual as soon as stood. Then there’s the lengthy publicity mode, which lets you create ethereal blurred waterscapes and the Nightscape mode, which does a superb job of taking photographs at nighttime. Pixel 6 professional, Nightscape photograph.
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I’m significantly impressed with the pictures skills of the Pixel 6 Pro and there isn’t any query that it is among the many greatest cameras you will get on a cellphone proper now. Video high quality is great as effectively, with very good dynamic vary, glorious picture stabilization and loads of element because of the 4K decision. Does Google’s Tensor processor make a distinction? At the guts of the cellphone is Google’s first home-baked processor, named Tensor. It’s a big transfer for Google to provide its personal silicon and it reveals a powerful dedication to stay within the {hardware} recreation — in spite of everything, you do not go to the hassle of growing your individual processors as a one-off experiment. But it is primarily irrelevant when you get the Pixel in your hand, because it features identical to another cellphone. It’s nippy to navigate across the Android 12 interface, video games like Asphalt 9: Legends and Call of Duty play completely, whereas photograph modifying and video streaming are dealt with precisely in addition to you’d get from another top-end cellphone proper now. Pixel 6 Pro benchmark assessments
Legend:
Geekbench 5 (single core)
Geekbench 5 (multi core)
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Note:
Longer bars equal higher efficiency
On benchmark assessments just like the Geekbench 5 processor take a look at and 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme graphics take a look at, the Pixel 6 Pro does not rating fairly as extremely because the iPhone 13 Pro, nevertheless it’s up there with the Galaxy S21 Ultra (and it edged out the highly effective OnePlus 9 Pro on the graphics take a look at too). Benchmarks are certainly not a direct indicator of real-life efficiency, nevertheless it’s good to a minimum of see that Google’s new silicon is working in the identical ballpark as its rivals. No, the Tensor chip just isn’t setting a brand new commonplace for lightning-fast efficiency. But it does not have to; immediately’s telephones already pack far more energy than any of us are prone to want every day. Google’s push into chip manufacturing goes past merely making a “benchmark beater” and quite a lot of the true advantages will come over time as the corporate develops extra methods to benefit from its personal {hardware}. The Tensor processor is especially designed with machine studying, AI and speech-recognition functions in thoughts. There are already speech-recognition features constructed into the keyboard (for dictating messages or emails) in addition to real-time translation instruments and improved visible language translations when utilizing Google Lens by way of the digital camera. Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro run the most recent Android 12 software program.
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Android 12 is beautiful to make use of The Android 12 interface is extraordinarily neat and straightforward to make use of. It’s my favourite model of Android to this point, providing an uncomplicated expertise that even Android novices will not take lengthy to become familiar with. One of the larger options that is (for now) unique to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro is the flexibility to create {custom} themes for the cellphone primarily based on no matter picture you could have as your background. When you select a brand new wallpaper (both one of many many built-in ones, or any of your individual photographs saved to your cellphone), the cellphone will mechanically pick the dominant shade and can use that, and its complementary colours, to vary the look of components of the interface, together with a number of the default Google app icons on the house display screen, such because the Play Store, Gmail and Photos. It’s a pleasant thought, though it in all probability should not be the principle cause you determine to half together with your money. Security has been given a selected push each on the software program and {hardware} facet. The Tensor processor has a devoted Titan coprocessor that apparently permits for significantly better on-device safety, whereas Android 12 gives extra granular management of your safety and privateness settings. That features a dashboard that reveals what apps have used what data lately and useful buttons within the pull-down notification tray that flip off system-wide entry to your digital camera and microphone. Those quick-access privateness buttons would possibly come in useful.
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Google has additionally promised that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will obtain safety updates for 5 years, which is able to imply these telephones will likely be safer to make use of for longer. Many older telephones are nonetheless completely usable from a {hardware} standpoint, but when they do not have the most recent safety patches on board then they’re vulnerable to all types of hacking nastiness. From each a price and environmental perspective, with the ability to use our telephones safely for longer is simply a very good factor. Vibrant show, stable battery life and quick charging The Pixel 6 Pro’s 6.7-inch show is pin-sharp because of its 3,120×1,440-pixel decision. It’s shiny, too, with vibrant colours that do justice to colourful video games like Candy Crush Soda Saga or video like Netflix’s world-dominating present Squid Game. It has an adaptive refresh price that may go as much as 120Hz if you’re taking part in fast-paced video games, but in addition slows all the way down to solely 10Hz when the cellphone is principally sitting idle. Performance if you want it; power-saving when you do not. The Pixel 6 Pro and maybe its largest rival, the iPhone 13 Pro.
