The uber-Android phones: meet the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

The Pixel 6 marks a change in Google’s tactics. The previous Nexus and Pixel models were supposed to show what Android was capable of and reveal which features were coming to other smartphones. This is no longer the case. With the Tensor chip at the heart of the Pixel lineup, the new phones come with features that other manufacturers cannot simply adopt as part of Android.

Tensor: a chip to make the Pixel better

A smartphone should understand you and your world, says Google’s Rick Osterloh at the launch of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Google uses the term «ambient computing» to describe the interplay of hardware, software and artificial intelligence (AI). The Google Tensor chip has been developed to do just that. It’s supposed to be perfectly tailored to the Pixel smartphones – the ambient computing device you typically have with you.

Simply put, Tensor is optimised for artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) functions. In case you’re now thinking that’s total overkill, this includes more features than you’d think: from camera night vision and photo editing to speech recognition and transcribing audio recordings.

The Titan M2 security module is also part of the Tensor. Google promises the most «layers of hardware security» in a smartphone. The security chip is supposed to protect your passwords and other private data from outside access. In addition, there’s a new security hub and privacy dashboard in the settings.

The cameras: a stripe, not square

Google has enlarged the sensors and camera lenses. They no longer fit onto the customary camera square, as seen on the Pixel 4 and 5. And so, the camera strip on the back of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro was born.

Both smartphones feature a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens as well as a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. In addition, the Pro model has a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. It offers 4x optical zoom and 20x magnification with Google’s hybrid Super Res Zoom.

The Pixel 6 has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with a viewing angle of 84 degrees. On the Pixel 6 Pro, that’s 11 megapixels and 94 degrees.

The Tensor chip’s AI and ML capabilities make itself known in the cameras’ performance. New features include «Face Unblur», for example. It works by combining the images from both wide-angle cameras to get a sharp face. «Motion Mode», on the other hand, captures movement in photos. «Magic Eraser» allows you to remove distracting objects from photos, while «Real Tone» is supposed to illuminate and reproduce all skin tones realistically.

Motion Mode

Magic Eraser

The Pro is bigger

The Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch display with a refresh rate of 90 hertz and a Full HD+ resolution. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.7-inch display with QHD+ resolution. Its refresh rate automatically adjusts to the movement on the display and ranges from 10 to 120 hertz.

The display, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, houses a fingerprint sensor. It’s the only way to unlock the Pixel 6 besides the password, PIN or pattern. There’s no facial recognition.

Both smartphones are water- and dust-proof with IP68 certification. They’re made of recycled aluminium in part – the Pixel 6 has a matt aluminium frame, while the Pixel 6 Pro has a polished one.

The two Pixel versions also differ in terms of hardware. The Pixel 6 has 8 gigabytes of RAM, while the Pixel 6 Pro has 12 gigabytes. Both models are supposed to have a battery life of 24 hours. Using the separately available 30-watt power adapter, they should charge to 50 per cent in 30 minutes. The battery capacity on the Pixel 6 is 4,524 mAh and 4,905 mAh on the Pixel 6 Pro.

The phones come with Android 12 and the new «Material You» design preinstalled. Google guarantees feature and version updates for three years and promises five years of security updates for the Pixel 6.

Price and availability

At launch, Google is only selling the Pixel 6 in a few countries. Germany is one of them, Austria and Switzerland are not. The recommended retail price starts at 649 euros for the Pixel 6 and 899 euros for the Pixel 6 Pro. This is for the 128-gigabyte model. Only the Pixel 6 Pro is also available with 256 gigabytes.

This makes the Pixel 6 cheaper than the Pixel 5 was at launch. The premium for the Pro version is higher than in the case of many competitors, though the price does still remain in the triple digits.