Google Pixel 6 Pro in the test: a smartphone that makes my life easier

With the Pixel 6 Pro, Google has presented a high-end smartphone that aims to set new standards in terms of design, hardware and software. In order to achieve this, the decision was made years ago to develop its own processor - which now has to show what it can really do. In my test, I'll tell you whether the Pixel 6 Pro is convincing in everyday life.

Google Pixel 6 Pro in the test: conclusion

xiaomist rating: 8.9 / 10

Google's first really own Android smartphone is absolutely successful. What I like about the Pixel 6 Pro is the design, the high performance, the brilliant display, the versatile camera and the long battery life. It is also the first Android smartphone in which all the software and AI functions do not feel like they are attached, but are intuitively integrated into the system. You really get a real Google phone here .

In my opinion, the optical fingerprint sensor in the display and the loading speed are not up to date. The weight of the Pixel 6 Pro is also very high. In return, the price of 899 euros for the 128 GB model is absolutely fair.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro shows me that the current form factor of a smartphone works without any problems and that you don't have to reinvent the wheel. The further development of the market should go more towards software. Many of the new functions make my life easier . That's why I'm switching to the Pixel 6 Pro. Basically, there can be no better recommendation if you can otherwise choose from any other smartphone available.

Advantages:

Display performance Workmanship quality Material selection Cameras Battery life Software connectivity Price-performance ratio

Disadvantage:

Weight No power supply included

Google relies on the most modern display

So far, Google has always made compromises when it comes to the display of its smartphones. That ends with the Pixel 6 Pro. The most modern 6.7-inch panel works in this device. Google is one of the few manufacturers to install an LTPO OLED screen that works at up to 120 Hz and can actually use this high refresh rate with the full resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels.

LTPO stands for "Low-temperature polycrystalline silicon" and ensures that the refresh rate can vary between 10 and 120 Hz. This in turn reduces the energy requirement and thus increases the battery life.

So far, Samsung and Apple smartphones have been the spearhead when it comes to displays in smartphones. With the Pixel 6 Pro, Google is following suit and can easily keep up. The screen is pretty bright , it adapts well to the content and you never have the feeling that something is jerky or blurred. The software and variable refresh rate harmonize nicely.

Google still needs to improve a little with the brightness sensor. It is sometimes quite hectic and changes the brightness much too jerkily . If you watch a movie in the dark in the evening and it suddenly becomes light in advertising, the display of the Pixel 6 Pro also becomes brighter immediately. That sucks in the long run.

In addition, I don't have the feeling that the smartphone is learning my brightness preferences. Means: That it remembers in which situations I prefer a lighter or darker setting. A future software update could help here.

In general, it should be noted that I received the test device of the Pixel 6 Pro in advance and two updates have already been installed . So Google keeps improving.

Optical fingerprint sensor is not optimal

This time, the fingerprint sensor is built into the display and works optically. This means that the area of ​​the sensor is illuminated to the maximum in order to be able to scan the fingerprint. This often creates an unpleasant surprise, especially in the dark .

Samsung relies on an ultrasonic sensor that not only works more precisely, but does not have this disadvantage. Basically, the fingerprint sensor works well, only the technology in such a high-end smartphone seems a bit outdated.

A design that attracts attention

The front of the Pixel 6 Pro looks rather unspectacular . You get a large display with a punch-hole camera and slightly rounded edges. It could also be a Samsung or OnePlus smartphone. So this is nothing special.

But the back is tough. Each model is two-tone and you have this thick camera bar in the upper area . The Pixel 6 Pro is one of those smartphones that look weird in the press photos, but so much better in real life.

My test device comes in the color "Sorta Sunny", which has a golden frame in the direction of a noble smartphone. Personally, I like "Cloudy White" best. Alternatively, there is the classic "Stormy Black".

The thick camera bar actually serves a purpose for me. If I hold the cell phone in just one hand, I can lean my index finger on it and thus provide more stability. The disadvantage, however, is that dust quickly collects there. But you can hardly see that in the light versions

Basically, you have to say that the design of the Google Pixel 6 Pro is eye-catching - and that's a good thing. After all, it is not a run-of-the-mill smartphone that is easy to mix up. This is a pixel phone from Google and you should see that too.

