You’ve likely heard plenty about the power of the Google Pixel 6. But what about its newer, supposedly more powerful cousin, the Pixel 6 Pro? As it turns out, these handsets are a little more distinct than you may expect, despite the similarity of their names.
In this article, we’ll discuss the Google Pixel 6 vs. the Pixel 6 Pro in detail so you can make the best buying decision for your needs and budget.
How Do the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro Compare?
As you might guess from their names, the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have several key similarities and differences in terms of their hardware, performance, and expected features. While the new Pixel phones, the Google Pixel 7 Pro and regular Pixel 7, released in October 2022, last year’s Pixel 6 series is still a great option.
Let’s dig a little deeper into these differences and similarities.
Storage Options
First, be aware that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have the same base storage: 128 GB. However, while the Pixel 6 can go up to 256 GB, the Pixel 6 Pro can go up to 512 GB (for an extra fee). In this case, the latter of the two phones is likely better if you take many photos and videos and don’t tend to transfer them off your mobile device very frequently.
Display
The next significant difference comes between the phones’ displays. The Google Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch display with
1080 x 2400 P resolution. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro model has a 6.7-inch OLED display and 1440 x 3120 P resolution. These are impressive upgrades from the Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a.
The size difference between both Pixel phones is not massive, so apps should feel similar. More importantly, the Pixel 6 Pro comes with a QHD+ display, while the Pixel 6 has an FHD+ display.
The latter presents a sharper image, bolstered by the fact that the Pixel 6 Pro comes with curved edges. However, many don’t like curved edges because they make phones harder to handle; in that case, the
standard Google Pixel 6 would be a better option.
The 6 Pro, furthermore, comes with a unique LTPO display. This display gives you extra power-saving options; it could be a lifesaver if you are almost out of battery but still need to use your phone to contact someone or finish watching an episode of your favorite show before the battery runs out.
The displays for both smartphones are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, earning them extra durability.
Camera Suite
What about cameras? In this regard, both the Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro score nicely. They both feature
50-megapixel primary rear cameras and 12-megapixel ultra-wide cameras.
Other features include the Face Unblur, Motion Mode, and the Magic Eraser, which allows you to clear unnecessary background subjects from photos.
But the Pixel 6 Pro has many more camera bar options on the back, plus a better front-facing camera. In addition, the wide-angle camera specs are flatly better, featuring improved optical zoom capabilities.
For example, the Pixel 6 Pro comes with a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, whereas the standard Google Pixel 6 doesn’t have any telephoto camera. In addition, the Pixel 6 has an eight-megapixel front-facing camera, while the Pixel 6 Pro has an 11.1-megapixel front-facing camera.
Seen in this light, it’s clear that the Pro’s camera suite is flatly better than the camera options from its counterparts. Practically speaking, the 6 Pro has a higher resolution and wider angle selfie camera; this can be advantageous if you like to squeeze a lot of people into shots all the time.
Dimensions, Weight, and Colors
The Google Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro are a little different in terms of their sizes and weights.
The Pixel 6 is 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm, and weighs 207 g. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is a little larger and heavier, measuring 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm and 210 g. Still, this is a slight difference.
However, many may prefer the lighter, slightly smaller Pixel 6 Android phone because of the flat edges. As noted earlier, curved edges are something of an acquired taste, so if you dislike that edge style, you won't lose too much by going with the cheaper Pixel 6.
Colors include Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Sorta Seafoam, Stormy Black, and Kinda Coral for both Pixel 6 options. Both Pixels, in this way, are a little more customizable than many other phones, such as the Apple iPhone 13 or the Samsung Galaxy line of phones.
Connectivity Options
You’ll be pleased to know that both versions of the Google Pixel 6 come with 5G connectivity so that you can take advantage of lightning-fast download speeds. They also have Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and
NFC connectivity.
But it’s only the Pixel 6 Pro that comes with ultra-wideband connectivity options. Most will likely not use this too often, but it's something to consider if you frequently use your phone for important streaming or work teleconferencing purposes.
Battery Life
As far as battery life is concerned, both have relatively good marks on this point, though the Pixel 6 Pro has a larger 5003 mAh battery. The Pixel 6 has a 4614 mAh battery and can recharge with up to 21 W chargers. The Pro can charge a little faster with 23 W wireless charging.
Interestingly, the standard Google Pixel 6 lasts about 14 hours, about an hour longer than the Pixel 6 Pro.
With this in mind, if you want a phone that lasts as long as possible, the Pixel 6 will be more up your alley than its more advanced counterpart.
Under the Hood
What about things under the hood? The standard Google Pixel 6 has 8 GB of RAM compared to the Pro’s 12 GB of RAM, so the latter is a bit more powerful when it comes to running complex programs. However, they both use the proprietary Google Tensor chipset so you can expect good multitasking capabilities in general.
In practical terms, the Pro might be better at running some more demanding games, but both should have enough power under the hood to handle any everyday tasks or needs.
Upgrades via new OS updates may increase performance to some extent for both. Both come with Android 12 out of the box, which benefits from the Tensor chip and works well with the phones’ main cameras and other functions.
Price
Last but not least, don’t forget to consider the price. The Google Pixel 6 starts at $600, whereas the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $900. To recap, for $300 more, you get a slightly larger and slightly better display, a few more cameras, and higher storage capabilities.
Bottom Line
The Google Pixel 6 Pro is larger, costlier, and more powerful than its smaller counterpart.
Whether that’s worth another $300 at a starting point, however, is mainly dependent on whether you want a phone that can do it all for years to come and that comes loaded with a better camera set or if you’re content with a versatile, effective handset that won’t break the bank.
In either case, Navi can help you find the best phone deal for your needs in no time with our
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Sources:
What Is Refresh Rate and Why Is It Important? | Intel
What is Megapixel, Megapixel Definition, Megapixel News
Near field communication overview | Android Developers