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The cellphone runs on a 5,003-mAh battery, which must be good for a full day of combined use. After one hour of streaming a YouTube video at max brightness it had dropped from full to 98%. By distinction, the OnePlus 9 Pro had dropped to 90%, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro dropped to solely 99%. After an extra hour the 6 Pro had dropped to 89%, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro was at 93%. You actually should not battle to get by the day with it, however as with all telephones, you possibly can assist it by protecting display screen brightness down, avoiding demanding duties like gaming or video streaming till you are close to a plug, and turning off GPS. It has Qi wi-fi charging and it helps quick charging with a 30-watt charger (not provided), which is able to take the cellphone to 50% full in 30 minutes. That’s respectable, however not likely a match for OnePlus’s 65-watt quick charging, which is able to totally cost the machine in the identical time. Still, it is quick sufficient to have the ability to give your cellphone a fast enhance earlier than you head out and about, and the Extreme Battery Saver mode pauses all however your important apps to protect the remaining juice. Google Pixel 6 specs vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro, Google Pixel 5, Apple iPhone 13
Google Pixel 6
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Google Pixel 5
Apple iPhone 13
Display measurement, decision
6.4-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 60Hz or 90Hz
6.7-inch LTPO OLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 10-120Hz
6-inch FHD+ OLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels
6.1-inch OLED; 2,532×1,170 pixels
Pixel density
411 ppi
512 ppi
432 ppi
460 ppi
Dimensions (inches)
6.2×2.9×0.4 in
6.5×3.0x0.4 in
5.7×2.8×0.3 in
5.78×2.82×0.3 in
Dimensions (millimeters)
158.6×74.8×8.9mm
163.9×75.9×8.9mm
144.7×70.4x8mm
147x72x7.65mm
Weight (ounces, grams)
7.3 oz; 207g
7.41 oz; 210g
5.33 oz; 151g
6.14 oz; 174g
Mobile software program
Android 12
Android 12
Android 11
iOS 15
Camera
50-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel ultrawide
50-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (telephoto)
12.2-megapixel (commonplace), 16-megapixel (ultrawide)
12-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing digital camera
8-megapixel
11-megapixel
8-megapixel
12-megapixel
Video seize
4K 30, 60fps (rear), 1,080p 30fps (entrance)
4K 30, 60fps (rear), 4K 30fps (entrance)
4K
HDR video recording with Dolby Vision as much as 4K at 60fps
Processor
Google Tensor
Google Tensor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Apple A15 Bionic
Storage
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
128GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
RAM
8GB
12GB
8GB
Undisclosed
Expandable storage
No
No
No
No
Battery
4,614 mAh
5,003 mAh
4,000 mAh
Undisclosed; Apple lists 19 hours of video playback
Fingerprint sensor
Under show
Under show
Rear
No (Face ID)
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
Lightning
Headphone jack
No
No
No
No
Special options
5G sub 6 (some provider fashions even have 5G mmWave) assist, Wi-Fi 6E, 30W fast-charging, wi-fi charging, Magic Eraser, Motion mode, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Cinematic Pan, 5 years OS safety updates, IP68 score for mud and water resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus (entrance), Gorilla Glass 6 (again), dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM)
5G sub 6 and mmWave assist, Wi-Fi 6E, ultra-wideband, 30W fast-charging, wi-fi charging, Magic Eraser, Motion mode, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Cinematic Pan, 5 years OS safety updates, IP68 score for dust- and water-resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus (back and front), dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM)
5G enabled; water resistant (IP68); 90Hz-refresh-rate show; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); reverse wi-fi charging; quick charging
5G enabled; MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wi-fi charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM)
Price off-contract (USD)
$599 (128GB)
$899 (128GB)
$699
$799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB)
Price (GBP)
£599 (128GB)
£849 (128GB)
£599
£779 (128GB), £879 (256GB), £1,079 (512GB)
Price (AUD)
AU$999 (128GB)
AU$1,299 (128GB)
AU$999
AU$1,349 (128GB), AU$1,519 (256GB), AU$1,869 (512GB)