The Pixel 6 Pro offers a lot. The Pixel 6 Pro is a bargain phone that can compete with phones costing hundreds of dollars. It has a 120Hz display, three rear cameras, and a new Tensor chipet.
This new Pixel has one flaw: its battery life and, to a lesser degree, its fingerprint sensor that can sometimes be temperamental. These are worth the sacrifices if you’re looking to make full use of Google’s innovative software features, such as on-device translation and Magic Eraser’s photo editor.
Our Google Pixel 6 review is for you if you don’t require a 120Hz display and telephoto zoom. Although the smaller phone starts at $599, it still features the same Tensor chip as well as an upgraded main camera sensor.
The Pixel 6 Pro is the best choice for those who want a bigger display and a phone that’s the best value for money. This flagship is worthy of being considered alongside the best from Apple, Samsung, and others as you will see in our full Pixel 6 Pro review.
Review of Pixel 6 Pro: Release Date and Price
The Pixel 6 Pro’s price is lower than other flagship phones. The Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899 for the 128GB model. This handset offers a lot in hardware value, along with Google’s outstanding software design and support. We believe pricing is the main area where the Google Pixels outperform the iPhone and Galaxy in 2021.
The Pixel 6 Pro was announced October 19. It is now available on the Google Store and Google Fi. Some of the prices for carriers are higher than Google’s MSRP. This may be due to 5G capabilities. For example, some Pixel 6 SKUs do not have mmWave 5.G.
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The Pixel 6 Pro also includes the Pixel Pass for $45 per month. You get a Pixel to upgrade every 2 years, device protection and a 200GB Google One subscription. This program also includes Google Play Pass, YouTube Premium (including YouTube Music Premium) and Google Play Pass. It’s a great deal on paper.
To get the best deals, check out the Google Pixel 6 offers now. We have a breakdown of where you can buy the Pixel 6 Pro .
The best Google Pixel 6 Pro cases will protect your Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6 starter manual will help you set up the phone and take you through its many features.
Pixel 6 Pro review: Design
At first glance, the Pixel 6 Pro’s biggest feature is its fresh, modern design. The Pixel 6 Pro’s new design is a departure from the minimalist, function-over-form Pixel language we have had since 2016. The Pixel 6 Pro is a stunning device that features a curved display and a glass back in three different colors. It also has a camera bar that extends across the entire width of the phone.
The camera bar is a subject that I have two opinions about. Google is trying something different and original in a sea filled with metal slabs and glass. This is one side of me. It makes the Pixel 6 Pro seem a little strange to me, for lack of a better term. I find it awkward, especially considering how the entire thing extends from the phone.
Overall, I love the feel and build quality of the Pixel 6 Pro. It feels solid, and it isn’t too heavy. Overall, the phone is narrower than the iPhone13 Pro Max that I have been using. The 6.7-inch screen is too large to use single-handedly, but the Pixel 6 Pro feels more comfortable than Apple’s new larger phone. The curves of the back are better than Apple’s straight edges.
The fingerprint sensor is one thing that I don’t like about the hardware. My colleague Roland Moore-Coyler agrees. The fingerprint reader is now in the Pixel 6 Pro, and it’s not on the back. It’s fine. However, I have noticed it slows down than the Galaxy S21 and OnePlus9 Pro.
While I believe the OnePlus 9 Pro and Galaxy S21 are more flexible, the Pixel 6 Pro appears to have a smaller readership. Google is working to fix the fingerprint problems in Pixel 6 Pro, so we’ll wait and see how that works out. It is possible that has just been added to the Android 13 beta.
Face Unlock may also be available via an update. This feature is rumored to be a feature that will allow for fingerprint scanning. According to a recent rumor, this feature will soon be available on the Pixel 6 Pro.
It is important to mention that Google has partnered up with iFixit in order to make repairs for older Pixel phones and the Pixel 6 Pro much easier.
Pixel 6 Pro review: Display
The Pixel 6 Pro’s color accuracy and color saturation are excellent, but the brightness is not as good as other displays. The Pixel 6 Pro has a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. This means it can be set to 10Hz to conserve battery but can ramp up to 120Hz when content is needed.
This is how the Pixel 6 Pro compares with its Galaxy S21 U rivals and to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
| Pixel 6 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro Max | Galaxy S21 Ultra | sRGB | 104 | 110 | 111 | DCI-P3 (%) | 74 | 77 | 82 | Delta-E | 0.3 | 0.21 | 0.35 | Peak brightness (nits). | 842 | 1038 | 821 | Max with adaptive lighting disabled (nits). | 495 | 837 | 380 |
The Pixel 6 Pro is a great alternative to the iPhone 13 Pro Max or Galaxy S21 Ultra. In fact, it even gets brighter than the former. The color saturation of all three phones is pretty comparable, even though the iPhone 13 Pro Max holds the lead in the Delta-E color accuracy score (where 0, is perfect).
The only area where the Pixel 6 Pro’s display falls short is in brightness. It can be quite bright outside, but it isn’t nearly as bright as the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s ridiculously bright screen. The iPhone is a clear winner inside, with an even brighter peak brightness and adaptive brightness disabled. Although the Pixel 6 Pro isn’t as trouble outdoors as its predecessors, it’s still quite a distance from the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The display works well for games such as Genshin Impact, Back 4 Blood, or The Ascent. It’s also great for watching movies and videos. The display has enough saturation to make even the starkest orange scenes in Blade Runner 2049 pop. This display is definitely the best I have ever seen on a Pixel. The Pixel 6 Pro’s display is definitely better than the Pixel5‘s and Pixel5a_’s screens. The Pixel 6 has optimized games that make use of the Game Dashboard feature. This allows you to prioritize battery efficiency and graphical output.
