Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro revisited – (after the January 2022 firmware update)

The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are two of the most significant phones of 2021. It is fitting that we revisit them both since their launch in October 2021.

Why? Well, two reasons. First, they are up there with the best, yet they did not receive the review scores they deserved at launch due to numerous early firmware issues.

Second, since then, the firmware updates (December and January full of critical fixes) have addressed many of the known bugs, so we wanted to rerun many of 70+ tests to see if the results were very different. Most are – in a positive way, and some are not.

So forget what you may have read in past reviews – it is almost a completely different phone. Is it better? Google still has a lot of work to do and we are sure it will succeed!

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro sim and eSIM Model GB7N6 (G8VOU)

This is a combined review as apart from a $300 price difference, the primary differences are screen size (6.4″ 90Hz versus 6.7″ 120Hz), ram (8/12), rear camera (Pro has a periscope zoom), front camera (8/11.1MP) and battery (4614/5000). The Pro adds 5G mmWave support that has a long way to go before being usable here.

* Grey market – no Australian warranty

We issue a strong warning that you must buy a genuine model with Australian firmware, specifically models GB7N6 and G8VOU.

It is easy to identify the Australian version – under Settings, About Phone, Regulatory Labels, there is an Australian RCM C-tick mark. There is also an RCM C-Tick on the box. They use unique Australian 5G sub-6Ghz and 5G low-band frequencies and require local activation first.

If you buy grey market

Please read our guide Don’t buy a grey market phone.

Launch impression – very Google’esque

Our first impression at the October launch was “nice phones – shame about the bugs!” But we understood that these phones were vastly different to previous Pixels. And there may be bedding in issues. Why? Its Google Tensor System-on-a-Chip (SoC) needed widespread use to identify any problems, and Android 12 needed more work too. So we put the devices in the cupboard with a diary note to revisit them.

Today impression

Cute names, design cues and colours – Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam. These are big phones at 207/210g (OPPO Find X3 Pro 193g and Galaxy S21 Ulta 229g). A prominent landscape camera bar houses a dual-LED flash and LDAF (laser detect auto-focus) sensor. When placed on a table, it does not rock and has raised edges to protect the lenses.

The Pixel 6 has flat front glass and a matt alloy frame, and the 6 Pro has 3D Edge glass and a polished alloy frame.

We will indicate 6 Pro differences in (brackets); if there is nothing, they are the same.

Screens

While our tests confirmed most specs, the Pro is noticeably brighter and more colour pure due to its use of LTPO OLED. But other brand flagships have 1.07 billion colour capability, so it is not class-leading. It also does not fully support Wide Colour Gamut – it is not 100% DCI-P3.

Processor – A tense moment for Tensor

The Google-designed Tensor Chip is based on a Samsung Exynos 2100 (the same as the Galaxy S21 series) using Samsung’s Exynos 5123 modem. It is heavily optimised for Google’s AI and ML (artificial intelligence and machine learning) mobile applications. These include speech recognition, language translations, computational photography, power efficiency, security and Google’s claim of up to 80% faster than Pixel 5.

The external storage (SSD or USB) will not return a test result. This means it cannot be mounted as live storage, only for content moved from internal storage. If this is the case, it is useless to videographers and vLoggers.

CPU Throttle

The original throttle tests were unsatisfactory, and we suspect the new lower Geekbench scores are for better thermal management. The Pixel 6 had 20%-32% throttling, and the 6 Pro from 29-45%.

Google has addressed throttling (by slowing down the SoC), but it is still at the upper end of the scale for a premium device. The OPPO Find X3 Pro (SD888) is 245,858/240,499/228,156 GIPS with 0% throttling and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Exynos 2100) is 209,431/210,472/178,435 and 5% Throttling.

Comms – Wi-Fi 6E is fast with the right router

While the results are relatively similar to launch (allowing for atmospheric variances), the poor result reflects the Samsung 5123 5G Modem (used in Samsung phones with the Exynos 2100 SoC). It simply does not have the same antenna signal strength as Qualcomm X55 and X60 modems. For example, the OPPO Find X3 Pro with the Qualcomm SD888 is for the city, suburbs, regional, and rural use.

Battery life is down

We reran the most important tests, and there was a significant difference – this time, not in the right direction. PC Mark Work 3 is a reasonable indication of a mix of general use. The Pixel 6 was down by three hours and the 6 Pro by four hours. We ran the tests three times with the same results.

The bottom line is that battery life is nowhere near the 48-hour claim. However, that is made based on ‘testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and limited other default features in Extreme Battery Saver mode, which disables various features, including 5G’.

The maximum volume is a tad low but fit for purpose.

