It lasted 13 hours and 58 minutes, which we can safely round up to 14 hours.
In our test, we continuously streamed a YouTube video at full brightness at the Pixel 6's native 1080p resolution. Still, an odd-looking blurry spot can be better than a stranger or an unwanted object.Īfter further testing, we've revised our findings on the Pixel 6's battery life. It's not perfect, however, as Magic Eraser can leave obvious editing traces. This feature even works with pictures in Google Photos that you took with other phones. It's incredibly accurate, and it can punctuate itself with me having to say "full stop" or "comma." It's so good and seamless that you might actually find voice dictation useful for a change.Īs for camera features, machine learning on the Tensor processor allows for impressive options like Magic Eraser that lets you remove undesirable objects or people from your photos. The phone's voice recognition is stunningly effective. Instead of striving for raw power, Google focused on optimizing Tensor for machine learning functions, like voice recognition and camera features The difference is so negligible that it doesn't explain the stuttery performance, which leads me to believe it's something else that's causing those stutters, but it's not clear what. The Tensor scored an average of 1,025 for single-core performance, and an average of 2,850 for multi-core, compared to the Galaxy S21's 1,098 / 3,259 score. On paper with our usual Geekbench 5 benchmark tests, Google's Tensor scored slightly lower than Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888. To compare, I didn't experience stuttery scrolling on any apps on Samsung's Galaxy S21 running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888. However, I got some jarring stuttery performance while scrolling on certain apps, namely Reddit and Twitter, but not Instagram, Amazon, or Chrome. In real-life usage, Google's Tensor processor is quick to open and run apps - things happen quickly on the Pixel 6 when you tap and navigate around. PerformanceĪndroid fans have been very curious to see how this new Pixel performs, as Google switched from traditional processors made by Qualcomm to its own processor called "Tensor." This may vary from person to person, though, as I've always had trouble with the accuracy of Samsung's in-display fingerprint sensors while they work fine for others. If you're upgrading from an older phone with a 60Hz screen, the Pixel 6 will look buttery smooth, even if it doesn't run at the full 120Hz that some other options offer.Ĭontrary to some reviews, I've been happy with the speed of the in-display fingerprint sensor used to unlock the phone. What is perceptible is the Pixel 6's 90Hz refresh rate compared to the standard 60Hz refresh rate from a couple years ago.
The 120Hz refresh rate on the more expensive Pixel 6 Pro and other high-end phones is somewhat smoother, but that benefit is hardly perceptible. Instead, the 1080p/90Hz display delivers a crisp and smooth experience, even on a screen as large as 6.4 inches. However, the Pixel 6's 1080p screen and 90Hz refresh rate don't degrade the experience whatsoever.
On premium phones, especially Android devices, many would expect a higher 1440p resolution and a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. There are two things that a potential buyer might deem questionable on a premium device like the Pixel 6: the 1080p resolution and the 90Hz refresh rate. Curved screen edges serve little purpose and actually negatively affect the way things look on the very edges of the screen, so I prefer the Pixel 6 in this regard. You'll also find slightly curved screen edges on the Pixel 6 Pro compared to the flat screen on the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6 also has larger bezels than the Pixel 6 Pro, but they're pretty similar in size to the iPhone 13 series. It's subjective, but I think the matte black edges look and feel better. It has the same overall look and feel of the Pixel 6 Pro, but instead of a shiny metal frame around the edges, the Pixel 6 has a frosted matte finish. In terms of looks and feel, the Pixel 6 has a unique appearance with its large camera bar on the back.
I know someone personally who was hoping to upgrade to the Pixel 6, but its large size puts them off. That's great for fans of large phones, but not so much for those who prefer mid-sized models that can be more comfortable for one-handed use. The standard Pixel 6 is the smallest of Google's latest lineup, but it's still huge - it's nearly as large as the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus.