Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Professional within the take a look at: the brand new flagship killers (video)

Source: Pocketnow

Google’s foray into hardware gave us a very interesting pattern of priorities. From forgetful looks to strange design decisions to a quick detour into the middle class – Google has always been open to experimentation. I can’t really say that I would call any of their phones visually great, but their software was a different story.

It’s crazy how the company has spent years delivering some of the best photography I’ve ever taken, more software updates than any other Android OEM, and steady feature improvements even for old devices, all with aging camera sensors as well less powerful chips than the rest.

I wonder if this is the reason for their lack of success. It’s sad to see more excitement in the comments than the sales. It just proves that no matter how successful Google is with software, the hardware takes equally bold steps.

This is the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. What Google calls the best they have to offer based on you, and what I would call the most dramatic change Google has ever made to that lineup. Well, that “built around you” premise is pretty lofty for a product that you can’t customize at the checkout like a Moto X, but the real question is whether these are better phones than before.

I think the best way to start with the obvious: Google really wanted to make a statement with these phones. From the leaks the company acquired months ago to the design language, a lot about these phones is interesting, but none of them do a better job than the price tags. I’m going to get on my nerves and call them the new flagship killers because for what you’re getting these numbers are pretty impulsive.

The first thing to note is that the days of the small pixel are over. Whichever variant you choose, both are pretty massive. Think of the Pixel 6 as having almost the same footprint as a Pixel 4 XL and the 6 Pro more like a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which I wouldn’t mind if the power button weren’t above the volume rocker. and without the edges that google always provided to tell a difference … their colors are similar yet different. So to tell them apart, note the flat approach with the matte rails of the 6 across from the curved and shiny edges of the 6 Pro. Also, keep in mind that the Gorilla Glass Victus is only on the front of the Pixel 6 while the Pro is on both sides. In a word, they both feel pretty high quality, something other OEMs are already saving on at the non-pro price level.

Source: Pocketnow

What makes the Pixel 6’s price point pretty irresistible is that internally, it’s almost the same phone. Each device has Google’s new tensor chip, the same Titan M2 security coprocessor, and the same startup memory. The 6 Pro just starts with a little more RAM, has an additional memory level, a slightly larger battery and contains mmWave 5G, while the Pixel 6 only comes with Sub-6. Any other antenna, IP rating, and even fast and reverse wireless charging will then be shared among all devices.

Another small difference is their display, not just in the curves. Both have beautiful OLED panels with the same HDR certifications and a high contrast ratio. What is different is that the 6 Pro Quad is HD + vs. HD + and that the 6 Pro has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz while the Pixel 6 only supports 90. But the more I’ve used them, the more I’ve realized they’re both just as awesome, and their dual-fire speakers support content consumption far better than any other pixel before them.

Source: Pocketnow

That said, while the hardware looks great from every angle, I’ve struggled with how it fits into the software. See, Material You is a pretty different approach to stock Android, but as much as Google claims it adapts to you, it’s really a matter of taste. It prefers larger text and icons, which is great for a man like me in need of reading glasses. The problem is, if you prefer density, you really can’t just turn this off. The result is a big phone with a wider user interface that is just code for a lot of wasted space. It might be more noticeable, but it fails to serve the purpose of having so much real estate and pixel density. A clear example is the home screen. I’m the type who prefers so many useful widgets to have on my main screen, but given the placement of the At-a-Glance widget that you can’t remove and the grid’s limited availability, I’m kind of forced to have this only phone that i can’t customize the way i want. And listen, sure .. change your wallpaper and notice that the entire interface takes on a different color scheme. Have the icons adapted to the theme if that’s your thing. I find all of these things nice, but not enough to consider this phone that was built around me. If Material You is about giving me a user interface that adapts to my wallpaper, well … how does that differ from the way, or better, how every other Android phone has supported designs for years?

Source: Pocketnow

This is the main reason I can’t say I enjoyed this phone for some chores. It’s more difficult to handle with one hand and it seems that the top visor doesn’t really add to the weight distribution. The on-screen fingerprint scanner is welcomed during this pandemic, but neither is it the fastest one I’ve used. On the positive side, however, there are little things I like about this phone. Its dictation skills, for example, are second to none, in addition to how it can transcribe voice memos better than any other phone. Plus, the battery life was pretty good. I wouldn’t call a two day phone, but would be good enough to get through a moderate to hard day. The same goes for phone calls and data storage, where my experience using Google Fi has been pretty solid across the board.

But well, the reason this Pixel 6 Pro stays in either my pocket or my pocket stays the same. Google has been killing photography for years in a way that doesn’t make logical sense given the limitations of hardware in the past. Imagine all of these software features now combined with a real data sheet. The examples you’ll see are mostly from the Pro variant as the only difference between the regular one is the extra telephoto lens and the wider selfie camera with the obvious performance improvements in these specific scenarios.

Source: Pocketnow

There is daylight photos and then there is pixel daylight with an added contrast that makes clouds pop seriously better than any phone out there. Color science seems untouched by any other pixel I’ve tested, along with this phone’s epic capabilities in dynamic range. Make the shot more epic, or add a little zoom now to get some software detail with the Pixel 6, or go optical with 4X or even further on the Pixel 6 Pro. Even if the later one lacks all the features of an S21 Ultra, the hardware and software are scarce for their money.

Things get a little mixed up in night mode. See, I’d say no other phone can handle low light better than this at any focal length, but the problem is lens flares. As with the original Pixel, both phones create a sunflower effect around lights that not only affects accuracy but also affects photos where some light falls on the camera. I’m not sure if google can use software to fix this, but I hope it happens.

Now I’m mixed up because in everything else this is the coolest camera for a regular consumer. Would you like this long exposure effect to stretch the lights out over your scene. There is a mode for this. If you want a moving photo that gives your subject a little more pop, there is a mode. Do you want to delete people from a recording? Magic Eraser is really one of the best implementations I’ve seen and so easy to use. If you want to do astrophotography without having to perform manual controls properly, simply point your phone at the stars and activate the mode. Even with selfies and portraits, the Pixel is just too good at removing complex layers from the user and helping you capture shots that no other phone can so easily deliver.

Source: Pocketnow

I also believe that Google made some dramatic improvements to the video. Colors, performance, and details seem to have an extra pop that just complements the epic stabilization that Google has been known for since the Pixel 1. I’m also happy that we finally got 4K videos from the selfie camera on the Pixel 6 Pro with results that are just as good, even if you unfortunately still get stuck at 1080p when you choose the regular variant.

Google Pixel 6 5G

A flagship killer

A pixel is a pixel. Perks like instant software updates, expanded software support, constant feature drops, and the wow factor the software can give these cameras are really hard to resist.

Google Pixel 6 Pro 5G

Another flagship killer

If you are looking for an investment in the long run, grab one of these phones. I hope these pixels are successful because while they still feel like an experiment, they are definitely a good buy.

In conclusion, I think it’s important to remember that a pixel is just like a pixel in the past. Perks like instant software updates, expanded software support, constant feature drops, and the wow factor the software can give these cameras are really hard to resist. I seriously believe that I didn’t have that much fun with a camera or felt like another phone is helping me get so artistic.

Source: Pocketnow

It’s definitely not my favorite phone as the UI implementation is NOT built around me, and I also wish there was a smaller option like there was in the past. However, when you combine all of the perks with the bold designs and those crazy price tags, and let’s face it, it sounds like I’m getting finicky. It’s like Google just told OnePlus to hold back its beer because this phone is not only cheaper than all of its offerings, but it also nails what even more expensive flagships still fail at.

Neither the Pixel 6 nor the Pixel 6 Pro are perfect phones. I’m sure you’ll find one thing or another would be different, but this isn’t a case where I recommend these phones for the price. I do this because I feel like they’re just too good for the money. If you are looking for an investment in the long run, grab one of these phones. I hope these pixels are successful because while they still feel like an experiment, they are definitely a good buy.