Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will use AI in every single place | Engadget

Smartphone launch season is usually within the fall, however Google has unexpectedly early information to share as we speak. The firm simply introduced that not solely is the Pixel 6 coming this fall, but it surely’ll function the very first system-on-chip designed by Google. The chip is known as Tensor and it leverages the corporate’s AI experience to allow extra highly effective and higher built-in machine studying on gadgets. At a demo occasion to point out off Tensor’s prowess, I used to be in a position to take a look at the Pixel 6 with the corporate’s chief of {hardware} Rick Osterloh. I wasn’t allowed to take footage or video, and Google hasn’t shared all the telephones’ specs, however I can let you know about a number of new options.

First, there will likely be two strains: Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Google hasn’t shared the precise dimensions but, however the Pro, which is bigger, felt comparable in dimension to a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. They each seem like the leaked renders we’ve seen, besides shinier and three-dimensional. There’s a band about an inch tall on the rear in black, lime inexperienced or peachy pink, and beneath that sits a horizontal digicam bump that stretches throughout the case. According to Google’s weblog put up, the sensors and lenses have been improved and “are now too big to fit into the traditional square.”

Yes, once you place the Pixel 6 on a desk there’s nonetheless a slope due to the bar, however because it’s not off to a nook like on prior Pixels (or Galaxy telephones or iPhones), the cellphone gained’t wobble back and forth. The remainder of the again is black, pastel inexperienced or pastel peach correspondingly.

For the Pro line, the colours are extra delicate with much less distinction between the sections, however they’ve what Osterloh known as “high gloss metal accents” alongside the perimeters. The digicam bump additionally will get this shiny remedy on the Pros, which are available in black, white and form of a light-weight orange. The common Pixel 6 has a matte end on its sides. All the telephones I noticed appeared to have glass on their backs, with screens which are barely curved alongside the perimeters. Google additionally moved the selfie digicam from the highest left nook to the center of the show.

I liked the peachy pastel model of the Pixel 6, although the principally black model would swimsuit those that choose one thing much less flashy. (Google doesn’t have names for the colours but, although Osterloh stated their advertising and marketing workforce has enjoyable with them.)

More importantly, Google’s upgraded the cameras themselves. It’s not sharing particular megapixel or sensor dimension info but, however did say these are sharper and bigger sensors than earlier than. Osterloh stated the Pixel 6’s fundamental digicam will let in about 150% extra gentle than earlier Pixels. There’s additionally an ultrawide lens for each fashions, and the Pro will get an additional telephoto possibility as effectively with 4x optical zoom.

In addition to the precise digicam {hardware} enhancements, the Pixel 6s promise higher picture processing because of Tensor. At our assembly, Osterloh highlighted modifications coming in how Google will course of photographs and movies for clearer, higher uncovered photographs of shifting topics. The firm was additionally in a position to apply issues like an HDRNet to video because it’s recording a scene to ease difficult conditions like capturing a campsite with the cellphone pointed on the solar.

Google additionally redesigned its speech software program, with a brand new platform known as SODA (Speech On Device API) that lets apps leverage Tensor for data-center-level speech recognition. Better but, Osterloh stated this all runs at half the ability it used to on prior Pixels. He confirmed me a brand new Live Caption with Translate function that subtitles all audio taking part in by means of your cellphone’s sound system. With Tensor, the machine can each transcribe and translate what’s taking part in on the identical (ish) time, without having to make use of the cloud for processing.

Dictation can be getting some main upgrades. In GBoard on the Pixel 6, you’ll have the ability to hit the microphone button within the compose area, narrate your message and use hotwords like “Send” or “Clear” to set off actions. You also can edit typos through the onscreen keyboard whereas the mic remains to be listening on your dictation.

We don’t have all the small print on CPU and GPU cores or clock speeds, RAM and battery life but — these will come later. But Osterloh did say Google is aware of “users expect to get a day’s worth of battery life,” and that it’s aiming for that mark however to additionally “offer them a lot more capability in that period of time.” The gadgets can even assist 5G, which “in the US means supporting all the different bands we have here,” Osterloh stated. He declined to call any manufacturers of 5G modems, although.

Though it’s not an official launch for the Pixel 6, this preview has proven us rather a lot. There will likely be new cameras, new design, new UI (in Android 12) and a brand new chip, amongst different issues. Osterloh stated he’s excited concerning the launch. “We kind of see this as The Google Phone,” he stated. “This is what we set out to build several years ago and we’re finally here.”