Google Pixel 6
RRP $ 599.00
"The Pixel 6 may be thinner and cheaper than the Pixel 6 Pro, but the software, performance, and even the screen and camera come close enough to make it still alluring."
advantages
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Great camera
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Screen is colorful and vibrant
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Latest Android 12 software
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Years of software updates
disadvantage
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Flakey connectivity
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Quick charger not included
The Pixel 6 Pro is Google's big hitter in its new line of smartphones for 2021, but the Pixel 6's lower price tag – $ 599 instead of $ 899 – makes it a lot more enticing to most people. But now that we know how good the Pixel 6 Pro, which was recognized by Digital Trends' Editors ’Choice, does the cheaper version still make sense given the hardware tradeoffs?
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If you just take a cursory look, the Pixel 6 doesn't differ much from the Pixel 6 Pro, especially when both are face down. Take a closer look and it's obvious what it is as the Pixel 6 has a smaller body section above the camera module compared to the 6 Pro. If the light is right, you'll see that the Pixel 6's camera module doesn't contain a periscope zoom camera either.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Pick up the Pixel 6 and the flat-screen design gives it a more "classic" feel in the hand, and it actually gives it a better grip than the curvy Pixel 6 Pro. I didn't have to juggle the Pixel 6 as much as I did the Pixel 6 Pro, and I generally felt that it was less likely to accidentally drop it. However, the Pixel 6 is made of glass and metal, which makes it still slide on many surfaces. At 8.9 mm thick and 207 grams, it's also quite substantial.
In fact, it's barely smaller than the Pixel 6 Pro – just flatter – and that creates a minor problem. While the Pixel 5 was compact by modern standards, no Pixel 6 phones are slim you. It's the Pixel 5a (if you are in the US or Japan) or opt for a different brand.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The color of the phone in my photos is called Seafoam and the mint tone is really very pretty. I've been using the phone for a few weeks now and it has spent time in and out of pockets and bags but hasn't been treated too badly. I noticed a few superficial scratches on the back of the Gorilla Glass 6, which can be felt with the fingertip, but which are only visible when the light falls properly. Oddly enough, the Pixel 6 Pro didn't collect these markings, despite being made of the same materials.
Pixel 6 Pro (left), Pixel 6 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Pixel 6 Pro (left), Pixel 6 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Pixel 6 Pro (below), Pixel 6 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I would have liked the Pixel 6 to be smaller to really be a clearer choice over the Pixel 6 Pro, but otherwise the design is a winner. It's got character and visual appeal, the body-wide camera module looks cool and the colors are inspired, silly names aside. This time around, it's a very different and welcome approach compared to Google's drab designs on previous Pixels.
screen
The other crucial design aspect of the Pixel 6 is its screen, which is flat compared to the curved Pixel 6 Pro. It measures 6.4 inches and has an aspect ratio of 20: 9 and a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It supports HDR and has an always-on screen. This is a lower spec than the 6 Pro, but in reality the two aren't that different.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Interestingly, before we dive into that, it doesn't seem to suffer from the same issues that I encountered with the Pixel 6 Pro's 120Hz refresh rate. Scrolling is smoother in the apps, which was problematic on the Pixel 6 Pro at 120 Hz, although perhaps not as smoothly as on other phones. It still doesn't feel quite right, but it is significantly better than the Pixel 6 Pro.
The refresh rate issues were the only flaw against the Pixel 6 Pro's screen, which is otherwise glorious. So can the Pixel 6's lower screen keep up? Due to the lower resolution, it is of course not that razor-sharp, but you have to look for the difference. Watching videos reveals that it's a tiny bit cooler than the deliciously natural and warm Pixel 6 Pro screen, but it takes a few minutes of careful study to see the difference.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The screen is really nice and a highlight of the Pixel 6, but it's not flawless. It disappoints with the bezels and overall flatness. There will be those who don't mind the flat screen, but to me (along with the 20: 9 aspect ratio) it looks cheap and aged, and the bezels are quite large, especially on the chin. The automatic brightness can be dull, and the overall brightness is not that high either. I can still see it in sunlight (well, most pathetic sunlight in the UK) but it requires maximum brightness which makes me question its ability when I go to a place with real sun.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The in-display fingerprint sensor is more reliable and slightly more accurate than that of the Pixel 6 Pro. I didn't have to re-enroll my fingerprint to make it work more consistently, and I was also able to use the PIN less. Google says that improved security measures make using the sensor slower than some others, but I've had different experiences on both phones so I'm not sure if this is really the case. For me, the Pixel 6's fingerprint sensor is better to use and live with every day than the Pixel 6 Pro's.
