The Google Pixel 6 Pro, launched in October 2021, is the flagship offering from Google that set a new benchmark in smartphone technology. With its impressive hardware, refined design, and Google’s custom Tensor chip, it marked a significant shift from Google’s earlier devices. The Pixel 6 Pro competes with top-tier phones from brands like Apple and Samsung, while standing out with Google’s expertise in AI, computational photography, and clean software experience. This review delves into every aspect of the Google Pixel 6 Pro, from its design to its performance, cameras, software, and battery life.
Design and Build Quality
The Pixel 6 Pro introduces a new design language for Google’s smartphones, moving away from the more subdued and minimalist aesthetics of previous Pixel models. The phone features a bold, distinct look with its standout camera bar that stretches across the back of the device. This design is polarizing, but it certainly sets the Pixel 6 Pro apart from the sea of similar-looking smartphones.
The phone is built with a combination of Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back, giving it a premium feel and enhanced durability. The aluminum frame adds to its robust design, and the phone is IP68-rated, making it water and dust-resistant. The camera bar may initially seem bulky, but it actually helps prevent the phone from rocking when placed on a flat surface, a thoughtful design touch.
At 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm and weighing 210g, the Pixel 6 Pro is a large phone, though it feels manageable in hand thanks to its curved edges. The ergonomics are generally good, though some users may find it slippery due to its glass back, making a case almost essential for better grip. The design is available in three color options: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, and Stormy Black, giving users some variety in terms of aesthetics.
Display
The Pixel 6 Pro features a stunning 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 512 PPI. This makes the display incredibly sharp and detailed, ideal for consuming media, gaming, or simply scrolling through social feeds. The display supports HDR10+ and has a peak brightness of around 1000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
One of the standout features of this display is the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. This means the phone can dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on the content being displayed, which helps balance fluidity with battery efficiency. Scrolling through apps, swiping between screens, and gaming feels incredibly smooth and responsive.
The curved edges of the display enhance the immersive experience, though they might not be to everyone’s liking. Some users have reported accidental touches due to the curvature, but overall, the screen provides a premium viewing experience. The in-display fingerprint sensor, while functional, isn’t as fast or accurate as the competition, such as the ultrasonic sensors used in Samsung’s flagship models.
Performance
The Pixel 6 Pro is powered by Google’s first-ever custom chipset, the Tensor SoC. Built in collaboration with Samsung, this chip is designed to enhance machine learning and AI-based tasks, which are core to Google’s smartphone experience. While it doesn’t benchmark as high as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 or Apple’s A15 Bionic, the Tensor chip still delivers strong performance in everyday use.
The phone comes with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which ensures smooth multitasking and handles intensive apps and games with ease. Whether you’re playing graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact or multitasking between numerous apps, the Pixel 6 Pro remains fluid and responsive.
However, where Tensor truly shines is in AI and machine learning tasks. Google has optimized this chip to handle tasks like real-time language translation, on-device voice recognition, and enhanced computational photography. The AI-driven features feel more integrated and responsive compared to other smartphones, providing a genuinely smarter smartphone experience.
Camera System
One of the most significant selling points of the Pixel 6 Pro is its camera system, which continues Google’s tradition of offering industry-leading smartphone photography. The phone features a triple-camera setup on the back, which includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. The front-facing camera is 11.1MP, offering solid selfie performance.
Main Camera (50MP)
The primary sensor on the Pixel 6 Pro is a 50MP wide-angle camera with an f/1.9 aperture and laser autofocus, and it utilizes pixel binning to capture more light and detail in every shot. This results in incredibly sharp images with excellent dynamic range, making it one of the best smartphone cameras for both day and night photography.
Google’s computational photography algorithms are as impressive as ever, with features like HDR+ and Super Res Zoom providing enhanced details in both high-contrast scenes and zoomed-in shots. The Night Sight mode continues to deliver outstanding low-light photography, capturing well-exposed images even in near-total darkness.
Ultrawide Camera (12MP)
The 12MP ultrawide camera with a 114-degree field of view is great for capturing expansive landscapes or fitting more subjects into a frame. While it doesn’t quite match the sharpness and detail of the primary sensor, it still performs admirably, especially in good lighting conditions. Distortion at the edges of ultrawide shots is minimal, which is a welcome improvement over some competitors’ ultrawide cameras.
Telephoto Camera (48MP)
The inclusion of a 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom is a significant upgrade over previous Pixel models. This lens offers excellent zoom capabilities, capturing crisp and detailed shots even at higher zoom levels. With Google’s Super Res Zoom technology, the Pixel 6 Pro can digitally zoom up to 20x, with surprisingly good results, though quality does start to degrade beyond 10x.
