To say that this year’s Pixel devices have been two of the most highly anticipated Google phones to ever release almost feels like an understatement. After the good, yet somehow mediocre device that was the Pixel 5 last year, we needed a big breath of fresh air for the Pixel lineup.
Thanks to a great hype campaign by Google and steady stream of leaks from insiders, we have many people waiting for their new Pixel 6 phones to show up after an easily predictable pre-order disaster. We’re here to talk about the Pixel 6, though, not Google’s inability to take our money quickly enough.
After a week of heavy usage, is the Pixel 6 worth all of the hype? Is it the best $599 you can spend on an Android phone? Should you get the smaller Pixel 6 over the somewhat mightier Pixel 6 Pro? I hope to answer these questions for you below.
This is our Google Pixel 6 review!
What I Like
Hardware and Design
Google has had a great tendency to release phones that have a certain level of Googliness to them. It’s somewhat intangible when trying to explain what that means, but it stares you right in the face. The Pixel 4 lineup was Googley. Same with the Pixel 2 XL. And beautifully, the same goes for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. They look like Google phones, which makes me as a fan of unique hardware happy.
When thinking about Googliness in design, I believe it’s the combination of unique colors with a pop of black. My favorite designs from Google have all featured that shot of black, such as the 2 XL and 4 XL. These phones have that with the camera bar/hump. At first, I was unsure about the rear hump for the camera system, but it’s been fine and hasn’t caused me any grief. Plus, if you’re using a case, it’s even less of an issue when placing it down on a flat surface.
As for the Pixel 6’s size, while it feels so much larger than my Pixel 5, it’s been growing on me. However, I’m a bit worried for Pixel 6 Pro buyers. I know they, too, will likely get used to it, but it’s such a big phone. If Google could have given me this Pixel 6 body with the Pixel 6 Pro’s specs, specifically the telephoto lens and 120Hz display, it would pretty much be perfect in my eyes. I prefer this flat display, this weight, and these color options versus the Pixel 6 Pro. I ordered a Pixel 6 Pro for myself and it’ll have to be my daily driver after I return this Pixel 6 to Google, and if I’m being honest, I’m not looking forward to an even bigger phone. I really like this Pixel 6 and don’t want to give it up anytime soon. Google, can I keep this unit? Pretty please?
Specs
While it may not have the Pixel 6 Pro’s exact spec list, the Pixel 6 offers more than what I would expect from a phone that starts at $599. I have to keep reminding myself of that. This is a $599 phone. I discussed the importance of this previously.
The Pixel 6 features a 6.4″ Full HD OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz, Google’s new in-house Tensor processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage (also comes in 256GB option), 4614mAh battery with support for 30W wired charging and fast wireless charging (Battery Share also present), dual rear camera system consisting of a 50-megapixel wide angle shooter and a 12-megapixel ultra wide, optical in-display fingerprint reader, IP68 rating, 5G connectivity, stereo speakers, and Android 12.
For a $599 phone, that seems pretty great to me. As I mentioned, the only two things I’d bring over from the Pro are the 120Hz display and telephoto lens for added flexibility when out shooting photos. I see this device easily meeting the needs of most anyone who purchases it, so if you were concerned the Pixel 6 is underpowered in some way, you can forget that right now.
Camera
There are a few things that made the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro “highly anticipated,” with one of the main reasons being that we expected Google to include an updated camera sensor. Finally, something other than the same IMX363 sensor that’s been employed since the Pixel 3. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, but geez. Inside the Pixel 6, we have an upgraded main 50-megapixel camera sensor, which gets binned to 12.5MP when snapping shots. While not 50MP large, the results are pretty damn good and full of detail. There’s an ultra wide sensor at 12-megapixel, too.
Both Kellen and I have been snapping photos like crazy, comparing the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 5, as well as the Pixel 6 Pro to the iPhone 13 Pro. We recommend you check those samples out. To sum it up nicely, the Pixel 6 has an amazing camera, exactly what you would expect from Google. The camera delivers exceptional amounts of contrast and true-to-life colors, without much need for added saturation levels. In addition, the camera delivers an amazing natural bokeh effect on close-up subjects, allowing me to skip using the built-in Portrait mode on the device. And of course, Night Sight and Astrophotography are included, so this phone can handle daytime and nighttime shots like an absolute champ.
