Google announces the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with improved cameras and much more

Google has been releasing phones for many years now. And while the company has picked up plenty of love and attention from customers, the company’s efforts have not reached Apple-level sales. Some have said it’s because Google’s attempts haven’t reached the same heights as iPhones of the past. But if the argument wasn’t going high-end enough, Google appears ready to take on that claim with the Pixel 6 lineup.

On Tuesday, October 19, Google officially announced the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Now, if these phones look familiar to you, it’s because the company has not been shy about showing off the hardware. And since Android 12 technically launched some time ago (for developers and avid fans), the software running on the newest Google-branded smartphones is already a known quantity, too. What was still missing from the picture, and what Google showcased today, were the finalized specs and finer details –including the camera systems– for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

In addition to the new hardware and software (with Android 12 launching to the public out of AOSP today), Google also welcomed something it calls “Google Pass.” We’ll take a look at that in this post, too. But, without further delay, here are Google’s newest smartphones.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro

The flagship of the two new devices, the Pixel 6 Pro aims for the clouds — and not just in color choices. The Pixel 6 Pro is available in three hues, though: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, and Stormy Black. The phone’s display measures in at 6.7 inches, is a QHD+ panel with a 1440 x 3120 resolution, LTPO OLED, and features 512 pixels per inch. Google says it features what it calls “Smooth Display” with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, support for High Dynamic Range content, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, “high brightness mode,” and an always-on display which will show you what’s now playing and other relevant information from apps.

One of the standout elements of the new Google Pixel 6 Pro is the battery. The company says it has 24-hour+ battery life or up to a whopping 48 hours with Extreme Battery Safety switched on. I’ll let the company explain in its fine print:

For “24-hour”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Battery testing conducted using two major carrier networks using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “Up to 48 hours”: Maximum battery life based on testing using a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted using two major carrier networks. For both claims: Battery testing conducted by a third party in California in mid 2021 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 48 hour” claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

The battery also supports fast charging, with the ability to pick up about 50% battery life in just 30 minutes of charging. You’ll need Google’s 30W USB-C Charger with USB-PD 3.0 adapter, which is apparently sold separately. One imagines you could use a similar product from a different company to achieve the same results, but Google’s website doesn’t clarify. The Pixel 6 Pro is Qi-certified for wireless charging, supports fast wireless charging, and features “Battery Share” so you can charge smaller accessories on the back of the handset.

There is 12GB of RAM on board, and built-in storage options from 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. The handset is powered by Google’s own Tensor processor —which we’ve already detailed— and Google’s Titan M2 security chip, too.

Cameras

Now, to the cameras. Google showed off the power of the new cameras in its big event today, but the reviews will tell us how it really pans out. As for the specs themselves, there are three cameras on the back:

  • 50 MP Octa PD Quad Bayer wide camera
    • 1.2 μm pixel width
    • ƒ/1.85 aperture
    • 82-degree field of view
    • 1/1.31″ image sensor size
  • 48 MP telephoto camera
    • 0.8 μm pixel width
    • ƒ/3.5 aperture
    • 23.5-degree field of view
    • 1/2″ image sensor size
    • 4x optical zoom
    • Super Res Zoom with telephoto up to 20x
  • 12 MP ultrawide camera
    • 1.25 μm pixel width
    • ƒ/2.2 aperture
    • 114-degree field of view
    • Lens correction
  • LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor
  • Spectral and flicker sensor
  • OIS (optical image stabilization) on wide and telephoto
  • Fast camera launcher

Meanwhile, the front-facing camera is 11.1 megapixels, with an f/2.2 aperture, fixed focus, and 94-degree ultra wide field of view. The cameras are packed with features, including: Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, Real Tone, manual white balancing, locked folder, panorama, Portrait Mode, top shot, Super Res Zoom, and many others. The rear camera can shoot up to 4K video at either 30 fps or 60 fps, while the front-facing camera can record video up to 1080p HD at either 30 fps or 60 fps. There are also some video recording features packed in for good measure:

  • Cinematic Pan
  • Slo-mo video support up to 240 FPS
  • 4K Timelapse with stabilization
  • Astrophotography timelapse
  • Optical image stabilization
  • Fused video stabilization
  • 4K Cinematic Pan video stabilization
  • 4K Locked video stabilization
  • 1080p Active video stabilization
  • Digital zoom up to 20x
  • Video formats: HEVC (H.265) and AVC (H.264)

The rest

There is a USB-C port for wired charging. Stereo speakers and an under-display fingerprint sensor really round out the primary features.

Price

Finally, the real kicker. The Pixel 6 Pro has an aggressively set starting price point at just $899. Pre-orders start today, with device availability set for October 28, 2021.

Pixel 6

The Pixel 6 is the smaller sibling, and it comes with a few slightly tweaked features in comparison. However, the handset looks like the Pixel 6 Pro on the outside. You’ll get the same distinct camera bar on the back of the handset, and a few different color options: Sorta Seafoam and Kinda Coral. Stormy Black is also available. The differences really start with the display, though.

The screen in the Pixel 6 measures in at 6.4 inches, and it’s an FHD+ display with a 1080 x 2400 resolution. It’s still OLED, but it isn’t an LTPO panel like the Pixel 6 Pro. It does still offer a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and an always-on display to show relevant information at a glance. It’s refresh rate tops out at 90Hz with Smooth Display, and it has a 20:9 aspect ratio. And despite having a slightly smaller battery than the Pixel 6 Pro, Google is claiming the same battery life as the larger handset.

The Pixel 6 comes with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of built-in storage. It also has Google’s Tensor processor and the Titan M2 security processor.

Cameras

Instead of three cameras on the back, there are a pair on the Pixel 6:

  • 50 MP Octa PD Quad Bayer wide camera
    • 1.2 μm pixel width
    • ƒ/1.85 aperture
    • 82-degree field of view
    • 1/1.31″ image sensor size
    • Super Res Zoom up to 7x
  • 12 MP ultrawide camera
    • 1.25 μm pixel width
    • ƒ/2.2 aperture
    • 114-degree field of view
    • Lens correction
  • LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor
  • OIS (optical image stabilization)
  • Spectral and flicker sensor
  • Fast camera launcher

The front-facing camera is an 8-megapixel shooter with an f/2.0 aperture, fixed focus, and 82-degree wide field of view. Most, if not all, of the camera features present in the Pixel 6 Pro are also available with the Pixel 6. The rear camera can shoot up to 4K video at either 30 fps or 60 fps, while the front-facing camera can shoot up to 1080p HD video at either 30 fps or 60 fps.

The rest

There’s a USB-C port for wired charging and the Pixel 6 also features the under-display fingerprint reader.

Price

The Pixel 6 starts at $599, with pre-orders kicking off today. In-store availability at all major wireless carriers in the United States starts October 28, 2021.