Sound quality

Note: Frequency response is from 20Hz to 20kHz

The sound signature verges on analytical (bass/mids recessed, treble boosted), which is crisp but overly harsh and unpleasant for most music. You can read more about How to tell if you have good music (sound signature is the key).

There is no EQ, pre-sets, or support for Dolby Atmos or other spatial music.

Build

I understand that Foxconn makes these. It also assembles the Apple iPhone. Build quality is excellent.

Android 12 – secure and upgradable

Google calls the Android 12 UI ‘Material You’, which is chock full of themes and styles. You can retain the old three-button navigation if you wish.

Several exciting features revolve around voice and translation. You can voice type (Hey Google, Type) and send a message. It can live translate from a foreign language (Live Caption) or a camera image. It has 55 offline and 104 online languages. Or it can be an interpreter between two languages both ways.

A new Privacy dashboard helps you identify what apps have permissions and control them. A security hub offers all device security tools in one place. Emergency settings determine a car crash and can send an SOS.

Missing

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro Camera

DXOMARK has tested the Google Pixel 6 (here132) and Google Pixel 6 Pro (here 135), and on the whole, we agree with their very technical methodology. It is only a few points behind the iPhone 13 Pro Max (137), similar to the OPPO Find X3 Pro (131 )and considerably up on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (121) and Google Pixel 5 (120). We suggest reading the DXO Tests only if you are serious about buying the devices.

While both scored well, noise was evident in all shots and detail in low light was lacking. Again we concur, and the firmware updates have addressed this to a degree.

Selfie *

Pixel 6: The standard selfie is 6MP (1836 x 3264), and the so-called wide selfie is 8.1MP (2464 x 3280). We are reasonably confident it is a Sony IMX219, 8.1MP, 1.12um.

Pixel 6 Pro: As far as we can find, there are no native 11.1MP, 1.22um camera sensors. Our diagnostic software shows it as an 8.3MP (2160 x 3840) image in 4:3 and 11.1MP (2880×3840) in 16:9 wide. We think it is a Sony IMX633 12.2MP, 1.22um with a crop to wide and standard selfie formats.

These sensors are not spectacular performers and must rely heavily on AI processing. In general, we found selfies to lack detail and were often out of focus if too close. When the shots were good, they were very good.

Laser Focus **

It uses an STVL53L1 Time-of-Flight (ToF), laser-ranging, miniature sensor with a range to 4m.

Laser focus shoots an infrared laser to calculate the distance between the object and the camera. It is very fast but has a maximum distance of four metres; then PDAF kicks in.

Google Pixel tools – AI processing

Daylight, outdoors (Google Pixel 6 on left and 6 Pro on right)

Macro

Neither has a dedicated macro mode but can focus down to 10cm.

Indoors Office Light (400 lumens)

Bokeh is done via AI – there is no depth sensor

Low light (room with less than 100 lumens)

Rear Video (both using the 50MP rear OIS sensor)

The camera app has a choice of video stabilisation: standard (light movement), locked (to the horizon), active (heavy movement) and cinematic pan (half speed).

Both shoot at 4K@60fps in locked mode (Electronic image stabilisation crops a full-frame image to keep the horizon stable) and below that in OIS (optical image stabilisation), which moves the lens.

I cannot fault the video in day and office light – lively colours, great definition and low noise. OIS is excellent, particularly at 1080p@60fps. Audio zoom (follows the focus point) is impressive

The Pixel 6 has a .7 wide-angle and 2x zoom, and the 6 Pro has an additional 4X zoom.

Front video

The Pixel 6 takes up to 1080p@60fps, and the video is stable with accurate colours. The 6 Pro takes 4K@30fps, but it is not as stable, and the colours are not as vibrant. Both have 4X zoom.

CyberShack’s view – The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are good phones that be even better

Forgive me, Google, but the repeat tests don’t lie. The SoC has slowed down; battery life is shorter, and overall performance with Wi-Fi and phone signal strength is down too.

CPU throttling will affect videographers and gamers. Being unable to record video to an external SSD will affect videographers and vLoggers. The speaker sound is average with no EQ and no aptX support. And it is a shame that the USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 is not enabled for ALT DP video/audio out, although that is probably to enforce some digital rights management laws.

And that is before the hundreds of reported issues are addressed. Google, you still have a lot of work to do.

Competition

The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are $999 and $1,299. No, they won’t beat the excellent Samsung Galaxy S21+ ($1549 and a new S22 coming in mid-February) and Ultra ($1849) or Cybershack’s best phone of 2021 – the OPPO Find X3 Pro with a new Find X4 Pro coming in February too.

Rating explanation

The good news is that Google Pixel offers a 2-year warranty, 3/5 years OS upgrades/updates.

But the Throttling, USB-C limited implementation, no charger and narrow range of BT codecs knocks some of the gloss off.

YouTube Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

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