Basically, however, Google also forces you to get a case. The back is so smooth that it has even slipped out of my hand once . Fortunately only on the couch. After that, I preferred to put on the silicone case that Google provided us with. Unfortunately, this makes the smartphone even bigger and heavier.

Tensor processor heralds a new era

For years, Google has been using Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors in its smartphones. In the Pixel 6 Pro, however, a tensor chip specially developed by Google works, which is primarily optimized for artificial intelligence .

The idea of ​​developing a dedicated processor for the Pixel cell phone was born back in 2016 in order to be able to make optimal use of one's own services and AI functions without negatively affecting the battery life and performance of the smartphone in normal operation . The time had come in 2021.

Only with the new processor is everything possible, which I will show you in the following points with the software and camera. Since Google can perfectly coordinate the hardware and software this time, everything looks like it is from a single source and really works.

Google took the biggest step in software with the Pixel 6 Pro. Android 12 serves as the basis, but many features have been integrated that only work on the new Pixel phones. In the end, this means that even if you install Android 12 on a Pixel 5, you won't get all the innovations because the tensor chip is missing.

Google magic in software

Basically, I have to say that the Pixel 6 Pro runs absolutely smoothly in every situation . This is particularly noticeable when you use Google services such as voice input. There I immediately notice a big leap in recognition accuracy.

Even if I don't speak very clearly, the smartphone is very likely to recognize what I'm saying. Otherwise, I never like to use voice input because I always have to make improvements. This has become a lot less with the Pixel 6 Pro.

This is of course particularly noticeable in messengers or in the new recorder app with transcript function . Notes can be taken and searched much more reliably. Voice input also copes better with German spelling. Commas or other punctuation marks are set automatically. It's not perfect, but you can feel a huge jump.

In addition, the Pixel 6 Pro knows when I say send or delete that I mean a command and don't want it to appear in the text. The same applies, for example, when I say ice cream emoji. Then the ice cream emoji will be inserted automatically. It all works offline too , which is even more impressive.

The translation function on the Pixel 6 Pro is also very powerful. With live translation , you can basically translate anything you want. I communicate often and with pleasure with my cousin from Poland. Of course she writes to me in Polish. I can speak Polish, but I can only read and write very poorly. I came to Germany when I was two and never went to school there. Accordingly, I usually copy your text into Google Translate and have it translated into German there.

With live translation, this step is no longer necessary because the smartphone recognizes the foreign language and simply translates it directly. So I immediately see the German translation. The Gboard keyboard now also has an integrated translator function . So I write in German and the Polish text automatically appears in Messenger. It's so incredibly practical and intuitive.

The Pixel 6 Pro can also become a real interpreter . The following video shows this impressive feature:

The "Call Screening" function with which the Google Assistant answers the phone for you is also extremely interesting . This function can actually be used in Germany. If an unknown number calls, the smartphone first checks whether it is a spam call.

For this purpose, a corresponding database is queried in the background. If this is not the case, the Google Assistant can answer the phone for you and ask what the caller wants. You see the answer as a transcript in the phone app and can then decide whether you want to answer the phone or not. If it is an advertising call, it can be marked as spam directly.

The caller then speaks in the familiar voice of the Google Assistant and is informed that you cannot answer the phone yourself. Therefore one should state the name and the reason for the call. Actually works and works almost like magic.

Android 12 itself of course offers many other innovations. The design in particular has been changed significantly and can be customized much more. You can either let the system do it, which is based on the background image, or let off steam yourself.

The Titan M2 chip ensures more security and you are kept up to date on data protection in the privacy dashboard. Google is trying to create a little more trust with it.

According to Google's new update guarantee, the Pixel 6 Pro will get three major OS updates and thus at least Android 13, 14 and 15 by 2024. Security updates are two years longer, so you can still use the smartphone without any problems after the three OS updates can still be used. We actually expected a little more, after all, Google now has its own processor. In the past, missing OS updates were often due to the processor manufacturers.

New camera is much more versatile

The software also plays a very important role in the camera. This time, Google isn't relying on that alone. Instead, a new 50 MP main sensor has been installed, which is much larger and captures more light.

There is also a super wide angle and a telephoto lens with fourfold optical magnification, whereby a maximum of 20x magnification is achieved with the "super resolution zoom". However, the image quality suffers significantly. The main sensor and the telephoto lens are optically image stabilized.

