Google Pixel 6 evaluation: A brand new hope

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The Pixel 6 is the smartphone that’s imagined to mark the revival of Google within the Android market. With a model new 50+12 MP digital camera module, a brand new {custom} Tensor SoC, and a spanking new daring design, I am going to share my detailed opinion concerning the Google Pixel 6 and let you know whether or not that is the one or not.

Good

Probably iconic design
Properly-calibrated 6.4-inch 90Hz AMOLED show
Highly effective Tensor SoC doesn’t overheat
Pixel-like picture rendering
Ample battery life
5 years of safety updates
IP68 + wi-fi and reverse charging
Cheap worth

Dangerous

Digital camera module is just not versatile sufficient with out a telephoto lens
Quick charging is simply too gradual and has no included charger
Evening Sight mode is just not pure for night time pictures
128GB storage with out a microSD port
“Solely” 3 main Android updates

My temporary opinion concerning the Google Pixel 6
Is the Google Pixel 6 actually a Pixel smartphone? Since its launch and all through my evaluation length, I’ve had this sense that Google should not have named its new flagship the Pixel 6.Certain, the Pixel line has an plain model picture, nevertheless it additionally drags a sure connotation that’s considerably lower than stellar by way of processing muscle and efficiency. The Pixel is just not the iPhone of the Android world that Google initially dreamed of. For smartphones which might be imagined to be flagships, they’ve at all times been pretty reserved the place processing functionality is worried and occupy a reasonably area of interest house.

The Google Pixel 6 is gorgeous / © NextPit

And the Pixel 6, the smartphone marked for this act of revival, actually signifies a 180-degree flip for Google. We discover the bottom of what makes a Pixel with the picture and software program expertise. However the Pixel 6 is greater than only a Pixel for my part and deserves to be a brand new product class for Google to lastly break into the Android market.
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Design and display screen: A breath of contemporary air

The Google Pixel 6 marks an actual break in comparison with its predecessors, if solely visually. The display screen is rather less dreamy although.
What I favored:
A design that has the potential to be inconic
Horizontally organized digital camera module
Kinda Coral colour could be very good
90Hz refresh price and display screen is nicely calibrated
IP68 score
What I disliked:
The glass again
Imposing weight due to its kind issue
No microSD slot or 3.5mm audio jack

A vibrant display screen / © NextPit

I actually just like the design of the Pixel 6. I do know, proper? How authentic. Nonetheless, I feel that visually, Google has actually tried taking over the chance of providing one thing new and has pulled it off efficiently for my part.I additionally admire how Google has retained the matte coating for its edges, permitting the smartphone’s grip to be higher. Alternatively, the Pixel 6 is among the solely smartphones that I actually wish to use with a protecting case as a result of the glass on the again is disagreeable to the touch. It will get greasy and sweaty all too simply with the slightest contact, and is a surefire fingerprint magnet.

I actually favored the look of the horizontal digital camera bar / © NextPit

The Kinda Coral colour that sports activities salmon and orange tones could be very good to take a look at. The horizontally organized digital camera module that Google has dubbed because the digital camera bar has every little thing to change into a signature of the Pixel vary. Nonetheless, it ideas the scales at 207 grams and the size that measure 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm is just not a kind issue that may go well with everybody.

The Kinda Coral colour that sports activities salmon and orange tones could be very good to take a look at / © NextPit

As for the 6.4-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2400) AMOLED show, I am probably not disillusioned that its refresh price is proscribed to “simply” 90Hz. It is fairly clean and the adaptive refresh price appears slightly sensible (I went from 60 FPS in a sport to 30 then 10 as quickly as I launched the short entry menu). There’s a mode to extend the contact sampling price and make the display screen extra delicate additionally works very nicely.For those who have a look at the Pixel 6 from afar, with its flat display screen, squarer corners, and thinner bezels, it nearly seems like a Galaxy Word 20 or Galaxy Word 10.

Interface: Inventory Android 12 or Pixel UI?

