The Google Pixel 6 and the Pro version have had the usual fanfare this year with leaks galore and set tongues wagging at the same time with those leaks which we avoid and this was due to the total redesign of the devices compared to previous models and one that stands out too giving the phones a unique look breaking away from all the rest of the phones we see that look pretty much the same and this was a good move and not only that they look much better than the previous models too and this led to lots of talk, opinions and more which of course is good for publicity but how does the Pixel 6 fair out from my time with it so far, let’s have a look.. I will not be boring you with specs here but let’s just talk about the experience.
Design and build
Let’s be clear here when you pick up the Pixel 6 you know you are picking up a flagship device the design is also quite unique and this stands out from its predecessors easily it looks premium and feels premium and people have asked me what phone it is which is something not often said especially when most could already tell what phone I use the same applied to the Galaxy Z flip 3 which I have parked aside now. The phone is not light but this aint bad you know it is in your pocket unlike the Z flip3 which had me doubting myself sometimes. The glass front and rear with metal sides feels so solid in the had too.
The camera which you can see videos and images from later is another talking point here with the bar across the rear of the device and I like it, the phone will not rock on the table here and gives a raised viewing angle and if you slap a case on it gets better ( check out our pixel 6 case reviews ) The camera bar has already have several names attached to it be we will not go there it looks good in my eyes and also serves as a balancing tool in my hand with my right finger nestling underneath when in use.
The key placement is fine here with the volume rockers and power on/off keys on the left side which I prefer on a phone anyway, the lack of a rear fingerprint sensor here might be a miss for some and I rather that myself and due to the current on screen fingerprint sensor being a big notorious right now it is missed but hopefully a software update will fix this in the future..
The screen is a joy to consume media on and in fact just work on as a whole and this coupled with the stereo speakers it makes in a win the media consumption end of things which adds to the user experience for those who spend most of their time on their phone like me for work and more..
Performance
My use case would be different than others I am a power user I work on the go and at home and mostly off my mobile phone and have been doing so for years and will remain that for for the foreseeable future and having done so on this device it has been a simple effortless task when it came to doing what I do no matter where I would be so doing emails documents social media and more and all this was great thanks to the big screen estate the only issue I came across was video editing on this phone, As one that uses mobile for video and not a standalone camera the Pixel 6 is my new driver for videos which is fine nonetheless but when it came to processing videos it was slow compared to even the likes of my Samsung Galaxy Z flip 3 or my old PIxel 5. I would have a video shot, edited processed and uploaded on the Pixel 5 and Flip 3 whilst the video would be just finished processing on the 6, I did think this may have been an app issue but trying the same thing on several phones it was consistent but again this could be fixed with updates I hope and I still use the Pixel 6 for my video reviews daily due to the quality results you get from the camera, Asides that it is fine and does a great job even on gaming which i do not do much of nor have the time too but it caused no problems there.
Camera
The camera has been a big factor with Google devices for the last few years and with computational photography being the thing it has not changed here at all it is a fantastic camera and low light video and pictures are great, this has been solid over the last few weeks testing the device and it is still one of the top cameras out there right now and below you can see some videos and images taken with the device and you can decide for yourself, these are all standard real world takes and not something in particular I went out to look for, there is some cool tricks you can use with the pixel 6 like magic eraser and that which is great to get rid of what is not wanted and is not so much a gimmick as some might call it. The Pixel 6 does lack the telephoto lens here which for me is not really an issue overall..
Night samples on the Pixel 6
Day samples on the Pixel 6
The screen on the Pixel 6 is great with a 90hz refresh rate so consuming media here is a joy overall and the same applies to gaming given gamers would prefer the 120 hz refresh rate here but for films or watching You Tube you are on a winner here with the screen estate at hand here.. If you want that bit more on the screen refresh you need to look at the Pixel 6 pro folks.
When it came to my usage on battery it would differ from the average user so take note, I did get the full day most days being a power user but some days I was reaching for a charger, again this depends on the work you do on the device and for me my device is used all day long. For most outside my work portfolio they would easily seek a day no worries here.
Overall if you want a decent camera and device with a superb build with good power this is one of the best if not best devices on the market now for the money there is lots of stuff here and with Google you get plenty like Google Lens and so on, Google and their services is a massive plus for me as I am an entrenched user in the ecosystem so for those who like the same it is a no brainer for others though it might seem a bit niche but if you want to try something new and not tried any of the Google device portfolio yet you should check this one out or perhaps the 6 Pro..
