The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are lastly right here, and so they’re probably the most promising telephones from Google in years. That’s largely due to Tensor, the corporate’s first cellular chip. We’ve already seen loads of photos and movies of the Pixel 6, however now we even have units to play with and detailed specs to share. One of the highlights of the Pixel 6s are the cameras, which not solely obtained a processing increase due to Tensor, but in addition a severe {hardware} improve.

Additionally, these handsets deliver faster-refreshing screens, Android 12-exclusive options and important voice recognition enhancements. But the very best factor in regards to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro is the cheap worth. Starting immediately, you’ll be able to pre-order a Pixel 6 for $599 and a 6 Pro for $899, and so they’ll be out there on cabinets October twenty eighth.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro {hardware} variations

That’s a surprisingly low worth for the Pixel 6. You’re getting a 6.4-inch Full HD display with a 90Hz refresh fee, to not point out a 50-megapixel most important rear digital camera (with pixel-binning), 12-megapixel large angle lens and an 8-megapixel selfie digital camera. For $300 extra, the Pixel 6 Pro affords a sharper 6.7-inch 1,440p display that goes as much as 120Hz and has narrower bezels. The Pro additionally provides a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, and its 11.1-megapixel selfie digital camera is each sharper and packs a wider-angle lens.

The different most important variations between the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are that the Pro has a bigger battery and comes with 12GB of RAM, whereas the smaller mannequin has 8GB. Oh, and solely the Pro goes as much as 512GB of storage and has an extremely wideband chip for ranging and spatial orientation.

Pretty a lot each different function is commonplace throughout the 2 units. They’re each powered by Google’s new Tensor chip — an octa-core system comprised of two “Prime” Arm X1, two massive and 4 small CPU cores. Both telephones even have in-display fingerprint sensors, IP68 safety scores, assist for sub-6, mmWave 5G and just about each different commonplace you’d count on from a flagship in 2021.

A return to premium design and enjoyable colours

The two additionally differ barely in design, which marks a departure from earlier years. Right off the bat, the telephones really feel markedly totally different from the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4. Instead of a matte soft-touch texture, each Pixel 6 telephones are coated in glass with gently curved edges, lending them a premium really feel. I’m not a fan of their new blocky form, and the Pro particularly feels similar to Samsung’s Note 20 Ultra. Thankfully, the Pro is lighter than the Note 20 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Both telephones are additionally a lot bigger than the Pixel 5, and although their display sizes differ, they’ve nearly the identical footprint. As you’ve in all probability observed within the photos circulating across the web, the main target of the bottom is an roughly inch-tall bar that spans the width of the machine. It homes the cameras (two for the Pixel 6 and three for the 6 Pro), and whereas it does protrude about half an inch from the again, it doesn’t trigger a lot wobble while you place the handset on a flat floor. 

As talked about, the Pixel 6 has noticeably thicker bezels and its edges have a matte texture in comparison with the Pro’s shinier end. They additionally are available in a unique trio of colours, and the Pixel 6 arguably has the higher palette. I’m a fan of the minty blue possibility, and the blush model is good too. Meanwhile, the Pro solely has one enjoyable shade that is not black or silver: the virtually yellowish hue. Not everybody’s going to adore it.

Android 12 and voice recognition

Both telephones run Android 12 with some Pixel-exclusive options. The most blatant refresh is the Material You UI, which took a extremely very long time to roll out to the beta (and arrives on Pixels first). If you’ve been following our protection of Google’s software program, you already know that Material You adapts by taking the first coloration parts of your own home display’s wallpaper after which applies that all through the system.

That means you get colourful, matching hues for issues like your keyboard, menu buttons, settings panel and notifications shade. Seeing it totally realized on the Pixel 6 was a deal with. Good information for present Pixel homeowners: It will roll out to the Pixel 3 and newer units immediately.

But when Google launched Tensor earlier this 12 months, it additionally promised massive issues had been coming in areas like voice recognition and digital camera processing. The firm teased us with some restricted demos then, however at a latest briefing I used to be proven extra of the options coming to the Pixel 6 and so they’re really intriguing.

First of all, Google has revamped its speech recognition software program. Not solely will the engine be higher at understanding you, nevertheless it additionally suggests options which may make extra sense. For instance, when you have a buddy whose identify is Bryan (with a ‘y’), and also you’ve modified the spelling just a few occasions from Brian (with an ‘i’), the system will observe the proper spelling going ahead.

Google may also allow you to insert emoji by saying issues like “smiley face emoji.” During my demo, I mentioned “hot pot emoji” and the hearth and pot symbols appeared. (Sadly, Unicode doesn’t have an icon for hotpot but. Shame.) You’ll additionally be capable to say the phrases “Send” or “Clear” to submit or delete your message, and go into the textual content to edit it whilst you’re talking by tapping the error and saying what it must be. No want to modify out and in of voice typing mode.

Arguably probably the most attention-grabbing of the Pixel 6’s voice options is the flexibility to translate languages as you’re typing. A Google rep pulled up a WhatsApp chat with a buddy who makes use of Japanese, and typed “Certainly, I will do that.” Almost concurrently, the Japanese characters (hiragana) appeared within the textual content area.

