Design and Build

The body of the Google Pixel 6 got its form with an aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, and on the back Gorilla Glass 6, resulting in a camera bar design. The dimensions are 6.2 x 2.9 x 0.35 inches (158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm) and 7.3 ounces (207g) in weight, thus, it's pretty big and heavy. Stormy Black, Kinda Coral, and Sorta Seafoam are available colors. There is a fingerprint sensor under the display (which is slow and works inconsistently) but no face unlock. The phone carries an IP68 rating that guarantees dust and water resistance. The USB-C 3.1 specification decides which and each SIM is supported; the only thing that users don't like is the bezel and a green tint at low brightness on the screen.

• Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus (front), Gorilla Glass 6 (back)
• IP68 rating (water and dust resistance up to 1.5m for 30 min)
• Under-display fingerprint sensor, no face unlock
• USB-C 3.1 port
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM

Pixel 6 Display

The Pixel 6 comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display that has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels (411 PPI), HDR10+, and a 90Hz refresh rate. With the enhancement of adaptive brightness, the screen can achieve 843 nits of luminance, ranking it as acceptable, but still fifty percent less than the Pixel 7's 1400 nits. The flat screen is shielded by Gorilla Glass Victus but users' feedback suggests that there is a green tint when using the screen at low brightness, which is combined with visible bezels. The screen is definitely dazzling when used for media but still doesn't deliver the QHD+ clarity of the 6 Pro.

• 6.4-inch AMOLED
• 1080 x 2400 resolution, 411 PPI
• HDR10+ support
• 843 nits (peak)
• Gorilla Glass Victus protection
• 90Hz refresh rate

Performance and Software

According to the source code, the Pixel 6 includes Google's Tensor chip, manufactured by Samsung with 5nm EUV technology, an octa-core (1024KB/cluster) CPU, 64MB L3 cache, Mali-G78 MP20 GPU, and a Titan M2 security chip by Google. Additionally, the device has 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and storage options of 128GB ($599) or 256GB ($699), but it is non-expandable. The device is capable of running Android 12 (which can be later updated to Android 15) and provides 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates. It has the ability to complete each live wish without any issue. However, it is not the best for gaming and can get hotter than the Snapdragon 888.

• Google Tensor chip with 8-core CPU, Mali-G78 MP20 GPU, Titan M2
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB
• Android 12 (3 years OS, 5 years security updates)
• Optimized for AI, photography

The Tensor chip excels in photography and AI, but gaming performance and thermal management are weak. The short OS update window compared to the Pixel 7 is a limitation, though software is clean and feature-rich.

Camera System

A 50MP main camera with an f/1.85 and 25mm lens and OIS, and a 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 114° FOV) are provided as the rear camera for the Pixel 6. The 8MP front camera (f/2.0) uses a fixed focus. Lately, Google has shown competent computational photography skills that result in bright photos at par with premium phones in the same range. Yet, the ultra-wide mode's quality is on the carver side in dim light. A 4K 60fps video would be fine as a change but is far from an iPhone 13 as far as quality goes.

• Rear: 50MP Main (f/1.85, OIS), 12MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2)
• Front: 8MP (f/2.0)
• Video: 4K 60 fps
• Modes: Night Sight, Magic Eraser, Real Tone
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The Pixel 6’s 4614mAh battery lasts about 10 hours of video playback or 8–10 hours in real-world use, with some users reporting only 4.5 hours on data. It supports 21W wired charging (50% in 35 minutes) and 21W wireless charging (Qi). No charger is included. Battery life and charging speeds are average, trailing the Pixel 6 Pro’s 12 hours and 23W.

• 4614mAh battery
• Up to 10 hours video playback, ~8–10 hours real-world
• 21W wired charging (50% in 35 min)
• 21W wireless charging (Qi)
• No charger included (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

The Pixel 6 is compatible with 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and Bluetooth 5.2. It is also equipped with nano-SIM and eSIM, however, it does not have UWB and satellite connectivity. As for GPS, it is dual-band and also uses GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS

• 5G modem (sub-6GHz, mmWave)
• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM
• No UWB or satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS

Pricing and Availability

Debuted at a price of $599 for 128GB and $699 for 256GB, the Pixel 6 had its pre-orders open on October 19, 2021, and it was available for purchase on October 28, 2021, through Google Store, carriers, and retailers. Very often, the device goes on sale for as low as $199-$399, and the customers rush to grab one. The Pixel 7, which is priced at $599, is the more powerful and up-to-date choice here, while the Pixel 6 is still considered attractive for the cameras it has.