A brand new Pixel
After last year's review of the Pixel 4A 5G, we've been keen to see how Google will next mix things up on the smartphone stage. It seems they haven't disappointed, dropping two new phones with a lot going on, both inside and out. We check out one of those, the google Pixel 6.
The Pixel 6 is a smartphone with 6.4 inch screen, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Google's big push for this new device is that it's the first ever "all Google" phone. That means it uses the Tensor chip, Google's custom-built smartphone brain, as opposed to using the likes of Snapdragon who make chip for pretty much everyone else. Because of this, Google promise a smoother, faster phone experience.
Well, first out of the box, the Pixel 6 certainly feels new. The body is wrapped in glass with pleasingly rounded edges, but with a starkly contrasting camera bulge on the back. raised across the entire width of the phone, it has straight-cut edges that actually feels somewhat unfinished and rush. However, beneath the black of the bulge you'll find a 50 MP main shooter, and a 16 MP wide angle.
The cameras were the main draw for us, as we had a great experience with the Pixel 4A 5G. True to form, Google doesn't disappoint, with cameras that pick up a wealth of detail, even in lower light. Once again, portrait mode on the Pixel is amazingly accurate, and it was a real pleasure to use. Of course, you might be hear having heard of another headline feature on the Pixel 6 - the ability to remove entire people and objects from phots with the press of a button. It's pretty great, and depending on the type of shot you have object you wish to remove, it works convincingly most of the time.
If photo cleverness doesn't float your boat, how about ruggedness? The Pixel 6 has an IP68 rating, making it perfect for wet and dusty conditions. The battery is also pleasingly robust, boasting a 4500 mAh capacity and fast charging to give you 50% in just 30 minutes. Oh, and obviously it has 5G.
As for Google's claim that the phone is quick, we honestly had no issues at all running multiple apps and downloads simultaneously. The Pixel 6 just seems like a powerful, reliable everyday driver, and we've yet to experience any crashes or lagging in performance. All that, and handled in 'pure' Android, which we definitely prefer. Clean lines, gesture navigation, and reminders that learn what you need to know and when.
All in all, this is a potential buy. certainly this represents a step-up for Google in terms of carving out their own territory in the smartphone landscape. But as mush as we loved using the Pixel 6, we couldn't help but be slightly underwhelmed. We had been expecting the pixel 6 to be something radically different, in terms of performance and design. Folding screens, revolutionary new camera tech... just something more. Instead, we got a very good... phone. It's phone.
Which is totally fair enough, and what the vast majority of us both want and need. But while the likes of Samsung are continuing to push boundaries with their Z Fold line, we can't help but feel a bit bored by the Pixel 6.
From £599
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