Google has a new mode to play with on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro called Motion. It’s quite intriguing, designed to capture things that are in movement. Inside Motion are two presets, one called Action Pan and another called Long Exposure. Long Exposure is great for capturing tail lights on vehicles, while Action Pan focuses on a moving subject and blurs the background. Both are pretty sweet, though, the ability to adjust the exposure of a shot should have been added years ago by Google. Oh well, at least it’s here now.
I did a few 4K video recordings, and in typical Pixel fashion, they didn’t come out too special. Watching back, colors look too muted and there’s more grey when there should be black, but the saving grace is Google’s stabilization effect. When holding the phone in your hands, you’d think the device is attached to a gimbal with how smooth panning can appear.
Google has taken its camera software to heights we didn’t think were possible a few years ago, and on the Pixel 6, there’s finally upgraded hardware to take advantage of all that software mastery. If I’m leaving the house for a hike or going somewhere tropical, so long as I have my Pixel, I know I’ll be able to capture virtually any shot I may need to.
Below are camera samples, resized for the site but not touched in any other way.
Software and Updates
Android 12 is easily one of my favorite entries into the long list of Android updates we’ve seen over the years. For me, it’s right up there with KitKat, which is probably my favorite. Android 12 focuses heavily on user customization, as if past Android builds weren’t already. Android 12 takes customization and appearance a step further, with system and app colors constantly changing based on your wallpaper, while UI elements have been enlarged to look more bubbly and inviting. It’s a great look, and on the Pixel 6, it runs amazingly with all sorts of fun features.
Without diving too deep into “what’s new in Android 12,” since we’ve written that every time there was a new Android 12 beta, I’m going to provide a few of my favorite Android 12/Pixel 6 software things. Scrolling screenshots. Face detection for auto rotation. Double tap on back of phone to trigger Google Assistant. Home controls access right from system toggles. The widgets. Material You and the overall theming options in general, obviously. And the Privacy dashboard. While Android 12 is the same Android OS we’ve been using for years and it essentially does the same stuff, this is really the most polished version we’ve seen of it. Yes, there are bugs as we’re still early in its life, but for the most part, it performs beautifully on this Pixel 6.
For the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google announced that it will supply three years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. That’s a first for Google and the Pixel line, and while some may have hoped for more, it’s a step in the right direction. It’s not iOS levels of software support, but it’s better than 2 years of upgrades and 3 years of security patches. We’ll certainly take it. Thanks, Google.
Performance and Tensor
One concern with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro was Google’s deployment of their very own SoC, that being Tensor. We simply didn’t know what to expect, but Google has put our minds at ease, not only with a lot of documentation on Tensor, but with first-hand experience with Tensor in these new devices. Coupled with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, the Pixel 6 performs fantastically. It’s incredibly noticeable coming from the Pixel 5, which feels like a complete mid-ranger when compared to the Pixel 6. Most notably is when the phone is processing something, such as photos. On the Pixel 5, it was slow and hesitant after a photo was snapped to process and show you the results. On the Pixel 6, you snap the photo and boom, it’s ready for viewing.
In typical Android fashion, multitasking is also a breeze on this device. You can be in Twitter or Chrome one second, then a simple swipe on the bottom of your display lands you in a different app, with no stutters or hiccups to be seen. It’s been a very refreshing experience, after having used the Pixel 5 for a year. And sorry to my fellow Pixel 5 users, I don’t mean to be harsh on that phone, but it’s a known fact that in the performance department it’s not a heavy hitter. It’s good to have Google making fast, premium phones again.
Battery
With its 4614mAh battery, the Pixel 6 has been good for me in the battery department. I’ve been getting a solid 4+ hours of screen on time each day, with my usual routine being 7AM to 11PM at night. Each night I’m going to bed with around 30% battery charge left, so that is great for me.
