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Google has announced two new flagships quite recently, and we’ve reviewed both of them at this point. In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro, the best Google has to offer at the moment. These two smartphones are actually quite similar in a low of ways, though there are some differences worth noting. The Pixel 6 Pro is also considerably more expensive than the Pixel 6, so it will be interesting to see if the price difference is worth it, though that’s a conclusion you’ll have to come to by yourself.
In this article, we’ll compare the two phones across a number of categories, including design, display, performance, battery, cameras, and audio. We’ll kick things off by listing their specifications, though, as per usual. That being said, let’s kick off this Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro comparison, shall we.
Specs
| Google Pixel 6 | Google Pixel 6 Pro | |
| Screen size | 6.4-inch fullHD+ AMOLED flat display (90Hz) | 6.71-inch QHD+ AMOLED curved display (120Hz refresh rate, LTPO) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3120 x 1440 |
| SoC | Google Tensor | Google Tensor |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 12GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB, non-expandable | 128GB/256GB/512GB, non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 26mm lens, omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, Laser AF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 114-degree FoV) |
50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 26mm lens, omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, Laser AF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 114-degree FoV) 48MP (f/3.5 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, PDAF, 114-degree FoV, 4x optical zoom) |
| Front cameras | 8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.12um pixel size) | 11.1MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 20mm lens) |
| Battery | 4,614mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, 21W wireless charging | 5,003mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, 23W wireless charging |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm |
| Weight | 207 grams | 210 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12 |
| Price | $599 | $899 |
| Buy |
Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Design
Both the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are made out of metal and glass. Contrary to what most outlets and reviewers have been reporting, the Pixel 6 Pro does not offer a stainless steel frame. Both devices come with an aluminum frame, and a glass backplate. That does make sense considering there is no significant difference in their weight despite the fact they’re similar in regards to side. If Google used stainless steel on the Pixel 6 Pro, the phone would be considerably heavier.
In any case, differentiating between two devices is really simple, as the Pixel 6 has a flat display. It also has thicker bezels than the ‘Pro’ model, and that is easily noticeable when you look at them. Both phones have a display camera hole which is centered at the top of the display. Their rear camera strips also look very similar, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s strip includes one extra camera in comparison, more on that later.
The two phones won’t wobble if you place them on a table, because of that camera strip, which is a good thing. You’re also getting a good place to put your index finger when you’re holding either device. Now, both phones are quite large, despite the difference in display size. They’re also quite hefty, as both weigh over 200 grams. You’ll have a different feeling while holding them, though, the in-hand feel is not the same, mainly due to different display curvature. Both phones are quite slippery, which is not surprising considering that they have a glass backplate. The Pixel 6 is a bit easier to use, but neither is great for one-hand usage, that’s for sure. Using a case may not be a bad idea on both accounts.
Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Display
The Google Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display. This is a 90Hz panel, and it supports HDR10+ content. This display offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus. The Pixel 6 includes a flat display. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is a different story. It includes a 6.71-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is an LTPO display, in other words, it supports adaptive refresh rate. HDR10+ content is also supported, and this panel is curved. It is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus as well, but it offers a different aspect ratio, 19.5:9.
Needless to say, the Pixel 6 Pro’s panel looks better on paper. In real life, however, there’s not much difference between them. Side-by-side, the Pixel 6 Pro does have an edge, but most people wouldn’t notice that. Its colors are a bit more accurate. Both displays can get fairly bright, and both are quite vivid, and offer great viewing angles. The difference between 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates on these two panels is not easy to see, which is great for those of you who want to get the cheaper handset. All in all, both of these displays are excellent, and you can’t go wrong with either one. The only question is, do you want a flat panel, or a curved one.
Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Performance
Both of these smartphones come with the same processor, the Google Tensor. This is Google’s very first mobile SoC, and it does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to machine learning, and various Google algorithms that are a part of the equation. That SoC is combined with 8GB of RAM inside the Pixel 6, and 12GB of RAM inside the Pixel 6 Pro. You won’t notice that RAM difference, though, unless you’re really into graphically intensive gaming. That is where the difference will be visible, and we presume that RAM is the reason why.
Other than that, the performance is identical. The two phones fly through anything you throw at them, and they don’t get hot while they do it. They can launch apps really quickly, and they’re also excellent when it comes to multitasking. Content consumption is also really good on both smartphones, while they both launch camera apps extremely fast. For everyday tasks, both phones are truly great.
They can both handle graphically intensive tasks as well, though, as already mentioned, the ‘Pro’ does have an edge when you really push them to their limits, which is something the vast majority of you will never do. If you’re planning on spending all that extra cash just for the extra RAM, you may want to think twice. The Pixel 6 is just as good as the Pixel 6 Pro in the performance department, the difference is negligible.
Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Battery
The Pixel 6 comes with a 4,614mAh battery, while the ‘Pro’ model includes a 5,003mAh unit. Those are fairly large battery packs, and neither phone disappoints when it comes to battery life. In fact, we can say they’re quite similar in that regard. The battery life is stellar, it’s safe to say. We’re getting around 9 hours of screen-on-time in a 24-hour period out of the Pixel 6, while the Pixel 6 Pro was at an 8-hour mark, approximately. Now, this is just an example taken from a couple of days, battery life varies, of course.
The point is, both phones offer stellar battery life. Unfortunately, we can no longer share battery life since the last full charge, as that’s a stat that Google got rid of. In stock Android 12, you can only get battery usage from the last 24 hours. If we counted only usage since the last charge, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro battery life would be even more impressive. It’s safe to say that both of these phones offer stellar battery life, amongst the best in the market.
In addition to such excellent battery life, both phones also offer fast charging. 22W fast wired charging is supported by both phones, though do note that you won’t get a charger in the box. This charging will get you to about 50-percent in half an hour, but it will take an extra hour and a half to get to 100%. The Pixel 6 also supports 21W wireless charging, while the ‘Pro’ model supports 23W wireless charging, with the Pixel Stand. They do support other Qi wireless charger, but will charge slower.
Google Pixel 6 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Cameras
These two phones have the same 50-megapixel main camera and lens, the same goes for a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera setup. The Pixel 6 Pro also has a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, which is not present on the Pixel 6. Photos captured with the main and ultrawide cameras are identical on both phones, needless to say, which is to be expected as both the hardware and software are the same. The Pixel 6 Pro does a noticeably better job with zoomed-in images thanks to its 4.4x optical zoom.
Are the images any good, though? The pictures are excellent. They offer an excellent dynamic range, plenty of details, great colors, and everything else you’d expect out of a Pixel smartphone. The ultrawide camera is also really good for capturing photos. In low light, both phones manage to see a lot of details, and balance everything nicely. These two devices are definitely contenders for the best smartphone cameras this year, at least for stills.
Video recording is much improved compared to the Pixel 5, but it’s still behind what iPhone flagships have to offer. Not by much, though, as Google is closing the gap here. The stabilization is excellent, and the content is also really, really good. Google could improve it further via updates, and machine learning, we’ll see. If you’d like to get more information on camera performance, check out our Pixel 6 and 6 Pro reviews.
Audio
So, both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have stereo speakers, and no headphone jack. Are those speakers any good, though? Yes, they are, but the sound they produce is not the same. The Pixel 6 Pro does offer better sound quality, even though the difference is not that significant. It simply sounds better, like it has a wider soundstage. The Pixel 6 is not far behind, though, so don’t get bothered by that.
You can choose to plug in your Type-C headphones here, Bluetooth headphones, or use a dongle to connect ones with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Regardless of what you do, if the headphones are good, you’ll get good sound output here. It’s nothing special, but also nothing to complain about, to be quite honest.