Front Camera (11.1MP)
The 11.1MP front-facing camera offers wide-angle selfies, making it ideal for group shots or capturing more of the background. Selfie quality is excellent, with good detail and natural skin tones, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Video Recording
In terms of video, the Pixel 6 Pro can record 4K video at up to 60fps, and the results are impressive. Google has improved video stabilization, and the overall video quality is sharp with good color accuracy. However, it still lags behind the iPhone in terms of video quality, especially when it comes to handling exposure changes and dynamic range in video.
Software Experience
As a Google phone, the Pixel 6 Pro runs a clean version of Android 12, which introduces Google’s new Material You design language. Material You allows for deeper customization of the interface, with dynamic theming that adapts the system’s color palette based on the wallpaper you choose. This creates a more personalized user experience and gives the Pixel 6 Pro a fresh and modern look.
Android 12 on the Pixel 6 Pro is fluid, with smooth animations and easy navigation. Google has integrated several AI-driven features into the software, such as Live Translate, which offers real-time language translation without needing an internet connection. The phone also supports features like Now Playing, which automatically identifies music playing in the background, and Call Screen, which helps avoid spam calls by using Google Assistant to answer unknown numbers.
Another significant advantage of the Pixel 6 Pro is its commitment to software updates. Google has promised three years of major Android updates and five years of security updates, ensuring the phone will remain up-to-date and secure for longer than many of its competitors.
Battery Life and Charging
The Pixel 6 Pro comes equipped with a 5,003mAh battery, which is more than enough to get through a full day of moderate to heavy usage. In real-world testing, the phone can easily last a full day with around 6-7 hours of screen-on time, even with the 120Hz display and 5G connectivity enabled.
Google has also introduced support for 30W fast charging, which can charge the phone to around 50% in 30 minutes. However, it’s worth noting that Google doesn’t include a charger in the box, so you’ll need to purchase a compatible charger separately. The phone also supports 23W wireless charging with the Pixel Stand (2nd Gen), and reverse wireless charging allows you to charge accessories like earbuds.
While the battery life is generally good, it’s not quite on par with some other flagship devices that offer even longer endurance. That being said, the adaptive refresh rate and power-efficient Tensor chip help to conserve battery during lighter use.
5G Connectivity and Network Performance
The Pixel 6 Pro supports both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G, offering wide compatibility with 5G networks around the world. In areas with strong 5G coverage, the phone delivers blazing-fast download and upload speeds, significantly improving the experience of streaming, downloading large files, or using cloud-based apps.
Call quality and network reception are excellent, with clear voice calls and strong signal strength even in areas with weaker coverage. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 6E, providing faster and more reliable internet connections when using compatible routers.
Security Features
Security is a major focus for the Pixel 6 Pro, and it comes with several features designed to keep your data safe. One of the most significant additions is the Titan M2 security chip, which works in tandem with the Tensor chip to protect sensitive information and provide secure on-device processing for things like biometric data.
The in-display fingerprint sensor provides secure authentication, though, as mentioned earlier, it’s not as fast as some of its competitors. Google has also integrated advanced privacy controls into Android 12, making it easier to manage app permissions and control what data apps can access. For example, you can now grant apps access to your location, camera, and microphone only while the app is in use, giving you more control over your privacy. Android 12 also introduces a privacy dashboard that gives you a clear overview of which apps have accessed your data and when, making it easier to monitor and adjust permissions as needed.
Google has also integrated its advanced “Face Unblur” and “Magic Eraser” tools into the Pixel 6 Pro’s software, both of which use AI and machine learning to enhance images post-capture. Face Unblur ensures that faces in photos remain sharp and in focus, even when taken in motion or low-light conditions. Magic Eraser allows you to remove unwanted objects or people from photos with just a few taps, which can be a game-changer for casual photographers who want their images to look polished without needing professional editing skills.
Gaming Performance
The Google Pixel 6 Pro, with its Tensor chip and 12GB of RAM, offers a solid gaming experience. While it doesn’t benchmark as high as some of its competitors in terms of raw performance, the real-world gaming experience remains smooth and enjoyable. Games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and PUBG Mobile run without significant issues, with minimal frame drops and overheating.
The adaptive 120Hz refresh rate enhances the gaming experience, particularly in fast-paced games that benefit from higher frame rates. The phone also supports Vulkan 1.1, an API that helps improve gaming performance, and its stereo speakers provide good audio quality for an immersive experience.
One downside, however, is that the Pixel 6 Pro lacks any advanced gaming-specific features like a high-refresh-rate gaming mode or enhanced cooling systems that are present in some of its competitors, such as the ASUS ROG Phone or Samsung’s Galaxy S series. For most users, though, the Pixel 6 Pro’s performance will be more than sufficient for mobile gaming.