Also great is Google’s improved charging speeds on both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Finally. Google has upgraded the Pixel 6 to support wired charging speeds of up to 30W, which is nearly double what the Pixel 5 was taking in. This is a welcomed change. Wireless charging has also been upgraded, but I’m waiting for the new Pixel Stand to launch to see how that is. I don’t typically like to wireless charge my phones, but I know plenty of people swear by it. They’ll be happy with the improved charging speeds.
One thing to note is Google’s new 24-hour overview for battery stats. If you’re attempting to determine your screen on time for a day, it may no longer be helpful to check the actual battery stats section. Instead, check the Digital Wellbeing dashboard, which shows you exactly how long you’ve been looking at your display, along with other helpful insights. I clearly spend too much time on TikTok.
What Could Be Better
Display
Having the display in this section shouldn’t alarm anybody. All I’m going to say is, I wish it supported 120Hz refresh and I wish it was a tad bit brighter. That’s all. I probably said the same thing about the Pixel 5 last year. Beyond those two wishes, it’s a gorgeous and flat display, with very nice color saturation and deep blacks. I emphasize how it handles colors, because colors play such a large role in Android 12 and Material You. For a device that costs $599, I don’t think you could ask for much more.
Unfortunately, Google still doesn’t give users much control over what they’re looking at all day. In the Display settings menu, you can choose your brightness and if you want Adaptive Brightness, but beyond that, there is only a single “Colors” menu that gives you three options – Natural, Boosted, and Adaptive. I opt for Adaptive, as when looking at Google’s example photo, it’s the only option that clearly looks different from the other two. Meanwhile, Samsung lets you tweak white balance and everything on individual RGB scales. It’s much more user friendly over there, but then again, Samsung doesn’t mess around when it comes to display performance. They have the best.
And the display’s brightness. It’s still not as bright as a Samsung display, but it’s better than the Pixel 5, which as many of you may know, is very poor and not bright at all. When I look back on this review, it’ll maybe look like all I did was crap on the Pixel 5, but hopefully many of the people who read this are on a Pixel 5 and are considering an upgrade to the Pixel 6. If that’s the case, I hope all of these comparisons are helping. And to answer your question, yes, you should upgrade to the Pixel 6.
Fingerprint Reader
Poor Google. It still can’t seem to figure out a decent way to unlock a smartphone, even though it had a perfect solution last year with the Pixel 5. Come to think of it, they had a good solution with the Pixel 2 as well. Oh, the original Pixel had a pretty great way to unlock your phone, too.
Hear me, Google — the rear-facing fingerprint scanner just works and that should be good enough for you. These optical sensors are trash. When you’re unlocking your phone hundreds of times in a day, constantly having to double tap the scanner because it didn’t read properly the first time, we’re going to be pissed and complain about it. This experience, after using the true Pixel Imprint on past devices, is unacceptable.
Other Notes
- Wife Impressions – “Phone feels pretty heavy, but not too big for one hand use. I’m not crazy about the how the camera sticks out on the back, but I can appreciate that it covers the full width of the phone so it can still lay relatively flat. I dig it and I love the color.”
- Face Unlock – This ties into the fingerprint screen section, but I wanted to draw direct notice to it. There is no face unlock on either Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, but it’s possible Google will include it in a future update. Considering my disdain for the fingerprint scanner, let’s hope that is true.
Price and Availability
The Pixel 6 starts at $599, which is a helluva deal for a phone this good. It shouldn’t be this cheap, honestly. Google could have gotten away with charging more, but obviously, we’re glad they didn’t. If you need more internal storage, a 256GB model can be had for $699. Comparing this to other $599 phones, it’s a clear winner in our book. You’re getting a great list of specs, fantastic software support, and some unique hardware that can turn some heads. What’s not to like?
As for where you can buy it, when in stock you can find it on the Google Store, Best Buy, Amazon, the major carriers, or pretty much anywhere else popular cellphones are sold. There are no exclusives to be seen here thank goodness, so if you’re looking for a Pixel 6, you should be able to get your hands on one.
