Google Pixel 6 review
The Google Pixel 6 offers a unique design with its custom camera bump that stretches across the back panel, creating a two-tone look. The phone's premium Gorilla Glass 6 panel and rounded matte aluminum frame provide a sturdy feel in hand, while maintaining IP68-rated dust and water resistance. The 6.4-inch flat AMOLED display features a punch hole for the selfie camera and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Although it has a slower 90Hz refresh rate and lower 1080p resolution compared to the Pro model, the display remains decent with sharp visuals, smooth performance, and HDR10+ support. The Pixel 6 boasts the new 5nm Tensor chipset, which provides advanced machine learning capabilities, enabling features like automatic speech recognition and real-time translation. The camera processing is also improved, producing excellent photos with good sharpness, contrast, and dynamic range. However, the absence of a telephoto zoom lens and lower battery life are notable downgrades. The dual cameras include a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, delivering great results in both bright and low-light conditions. The selfie camera produces sharp images with minimal noise and excellent dynamic range. Video recording capabilities are also impressive, with stable footage at up to 4K resolution and 60fps. Overall, the Pixel 6 offers a compelling package with its premium design, improved cameras, and advanced Tensor chipset. While it may not match the Pro model's features, it provides a competitive price point and is worth considering for those seeking a reliable Android smartphone experience.
Build Quality and Design
The Google Pixel 6 boasts a premium design that deviates from its predecessors. The phone's body is now crafted from Gorilla Glass 6, which provides a sturdy and sleek feel in the hand. A rounded matte aluminum frame complements the glass exterior, adding to the overall solidity of the device. One notable design change is the uniquely designed camera bump, which extends across the entire back panel as a black bar. This allows for a two-tone look with different colors above and below the camera strip. While it may not be immediately noticeable on our stormy black finish, the camera bump can be quite prominent and becomes a lint magnet. The Pixel 6's dimensions make it slightly chunkier than its predecessor, but this is hardly noticeable in everyday use. The phone still features IP68-rated dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind for those who want to use their device in harsh environments. A key aspect of the design that may not appeal to everyone is the flat 6.4-inch AMOLED display. While some might prefer this design choice over the curved screen on the Pro Model, others may feel it compromises the overall aesthetic. The regular Pixel 6's display is quite decent, featuring a sharp and smooth image even without the higher-end specs of its counterpart. Overall, the Google Pixel 6's premium design and sturdy build quality make it a solid choice for those seeking a high-end Android experience. While minor trade-offs may be noticeable to some users, the phone's overall construction exudes a sense of quality that is hard to ignore.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 6 boasts a decent battery life, but it falls short in this department compared to other high-end smartphones. The phone's 4600mAh battery scored an endurance rating of 86 hours in our proprietary tests, which is respectable but not exceptional. One notable issue with the Pixel 6's battery life is its charging speed. While it can be charged to 41% in half an hour using an 18W charger, this is not exactly lightning-fast charging. Furthermore, the phone does not come with a charger in the box, which might be a minor inconvenience for some users. In our real-world tests, we found that the Pixel 6's battery life is satisfactory but not impressive. Heavy usage, such as gaming and video streaming, can quickly drain the battery, leaving you to worry about running out of power before the end of the day. While the Pixel 6's battery life is not a major letdown, it does make this phone feel slightly less competitive in its price segment. If you prioritize battery life above all else, there are other options available that might better suit your needs. However, if you value the Pixel 6's excellent cameras, new Tensor chipset, and premium design, then the battery life is just one aspect to consider when making your purchasing decision.
Display
The Google Pixel 6 boasts a sleek and premium design, but one aspect that sets it apart is its display. The phone features a flat 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with a 1080p resolution, which provides a sharp and smooth visual experience. While some may prefer this flat screen to the curved one found on the Pro model, there are downgrades here too - a slower 90Hz refresh rate and lower resolution compared to its high-end counterparts. Despite these limitations, the Pixel 6's display is quite decent. It's crisp enough and offers smooth performance even without those higher-end specs. The picture benefits from excellent contrast thanks to Moli technology, and there's also HDR10+ support for a more cinematic experience. Color presets deliver good accuracy, and maximum brightness measured up to 860 nits in auto mode. One notable feature is the under-display fingerprint reader, which provides reliable biometric authentication without being the fastest we've seen. The display also houses a punch-hole for the selfie camera and features Gorilla Glass Victus protection for added durability. While not perfect, the Pixel 6's display is still a solid offering that gets the job done. It may not be on par with some of its high-end Android counterparts, but it's a great choice for those seeking a reliable and premium visual experience without breaking the bank. Overall, the Pixel 6's display is one of its standout features, making it a worthwhile consideration for those in the market for a new smartphone.
