Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in hands-on: This is how the new Google smartphones differ

Google has officially unveiled its new top smartphone models. According to the manufacturer, they are the first real pure Google smartphones. How is the Pixel 6 different from the Pixel 6 Pro, and how expensive are they?

When Google presented its Pixel 5 (test) last year, we weren’t the only one to speculate that the smartphone would represent a transitional model. It was good, but in terms of computing power alone, it wasn’t in the league of a premium smartphone. The two new Pixel 6 and 6 Pro models show that we were right: The 2021 smartphones from Google are more of a high-end caliber to keep up with manufacturers such as Samsung or Xiaomi.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: Differences in the selfie – Cameras

• Tensor chip: Pixel 6 with 80 percent more performance than Pixel 5
• Google Pixel 6 vs. 6 Pro: battery and other equipment
• Specifications: Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, and Pixel 5 in comparison
• Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: Android 12 with 5 years of security updates
• Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: How expensive are smartphones?

Not only do the smartphones stand out from the crowd on the outside, but the inner values ​​- especially the tensor chip – are also special. Because the processor, which gives the devices special functions, is the first smartphone SoC that Google developed itself – rumor has it, with the help of Samsung.

What is in the new models, how do they differ, and what makes the Pixel devices so special? We clarify.

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: Different sizes and refresh rates

With the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, Google is pursuing a different strategy than the Pixel 4 and 4 XL: The 2019 model variants were similar in terms of equipment only in terms of screen diagonals and battery sizes. It looks different from the new models: Although the two devices share a distinctive design with the continuous camera bar on the back, they both have different display resolutions, refresh rates and diagonals.

The Pixel 6 has a 4.6-inch OLED Display with a Full HD Plus resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels, an aspect ratio of 20: 9, and a dynamic refresh rate of a maximum of 90 Hertz. On the software side, the screen can switch between 60 and 90 Hertz depending on the application and use.

The Pro model has the better display: the one with a resolution of 3,120 by 1,440 pixels. Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra (test) or the iPhone 13 Pro (test), the LTPO OLED screen with a 19.5: 9 aspect ratio supports a dynamic refresh rate of 10 to 120 Hertz, which Google calls a smooth display. So it has a higher resolution and offers a higher frame rate for an even smoother display and more direct interaction.

Both share Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, an always-on display Function, and the live display for currently playing music. Both also have an optical in-display fingerprint reader.

For comparison: The Pixel 5, the direct predecessor generation, only had a compact 5.8- Inch display with Full HD Plus resolution and 90 Hertz display. The capacitive fingerprint sensor was installed on the back.

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro: The telephoto zoom makes the difference

In the Camera, the two new top models largely share the equipment:

The wide-angle camera of both models has a 50-megapixel sensor with eight-fold phase detection (PD) and a quad Bayer matrix. Two by two pixels are each provided with a common color filter to improve the noise behavior of the 1/1.31-inch sensor at high ISO values. The sensor’s aperture is ƒ/1.85; the detection angle is 82 degrees. The ultra-wide angle lens, a twelve-megapixel sensor, comes with a 1.25 μm pixel size, ƒ/2.2 aperture, and 114-degree detection angle.

The Pixel 6 Pro also has a telephoto zoom camera with a 48-megapixel sensor Built-in with 0.8 μm pixel size and ƒ/3.5 aperture. The camera with an image sensor size of 1/2 inch offers a four-fold optical zoom and a 20-fold “super-resolution” magnification, which can also be understood as a hybrid zoom. With its wide-angle camera, the Pixel 6 only delivers up to seven times the “super-resolution zoom”.

With the new camera sensors, Google is giving its Pixel devices the biggest update in recent years. From Pixel 3 to Pixel 5, the manufacturer always relied on the same sensors. It is also the first time that Google has used a triple cam with a telephoto zoom. According to Google, the new main sensor in the Pixel 6 models captures 150 percent more light than the one built into the Pixel 5. With Google’s well-known computational photography algorithms, the manufacturer should take a bigger step back into the top camera league with the new sensors.

Speaking of Computational Photography: The new Pixel models have received new photo functions, all of which are based on the devices. According to Google, a “sharpener” ensures that faces are “captured clearly” even under difficult lighting conditions. With the “magic eraser” in the Google Photos app, disturbing objects, people, and animals cheated on the picture can be removed. According to the manufacturer, the new movement mode with a long exposure time “captures every action and turns snapshots into moments for eternity”. With the help of the “Real Tone” function announced at the I/O 2021 developer conference, all skin tones should be recorded more realistically and naturally than before and thus be more inclusive.

You will find external content from YouTube Video, which complements our editorial offer on t3n.de. By clicking on “Show content” you agree that we can send you content from YouTube Video on our pages. Personal data can be transmitted to third-party platforms.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: Differences in the selfie cameras

While the camera sensors installed on the rear are identical, the Pixel 6 only lacks the telephoto zoom lens; it looks different on the front. The front camera of the 6 Pro has an 11.1-megapixel sensor with 1.22 μm pixel size, ƒ/2.2 aperture, fixed focus, and 94-degree ultra-wide-angle optics.

With the Pixel 6, Google uses the same eight-megapixel sensor with 1.12 μm pixel size, ƒ/2.0 aperture, and an 84-degree detection angle already used in the Pixel 5.

Tensor chip: Pixel 6 with 80 percent more power than Pixel 5

With the Tensor SoC (System-on-a-Chip), Google is using a mobile processor developed in-house for the first time. Among other things, this is responsible for improved image processing and speech recognition, which are “more responsive and more accurate” than before. Furthermore, the chip should ensure a longer battery life – Google specifies a day for this. Compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 5, which had an upper mid-range chip on board with the Snapdragon 765G, the performance has been improved by 80 percent, explains Google.