camera
If you want the best camera from Google, you have to buy the Pixel 6 Pro, but the Pixel 6 still has the same main camera with 50 megapixels, f / 1.85 aperture and 12 MP wide-angle camera with a 114-degree field of view. It does not have a 48 MP telephoto zoom camera. The selfie camera is also different, with the Pixel 6 getting by with an 8MP camera with fixed focus in the hole punch.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
With the same main camera, you'd expect the photos to be the same between the two phones, but there are some unexpected differences. No better or worse, just a slight change in shade and balance – and not always. In all of my comparisons, however, it was the Pixel 6 Pro that took the better photos, suggesting that there is more to it than just changes in light, angle, or surroundings. Check out the gallery below to see what I mean.
However, there is nothing to worry about as the main camera on the Pixel 6 is superb. You can find more details on this and the wide-angle camera in our Pixel 6 Pro review. The Pixel 6 has the same Action Pan and Long Exposure camera modes as the Pixel 6 Pro, and you can use Magic Eraser in Google Photos too. The lower price means a telecamera is not included; Instead, Google offers up to 7x digital zoom. It's decent for a digital zoom, but the 6 Pro's optical telephoto camera is of better quality, which makes it more versatile.
How about the selfie camera? Despite the technical differences between them, both the 6 and 6 Pro take decent and fairly similar-looking selfies, with the Pixel 6 producing slightly warmer skin tones and higher contrast in general, but both offering a similar level of detail. I prefer the lighter image and wider field of view of the Pixel 6 Pro, but there's little in the Pixel 6's selfie that couldn't be fixed with a filter. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro's Real Tone feature enhances the way photos of people with darker skin are exposed and balanced, something no other phone camera can claim.
Yes, the Pixel 6 Pro is the smartphone you should buy if you're really into photography, but if you're just looking for a capable camera for everyday snapshots, the Pixel 6 will be more than enough. What is impressive is how precisely and effortlessly great photos are captured that are seldom disappointing, regardless of the situation or time of day. I also compared the Pixel 6 Pro's camera to the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, so check out how good the camera is.
software
The Pixel 6 has Android 12 and is as up-to-date as Android phones. I speak at length about the software experience in the Pixel 6 Pro review, and I suggest that you look there for insights into the wonderful material you are designing. What I'm going to add here is how much I like the always-on screen, which is very helpful in showing a big clock and notification details, as well as the overall speed of the software.
It's very fast throughout, but it's the bigger buttons, clearer menus, and Google Assistant integration that help you hone your workflow. I even got used to telling Assistant to turn off the phone instead of messing around with the repurposed power button. There are a couple of keyboard shortcuts that speed things up, including a double press of the power button to wake up the camera from the lock screen and Quick Tap where a tap on the back can activate a selected feature. I've used it to bring up Google Assistant accurately and conveniently.
Also of particular note is the Google Assistant Typing, which lets you speak pretty much any message out loud anywhere in the operating system and the phone understands it. You can even send messages with your voice, which is completely hands-free. It's very accurate and very fast, which makes it useful every day.
The Pixel 6 has Android 12 and is as up-to-date as Android phones.
Any Problems? The setup process took a couple of tries to get right, a very unusual process, and when I finally got to Android 12, the performance wasn't entirely right for the first day or so. There were stutters and some errors when opening the app, but everything soon cleared up and I haven't had any problems since then. However, I am also aware that I may have been lucky with my general lack of issues with the Pixel 6. I've received emails and heard anecdotal pointers from people about bugs and other issues that make the Pixel experience less sophisticated than it seems appropriate. This inconsistency is worrying but difficult to quantify, although I seem to have heard more about Pixel 6 software bugs than any other recent version of the phone.
