Google Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 test, why they are the smartphones of the year!

Well, we will not surprise you if we tell you that the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 did not particularly mark the spirits. They were very good smartphones of course, but they were classic in their execution so well that they easily disappeared against the competition.

This year, Google has changed strategies to offer us not only a really differentiating design but we can now say it, the new Google Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 mark a real break with an in-house SoC, the Google Tensor, a new photo block with a new 50 megapixel sensor and above all new software functions that the competition is not yet able to offer.

If the Pixel 6 is positioned in the high-end smartphone market, the Pixel 6 Pro is clearly aimed at premium smartphones but with a more contained price. As was already the case with the previous Pixels, the Pixel 6s represent Google's vision of what a smartphone should be in 2021 and 2022. We have been testing the new Google Pixel 6s for almost two weeks and here is our opinion.

Google Pixel 6 128 GB at the best priceBase price: 649 € RED by SFR649 €See the offerFNAC649 €See the offerDarty649 €See the offerBoulanger649 €See the offereBay+4%674 €See the offer See more offers

Features of the Google Pixel 6

As a reminder of the characteristics, the Google Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 offer:

	Google Pixel 6	Google Pixel 6 Pro
Screen	- 6.4" OLED screen - Full HD+ definition (1080x2400) - 411ppp density - Gorilla Glass Victus - HDR certification - Smooth Display 90Hz - Always-On mode with In Brief and Listening - 20:9 format	- 6.7" curved OLED screen - QHD+ definition (1440x3120) - 512ppp density - Gorilla Glass Victus - HDR certification - Smooth Display 120Hz - LPTO technology - Always-On mode with In Brief and Listening - 19.5 format: 9
SoCs and GPUs	- Google Tensor (80% faster than Pixel 5) - Titan M2 Security Module - AR Core	- Google Tensor (80% faster than Pixel 5) - Titan M2 Security Module - AR Core
Memory	- 8GB LPDDR5 RAM - 128GB UFS 3.1 storage - No memory expansion	- 12GB LPDDR5 RAM - 128GB UFS 3.1 storage - No memory expansion
Colors	- Carbon Black - Ocean Gray - Gorilla Glass 6 back - Recycled aluminum surround - IP68 - Anti-fingerprint coating	- Carbon Black - Gorilla Glass 6 back - Recycled aluminum surround - IP68 - Anti-fingerprint coating
Camera	- Double camera on the back:- Main camera: 50 Megapixels, 82°, F1.85, Octa PD, OIS- LDAF Laser Autofocus- Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 Megapixels, 114°, F2.2, Correction of the lens- Spectral and flicker sensor- Real Tone- Live HDR+- Top Shot- Night Vision- Motion Mode- Magic Eraser- Full HD 1080p video recording up to 120fps- Ultra HD 2160p video recording at 60fps- Slow motion mode in 720p at 240fps- Cinema Pan mode- Zoom Audio- Wide-angle front camera- 8 Megapixels- 84°, F2.0- Electronic stabilization (EIS)- Frontal video recording in 1080p or 720p at 30fps	- Triple camera on the back:- Main camera: 50 Megapixels, 82°, F1.85, Octa PD, OIS- LDAF Laser Autofocus- Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 Megapixels, 114°, F2.2, Correction of the lens- Periscope zoom: 48 Megapixels, 4x optical zoom, 23.5°, F3.5- Spectral and flicker sensor- Real Tone- Live HDR+- Top Shot- Night Vision- Motion Mode- Magic Eraser- 20x HiRes Zoom- Full HD 1080p video recording up to 120fps- Ultra HD 2160p video recording at 60fps- Slow motion mode in 720p at 240fps- Cinema Pan mode- Audio Zoom- Wide angle front camera- 11.1 Megapixels- 94°, F2. 2- Electronic stabilization (EIS)- Frontal video recording in 1080p or 720p at 30fps
Audio	- Stereo speakers- 3 microphones- Noise cancellation- Dolby Atmos	- Stereo speakers- 3 microphones- Noise cancellation- Dolby Atmos
Battery	- 4610mAh battery- Fast charging 30W (50% in 30 minutes)- Fast wireless charging up to 21W- Reverse wireless charging	- 5000 mAh battery- Fast charging 30W (50% in 30 minutes)- Fast wireless charging up to 23W- Reverse wireless charging
Connectivities	- Bluetooth 5.2- WiFi 6E- 5G- 1x nano-SIM + 1x eSIM- A-GPS+GLONASS, DNLA, Miracast (WiFi Direct), Google Cast- NFC- USB Type-C 3.1- Barometer, Gyroscope, Accelerometer- Sensor proximity and brightness	- Bluetooth 5.2- WiFi 6E- 5G- 1x nano-SIM + 1x eSIM- A-GPS+GLONASS, DNLA, Miracast (WiFi Direct), Google Cast- NFC- USB Type-C 3.1- Barometer, Gyroscope, Accelerometer- Sensor proximity and brightness - UWB chip
Software	- Android 12 - Pixel Launcher	- Android 12 - Pixel Launcher
Height and weight	- 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm - 207g	- 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm - 210g
Starting price	- 649 euro	- 899 euros
Availability date	- October 27, 2021	- October 27, 2021