The Pixel 6 debuts with Android 12 intow, Google’s newest cell OS model that marks a critical change in its seems.
What I favored:
Dynamic Theme
Inventory Android Inventory is much extra fundamental
Recreation Dashboard, Privateness Dashboard, all Dashboards
3 main Android updates and 5 years of safety patches
What I disliked:
Dwelling display screen house is underutilized
“Solely” 3 main Android variations are assured

Dynamic Theme makes the distinction right here / © NextPit

I am actually not going to increase on this part as a result of I’ve by no means been a Pixel fan in my life and I do not need a fetish for inventory Android. In any case, there’s already quite a lot of content material about Android 12 together with an in-depth evaluation, a presentation of the Materials You design or a information to grasp how the Privateness Panel works.General, it actually felt as if I used to be utilizing a Pixel UI, the place the widgets are huge and spherical, with fast entry menu buttons in the identical design language, to not point out the brightness bar that merely broadcasts itself. The Dynamic Theme, which matches the interface colour to the dominant wallpaper colour, is very nice and is utilized in a delicate matter. All these are unique to Pixel gadgets.

Alternatively, I discover the house display screen to be very poorly optimized by way of house utilization and association. The display screen is surrounded on the high and backside by two parts that can’t be eliminated. On the backside lies the Google search bar that’s actually one thing that I might by no means use, whereas the highest options an “At a look” widget that refuses to be eliminated. Add to that the dimensions of the widgets and the customization choices are in the end slightly restricted attributable to a scarcity of house.

I am going to move on the heresy of assigning the screenshot perform to the Energy + Quantity Down button, making it bodily unattainable to control with one hand (sure, I do know you are able to do it with a gesture, nevertheless it’s nonetheless dumb).Let’s end this section with an actual constructive level: the Recreation Dashboard. It is an interactive gaming menu like many others, however I discover Google’s implementation to be significantly intuitive. There’s a FPS counter within the type of a bubble you could disguise and have it seem with a easy swipe, a Do Not Disturb mode and shortcuts to seize or stream your gameplay.

Efficiency: Tensor processor is great

The Google Pixel 6 packs the well-known Tensor SoC coupled with a Mali G-78 GPU and 8GB of RAM.
What I favored:
Excellent scores on graphics benchmarks
What I disliked:
No overheating points
CPU benchmark scores are blended
Tensor is a custom-developed system on a chip (SoC) that’s the first on the earth to function not one, however two massive Cortex-X1 cores in its processor. On paper, its computing energy is already larger than the Snapdragon 888 with a single Cortex-X1 core.The Tensor additionally has two intermediate Cortex-A76 cores and 4 Cortex-A55 cores for much less power-hungry duties, whereas the Snapdragon 888 makes use of the identical 4 Cortex-A55 cores. The Snapdragon 888 depends on the identical 4 Cortex-A55 cores and a trio of Cortex-A78 cores, that are each extra highly effective per cycle and assist a better clock pace than Tensor’s Cortex-A76.

Google follows Apple’s footsteps in the direction of its independence from Qualcomm / © NextPit

By way of uncooked efficiency, Google’s Tensor chip leaves the competitors consuming mud in the case of graphics calculations, rather less so on CPU calculations. I submitted the Pixel 6 to a trio of benchmarks from 3D Mark:
Wild Life: Simulates gaming utilization for 1 minute
Wilde Life Stress Take a look at: Simulates gaming use for 20 minutes
Wild Life Stress Take a look at: Simulates blended, intensive, and extended use for 20 minutes
And on each benchmark, Google’s Tensor SoC carried out considerably higher than the high-end Snapdragon 888 processor within the Xiaomi Mi 11 or the Exynos 2100 within the Samsung Galaxy S21. Properly, unsurprisingly, the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic SoC stays far forward of the pack.
Google Pixel 6

Graphics benchmark

Mannequin/Benchmark
Google Pixel 6
Samsung Galaxy S21 (Exynos)
Xiaomi Mi 11
iPhone 13

Geekbench 5 (single/multi)
1031/2803
899/2961
722/2259
1716/4555

3DMark Wild Life
6721
5461
5390
8819

3DMark Wild Life Stress Take a look at
6707
5609
5407
8905

3DMark Wild Life Excessive Stress Take a look at
2017
1785
1226
2566

In precise use, I used to be capable of run all my video games at a continuing 60 FPS with the graphics cranked all the way in which to the max. I did not discover any main slowdowns even after an hour of gaming. Most significantly, the smartphone would not overheat, which is uncommon for an Android flagship in 2021. The temperature by no means exceeded the 41°C mark.Tensor is meant to be an AI-focused SoC slightly than a graphics-focused one, and most significantly, it is imagined to be power-efficient. This explains why the SoC lastly heats up little but additionally why it barely exceeds its rivals in computing energy (CPU).