Buy Pixel 6
Videos
Unboxing
First 10 Things to Do
Gallery
The Verdict
I can keep this short and sweet. If you like Google Pixel phones, buy this phone. Whether you want the Pro model or not is on you, but this smaller Pixel 6 option is really, really good. It’s a frontrunner for me to get awarded POTY (Phone of the Year).
Besides the lame fingerprint reader, there really isn’t anything to dislike here, and at its ridiculous $599 price, I can’t think of any other phone that would be in the conversation. Maybe if the Galaxy S21 FE ever gets released, you could consider that if you’re more in tune with Samsung hardware and software, but even then it’ll be interesting to see if Samsung can keep the price low enough to make it compete against the Pixel 6. Heck, even diehard OnePlus fans have to be thinking to themselves that it might be time to get with a Pixel.
This phone’s a winner, plain and simple. I foresee it being my daily driver for quite some time.
Would love to upgrade to all the new tech. But dropped into the Verizon store yesterday and the thing is just WAY too big! I’m not a big guy and it is totally not going to fit into my hand. And I can’t imagine my wife or kids being able to manage this thing. I’ve owned Pixels from 3 to 5 and have loved them. But the size of this thing means it’s going to be the first Pixel upgrade I’m going to pass by.
the only reason a 1+ fan like myself would switch is because for some god knows why reason, 1+ is deviating from their OxygenOS… it was like the only good thing about the phones lol they always charge on par with other OEMs meanwhile hardware wise they suck so let’s see some more reviews on the Pixel and also what 1+ really is going to be doing then i’ll jump ship… i know the Android 12 beta on OxygenOS is out there but I’m still having this sliver of hope they’ll tweak it to not be OPPO lol
I love how butthurt people are by Android 12. Oh my God I could customize everything on 11. LOL.
Go checkout the comparisons of the P6, P6P, IP13P and SG21U on Input Magazine website. The P6 photo quality pretty much wins in all the samples.
100% agree with this article. Here are a couple of takeaways from my personal experience with the phone:
– At $599 it is a bargain. I’ve stuck with the “A” series Pixel previously because I simply cannot bring myself to spend $1000 on a phone that regardless of how high end it is, will be obsolete in just a few years. Plus, I always felt that Google previously was charging “high end” phone prices for a slightly less than high end phone (call it a “high midrange” phone) . In other words, there were always better phones available for the same price Google was charging. With the P6, it’s the complete opposite. Google is charging a “high midrange” price for a true high end phone. The P6 is the first “high end” Pixel phone that is worth the price IMHO.
– I guess I am lucky because I have had little to no issues with the fingerprint scanner. Of course it requires a “press and hold” motion (ie it is slower than most) and having the old reader on the back would be 100% better. #1 piece of advise is don’t put a screen protector on it right now until we know which ones work well and which ones don’t.
– I don’t understand all the Android 12 hate that I see. I’ve seen social media posts where people would buy a P6 “if it only had Android 11 instead of 12” – but 12 is a deal breaker for them. Really? 12 is obviously different than 11, but it’s mostly cosmetic (again the article did a great job talking about this issue). What few bugs there are will most certainly be fixed over time.
– The phone definitely needs a case. It’s so slippery that not only will it slide off any surface that isn’t perfectly flat, but I’m actually worried that it will slip out of my hand when I am holding it up to my ear on a call.
– I love taking photos and have had Pixels because of their cameras. The P6 camera is everything I expect from Google and the new features are great. The fact that Google has already matched the performance of the old chip (that they have tweaked on for years) is a big win IMHO. The new chip isn’t a generational jump in performance over the old chip yet, but I believe Google will continue to tweak the software for the new sensor chip and the performance will get better over time. Think how far the performance of the old chip came over the years it was in service.
– I am 100% satisfied with my purchase and would buy it again. The P6 Pro is better than the P6, but the extra features aren’t worth the 50% increase in price that Google is asking IMHO – even if you could find it in stock. (But again, I am loath to spend that kind of money on a phone).