Things to know about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
| 1Meet Pixel 6 – the phone that adapts to you. | Meet Pixel 6. It’s reimagined, inside and out. Powered by Google Tensor, Google’s first-ever processor, it’s fast, smart and secure. The all-day battery adapts to you. The Pixel Camera captures moments just how you experienced them. And the Personal Safety app and the new Titan M2TM chip help protect you, your data and your privacy. Pixel 6 is just as durable as it is beautiful. With IP68 protection, it can take a little water and dust. The 6.4-inch Smooth Display is made with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™, the toughest Gorilla Glass yet, with up to 2x better scratch resistance than previous Pixel phones. Pixel 6 comes in three iconic and vibrant colours that are expressive and versatile: Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral and Stormy Black, and it starts at only €649 |
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Introducing Pixel 6 Pro – it’s the best of Google, built around you.
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Introducing Pixel 6 Pro, the redesigned, high-spec Google phone. The brand-new triple rear camera system includes a pro-level telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. Its main sensor captures 150% more light, bringing vivid col
our and greater accuracy to photos.6 Pixel 6 Pro’s 6.7-inch Smooth Display with LTPO technology can intelligently adjust up to 120 Hz for smoother, more responsive performance, or lower to 10 Hz to save battery. Pixel 6 Pro is premium and unique, with three sophisticated colour combinations that complement the high-end materials: Sorta Sunny, Cloudy White and Stormy Black. It starts at €899 and sets a new bar for Pixel phones. |
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Powered by Google Tensor, the new chip from Google. |
Google Tensor is the first processor designed by Google, custom-made for Pixel. It helps make Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro the smartest and fastest Pixel phones yet. With up to 80% faster performance than Pixel 5, Pixel 6 runs smoother, apps launch faster and gaming is more responsive. Tensor delivers Google’s advanced on-device AI for features deliver the Google way like faster, more accurate speech recognition and image processing.Plus it saves power to help you get through the day. |
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Only on the all-new, all-Google phone. |
Incredibly intelligent machine learning helps you do things the Google way, like instantly translate messages and videos using Live Translate. Tensor’s custom image processor lets Pixel’s brand-new camera capture fun times and starry nights exactly how you remember them. And Tensor’s security core brings an extra layer of protection and works with the new Titan M2™ security chip to keep Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro even more resilient to attacks. |
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The most advanced smartphone camera.
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Your photos match your moment with the most advanced Pixel Camera on Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The main sensor captures 150% more light – the most ever in a Pixel. Face Unblur helps to clearly capture faces even in the toughest conditions . Magic Eraser in Google Photos removes photobombers and distractions from your photos, just like that.15 Make everyday shots epic with Motion Mode which captures brilliant action shots and beautiful long-exposures. With Real Tone, portraits on Pixel represent all people and skin tones beautifully and accurately. Pixel 6 Pro’s pro-level lenses also include a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom and an ultrawide front camera with 94° field of view for stunning group selfies. |
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The safest Pixel phones yet. |
Your life is on your phone: your financial information, personal data, photos and more. So Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are built with the most layers of hardware security in any phone, including the new processor and the next-gen Titan M2TM security chip.16 Every day, Pixel helps you feel safe with five years of security updates, the Security hub, and protection from hackers and phishing in messaging apps. And Pixel keeps you in control of your privacy. You can turn your Pixel’s cameras off, and choose when apps can use your cameras and mics. Pixel doesn’t just protect your data, it also protects you. With the Personal Safety app, Pixel helps you reach emergency contacts or services if you need them, and can even detect if you’ve been in an accident and helps you reach the emergency services. |
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24-hour Adaptive Battery that charges fast.
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Pixel’s all-day Adaptive Battery is everything that a battery should be. It can last beyond 24 hours, even on 5G. It learns your favourite apps, so it doesn’t waste power on ones that you never use. When you turn on Extreme Battery Saver, it keeps your essential apps running and turns off other apps to save even more power, so your battery can last up to 48 hours. And with the compatible 30 W USB-CⓇ Charger (sold separately), your Pixel charges super fast – up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes. |
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Enhance the Pixel experience with the new and more. |
Get Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro accessories from Google or choose products from one of the Made For Google brands offering 300+ accessories. The new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro cases are built to protect your phone and let your phone’s colours shine through. Plus, you can pick up the Google Pixel Buds A-Series, which bring you brilliant sound, clear calls and hands-free help from Google Assistant. |
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Pixel just keeps getting better. |
[Every few months, Google enhances Pixel with software updates that send new features to your phone. Every feature drop brings new and better ways to do things. It’s like putting a new phone into your phone.] |
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Pre-order to claim Bose wireless headphones [Post 28 Oct 21] Comes with the best of Google |
Buy a Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro (subject to availability ) from participating retailers, before 23:59 pm BST on 27th October 2021 and receive a set of Bose Noise Cancelling headphones 700. To redeem this offer visit pixel-offers.com/headphones for full terms and conditions27 .
[Post 28 Oct 21] Pixel 6 comes with three months of YouTube Premium and Google One on us.28 The combined savings add up to almost £14 a month – all to help you get the most out of your new Pixel. |