It is in a classic white box that we welcome the Google Pixel 6. Nothing surprising in itself since the box offers a size similar to what Apple and Samsung have been offering for the past two years. In question, the default absence of headphones and USB charger. We thus find the smartphone as well as a USB-C cable. On the other hand, because we are in France, future users are entitled to wired headphones, but they are separate, all in a bigger box. Classic.

With the pre-order of a Google Pixel 6 Pro or a Pixel 6, the user will be entitled to 3 months of free subscription to YouTube Premium and Google One. But that's not all since Google is also offering pre-orders (until October 27, 2021), a Bose 700 headset. The prices are 649 euros for the Pixel 6 and 899 euros for the Pixel 6 Pro.

Google Pixel 6 Pro 128GB at the best priceBase price: 899€ eBay-11%800€Check the offerFNAC899€Check the offerDarty899€Check the offerBoulanger899€Check the offer See more offers

Design

Officially presented a week ago during an online event, we already know almost everything in terms of design. If they were presented in different colors last week, only the black version will be for the Google Pixel 6 Pro for now. The Google Pixel 6 will be available in black and ocean gray versions. We would have preferred the opposite but we have to believe that for Google, the Pro is the black version and that's it.

When we discover the Google Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 for the first time, we can only be surprised by its resolutely different design, especially at the level of the back with a photo block all in length and taking the integrity of the width smartphones. We do not know if there are advantages or not, but from a visual point of view, we recognize the Pixel 6 at first glance. If you prefer frosted glass, the Pixel 6s offer a glossy type glass back which, to our surprise, is rather resistant to fingerprints.

On the front side, it's quite classic since we find screens with a punch at the top center and an optical type fingerprint sensor under the screen. Nothing revolutionary in itself, it's arch-classic. On the Pixel 6, the edges are not particularly thin, but they have the advantage of being the same thickness all around the screen. It's stupid but it's one of the few to offer this. In addition, it is under the screen that we find an optical type fingerprint sensor, it is not necessarily as fast as the physical sensor on the back of the Pixel 5 but is fast enough not to disturb the everyday user.

In any case, we cannot blame Google for taking risks. The Pixel 6s look nothing like their predecessors and competitors. With an almost similar weight and screen size, they are IP68 certified and the grip is identical, whether on the Pixel 6 Pro or the Pixel 6. We obviously appreciate that Google has respected our trouser pockets staying around 210g for the weight. We remind you that the iPhone 13 Pro Max is 240g and that changes everything above 220g in a trouser pocket.