I haven’t gotten the Pixel 6 yet to give it a test, but I will always take video/picture that has more grey than black. You can’t get grey back when the original is pure black. On the other hand, boosting the contrast can alway give you a more vivid output.
For me its issue is the size.
The S21, iPhone 13 mini and Pro, and soon coming S22, are all smaller, are just as good with the camera, have great screens, and their battery is on par or better.
Is it a great phone? Yeah.
Is it worth being so huge and slippery and hard to hold that you NEED to make it larger with a case to use it? To me NO.
I’d rather have a smaller phone that’s NOT compromised in any way, and easier to handle/hold. I was hoping that this would bring me back from iPhone to Pixel again (loved my 3XL), but its size is just detrimental for me and the primary reason I’m returning it.
My 6 order had been saying it would arrive 11/3-11/4. Just checked this morning and it says 11/17-11/18. Woof.
Just going off the reviews (including Tim’s) but it’s hard for me to get into a phone with an annoying print reader. Because you use it so much, if it’s an annoyance it seems to me it likely would be a major one. Like having a car that’s great except that the driver’s seat is uncomfortable, or some other tortured metaphor. Seriously, I have to think this is a deal breaker for me, alas.
It’s not an issue, fingerprint reader works fine on my P6P, key is to scan your finger properly covering different areas and when you unlock you should press little (instead of touch).
It works more than 90% of time for me.
Ok thanks Tim, that’s helpful. I can’t say I’m not still concerned (other reviews were more bearish than you on the P6 print reader) but 90% is about the minimum that it wouldn’t drive me nuts so that should be doable. Appreciate it.
Check below video for FP sensor functioning:
https://youtu.be/icjYWMJ41wk?t=462
That’s how it works for me as well.
Ok. But on the 5 I literally just have to move my finger across the print sensor. Don’t have to worry about pressing vs. touch. Or something that fails 10% of the time.
The Pixel 6 Pro in display works much better than my previous Samsung phones in display fingerprint reader.
Read the Tom’s review and the screen is not as bright as others , the battery life is hours shorter than brand S/A and the fingerprint reader is trash.
Amazon has it for $1600+ I’ll pass.
Brand S also charges way faster.
Excellent review. Those images look like they were shot with a Zeiss Otus lens. They have a unique pop to them…
Thanks for the review. I’m going with the 6 in green, but wondering if i should wait for the 256 to be back in stock.
How much space did the OS occupy?
The camera on my Note 5 six years later STILL looks as good or better than these cameras , esp. night shots. It is just stellar.
https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o7TKVfu4rwyscasla/giphy.gif
This coming from someone who’s had the Note 3-10+ (current). Even if you would’ve said the Note 7, which I STILL believe would’ve been the 2016 POTY over the 1st Pixel, I would’ve said yea right.
Any thoughts on the lack of DAC Tim? ????????
Only 4 hours of screen on time with only 30% left at the end of the day? Unless that included a decent amount of gaming and was on 5G the entire time that’s really disappointing.
Has anyone noticed that on Google Duo calls, The video quality seems a bit grainy and not clear? This happens whether on wifi or network. I came from Samsung note 10+ where the duo calls were clear. Has pixel front cameras always done this? I have the P6P btw.
Yall this phone is so good. It made me switch carriers today and I do not regret it one bit T-Mobile Tried me with that delayed shit taking ship on Nov 12/18 but Verizon wasn’t playing they even had the sunny color, which is the one I wanted I had to do the switch and this phone is everything 100% recommended getting the pixel 6 pro frfr
Wait wait wait – I seem to remember that when the HUGE Galaxy note first came out out years ago, Kellen was not a fan of huge phones and Tim was all about the hugeness. My have turns tabled…
I got my pro today and while at work, got it setup. The fingerprint scanner takes a little getting used to, coming from the 4XL’s face unlock, but otherwise…Just wow.
Smooth as glass and fast too. I took it straight out of the box and was messing with it at work nearly my entire shift, and even after setup, downloading apps, playing videos and games, I come home tonight with 46%. I dare say that when it learns my routine, this will outlast my 4XL.