Pixel 6 Pro review: Cameras
We’re now at the heart of a Pixel, the camera. Google was the first to use computational photography. Although other phone manufacturers have followed their lead, Pixels are regularly featured on our top camera phones. The Pixel 6 Pro is a significant upgrade this year.
Google upgraded the hardware in order to enhance the Tensor strengths and software algorithms. Google claims that the main sensor now has 50MP and can take in 150% more light. The ultrawide 12MP camera has a 114-degree field of view, while the 48MP telephoto boasts a 4x optical zoom due to its folded optics. The Pixel 6 Pro has a digital zoom of up to 20x, and the AI-powered Super Res Zoom can help to clean up final images.
Magic Eraser is the most impressive of the Tensor chip’s new AI features. This feat of engineering allows you to effectively remove unwanted objects from your photos’ backgrounds. Although it’s not perfect, the Pixel 6 Pro will suggest items to be removed. It works best at parks and beaches, according to Google.
Here’s how the Pixel 6 Pro compares to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. This is the current king of our top camera phones list. (For more information on the comparison between the two phones, see our Google Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max comparison.
The differences in the photos of the pumpkins are very slight. However, you can see the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s photo looks a little more saturated. This is evident in the scarecrow’s shirt, background and the red building at the back. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image looks almost washed-out in comparison. However, this is due to differences in post processing. Personally, I prefer the image on the iPhone.
The Pixel’s image is brighter when taken indoors at this produce stand. It compensates for the harsh lighting. The iPhone heated things up a little too much to take advantage of the cool lighting. This makes the image appear darker than the Pixel’s. This is where I believe Google’s phone comes out on top.
The Pixel clearly has the advantage in brightness when taken in this wide-angle landscape shot. The sun to the left makes the scene appear more lit. The iPhone captures more landscapes due to its larger field of view. Although the Pixel’s image shows the greenish tones of the water better, this is still a close race.
Both phones used different methods to create these portraits of Mark Spoonauer. While the iPhone was closer to Mark’s face, the Pixel zoomed in a bit. Both phones had to compensate for the direct sunlight. I thought the Pixel did better, but the Pixel was a lot more effective. The blur radii look very artistic. Both portraits are great but I prefer the Pixel’s image with the more vibrant colors.
I was surprised by the comparison between their night modes. The Pixel’s Night Sight picture is immediately brighter. The visible plant is clearly visible on the left, along with the flowers and pumpkins in the foreground. The shadows are still deep but don’t dominate the photo like the iPhone’s. This one is dark with almost no pink flowers to the left.
These two selfies look very different. My face is sharply focused in the Pixel’s image, while the Pixel’s image uses softer colors. My hair looks darker than it really is. My face appears a little too smooth despite the iPhone’s brighter selfie. However, the colors look a bit off with a yellow-green tint to the final image. The Pixel’s colors seem more natural.
We brought out the Galaxy S21 Ultra to compare zoom. Samsung’s best phone was equipped with the most advanced zoom technology. The phone can zoom all the way to 100x, and it also features Zoom Lock which makes use of AI to keep your photos stable. Super Res Zoom is available on the Pixel 6 Pro, which has a maximum of 20x. I decided to compare 20x Pixel to 20x Galaxy S21 Ultra.
The background of both images looks similar, despite the blurred license plate on the S21 Ultra’s picture. The Pixel’s photo is cleaner while Samsung’s appears a little blurry on the purple SUV. Both images are clear and legible. This includes the Help Wanted signs and chimney sweep. Although the Pixel’s image looks cleaner than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, it is still very close. Samsung has a clear edge in max zoom.
Motion mode includes Action Pan and Long Exposure. This mode is great for long-exposure photos to express movement. Action Pan blurs the background and focuses on the moving subject, while Long Exposure blurs moving objects in the scene. The former can be seen above as the blue SUV drives past with Action Pan turned on.
Similar to the previous example, you can also use Long Exposure on/off. This effect is quite artistic and cool, as you can see from this image of a running fountain.
Finally, I added a sample of the Pixel 6 Pro’s astrophotography mode. This captured a photo of the moon and the ultrawide selfie camera. These two examples can be found in the gallery.
Pixel 6 Pro review: Video
Tensor has given video a boost. HDR can be recorded live in 4K. This allows for vivid and punchy video. 4K video is also possible on the front-facing cam. With Speech Enhancement, selfie recordings can get sound enhancements. Google claims that the Pixel 6 Pro will filter out background noise better to let your voice shine through.
Pixels are known for taking great photos but struggle with video. This year that has changed, although I am not sure it is as good as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Pixel 6 Pro doesn’t have a Cinematic mode, but that’s not a problem.
Pixel 6 Pro review: Performance
The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera was good. But Tensor is Google Silicon’s first-generation chips. It was designed for AI and machine-learning (ML), as you can see in the computational photography. It also allows for on-device speech recognition, translation, and other AI-powered features such as Live Transcribe or Live Translate.
Google stated that benchmarks don’t tell Tensor the whole story. However, we must still look at them to compare to other devices such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra or iPhone 13 Pro Max. This is how the Pixel 6 Pro with its 12GB RAM compares to its competitors.
