The Google Pixel 6 series comes in two models, the standard Pixel 6 and a more prominent and slightly better sibling, the Pixel 6 Pro. The duo is revolutionary in Google's Pixel series, marking the debut of Google's line of in-house mobile chips.
However, there's more to the Google Pixel 6 Series other than just the chip. Here are the best new features found on the Pixel 6 Series.
1. Google's In-House Chip
One thing that is exciting about Google's Pixel 6 series is the new AI-powered Tensor chip. The custom chip is Google's first in-house processor, marking the start of a new era.
The Tensor chip packs an 8-core CPU with two high-performance cores, two medium performance cores, and four efficiency cores. The CPU works in tandem with a Mali-G78 GPU found on a host of other Android smartphones.
And with the new chip comes performance improvements, and Google says it's nearly 80 percent faster than the Pixel 5. But Tensor is not merely about the performance numbers.
The Tensor chip also brings to the table new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities and an extra layer of security thanks to the built-in Titan M2 chip. Tensor promises more accurate speech recognition and at a lower power consumption than previous Pixel devices.
2. Updated Cameras and Bigger Sensors
The Pixel camera is, finally, receiving a massive upgrade. Whichever model you pick, Google has upgraded the cameras. According to Google, both include a 1/1.3 inch sensor that captures 150 percent more light relative to the Pixel 5's.
That alone should help the pair capture more details and colors accurately. There's also a new ultrawide sensor on the duo at the rear, and the selfie camera includes an ultrawide lens.
And thanks to Google's prowess in computational photography, new exciting features have been baked into the camera app, including Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Motion Mode.
The first new feature, Magic Eraser, allows you to remove unwanted objects and people in your images with a few taps. And if you struggle taking nice long exposure images, Motion Mode has your back. Motion Mode quickly adds motion to your images without going through all the trouble. And lastly, the appropriately named Face Unblur feature does exactly that.
On top of all this, Google says face detection is more accurate and faster on the Pixel 6 series. Put together, the Pixel 6 phones includes the most significant camera upgrade from Google since the Pixel 3. From that device onwards, Google has relied on the same 12.2-megapixel Sony IMX363 sensor. The radical change is certainly a giant leap forward.
3. Longer Software Support
Google Pixel 6 series is also setting a new standard for software support on Android. Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will receive at least three years of major platform updates plus five years of security updates.
This means that the Google Pixel 6 series will receive Android 15 and should continue receiving security updates until 2026.
Google's Pixel 6 update policy is a massive jump and has the potential to impact Android lifecycles significantly for years to come. At the moment, it's the best you can find on an Android smartphone.
It even beats Samsung's software update policy, which promises three OS updates and four years of security updates. If you place massive focus on longer software support and a clean Android experience, there's no better choice than the Pixel 6 series at the time of writing.
4. A Fresh and Original Design
The Pixel 6 series also features a whole new design. There's a centered hole punch on the front housing a selfie camera, and you'll find a camera bar at the rear. All of these are firsts on Google's Pixel line of smartphones.
The two give the new Pixels a new look relative to the Pixel 5. Individually, the camera bar is a design statement the company is making to distinguish its devices from other Android smartphones. Google has also packaged the Pixel 6 devices in new captivating colors.
5. Faster Charging Speeds
Other Android smartphone makers have always been at the forefront of fast charging technology, but Google was a holdout. That has changed on the Pixel 6 phones, with Google bumping up the charging speed to up to 30W, an increase from 18W.
According to Google, these speeds can take the device from 1% to 50% in about 30 minutes. Sure, it's still not the fastest charging rate out there, but that is a massive improvement for Pixel lovers.
6. Scratch-Resistant Display
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro include a larger display that gives you more room for watching videos and doing other mundane things. On top of the display is Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus which is twice as scratch-resistant as previous versions.
But, of course, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have some differences which you should check out before buying either.
7. A Bigger Battery
Low screen time has often been a deal-breaker with the Pixel series in the past, but both the Pixel 6 phones have bigger batteries and promise longer battery life in conjunction with the new Tensor chip.
The bigger battery capacity will certainly help increase screen time, and Google says the Pixel 6 series consumes half the power when focusing on objects to photograph relative to the Pixel 5.
The Hottest Features in the Pixel 6 Series
The Google Pixel 6 series is impressive in all crucial areas. Google has improved the cameras, battery, and display and wrapped the whole package in a fresh design. Plus, the duo runs on an entirely new chip that carries massive performance leaps and adds new capabilities to the Pixel 6.
The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro start at $599 and $899, respectively. If that's steep, Google has a new service, Pixel Pass, which allows you to get the latest devices plus an assortment of Google services at one monthly price.