The ‘Google phone’ that makes convenience fun

Google’s latest Pixel 6 phones are fun.

Just look at their design, both within and without: There’s the two-tone color scheme on back that seems as if it were pulled from an inspiration board filled with Starburst fruit chew hues. There’s that eye-catching rear camera module, now so fanciful and conspicuous as to be immediately iconic, which was likely the intended point. Their Gorilla Glass-sandwiched bodies are free from blemishes in the form of unsightly fingerprint sensors and front-facing notches. They’re impossibly thin yet rounded and smooth, and feel appropriately soft and light in hand as phones should be. They even run a version of Android that lets you carry that exterior color therapy right through to your icons, menus, and even some core apps.

They’re also strangely intimate phones due to the way their kawaii-style customization and easy breezy artificially intelligent assistance forges a bond with the end user.

Oh, and did I mention that they’re priced to sell unlike other recent smartphone flagships? The base models of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro start at $599 and $899, respectively.

Yes, the Mountain View-based search giant may have entered this smartphone arena before with many hardware firsts — the T-Mobile G1, Nexus One, and original Pixel all come to mind — but somehow this is the first true “Google phone.” With Tensor inside, Google’s in-house designed system on a chip (SoC), the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro aim to deliver a cheerful, top-down vision of how machine learning and AI can remove the friction from our increasingly digitally connected lives.

These Pixel phones hinge on the concept of convenience made “fun,” but is that enough to wean iPhone loyalists off of their blue bubbles and cause Samsung devotees to defect from their ever-expanding Galaxy?

Turning lewks

Google’s Pixel line is somewhat known for ushering in a limited-edition colorway for each successive flagship release, a tradition that goes all the way back to the Really Blue variant of the original phone. But somehow, this year’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have managed to make color less of a collector-focused impulse buy and more of a signature standard intended for everyone.

In keeping with the cheeky naming scheme of years past, Google’s giving users the option of Kinda Coral (pink) and Sorta Seafoam (green) on the Pixel 6, as well as Sorta Sunny (yellow) and Cloudy White on the Pixel 6 Pro. Both models also come in the more staid Stormy Black, if you prefer your phone to be all business and no fuss.

I mean, c’mon… they’re too freakin’ cute!
Credit: Molly flores / mashable

At 6.4-inches, the Pixel 6 is the more “manageable” handset of the duo, and its serviceable specs reflect that. The flat, 1080p display runs at 90Hz, much like the previous two flagship Pixels, and its Tensor chip is buffered by 8GB of RAM. For a real jump in quality, though, you have to consider the Pixel 6 Pro, with its huge 6.7-inch, 1440p display, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and 12 GB of RAM.

Storage-wise, both phones offer 128GB and 256GB options, with the 6 Pro adding an additional 512GB model so you can load it up with more photos and videos than you’ll remember taking.

On the network side, it’s no surprise that 5G is baked into both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro as we’re now fast approaching the tail-end of 2021 and that technology is much less of a novelty than it once was. Keep in mind, however, that if you’re in the market for the faster mmWave 5G speeds, you’ll have to choose between the 6 Pro, and a special Verizon or AT&T variant of the Pixel 6.

Apart from that slight network difference, both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro support WiFi 6E routers, wireless charging, as well as 30W fast-charging via USB-C. They’re also rated IP68 for dust- and water-resistance.

Finger that face

Without a notch on front for facial recognition nor a fingerprint reader on back, you may be wondering just how the Pixels 6 manage to bypass time-consuming (he said sarcastically) pin code entry for fancy phone unlocking. The answer? An in-display fingerprint sensor.

You never have to guess where the fingerprint sensor is with the always-on display.
Credit: MOLLY FLORES / MASHABLE

After briefly abandoning the tech in favor of face unlock on the Pixel 4 (a feature I happily disabled for the duration of my ownership of the 4XL), Google wisely reintroduced fingerprint unlocking on the Pixel 5. Now, it’s back once again for the Pixels 6 but instead of occupying the traditional space on back where your pointer finger would normally rest, it’s hidden on the lower-third of the phones’ front face.

To use it, simply wake the display (or leave it in always-on mode) and you’ll find a circular onscreen prompt for your fingerprint. Once you place your finger down (whichever you happen to register and use), you’ll even see it briefly illuminate. But if your Pixel 6 experience is anything like mine, you may occasionally have to place your finger down a couple of times before it successfully verifies the print.