In the end, the finish is excellent and rivals any high-end or premium smartphone among competitors. We might have liked a back with a matte and not shiny finish, but Google has been able to keep a discreet rendering without giving into the mirror side like some competitors. Finally, there are the volume buttons and the power and/or standby button on the right edge, which frees up the left edge. On the other hand, like every year, we would have preferred to have the standby button at the bottom and not at the top of the volume buttons, like other smartphones on the market.

Display and Audio

We still remember the Pixel 4 with its screen edges that defied all the laws of design! Fortunately, Google had rectified the situation on the Pixel 5. This year, we find screens with a punch, not at the top left but in the center, like at Samsung. Note that on the Pixel 6 Pro, the screen is also more curved, which allows for relatively thin edges, which is not the case with the Pixel 6. Afterwards, it is not a problem in the reality but the most tech-savvy will note it.

In any case, the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 do offer an OLED panel. Unsurprisingly, they are very well balanced. We therefore recover excellent colorimetry with excellent contrast and deep blacks. Android 12 again offers three color modes: natural, enhanced and adaptive. By default, it is in adaptive mode and therefore with more pronounced contrasts. Now, if we want to have a flatter colorimetry, we will have to switch to the natural mode. The brightness is sufficient and we did not have any particular problems during use in the middle of the day, even in sunny weather.

The Google Pixel 6 finds the refresh rate of 90Hz of its predecessors and which we greatly appreciate because of the comfort it provides on a daily basis. No revolution in everyday life either in absolute terms, but the gain in comfort is always appreciable. On the other hand, we did not find the Ambient EQ technology of the Pixel 4, similar to True Tone at Apple which allows the temperature of the screen to be adapted to adjust to the environment. For the Pixel 6 Pro, note the refresh rate of 120H and the LPTO technology which allows the screen frequency to be adapted according to use. As a reminder, the Pixel 6 Pro can drop the refresh rate to 10Hz to save battery.

And finally, there are stereo speakers that are good overall. These are not the references on the market but we will have no trouble enjoying internet content without going through the box of headphones or earphones. As usual, for longer content, we will necessarily favor headphones or at least the original headphones.

Much more than Android 12

Unsurprisingly, the new Google Pixel 6s run on Android 12, we're not going to go back on this since it's not a real novelty in itself except that it's the launch of these Pixel 6s which launch at the same time the final version of Android 12. Still, Google took the opportunity to add a good number of the most useful functions and which place the Pixel 6 above the Android fray.

We start with the Material design which is omnipresent on the Pixel 6 and which we recognize at first glance, especially compared to competitors with an overlay and often a more classic design. And one of the things that we appreciated and which is not necessarily visible at the beginning, are the color themes that adapt to the wallpapers. It's subtle but really enjoyable and more immersive.

We obviously find the search on the entire smartphone from a simple gesture from the top of the screen. The search can be done on applications, registered people, shortcuts, actions, settings, tips, etc. It may not be much but the Pixel 6 brings a fingerprint sensor under the screen, it's not the fastest but it does the job.

Obviously, the Google Assistant is always more powerful and precise, suddenly, you can really use it to dictate your text and it is a significant function. We have so far only been able to test it in English and we are impatiently awaiting the French version. On the other hand, Google's awesome dictaphone is now available in German, French and Japanese. Also, everything you record can be transcribed into text. Needless to say that for us journalists, during interviews, it has become an almost indispensable tool.

Google obliges, in the background, and in messaging applications such as Android Messages, WhatsApp, Signal, Twitter, Instagram, etc., it is possible to use the Live Translate function which translates instantly. Super practical. Currently supported languages ​​are English, French, German, Italian and Japanese (in beta). It's not new but the Live Translate function is also available from the photo application via Google Lens.

And finally, alongside the new photo functions that we will tear down a little further down, Google offers a complete dashboard to manage your privacy insofar as the user will have a complete view of access and other authorizations, whether it is location , the camera or the microphones. Note a part related to personal security that allows you to define emergency numbers and shortcuts in case.