Can’t wait to take some Halloween pics either! This camera’s zoom is beautiful and I really like the .7 zoom to capture more without doing a wonky pano shot.
Here’s to feeling this excited after a month.
Well beating the Pixel 4 XL in battery life isn’t much of an accomplishment.
After it learns your routine? Are you still falling for the ridiculous claim that the adaptive battery “feature” actually does anything? In the last several years that adaptive battery “feature” has been the biggest joke of Android.
I bought a Pixel 5 the day it went on sale(it replaced my Pixel 2 XL). With the Pixel 6 Pro I decided to wait for battery life reviews due to what the hardware specs were. I’m glad I waited. I saved myself the time, hassle and restocking fee of having to return it. Even worse battery life than my Pixel 5. Maybe the Pixel 7 will have good battery life. I hate iOS and I’m considering an iPhone 13 Pro Max because of the amazing battery life. That’s how sick I am of garbage battery life.
I never had a problem with my 4XL on battery, just it was limited in size. I could easily get 3 to 4 hours of screen in and not have to worry about a charger.
With the 6 pro being larger, I expect that it will last longer. Today my phone has been off the charger for nearly 12 hours and I’m sure I’ve put in around 1.5 screen time; it’s at 72%
Now, if you don’t believe adaptive battery works, that’s on you, some phones may indeed run better without it, but just because you’ve had bad experiences doesn’t mean that everyone will, nor that my good experiences shadow everyone else.
But if you’re just going to hate on a product without even trying it, then perhaps IOS is what you need.
Poor battery life on the Pixel 4 XL was a common complaint people had. Getting 3-4 hours screen on time isn’t very good. In fact, I’d call that pretty bad. It’s just ok for most days but there are days when it isn’t even close. I don’t want to have to carry a portable battery and USB cable in my pocket just to make it through one long day away from a charge.
I have a Pixel 5 and previously had a Pixel 2 XL. On both phones I have tried adaptive battery on and off. I’ve turned it off for a few weeks, turned it back on for a few weeks. Did it on both phones. Battery life wasn’t better with it on or off. It literally had zero impact.
iOS is what I need? LOL. Nope, can’t stand iOS. I’ll be sticking with my Pixel 5 and hoping for something better from the Pixel 7. I’m not hating on the Pixel 6 Pro overall. Overall I like it and really wanted one but having worse battery life than my Pixel 5 (which is already mediocre) is just too much of a deal breaker.
I am trying to decide if I should return my 6 Pro for the regular 6. It’s too big for me and I’m just not a fan of the waterfall screen. Not that the 6 is that much smaller, but I think I’d enjoy it more with the flat screen. Everything else is absolutely what I was hoping for.
Once you put a case on p6p you don’t even feel the curve.
P6P feels heavy/thick for the size, the design isn’t as good as p6p. Holding the phone feel is a lot better with p6p.
To save you the hassle of returning your phone and waiting to get your new phone I will swap with you. Easy Peasy.
I’ll even throw in a Dbrand Grip case.
P.S. I will arrange all the shipping.
Bruh, all this talk about the fingerprint reader would make you think it is the absolute worst thing to ever happen to a phone in recent memory. Spoiler alert: It’s really not. I messed around with my friends P6 last night and like, yeah, if I just tapped it quick and went it would be hit or miss, but if I just held my thumb or index finger on it for one whole ass second it registered every single time.
Like, I know unlocking a phone is the thing we do the most with our phones, so I get it, I see why some people are freaking about a task that’s done repetitively over and over, but the way some people are lambasting it you would think the damn thing took all their money and pre-ordered a Saygus V2 or something…
fingerprint reader works fine on my P6P, key is to scan your finger properly covering different areas and when you unlock you should press little (instead of touch).
It works more than 90% of time for me.
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but the fingerprint reader for me is working flawlessly. Not one hiccup. I only use my left thumb. Has worked 100 percent of every unlock instantly.