Place your finger and let it linger.
Credit: MOLLY FLORES / MASHABLE

That said, I’ve found you can mostly avoid those false starts by letting your finger linger on the prompt for a bit longer than is intuitive. At least, that seemed to nearly remedy my hit-or-miss track record with it.

This software quirk is one of the rare issues that slows down what’s an otherwise reliably fast and fluid navigation experience (especially if you’re enjoying that silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate on the 6 Pro).

Free to be (Material) You and me

The smartphone realm has long divided its users into more or less two camps: you’re either #teamiPhone with its one-size-fits-all iOS approach or #teamAndroid due to the deeper level of customization. With Android 12, Google’s latest mobile operating system that’s making its debut on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, the search giant is leaning way into this personalization.

You may have heard the phrase “Material You” bandied about when discussing Android 12 and all you need to know is that it’s essentially the design language that defines the fast, fluid, colorful, and bubbly Pixel 6 interface.

Materially yours.
Credit: MOLLY FLORES / MASHABLE

From the first moment you power on the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro and select your wallpaper, your phone will present you with a series of color palettes based on that choice to apply throughout the OS. This has the effect of unifying your Google app icons, notification panel, lockscreen, widgets, volume controls, as well as clock and calculator apps around a central color theme.

It may seem like an incredibly superfluous touch but it’s one that manages to transform the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro in your hand into something that feels like a partial reflection of you. Think back to your single-digit years; that time when the simple question — What’s your favorite color? — meant so much and how your response to that question also impacted your burgeoning identity.

Match your phone to your mood.
Credit: screenshot: joseph volpe / mashable

Material You on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro is an evolution of that formative color identity. My favorite color for the past few years has been purple and I get to see that represented throughout my Pixel 6 Pro (the handset I’ve opted to use as a daily driver). You may think it’s silly, but it has a really endearing effect on my relationship to this piece of hardware.

I won’t go too into the weeds discussing everything Android 12 brings to the table but I will highlight some of the more notable features you’ll encounter on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro below.

Lock it down

A focus on privacy is perhaps one of the least flashy ways to market a smartphone and its OS, but the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are no slouches in this department. One of the neatest additions Android 12 brings to the table in this regard is in how it handles mic and camera permissions.

Whenever you’re using an app that needs to access either the camera or microphone, a green dot will appear in the upper-right corner of the display to indicate it’s active. If you then decide you want to restrict an app that’s running from using either one, you can easily pull down the notification pane and toggle that access on or off using dedicated buttons.

The colors you choose will even tint the calculator app.
Credit: MOLLY FLORES / MASHABLE

You can go even further if you’d like and check out a full rundown of which apps have been using the camera and microphone, among other things, from the privacy dashboard. This can be accessed by navigating to Settings > Privacy > Privacy dashboard. Here, you’ll be greeted by a chart breaking down usage over the past 24 hours, as well as a list of which apps have accessed things like your location, calendar, call logs, contact, files, phone, texts, camera, microphone, and more. To toggle individual app permissions on or off, you just have to tap through the specific privacy category.

There’s also a new hub within settings that will analyze your account and device security, rate it, and even offer recommendations to beef it up.

When I first opened this, it alerted me to the fact that my Google account was still active on two devices I hadn’t used in years. I promptly clicked through and removed that access. So, thanks for that, Google.

Only on Pixel 6

Assisted living

You need only consider the Tensor chip powering the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro to know that these phones are Google’s not-so-covert shot at converting people (read: A.I. holdouts) into avid users of its Assistant.

The change Google made to the power button is the greatest evidence of this. No longer does a longpress of that button default to give you the option to power off or restart the phone. Nope. Instead, it triggers the Assistant and prompts you to say “power off” or “restart.” If you’re not down with telling your phone to shut down, you can also navigate to the notification pane to do it or hold the power button and volume up at the same time.

You’re not restricted to just those two voice options here, by the way — in fact, you can treat this shortcut like any other Assistant query by asking it to set a reminder, or an alarm, or to search for any number of things.

