Death, taxes, and Google’s new Pixel phones getting leaked. In what seems to be a typical fashion, Google’s launch event was the least surprising of all. It’s no longer an announcement, rather a confirmation of all the preceding leaks. Still, the Pixel 6 series remains among Google’s most ambitious attempts to date.
Featuring Google’s first in-house SoC and, finally, newer camera hardware, the Pixel 6 series is primed to be the best iteration of a Google Pixel phone, eclipsing the glorious Google Pixel 2 series. And for the first time ever, Google hasn’t shot itself in the foot with absurd pricing either. Still, there’s quite a substantial difference between the regular Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, $300 to be precise. With Google giving its larger-sized variant a Pro price tag, it’s quite natural people would assume it’s a better deal, especially in these modern times where shelling out $1,000 USD for a “Pro” phone is the norm. However, when considering the price gap between both variants, the Pixel 6 might actually be the better deal. Here’s why.
Smaller size with not-so-smaller battery
For the first time ever, Google has not butchered its smaller-sized variant with an abysmally tiny battery. Admittedly, the regular variant this year is not as small in size as it used to be in the previous years. Still, seeing Google equipping its smaller-sized variant with a 4,614 mAh battery (because 4,600 isn’t enough) will bring a beaming smile to the face of many of its customers. Unfortunately, Google fell clumsily to Apple’s curse and chose to ship only the device with no charger in the box. Surely, the world is a much better place without such e-waste, isn’t it?
Reasonable pricing
Apart from the midrange Pixel phones, Google used to make a habit of slaughtering its phones with an obnoxiously high price compared to the competition, making room for other companies to thrive. Mercifully, this year, the Pixel 6 series is not as overpriced as some of us might have expected. In fact, the regular Pixel 6 might actually eclipse the price point of what many would call a premium mid-range smartphone.
To put things into perspective, last year’s Pixel 5 was released with a price tag of $699 USD. This year, it would only cost you $599 USD to get a brand new Pixel 6. It’s not like you will be getting skimped either. The Pixel 6 still has the very same Tensor SoC found in the Pixel 6 Pro. In comparison, last year’s Google Pixel 5 featured the mid-range Snapdragon 765 SoC. In Google’s own words, the Tensor chip inside the Pixel 6 is up to 80% faster than the Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765, a substantial improvement to say the least.
Compared to the rest of the competition, the Pixel 6 is quite a steal. Apple’s iPhone 13 would still cost you an extra $200 USD, the same price as Samsung’s Galaxy S21 official price. Perhaps only Xiaomi could give the Pixel 6 a run for its money, though you’d have to put up with Xiaomi’s MIUI, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Not to say the Pixel 6 Pro is overpriced, but with a $300 USD gap, the Pixel 6 is a much better deal.
Mind the Pro gap
It doesn’t take long to take notice of the missing telephoto lens on the back of the Pixel 6. Credits where it’s due, Google’s Super Res zoom is more impressive than you might think. Whether it’s good enough to negate the need for a telephoto lens might sound like a stretch to some people. Personally, I think keeping the wide-angle lens and doing away with the telephoto one was very wise from Google. But that will be up to the discerning consumers to decide.
Unfortunately, Google wasn’t very wise with their selection of the selfie shooter. Apart from the lower megapixel count, the Pixel 6’s selfie snapper sits behind a narrower-angle lens, which would make a world of a difference. Why Google would make such a preposterous decision will take quite some time and effort to explain. It’s not like you will be leaving out a lot of your friends. But if there is one area that would benefit the most from a wide-angle lens, it’s the selfie camera.
Another key difference between both variants is the display. Apart from the lower resolution and refresh rate, the Pixel 6 ships with a flat display. While the Pixel 6 Pro’s curved, shiny edges will certainly give you more premium vibes, many would argue it’s not as practical. Personally, I’d take a flat display over a curved one at any time. In fact, this has been one of my gripes with the Galaxy S20+ that I own. Coupled with the matte finished side rails and the two-tone palette, the Pixel 6, in my humble opinion, owns the aesthetics game.
The Verdict
Whether it’s the Pixel 6 or the Pixel 6 Pro, both phones will long live in the memories of their respective consumers, bringing a huge sigh of relief to Google’s discerning fan base. And for once, Google obliged to the cries of all tech enthusiasts around the globe, swapping out Qualcomm’s off-the-shelf offering for its own in-house Tensor SoC. And with a more distinctive design and new camera system in tow, the Pixel 6 series of this year will climb up the pecking order of mainstream phones, especially at their respective prices. However, at $300 USD less, the Pixel 6 is the more reasonable choice. Unless you’re only after the top-of-the-line model, the Pixel 6 is the better deal.