Audio and Multimedia
The Pixel 6 Pro features stereo speakers, with one speaker at the bottom and the other doubling as the earpiece. The audio quality is good, with clear mids and highs, and enough bass for a satisfying multimedia experience. Whether you’re watching YouTube videos, streaming movies, or listening to music, the Pixel 6 Pro’s speakers deliver rich and balanced sound. However, they don’t quite reach the audio quality of some other flagships, such as the iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which offer a fuller and more immersive sound experience.
There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack on the Pixel 6 Pro, which has become standard for most flagship phones in recent years. Users will need to rely on Bluetooth or use a USB-C adapter to connect wired headphones. The phone supports Bluetooth 5.2 and features support for high-quality audio codecs like aptX, LDAC, and AAC, ensuring a great wireless audio experience when paired with compatible headphones or speakers.
Price and Value
The Google Pixel 6 Pro is priced competitively, starting at $899 for the 128GB model, with the 256GB and 512GB variants priced higher. This pricing puts it in the same range as the iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, making it a direct competitor to these flagship devices.
Given the Pixel 6 Pro’s hardware, software, and camera performance, it offers excellent value for money. The custom Tensor chip, combined with Google’s AI-driven software features, provides a unique experience that sets it apart from other Android phones. The 5 years of security updates, along with 3 years of major Android updates, also give it an edge in terms of long-term support.
For users who prioritize having the best camera performance, clean software, and access to Google’s exclusive AI features, the Pixel 6 Pro is a fantastic choice. However, for those who prioritize raw performance or more advanced gaming features, there are other phones in the same price range that might offer more in those areas.
Competition
The Pixel 6 Pro faces stiff competition in the flagship market, primarily from Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra.
iPhone 13 Pro
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro, priced similarly to the Pixel 6 Pro, brings the latest A15 Bionic chip, which outperforms the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip in terms of raw power. The iPhone also excels in video quality, offering features like ProRes video recording and superior stabilization. However, in terms of photography, the Pixel 6 Pro holds its ground, especially with Google’s computational photography prowess.
Where the Pixel 6 Pro has an advantage is in its software and integration with Google services. Android users will appreciate the level of customization, integration with Google Assistant, and AI-powered features that the iPhone can’t match. The iPhone, on the other hand, offers a more polished app ecosystem and better video recording capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is another major competitor. It features a more powerful Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100, depending on the region) and offers up to 10x optical zoom, compared to the Pixel 6 Pro’s 4x optical zoom. Samsung also includes features like DeX mode, which allows you to use your phone like a desktop PC when connected to an external monitor, giving it an edge in terms of versatility.
However, the Pixel 6 Pro is a better option for users who prefer a cleaner Android experience without the bloatware that comes with Samsung’s One UI. Additionally, while the S21 Ultra’s camera hardware is more advanced, the Pixel 6 Pro’s computational photography often produces better results, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
Verdict
The Google Pixel 6 Pro is a game-changer for Google and the Pixel lineup. It’s the most ambitious Pixel phone to date, and it delivers on almost every front. The new design is bold and unique, the display is stunning, and the Tensor chip introduces a new era of AI-driven features and performance enhancements.
The camera system is arguably the best on the market, particularly when it comes to computational photography and low-light performance. Google’s software continues to provide a clean, bloat-free experience, with Android 12 and Material You adding a refreshing new look and feel to the operating system. The promise of long-term software support further solidifies the Pixel 6 Pro as a smart investment for users looking for a future-proof device.
However, the Pixel 6 Pro isn’t without its flaws. The fingerprint sensor, while functional, is slower than its competitors. The phone is also on the larger and heavier side, which may not appeal to everyone. Additionally, while the Tensor chip performs well in most scenarios, it isn’t the fastest processor on the market, especially when compared to the likes of Apple’s A15 Bionic or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888.
Despite these minor shortcomings, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is an outstanding flagship smartphone that offers exceptional value for its price. It’s a must-have for Android enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone who values AI-driven features and a clean software experience. Google has successfully redefined what a Pixel phone can be, and the Pixel 6 Pro sets a high bar for future smartphones in the industry.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel 6 Pro marks a significant step forward for Google, both in terms of hardware and software. With the introduction of the Tensor chip, Google has cemented its place in the flagship smartphone market, delivering a phone that combines AI innovation with premium hardware. The camera system is unmatched, and the seamless integration of Google’s services and AI features creates an experience that is distinct from other Android devices.
For those who value photography, software updates, and AI-driven features, the Pixel 6 Pro is one of the best smartphones available today. While it may not excel in every category, it strikes an excellent balance between performance, features, and value, making it a strong contender in the competitive flagship market.