Press power to summon your Assistant.
Credit: screenshot: joseph volpe / mashable

The new Assistant on Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro also strips out the need for that cumbersome and dorky trigger phrase, “Hey Google,” when you’re dealing with incoming calls or the alarm. You can just bark at the phone now and say “Answer” or “Decline” for calls, and “Stop” or “Snooze” for the alarm. Although, a bit of caution here: you may not want to keep those quick phrases active for calls. If someone nearby says “Are you going to answer that?” when your ringer goes off, the call will likely be answered.

The last major Assistant addition you’ll encounter on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro has to do with those pesky automated voice menus you encounter when trying to do anything related to business. You know, the whole “Press 1 for …” Well, that pain point has been slightly alleviated here should you opt to give the Assistant access to your mic.

Enable that permission and a real-time onscreen transcription of the menu will appear with numbered prompts specifying their purpose. It’s one of those things you don’t realize is handy until you use it. I mean, how many times have you listened to an entire menu’s worth of options looking for the vaguely worded one you need only to forget what the other menu options were? My guess is pretty much all of the time you dial a 1-800 number. That’s why this exists.

Press 2 for… wait, what? I forgot. Oh, nevermind. Thanks, Pixel 6.
Credit: SCREENSHOT: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

Babbling fish

Google Translate has long been a trusty go-to for travelers abroad seeking to remove the language barrier from everyday interactions. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro take that automatic translation service a little further by integrating it directly into the Messages app.

Unintentionally hilarious automatic text translation.
Credit: screenshot: joseph volpe / mashable

Once you’ve enabled Live Translation within system settings and downloaded the appropriate languages, you can text fluidly with friends, family, and strangers without the need to open a separate app, enter text, translate it, copy that translated text, navigate to the messaging app, and paste in the translated text.

With Live Translation, you can just type as you normally would except now those words will populate an additional text field while a translation of those words will appear in the regular text field above. You’ll also have the option to automatically translate every incoming message.

In my defense, Polish sausage is super yummy.
Credit: SCREENSHOT: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

It’s a surprisingly neat feature and one that I playfully used with two friends of mine to translate messages in Hindi and Polish. Of course, you’re still dealing with an automatic translation service so you’ll inevitably end up with robotic or unintentionally hilarious exchanges. But, still, it works super well…if you’re messaging with a fellow Android user. I had a few issues getting Live Translation to work seamlessly with my iPhone-using friend.

Killer camera

One of the best bits about being a Pixel owner in the past was that you had bragging rights to some superior imaging powers.

Check out the detail on that 4x zoom.
Credit: joseph volpe / mashable

Case in point: I recently snapped a quick portrait mode photo of a friend that he could use for business purposes and he happily freaked out when he saw the final product. I should add that I did this using my now ancient by comparison Pixel 4XL and not the more recent 5-series.

Other smartphone makers have since caught up to Google’s unique blend of hardware and software wizardry, and even surpassed it in some cases (hello iPhone 13 Pro!) but you’ll still find plenty to crow about here.

First things first, let’s break down the differences between the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro’s prominent camera modules:

Pixel 6

• 50-megapixel wide camera with ƒ/1.85 aperture

• 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 114° field of view

• 8-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.0 aperture

Pixel 6 Pro

• 50-megapixel wide camera with ƒ/1.85 aperture

• 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 114° field of view

• 48-megapixel telephoto camera with ƒ/3.5 aperture and 4x optical zoom / Super Res Zoom with telephoto up to 20x

• 11.1-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture

The main reason you’d opt for the 6 Pro is because of that additional telephoto lens with its 4x optical zoom (plus 20x SuperRes zoom) and the wider field of view (for larger group selfies) on its front-facing camera. Apart from that, both Pixel 6 phones can shoot video at up to 4K60, as well as make use of a nifty-though-not-quite-infallible photo editing feature known as Magic Eraser.

Photobomber be gone!

If only there were a way to get the people out of this almost perfect shot…

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

Et, voila! Less people, brighter sky.

Credit: joseph volpe / mashable

I took some shots of people gathered outside of the ferry terminal in lower Manhattan during rush hour and then applied the Pixel 6’s Magic Eraser to wipe them from the shot. The end product was surprisingly convincing…so long as you don’t zoom in close and observe the details.