My Japanese is rusty, so I’m not solely positive the interpretation was correct, however an earlier message from the dialog did seem to accurately convert “so cool” to “totemo kakkoii.” The translation occurs each methods, so in case your buddy is sending you one thing in a international language, Google may convert it to one thing you’ll be able to learn.

One of my favourite issues about Pixel telephones is their call-related Assistant options. Things like Call Screen and Hold For Me hold me from losing time on robocalls or ready for a consultant who’s “currently helping other customers.” The Pixel 6 may also get a brand new Wait Time function that reveals you ways lengthy you’ll be able to count on to carry for the highest 5,000 companies within the US and even convert these annoying menus into an onscreen interface. That’s not solely nice for saving you time, however will help these with listening to impairments. I didn’t get to strive it out myself but, although Google’s rep did name HBO and the Assistant appeared to precisely transcribe what the automated operator mentioned.

A severe digital camera improve

The most important space the place the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have improved is their cameras and certainly, that is what I’m most enthusiastic about. We’re at a degree within the smartphone digital camera race the place all the most important gamers ship glorious picture high quality no matter whether or not they’re utilizing a 108-megapixel or 12-megapixel sensor.

So the place Google wants to face out is with particular options. And there’s an extended record of latest ones right here due to that Tensor chip, together with a Motion mode, object eraser and actual tone for extra correct processing for folks with totally different melanin ranges.

Few of those are really new within the smartphone world. We’ve seen the eraser possibility earlier than on Samsung telephones, the place if there is a stray rubbish can in your picture, you’ll be able to choose it and the system will take away it for you. During my demo, a Google rep took an image of their colleague with passerby and a backpack within the background. They then tapped the extraneous individual within the Photos app to stipulate after which delete them. There was a faint shadow on the wall that Google generated instead, nevertheless it was in any other case as if there was by no means an individual there.

The Motion mode additionally affords different acquainted instruments we’ve seen on Huawei and Sony telephones. One is an extended publicity setting that permits you to shoot shifting automobiles at evening (or something with lights, actually) and have their tail lights seem within the picture as iridescent streaks. Because my assembly came about throughout the day, a Google rep demonstrated this by taking photos of movies projected onto a wall, together with a waterfall. The Pixel 6 rendered lovely gentle streaks and silky cascades of water. So far, I’ve been impressed by the pictures it produces, particularly in comparison with samples taken with Huawei’s Light Painting mode.

The different function in Motion mode is known as Action Pan. Basically, when you have a fast paced topic, like a canine prancing via a area or a motorbike zooming down the road, it should allow you to seize a crisp picture of your topic in opposition to a motion-blurred background. Again, primarily based on the demo at my briefing (of a Google rep biking inside a room in circles), it appeared to work nicely.

With the Pixel 6 launch, Google can be formally introducing its picture fairness program. We’ve heard somewhat bit about this at I/O, the place the corporate mentioned it’s working to make the Android digital camera extra inclusive. In the Pixel 6, Real Tone is baked in (not one thing you’ll be able to activate or off) and it ought to render folks extra precisely, and in addition higher expose and color-balance scenes. Of course, that is one thing that can require extra real-world testing for me to conclude it’s efficient.

There’s a slew of different photography-related options that I’d like to strive outdoors of a managed demo, together with a Face Unblur software. But whereas there’s loads of software program tweaks to take a look at, I’m additionally dying to seize some photos with the brand new {hardware}. Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro now have a 50-megapixel most important sensor with f/1.85 aperture. They even have a 12-megapixel ultra-wide possibility that has a 114-degree area of view, and the Pro has a further 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 4X optical zoom.

A Google rep and I stood aspect by aspect with him holding the Pixel 6 Pro and me utilizing the iPhone 13 Pro I had readily available. Both of us zoomed to the furthest we might to seize somewhat Android figurine sitting on a distant sofa, and Google gave the impression to be the clear winner. While each units rendered the robotic, once we zoomed in it was evident the Pixel 6 Pro captured extra element, clearly displaying the strains between its head and physique, which had been principally simply smudges on the iPhone.

Up entrance, the Pixel 6 has an 8-megapixel digital camera whereas the Pro goes as much as 11.1-megapixels, and the latter can seize selfie movies at as much as 4K at 30 frames per second. Both units can shoot at 4K decision at 60 fps with their rear cameras, and there’s a brand new Speech Enhancement mode to play with that can drown out background noise to concentrate on what you’re saying. All these may also require prolonged actual world testing earlier than I can inform how helpful they’re.

In truth, there’s loads extra to check, together with battery life, Tensor’s efficiency and the in-display fingerprint sensor’s responsiveness. You can already pre-order the Pixel 6 for $599 and the 6 Pro for $899, which is a whole bunch lower than their Apple and Samsung counterparts, however I’d counsel ready for our full assessment earlier than spending your cash.

Key specs

Catch up on all the newest information from Google’s Pixel 6 occasion!