Performance and Autonomy

In terms of performance, the new Google Pixel 6s feature a SoC entirely designed and developed by Google for the first time. Exit Qualcomm SoCs. Here is the Google Tensor which equips the new Google smartphones and according to the latter, it is 80% more performance in CPU and 370% more in GPU compared to the Pixel 5 which was equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G. Before talking about the benchmarks themselves, we'll just talk about the user experience.

Whether on the Pixel 6 with a 90Hz screen or the Pixel 6 Pro with a 120Hz screen, the user experience is perfectly smooth and apart from a few applications that will use the Google Tensor thoroughly, 99% of our daily uses were perfectly fine. covered both in terms of fluidity and responsiveness. Overall, we did not note any particular problem with use, we used the Pixel 6 with a significant number of applications and we did not feel any discomfort or slowdown. The smartphone does not heat up normally (except for demanding applications such as games).

Regarding the benchmarks now, we had some crashes since the SoC is brand new and it is very likely that the benchmark applications are not yet optimized for the Google Tensor. Still, from the results we obtained, and if we rely solely on the numbers, the Google Tensor is at the level of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which is obviously very good, but that explains why Google communicates on such a power difference between the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 6.

And finally the autonomy and for once, the Pixel 6 are doing very well, even too much. While the Pixel 6 offers a 4610mAh battery and the Pixel 6 Pro a 5000mAh battery, a full and full day is achieved without difficulty. If you are careful, you can easily last two days. For example, the day we did all the benchmarks, we also took the opportunity to test the games with the Nacon MG-R controller in Bluetooth, we ended our day with more than 50% battery again and more 7h of screen time on the Pixel 6 Pro. With a 90Hz screen, the Pixel 6 even allows itself to be slightly better for once.

The reality for these Pixel 6s is that Google has managed to ensure that in standby, its smartphones consume almost nothing, and that's really impressive because with a screen time in itself similar to its competitors, we have the impression that the general autonomy is much more important! And finally, as a reminder, the Google Pixel 6 also offer wireless charging (21W for the Pixel 6 and 23W for the Pixel 6 Pro), which is always practical, and reverse charging for your headphones, for example. Finally, note an extreme energy saving mode if you need the essential functions and cannot recharge immediately.

Photo and Video

In previous years, Google had been criticized a lot for keeping an old 12 megapixel sensor and computer-assisted it for results that were often stunning but at the level of its competitors somewhere. Don't make us say what we didn't say, huh? Even with an old sensor, the Pixel 5 remained a reference in photography. Even if the ultra wide-angle of the Pixel 5 remained behind, we could only admire the results of its main camera and its Super Res Zoom technology which easily simulates a 2x optical zoom. In practice, if it does not compete with a real optical x2 zoom, the results remained very convincing.

This year, Google was expected at the turn and we all hoped for a real change and for once, Google did not disappoint. The two Pixel 6s share the same main camera and the same ultra-wide-angle, the Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, offers a periscopic zoom, which many users have been asking for for some time. Thus, for the main camera, we welcome a new 50 megapixel sensor. According to Google, this main sensor is obviously larger and can capture 150% more light compared to the Pixel 5 sensor, which suggests the low-light results. We then find a 12 megapixel sensor on the ultra wide-angle and on the periscopic zoom of the Pixel 6 Pro, a 48 megapixel sensor with a 4x optical zoom.

Alongside these purely technical characteristics, we don't forget that Google's strength was also its processing algorithms, which provide impressive results. But this year, in addition to computer-assisted processing, Google has brought functions that will make life easier for users and which, quite honestly, blew us away.

We start with the Magic Eraser, a new tool present in Google Photos which allows you to erase unwanted elements. Everything will therefore depend on what there is to erase, but it's still super impressive, especially if the user is only limited to souvenir photos and social networks for sharing. But better than words, examples (before/after):

Then we have the Motion mode which integrates the Panoramic with movement and the Long Exposure. Thus, we can add speed effects to the first while for the second, the long exposures will be simpler. We just regret not having more settings for the long exposure. More examples:

On the face side, artificial intelligence now makes it possible to have sharp faces, even if there is motion blur. So, everything will depend on the motion blur but for the slight blurs, it allows you to catch up with the unrecoverable. Another novelty and not the least, the Real Tone technology which makes it possible to recognize all types of skin and therefore to have more natural colors. Moreover, Google does not hesitate to position the Pixel 6 as the most inclusive smartphones on the market.

Back to the photos themselves and unsurprisingly, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro deliver high-flying photos. The colors are always a little colder than those produced by an iPhone and less saturated than those offered by Samsung or any Chinese manufacturers. It's obviously a matter of taste but it will delight those looking to take the most accurate photos possible. But what impressed us the most is that despite the new sensor, Google does not fail in its reputation and there is no doubt that Google will succeed in tweaking all this over time.

Google's main camera is so reliable that it's really hard to fault both Google smartphones. Exposure and white balance are controlled, as are colors. You can really pull out one of the two Pixel 6s and trust them 100%. Last year, we found that the Pixel 5's ultra-wide angle was behind. As a result, this year, by reducing the focal length of the ultra-wide-angle Pixel 6, Google had to be able to improve the quality of the lens, which allows for much more detail in the photos.

On the Pixel 6 Pro, there is also a periscopic zoom which allows to have a 4x optical zoom and above all, it allows to extend the Super Res Zoom technology to 20x. We can tell you, it's just impressive. At 4x, it's already impressive because it allows the photo block to be super versatile, but with Super Res Zoom technology, it's just stunning given the quality of the shots. We let you be the judge.

Next to it, we find the night vision which can be activated automatically depending on the light. Over the years, Google has slightly modified its algorithms for results closer to reality, but we still find photos that are a little too cold for our taste. We will also note a difference in exposure and white balance when the Pixel 6 uses Super Res Zoom technology (x2 or x5+). Google continues to refine its Portrait mode which is becoming more and more effective. We also find the AF Tracking, always so practical for following a subject, the Top Shot function which detects movements and allows itself to take a burst in order to allow the user the best photo after the fact.

Here are some sample photos of the Google Pixel 6Pro to get a better idea:

And there are examples of photos of the Google Pixel 6:

And finally, the entire focal range of the Pixel 6 Pro (0.7x, 1x, 4x and 20x):

And here to emphasize the difference between the 1x and Super Res Zoom 20x:

On the video side, Google are starting to understand the importance of video and since the Pixel 5, video is lining up with the competition. No announcement effects with the Pixel 6 since we find recording up to 4K at 60fps and it will be necessary to go through third-party software for options that videographers will love. Of course, we are in 2021 and the Google Pixel 6 offer Live HDR + videos but not only since Google is introducing Speech Enhancement technology which, using artificial intelligence, will recognize ambient sounds to focus mainly on the voice of the user or of the person filmed.

And finally the selfie camera since Google has chosen to equip the Pixel 6 with ultra wide-angles and we can only appreciate this choice since it makes it easier to take group selfies. Google has also opened up its APIs, which allows third-party applications to take advantage of them too, such as Snapchat, for example. Finally, note the possibility of filming in 4K.

Where to buy them?

Google Pixel 6 128 GB at the best priceBase price: 649 € RED by SFR649 €See the offerFNAC649 €See the offerDarty649 €See the offerBoulanger649 €See the offereBay+4%674 €See the offer See more offers Google Pixel 6 Pro 128GB at the best priceBase price: 899€ eBay-11%800€Check the offerFNAC899€Check the offerDarty899€Check the offerBoulanger899€Check the offer See more offers

Pixel 6 Pro Photo Gallery

Pixel 6 Photo Gallery