The Pixel 6 manages temperature fairly nicely / © NextPit

Images: Is Google taking again its throne as king of cameras?

The Pixel 6 ushers in a long-awaited technological leap from Google in its digital camera {hardware}.
We’re lastly turning the web page on 12-megapixel digital camera modules. Properly, nearly – with the combination of a 50MP wide-angle lens accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens.What I favored:
Properly managed colorimetry and dynamic vary
Excellent stage of element
Wonderful Evening Sight
Digital camera software is straightforward to make use of and intuitive
What I disliked:
No devoted telephoto lens
Evening Sight photographs don’t look probably the most pure
The primary 50 MP lens captures 12 MP photographs by way of pixel binning, which is why I mentioned Google “nearly” turned the web page. However this lens depends on a Samsung GN1 sensor with a dimension of 1/1.31 inches (with 1.2µm pixels) with an f/1.85 aperture in addition to optical stabilization (OIS).Google’s digital camera app remains to be very complete, sporting sliders to regulate publicity, distinction, and white stability with a easy gesture on the fly. Do take word that each one photographs beneath have been captured in computerized mode.

Pixel 6: Large 1x

Pixel 6: Ultrawide 0.7x

Pixel 6: Large 1x

Pixel 6: Large 1x

I personally discovered the colorimetry to be dealt with very nicely. I am not towards a barely pronounced therapy, with out being too aggressive. And I feel that Google managed to attain a really good stability. Images are chic in comparison with what the scene seems like in actuality, however the outcome is just not synthetic. Quite the opposite, they seemed good.I used to be additionally satisfied by the dynamic vary that the Pixel 6 was capable of reproduce. In scenes with advanced exposures, resembling mid to late autumn afternoons, the shadows are usually not too darkish and particulars are usually not drowned out. Add to this the very current sharpness and one obtains detailed, readable, and likewise harmonious pictures.

Pixel 6: Large vertical 1x

Pixel 6: Ultrawide vertical 0.7x

As for the extremely wide-angle lens, the Google Pixel 6 makes use of a 12 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture (pixel dimension 1.25µm) with a subject of view of 114 levels. I seen some colour inconsistencies in comparison with the primary lens and a dynamic vary that’s not as nicely managed since the sort of lens usually captures much less gentle (no because of its smaller sensor and aperture).

Pixel 6: Large vertical 1x

Pixel 6: Ultrawide vertical 0.7x

For this evaluation, I additionally took the identical footage with an iPhone 13 to check outcomes. iPhones are historically identified to supply very pure rendering, with far lighter processing than different producers.However I’ve to say that in the course of the day, I undoubtedly desire the Pixel 6’s rendering. The photographs are extra vibrant and much less bland. Briefly, they’ve texture and particularly higher publicity administration (have a look at the wide-angle foliage that’s drowned by shadows on the iPhone 13).

Pixel 6: Large 1x

Pixel 6: Ultrawide 0.7x

iPhone 13: Large 1x

iPhone: Ultrawide 0.5x

I will not dwell on the zoom because the Pixel 6 lacks the devoted 48 MP telephoto lens that’s reserved for the Pixel 6 Professional. So you will must make do with Google’s purely digital Tremendous Excessive Res Zoom that goes all the way in which to 7x magnification.As magnification is proscribed, so is the lack of element. There may be nothing a lot else to report right here. It isn’t probably the most versatile zoom possibility in the marketplace, and it loses effectiveness rapidly when you get previous the 2x stage.

Pixel 6: Large 1x

Pixel 6: Large 2x

Pixel 6: Large 4x

Pixel 6: Large 7x

Pixel 6: Large 1x

Pixel 6: Large 2x

Pixel 6: Large 4x

Pixel 6: Large 7x

The Pixel 6’s portrait mode is just not customizable within the sense that you just can’t select the type of blur impact or its depth. However the impact could be very efficient, for my part. I do not actually use this mode each day, regardless of which smartphone I exploit. With the Pixel 6, I’ve discovered the cropping to be very clear. Even the tiniest strand of hair in my ugly mane would not escape Google.

Pixel 6: Portrait 1x

Pixel 6: Portrait 2x

Pixel 6: Portrait 1x

Pixel 6: Portrait 2x

Traditionally, night time pictures have been Google’s experience. The Pixel 3 has lengthy been seemed upon as one of the best digital camera smartphone not just for daytime pictures, however particularly at night time.Personally, I actually favored the renders of my pictures taken within the early night, round 6:00/18:30 pm, the time when the solar units in Berlin presently of the 12 months. The Pixel 6’s night time mode (also referred to as Evening Sight) is computerized (and you’ll’t regulate the publicity time), and the digital noise is nearly non-existent which makes the pictures very sharp. However it’s true that the rendering is just not pure, particularly when in comparison with the iPhone 13 as seen beneath.

Pixel 6: Evening Sight On Auto Large 1x

Pixel 6: Evening Sight On Auto Large 1x

Pixel 6: Evening Sight On Auto Large 1x

Pixel 6: Evening Sight On Auto Large 1x

The photographs beneath have been taken round 8 pm, so it was darkish and regardless of this, we discovered ourselves taking a look at a blue sky even with out activating the Evening Sight mode. If we have been to take a look at the identical photographs taken with the iPhone 13, we will discover a a lot darker and hotter rendering, which some would say is extra pure.As for me, I discover that the rendering of the Pixel 6 stays higher. The colours don’t flip orange and the sunshine from the road lamps would not burn the picture. There may be additionally much less digital noise and a greater stage of element. But it surely’s true that the image might appear to be it was taken in the course of the day and never at night time.

Pixel 6: Evening Sight Off

Pixel 6: Evening Sight On Auto

iPhone 13: Evening Mode Off

iPhone 13: Evening Mode On Auto

Personally, I desire a viewable night time shot even when it means sacrificing the pure, darker, and fewer detailed rendering. However this can be a alternative that I do know is just not shared by everybody!

Pixel 6: Evening Sight Auto 1x broad

Pixel 6: Evening Sight Auto 0.6x ultrawide

Pixel 6: Nigh Ssight On Auto

iPhone 13: Evening Mode On Auto

Word that the totally different sliders of the digital camera software can present slightly fascinating outcomes at night time, particularly when there are lights round. For instance, I attempted to set the white stability to the coldest stage whereas pushing the distinction stage to the utmost (with out touching the publicity slider). The outcome is just not loopy and I am not pleased with it, however I inform myself that an actual photographer will know methods to exploit these sliders to the utmost potential.

This image jogs my memory a little bit of the work of the artist
@Aishy/ © NextPit

Lastly, let’s end with the video functionality. The PIxel 6 is ready to shoot in 4K at 60 FPS and gives 4 kinds of stabilization relying on the use and state of affairs. There’s a fundamental mode, an energetic mode to compensate for very sudden actions, a set mode for zoomed movies (2x solely), and a panel mode to make, nicely, panels (the latter works very nicely by the way in which).

Google Pixel 6 battery

The Google Pixel 6 packs a 4,614 mAh battery that helps 30-watt wired charging, 21-watt wi-fi charging in addition to reverse wi-fi charging.
What I favored:
Wi-fi + reverse charging supported
Ample battery life
What I disliked:
Charger is just not included
Quick charging is too gradual
Battery utility is simply too restricted
On paper, Google guarantees that the Pixel 6 is able to lasting for greater than 24 hours and that its battery prices to 50% in simply half-hour. I can not definitively touch upon this since I did not use the Pixel 6 lengthy sufficient and could not carry out a benchmark for its battery life attributable to time constraints.With heavy use, I did not handle to make it final 24 hours. On a day that consisted of an hour of gaming on CoD Cellular and a 3-hour picture taking session (Google Maps and Spotify working within the background as nicely) together with half-hour of the digital camera app being energetic, I simply lasted greater than 15 hours seeing the battery life fall beneath the 20% mark.