On fairly uncomplicated scenes with one “photobomber” present, this editing tool can work wonders. But use it on a busy background with a fair amount of detail and a large number of people, and you’ll get something that looks like amateur photoshop mixed with some rushed Facetuning. Where people once were, you’ll find blurs and cloned scenery: sometimes, a person will be erased but their backpack will remain; transparent glass doors will become solid metal; and shadows cast by now missing bodies will linger.

Now you see them…

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

Now you don’t.

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

It’s not perfect by any means but it’ll do in a pinch.

The camera app also offers new Action Pan and Long Exposure modes, which both work to create artfully blurred shots while keeping your subject in focus.

I got some interesting shots from the two modes, as you can see below. In one, it managed to make the turbulent wake of the ferry’s motor seem more like a waterfall painted by quick and fluid brushstrokes.

That’s not a waterfall.

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

Told ya.

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

As you might expect, clarity and color reproduction in normal daytime shots are excellent on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. You can make out fine detail even in the Pro’s 4x shots and the overall colors are true-to-life as you’ll see with the various sunset hues streaking through the sky. It’s a welcome change from those magically artificial, Insta-ready shots you’ll get on some other phone cameras.

Objects in motion…

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

Must remain in motion for that artful blur.

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

I should also note that I took many of these shots on a ferry that was in motion and they seem as if they’re stills. That’s how good the image stabilization is.

It was real dark…

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

But you’d never know it.

Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

Low-light performance continues to be impressive on these new Pixels. I grabbed a bunch of shots as the sun was going down during my ferry ride and, to my amazement, the Pixel 6 was able to illuminate and accurately capture scenes that were, to my naked eyes, shrouded in darkness.

A perfect NYC sunset.
Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

That said, the color balance does tend to overcorrect in these circumstances, leaving distant dark objects like the Statue of Liberty looking like they’re white-hot.

Pretty sure she’s supposed to be green.
Credit: JOSEPH VOLPE / MASHABLE

All day and then some

I’ll never forget how disappointed I was when I realized my new Pixel 4XL couldn’t hack it for a full day on a single charge. I had to disable a bunch of features (pour one out for the Soli radar chip) and make certain changes to settings in order to get that thing to last until my bedtime. For the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, I am more than happy to say that is not the case.

Large and in charge.
Credit: molly flores / mashable

Inside the Pixel 6, there’s a 4,614mAh battery, while the 6 Pro packs 5,003mAh of juice. With regular usage at the end of a full day (and by “regular usage,” I mean consistent texting, Twitter scrolling, Slacking, photo taking, and Chrome browsing), you’ll get roughly 35 percent battery — give or take a few percentage points — on both phones. You don’t even have to charge these phones overnight. If you’d like, you can even wait until some point early afternoon the next day to connect the charger.

Now that I’ve experienced this long-sought-after, all-day-and-then-some battery life, I cannot go back to my old Pixel. I refuse. It’s nice to not worry about charging your phone.

This is what winning feels like

It’s hard to find fault with Google’s new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, especially when you consider their cheaper-than-the-iPhone-13 pricing. Finally, it seems as if the search giant, known for its noncommittal approach to software and hardware, is taking Pixel seriously and intends to make it a household name.

Thanks to Android 12, these are phones that you can tailor to suit your (color) mood which, admittedly, seems like a simple thing but you’ll cherish them all the more for it.

Google Assistant has never been more useful or accessible as it’s built into all the parts of the phone where you’d want and expect it to be, like yelling at an alarm to snooze.

Mix and match.
Credit: molly flores / mashable

Plus, you’ve got the modern-day convenience of the one-stop shop messaging app that handles translation for you — should you need it when the world fully reopens.

The security features are dead simple to find and understand. And once you get used to them, I imagine you’ll find it hard to believe it took this long for any phone to give you one-click permissions access for the camera and mic.

Then there’s that elegant swoop of a rear camera hump and the imaging software that enables it to deliver beautiful photos that look like they were taken on planet Earth and not planet InstaEarth.

Toss in that phenomenal more-than-a-full-day battery life and, again, it’s hard not to love these Pixel phones. If anything, it’s all going to come down to just how many marketing dollars el Goog is willing to throw behind the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

I mean, I know these phones exist but will my iPhone-toting, soccer mom of a sister? What about your adorable cornball of a dad who’s content with his “Samsung”? Yah, that’s what I thought.

And therein lies the rub.

So whaddaya say? Are you in?
Credit: molly flores / mashable