And yes I’ve owned most other phones “except Pixels”.
So I really don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
I also read that you can’t use Assistant by swiping from the bottom corners and you certainly can if you turn it on.
Mine is more reliable than my OP 7 Pro was. I’ve got time to wait a second before my phone unlocks. It would take me a few tries on the 7 pro, and I would sometimes give up and use my pin instead. Priorities.
Yeah, I’m sorry, but it’s just ergonomically a mess. At least for me. When I pick up my phone my thumb is on the side and my fingers wrap around it. That’s what makes the 5’s fingerprint sensor so flawless–your fingers are already back there. But this thing forces you into a contortion to get a finger on the screen (which also smudges the screen) or forces you into using two hands (which is also true because of its size) so one hand holds the phone and the other smudges the screen. I guess it’s easier and cheaper to include a fingerprint sensor in the software as opposed to proving a more ergonomic hardware solution. Just adds to my frustration with this development.
Me: Google hurry up and take my money –
Google: Ok, but having a cluster f*** go at it….
Me: Seriously G, it took you 4.5hrs to take my money??
Google: Shiiit, didn’t anticipate all the leaks will cause a high demand but thanks finally got ya money.
Me: Nice, so when should I expect my phone?
Google: Properly Snail mailed that shit…probably should have shipped priority but hey at least we didn’t cancel your order with no explanation
Me: Seriously G?
Google: Yup, if it ain’t a cluster F**k release…we ain’t Google
Based on price and specs only I don’t know of any other phone that deserves POTY other than this one.
Just got a ship notification for my white p6p 256gb FINALLY…but the shipping is via ONTRAC!!!??? Dafuq? And that’s directly from Google.
Guess I better start letting my neighbors know to be on the look out for it.
I think you will enjoy it.
I picked up the smaller 6 to hold me over till I could get the pro because I didn’t want to wait till January.
But I am not sure I’ll need to get the pro since this one is Amazing. We will see.
After two year pixel 6 pro will be great second hand deal. ????
The money you’ll be saving after two years is not worth of loosing the value you get from using the phone for two years.
Got my pro earlier and am loving it. Still trying get used to the size coming from a 4. Curve edges haven’t bothered me yet so I guess it isn’t as curved as last one I used. Flat of course woulda been better.
I have the Pixel 6. I love it. I cannot get over how quick and snappy it is. The voice commands are insane. I never thought my S21 was slow but now it seems sluggish. Highly recommended.
Did anyone really expect pixel-life to give a bad review on a google phone?
Does the rear-hump hinder wireless charging with 3rd party, qi chargers?
For the 3 people who liked this, assuming you’re still trying to figure this out like I am… here’s what I found out after I broke down and bought a Pixel 6…
I can attest that the amount of rise it gets because of its camera hump does not not hinder it from being wirelessly charged.
Looks like Qi charging works from at least a 0.1″-0.25″ distance (based on my very unscientific and anecdotal testing).
I was lucky enough to pick up both phones and have them both in hand to try out. I was not looking forward to the size change from the 5 at all!! I feel like I’m going crazy, but the 6 feels like a brick in my hand, and the Pro feels lighter and much easier to hold. I’ve tried them both with the Spigen Liquid air, and the 6 just feels like a tank in my hand for some reason.
Honestly I don’t really think there’s that much difference between 90Hz and 120Hz. I keep my phone at 96Hz max. Absolutely agree with your comments about the rear fpr, flat display, and color choices. OEMs should just offer all the colorways for every model.
I really wished coral was with 256 but I guess I’ll go black or suck it up I rarely use up 125gbs
Pixel 6 = POTY.
Not really a close call.
POTY? Phone of the year? With battery life that poor? Even my Pixel 5 gets better battery life and by no means would I call the Pixel 5 battery life “good”.
I just went 36 hours on my Pixel 5 with ~8.5 hours SoT after updating it to Android 12. But this was about par for what I’ve been getting since I got it too. I would definitely classify that as “good” at minimum and it far exceeds what I require at least (I just like to do a full drain test occasionally). But the P6 phones definitely do seem like a downgrade from it from the reviews I’ve seen, which is surprising considering their battery capacities, so I’m hoping it’s a software issue that can be improved on with an update.