Pixel 6: Battery utility

 

 

As for quick charging, I discovered it to be very gradual, means too gradual, actually. By default, the Pixel 6 gives an adaptive charging mode and is meant to be charged at night time when you sleep. The cost cycle is subsequently logically very lengthy, taking me 1 hour and 21 minutes to go from 0 to 50% by way of this methodology.As soon as this mode was deactivated, the battery is charged in just a little over an hour, which remains to be a very long time in my eyes. Do word that I used my OnePlus Warp Cost 65 charger, which is able to delivering 45W by way of USB Energy Supply.The battery utility is admittedly missing in versatility. It solely tracks utilization during the last 24 hours. I discover that on this level, Oppo’s ColorOS 12 is superior.

Technical specs

 
The Pixel vary of 2021

Machine identify

Picture

Display screen
6.4-inch OLED, resolution1080 x 2400 pixels (411 PPP), 90 Hertz refresh price
6.7-inch OLED LTPO, resolution1440 x 3120 pixels (512 PPP), 120 Hertz refresh price

SoC
Google Tensor2x ARM Cortex-X1 @ 2.80 GHz2x ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.25 GHz4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.80 GHz20x ARM Mali-G78 (GPU)

Reminiscence(varies by area)
8 GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM128 or 256 GB of storage in UFS 3.1
12 GB of LPDDR5-6400 RAM128, 256, or 512 UFS 3.1 storage

Expandable storage
No

Most important Digital camera
50 MP | f1.85 aperture | 25 mm focal size | 1.2 µm sensor dimension | 82° viewing angle| OIS(Samsung GN1 sensor: 1/1.31″)

Extremely Large Angle Digital camera
12 MP | f/2.2 aperture | 16.3 mm focal size | 114° angle of view

Telephoto lens
No
48 MP | f/3.5 aperture | 104 mm focal size | 0.8 µm sensor dimension | 23.4° angle of view | 4x optical zoom | OIS(Sony IMX586 sensor: 1/2”)

Video
4K at 60 fps (rear)1080p at 30 fps (entrance)
4K at 60 fps (rear)4K at 30 fps (entrance)

Selfie
8 MP | aperture f/2.0 | sensor dimension 1.12 µm | angle of view 84
11 MP | aperture f/2.2 | sensor dimension 1.22 µm | angle of view 94

Audio
Stereo audio system

Battery
4614 mAh
5003 mAh

Cable charging
Max. 30 W

Wi-fi charging (Qi)
Max. 21 W
Max. 23 w

UWB
No
Sure

Ranking

Not but reviewed

Not but reviewed

Worth
From $599 onwards
From $899 onwards

Pre-order
Pre-order

Conclusion

The Google Pixel 6 is, for my part, a giant slap within the face of the Android market in 2021. Google is taking again what makes the soul of the Pixel, specifically the photo-taking and software program expertise, whereas opening as much as a brand new viewers on a wider scale at an especially enticing worth level. 
After reviewing the Pixel 6, I ponder whether OnePlus has a promoting level sooner or later. Google has actually struck arduous and brought dangers that, for my part, have every little thing to be profitable bets.

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The picture rendering is great even with out a telephoto lens, and the straightforward studying curve for the slew of picture and video enhancing features appears to be a really enticing proposition. The Tensor SoC, whereas inferior to current Apple processors, outperforms its Exynos and Snapdragon rivals by way of graphical energy. Battery life can also be slightly first rate though I have to do carry out extra in-depth testing to search out out.

A brand new hope! / © NextPit

Not every little thing is ideal, in fact. Quick charging is just a little too gradual for my liking, the three years of main Android updates are removed from revolutionary if you see what Samsung is already doing. I feel that the restricted availability of the Pixel 6 in chosen international locations solely, the restricted alternative of colours, and particularly the restricted cupboard space within the 128GB model with out a microSD slot are additionally obstacles to larger success for Google.
However for $599 in the intervening time, no producer can presently compete with the Pixel 6 by way of worth for cash in the case of the flagship section. If I have been to purchase or give away an Android flagship this 12 months, I would clearly select the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Professional (for the extra storage and telephoto lens).
 

Google Pixel 6
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