Google has still not released specific details about the tensor, but the latest reports say that The eight-core Tensor CPU should have two high-performance Cortex-X1 cores, which in this number do not even have Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 nor Samsung Exynos 2100 on board because both only have one Cortex-X1 core each. Two Cortex-A76 also support the two X1 cores with 2.25 gigahertz and four Cortex-A55 with 1.8 gigahertz. We will learn specific performance data at the latest in the course of the first tests.

Even if Google uses the same processor in both devices, there are differences in memory and RAM: The Pixel 6 is offered in Germany with eight gigabytes of DDR5 RAM and 128 gigabytes of UFS 3.1 memory. The Pixel 6 Pro has twelve gigabytes of RAM – a first for Pixel smartphones – and 128 or 256 gigabytes of memory. In the USA, the Pixel 6 is also offered with 256 and the Pro with 512 gigabytes.

The new Pixel models are not only faster but also safer: That’s how they are via a security core, a new generation of the Titan security chip M2, and with Trusty via a “Trusted Execution Environment”. According to Google, a new security hub gives an overview of the security status of the smartphone.

Google Pixel 6 vs. 6 Pro: Battery and other features

Further features of both models include Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2, 4, 5, and 6 gigahertz bandwidths (HE160, MIMO), Bluetooth 5.1 with two antennas, NFC and GPS. Dual SIM support is provided via a physical and an E-SIM. LTE and 5G (5G mmWave and Sub 6GHz) are also on board.

Exclusive The Pixel 6 Pro contains an ultra-broadband chip with which the smartphone can also be used as a car key – initially for models from BMW and Ford. Samsung first introduced these chips into smartphones in its premium models, and Apple with the iPhone 11.

• Google’s large pixel model also has a larger battery with 5,000 mAh built-in, while the smaller Pixel 6 still has a 4,620 mAh battery. Both can be charged with a compatible 30-watt USB-C charger, which, according to Google, can reach 50 percent in about 30 minutes. This is not on the level of a Xiaomi or Oppo smartphone, which can be pumped full with up to 120 watts, but better than before.

Specifications: Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, and Pixel 5 in a comparison Fingerprint sensor, USB Type C (USB 3.1), stereo front Loudspeaker, Titan M security module, 18 W fast charger with USB-PD 2.0, IPX8, 18 W fast charging, wireless charging, reverse charging new models also support wireless charging: With the newly announced Pixel Stand 2, smartphones can be charged with up to 21 watts (Pixel 6) or 23 watts (Pixel 6 Pro ) fill up. With a standard Qi wireless charging station, charging up to twelve watts is possible. The Pixel 5, with its 4,080 mAh battery, supports only 18 watts wired and ten watts wireless. Due to the larger screens and the thicker batteries, the devices’ dimensions and weight have grown tremendously: The Pixel 4 weighs 207 grams, and the Pro model is only three grams heavier at 210 grams. For comparison: the Pixel 5 weighed in at just 151 grams and was almost a millimeter thinner at eight millimeters – both Pixel 6 models are 8.9 millimeters thick. Due to the stronger battery and the larger display, the Pro is now more on the same level as the Galaxy S21 Ultra (test), which is similar in size but slightly more at 227 grams. The days of delicate smartphones are probably over with Google.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: Android 12 with 5 years of security updates

The new pixel models are, of course, with Android 12 and the design language “Material You” ex works delivered. The design of the smartphone, the system, and the apps will follow the user’s preferred color palette extracted from the selected screen background. The colors are also reflected in the revised control elements, which can be extensively individualized. This design is ultimately given to all other pixel smartphones and, at times, devices from other manufacturers.

In addition, Google delivers some exclusive features with the software: On the one hand, the one announced in 2019 is also coming from the Recorder app to Germany. This makes it possible to make voice recordings that are transcribed and made searchable at the same time. A dream for journalists: inside.

On the other hand, the dictation function for voice messages is said to have been noticeably improved and to work faster. This is where the tensor chip should flex its muscles. It is also possible to have voice messages translated in real-time.

One of the new highlights is the function “Filter calls before they are accepted”, which Google also calls “Call Screening” “This means: You can find out who is calling you and why even before you pick up the phone. According to Google, call screening uses neither WiFi nor mobile data. Google Assistant can even accept calls from strangers to ask about the matter. This can prevent annoying spam calls.

For a longer lifespan and security, the Pixel 6 models are given five years of security updates. With this, Google trumps the current update king Samsung by a year. Despite rumors to the contrary, there are no changes to the major Android updates: Google continues to offer a guarantee of at least three years for new Android versions.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: How expensive are the smartphones?

Google has set the price bar quite low for premium smartphones: This is how the Pixel 6 will be, which, based on its size and features, tends to be the direct successor of the Pixel 5 with far better specifications, go on sale from 649 euros. That is only 20 euros more than the manufacturer wanted for its 2020 model with upper mid-range equipment. It is available in the colors “Sorta Seafoam” (green accents), “Kinda Coral” (reddish accents), and “Stormy Black” (black).

The Pixel 6 Pro with its 120 Hertz display, triple cam, and UWB chip costs 899 euros with 128 gigabytes of memory; the 256-gigabyte version costs 999 euros and is sold in the colors “Sorta Sunny” (yellow e accents), “Cloudy White” (cream white) and “Stormy Black” (black).

Pre-order: for one of the devices between October 19, 2021, and September 27, 2021. If you order on October 10, 2021, 11:59 p.m. CEST, you will receive a pair of Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700 free of charge from participating retailers. The headphones are currently among the best ANC over-ear headphones available on the market.