Camera
The Google Pixel 6 boasts a new dual-camera setup that offers significant improvements over its predecessors. The main camera features a larger 50MP sensor, while the ultra-wide cam sports a 12MP sensor. While there's no telephoto zoom like the Pro model, daytime photos from the main camera are exceptional, with excellent sharpness and fine detail. The characteristic Pixel style rendition is also present, along with high contrast and wide dynamic range. Portraits taken with the Pixel 6 are decently sharp, with good subject separation. However, there are occasional misfocus issues. The digital zoom does a respectable job at two times magnification, although it can appear soft if examined closely. A new motion mode powered by the Tensor chipset is available, but it's still in beta and has some kinks to iron out. The ultra-wide cam captures very good photos with plenty of detail, good contrast, and pleasing vibrant colors. There's some noise present, but the field of view isn't as wide as on some competitors. In low-light conditions, the Pixel 6 applies Auto Nightsight processing by default, resulting in well-exposed images with good sharpness and detail, even in shadows. The ultra-wide camera struggles without Nightsight mode, producing underexposed images with deep and noisy shadows. However, when enabled, there's a significant improvement in exposure and noise levels, along with more detail in the shadows. Video capture is also excellent, with the main cam capable of recording up to 4K resolution at 60 FPS. The footage is sharp, detailed, and accurately exposed, with superb dynamic range and lively colors. The ultra-wide Cam's footage is equally impressive, matching the main cam in terms of sharpness, detail, and color accuracy. Electronic video stabilization works well in 4K, producing smooth clips with well-ironed footsteps and pans. An active V mode is available in 1080P, but its results are extra smooth. Overall, the Google Pixel 6's camera setup offers a solid performance, although there are some limitations compared to the Pro model.
Price and Value
The Google Pixel 6 is a refreshingly new take on the mid-range smartphone market, boasting a sleek design, impressive cameras, and a custom chipset that sets it apart from its competitors. While it may not offer all the bells and whistles of the Pro model, this device still packs enough punch to make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a reliable Android experience. At its core, the Pixel 6 is a premium smartphone with a sturdy build quality and a unique camera bump design that gives it a distinctive look. The device's Gorilla Glass 6 panel and rounded matte aluminum frame feel solid in hand, and its IP68 rating ensures peace of mind against dust and water damage. While some may lament the lack of a higher refresh rate or resolution, the Pixel 6's flat AMOLED display is still sharp and smooth enough for daily use. The device's camera system, featuring a 50MP main sensor and 12MP ultra-wide cam, produces excellent results in bright light conditions, with crisp images and good subject separation. While there are some limitations in low-light scenarios, the Pixel 6's camera processing is advanced, thanks to Google's Tensor chipset. This tech also enables impressive features like automatic speech recognition and real-time translation. So, how does this all add up in terms of value? The Pixel 6 has a competitive price point that makes it an attractive option for those who want a reliable Android experience without breaking the bank. While it may not offer all the high-end specs or features of other flagships, its solid performance and camera capabilities make it a great mid-range choice.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6 marks a significant departure from last year's model, boasting a custom chipset and new dual cameras. While it brings some notable upgrades, there are also some downgrades compared to the Pro model. One of the standout features is the phone's performance. Powered by Google's in-house built Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 delivers excellent benchmark scores, comparable to those of the high-end Snapdragon 888 chipset. This translates to seamless gaming experiences and efficient app loading times. In our tests, the Pixel 6 handled demanding games with ease, although thermal management could be improved. We observed some thermal throttling during long gaming sessions, which might impact performance in extreme conditions. The phone's battery life is decent, but not outstanding, with an endurance rating of 86 hours in our proprietary tests. However, charging speed is average, taking around half an hour to reach 41% with an 18W charger. Despite these minor caveats, the Pixel 6's performance is overall impressive. The Tensor chip enables advanced machine learning capabilities, such as improved automatic speech recognition and real-time translation. These features are still in their early stages but show great promise for future development. In terms of everyday use, the Pixel 6 feels snappy and responsive, with a smooth user interface that takes advantage of Android 12's new color themes and features. While it may not be as fast as some other flagships on the market, its performance is more than adequate for most users. Overall, the Google Pixel 6's performance is a significant step forward from last year's model, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and feature-packed Android experience.