Basically, with the Pixel 6 Pro, Google is introducing many significant improvements that offer real added value for photos.

Motion mode makes photos more dynamic and in motion. The Google camera takes several pictures at the same time and recognizes which areas should move and which shouldn't. A special image is then generated from this. Below is an example with and without Google's motion mode:

The sharpener, on the other hand, ensures that you have to delete fewer photos. If you photograph a child in motion and the face is captured out of focus, Google makes the photo usable by sharpening it. Works well on humans, less so on animals, as Google itself says. The video from Google best demonstrates this feature:

But my personal highlight is the magic eraser . It is often the case that you want to take a photo in a great place and someone walks into the picture and messes up the moment. That's exactly what you don't have to worry about with the Pixel 6 Pro. The magic eraser simply removes everything you don't want in the photo and simply recreates the rest.

Depending on the background, this works very well. In some situations where it becomes too detailed, however, you have to expect compromises. Below is an example:

Otherwise, the Pixel 6 Pro can of course also take normal photos . And here the change to the new main sensor has really paid off. I've used the Pixel 5 for several months and I like the Pixel 6 Pro's camera a lot better.

Google changed the color profile a bit . While you got very natural photos with the Pixel 5 that looked too flat in terms of color intensity, in my opinion the colors of the Pixel 6 Pro appear a bit more voluminous and stronger. It's still a world of difference to Samsung smartphones, but I like it. Below are some photos in various situations:

Google promises new features

Now that Google specifies the hardware and can perfectly adapt the software, there should be so-called "feature drops" every few months. So you don't have to wait until Android 13 for new functions. The beta tests will continue in December and you can always look forward to new functions over time.

Convincing battery life, less charging speed

The expectations for the runtime of the Pixel 6 Pro were of course high. Large battery with 5,000 mAh , new processor and an LTPO display, both of which should be very economical. In fact, I was not disappointed. The new Google cell phone lasted the whole day without any problems, the display-on time was always around 7 to 7.5 hours for me.

But I think it's a shame that I can't reduce the resolution of the display. I don't really need QHD +. Perhaps a little more could have been possible with FHD +. Google is welcome to submit this option later to give me a little more control over the smartphone.

Unfortunately, the Pixel 6 Pro takes a long time to recharge. A maximum of 30 watts is possible via cable, only 12 watts wirelessly. The competition is much further ahead. Xiaomi charges its 650 euro smartphone Mi 11T Pro with 120 watts in minutes. And there the special power supply is even included free of charge. Google, on the other hand, only adds a cable. You have to own a power supply unit or buy it separately.

Google Pixel 6 Pro or Pixel 6?

Now, of course, the question arises whether you should go for the Pixel 6 or the Pixel 6 Pro. I actually have both of them lying here and have a clear opinion. For me, only the Pixel 6 Pro is an option for the following reasons:

Size and weight: The Pixel 6 has a smaller display with 6.4 instead of 6.7 inches, but the cell phone itself is only slightly smaller and hardly lighter. I even find the Pixel 6 to be clunkier with its angular design. With the Pixel 6 Pro, the proportions fit better. Battery life: Although the Pixel 6 "only" has a 90 Hz display and FHD + resolution, the battery life is basically almost the same. Sure, the battery is smaller, but I would have expected a little more. However, no LTPO display is used either. Camera: The Pixel 6 lacks the zoom camera. Accordingly, you can only zoom digitally. I just don't want to do without the real zoom of the Pixel 6 Pro.

But the price speaks for the Pixel 6. 649 euros is not much when you consider that you can get all the Google magic here too. Everything that has to do with the software is also available here. Just like the tensor chip. If you don't mind the more angular design with thicker edges around the screen, you can get one of the best Android smartphones for the price .

Both smartphones are not perfect. I wish Google would build a Pixel smartphone with the same design and features as the Pixel 6 Pro, but with a 6- to 6.2-inch display that is smaller and weighs a maximum of 180 grams. Maybe next year.

Ratings in detail

Category Rating (max. 10) Processing, haptics and design 8 Display 10 cameras 10 Software 9 Performance 10 Telephony and audio 8 Memory 8 Battery and everyday life 8 Overall 8.9