Performance and connectivity
The Pixel 6 contains Google's Tensor processor, plus 8 GB or RAM, which is less than the 12 GB in the Pixel 6 Pro. In everyday use, I didn't notice any difference in speed or when switching between apps, as I got directly from the Pixel 6 Pro to the Pixel 6 even after an hour of playtime.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Much more frustrating is that my phone is plagued with connectivity issues. It's the same issues I had with the Pixel 6 Pro where it doesn't seem to switch between Wi-Fi, 4G, or 5G very effectively. A signal is displayed but the data connection is not working and often even a reboot won't fix it. It's frustrating, and while it seems to get better on its own, I wanted to toss it across the room if it wasn't working.
I use the UK version of the Pixel 6 that connects to a sub-6 5G network, but a version with a mmWave 5G connection is also available in the US. A 5G connection is a necessary addition to a phone as it increases its lifespan, but since coverage is still sparse, you are unlikely to benefit from it every day.
battery
Google says it can expect the 4614 mAh battery in the Pixel 6 to be "beyond 24 hours," and that's about right. If I use the phone normally – emails, messages, calls, photos, and social networks – mostly over WiFi with a little 4G and turn it off overnight, it easily lasts for two full days. I regularly ended the day with about 60% battery remaining after about three hours of screen time.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The Pixel 6 is equipped with wireless charging according to the Qi standard and a 30 watt fast charging option. The charger included in the box doesn't support the fastest charging speeds, so you'll need to buy a 30W USB PD 3.0 charger to get it and even then it falls short of the competition. This is an unfortunate omission as most other manufacturers include wired fast charging for midrange devices as well. WarpCharge from OnePlus, for example, is part of the Nord 2.
Price and availability
The Google Pixel 6 is Now availableeven if it can get tight. It costs $ 599 in the US or £ 599 in the UK.
Our opinion
If the Pixel 6 had been the same overall size as the Pixel 5, it would have impressed me even more than it was. Since it doesn't, all of the design changes (a flat panel display and fewer curves) emphasize that this is just the cheaper, lower-tier version of a better phone. It's not a phone that suits someone with different preferences, just one that appeals to a different wallet. That's okay, but it's also a wasted opportunity. Otherwise, if you want a smaller Google phone, you have the Pixel 5a, but again only in the US and Japan.
If you buy the cheaper Pixel 6 instead of the Pixel 6 Pro, you are actually missing out on the better camera. Otherwise, I've found that the software and performance are essentially the same, issues and everything. The battery life is decent at up to two days, plus it has all the durability and software updates you need for a permanent purchase. The screen may have different specs, but most of the time you won't notice the difference in resolution or refresh rate. Fortunately and perhaps bizarre, the fingerprint sensor somehow manages to be better than that of the 6 Pro.
The Pixel 6 Pro's higher price tag is reflected in its camera, design, and really nice screen. If both of these are within your budget and you're unsure which one to buy, we always recommend the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6 doesn't lag that far if you're not serious about the camera, however, and at $ 599, it's great value for money. It's a shame that it's not much more compact than its more expensive brother.
Is there a better alternative?
For roughly the same price as the Google Pixel 6, you can choose the Samsung Galaxy S21, the OnePlus 9, or the Galaxy A52 5G. All of them have important advantages, including a high refresh rate screen, quick security methods, quick charging, and good cameras. All three phones are good value for money, even the Galaxy S21, which is available at a lower price than when it launched, but none can rival the Pixel 6's camera.
If you're in the UK, consider the OnePlus Nord 2 if you're looking to spend a little less, and take a look at the Realme GT too. Both have a great design, and the Nord 2 has a fast charge function, while the Realme GT has the top processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 888.
How long it will take?
Aside from the standard one-year warranty, Google's software commitment means the Pixel 6 will receive critical Android updates through October 2024 and security updates through October 2026. This means that if you buy the Pixel 6 (or Pixel 6 Pro) you will get updates longer than any other currently available Android smartphone.
The phone is IP68 waterproof, Gorilla Glass Victus above the screen and Gorilla Glass 6 on the back. The chassis is made of metal. Despite the overall sturdiness these features offer, we recommend a case as the phone is quite slippery and has already suffered minor scratches on the back. If you buy the Pixel 6, you shouldn't have to think about upgrading for the next three years.
Should you buy it?
Yes sir. Unless you prioritize the camera or a curved screen, the Pixel 6 does almost everything the Pixel 6 Pro does for less.
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