I’m curious what you used to determine your battery life on you Pixel 5 after installing Android 12. The battery usage has changed to show “last 24 hours” instead of “since last charge”. I find it to be totally useless now.
I’ve been using GSam since I updated to Android 12. I’m getting about the same battery life on Android 12 as I did on Android 11. I get about 24 hours with about 7.5 hours screen on time. However, that’s being on wifi the entire time doing low battery intensive things like browsing, texting, email, a little social media, etc. No music, no video, no Bluetooth headphones, no camera use, no GPS. Doing a mix of those things on wifi gets somewhat less (as I would expect) but being on mobile(not even 5G, just LTE) data drains the battery almost twice as fast. Just for example, watching Netflix for 1 hour over wifi drains my Pixel 5 12%. Doing the same on LTE drains 20%. I’m in a pretty good service area.
Perfect timing literally just ordered both today for pickup today (At Best Buy…you don’t have to wait until January). I’m not really sure which one I want but I’m heavily leaning to the smaller.
I’ve had 1, 2, 3 & 4XL; now 6P. Always found rear finger sensor unreliable; adored 4XL face sensor; found the front finger sensor (actually thumb) totally reliable so far.
I had a Pixel 2 XL and now have a Pixel 5. I rarely ever have an issue with it. I’ve tried the face unlock on the Pixel 4 XL and it sucked in direct sunlight or when wearing sunglasses or a hat/hood. I don’t have any experience with the under the screen fingerprint sensor but my dad has a S20 FE that has an under the screen fingerprint sensor and he HATES it.
What? Rear finger print was the fastest and always worked. This new one isn’t bad but the rear was infinitely better.
I think the Pixel 6 should win the POTY award. That said, I’m getting the Pixel 6 Pro. Mostly for that zoom camera. $599 is just insane for that nonPro. To be honest, they should’ve called these the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Fan Edition. Nobody would complain about the compromises anymore, since that’s implied in the name “Fan Edition”, thanks to Samsung. (And I’m saying this as somebody who had and really liked the S20 FE.)
No compromises? LOL There are several. Especially battery life.
Not so sure if 4 hours of SOT from a 4600mah battery is all that… that’s actually pretty bad, especially with a 1080p display.
… with 30% battery left?
I’ve had my Pixel 6 pro for a day now…believe the hype. I fucking love this phone.
Ditto!
You must not have used a phone with better screen, the screen on P6P is below average, poor blacks and color salutation levels, brightness is also dim compared to completion. On the plus side software is super smooth, Camera is also very good.
Build quality – S21U – 9, 13ProMax – 8.5, P6P – 8
Screen – S21U – 9, 13ProMax – 8.5, P6P – 7.5
Camera – 13ProMax – 9, P6P – 8.5. S21U – 8
Software – P6P – 9, S21U – 8
Battery – TBD
Poor display is deal breaker to me, my P6P 512GB most likely going back.
Color greetings???
LOL that must be why the P6P is selling for $2000 right now on Ebay!
It CAN’T possibly be because it is the POTY! Could it?
Meanwhile, calm down and just adjust the display to your liking in settings!
It’s ridiculous how one has so many downvotes simply for voicing their opinion. Just based on the amount of time I played with the P6P at B², I actually agree with you.
Poor color saturation? Is it WAY oversaturated like Samsung phones? Every Samsung phone I try has unrealistically high color saturation no matter how I tweak the settings.
Price – P6P – $900, S21U & 13ProMax – $1200
Yeah I’m loving mine as well. I just need a case because it’s so slippery.
I hope they come out with a bumper case for this.
All my pixels have had bumper cases which protect the phone excellently, and also when you set it down the bumper sticks up high enough so the bump on the camera doesn’t matter. And you don’t need a giant bulky case.
BEEN WAITING SOMEWHAT PATIENTLY FOR THIS. Thanks, Tim.