We’re getting closer to Google’s next phone launch, and already, the Google Pixel 6 vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro comparison is shaping up to be a very interesting one. Based on both rumors as well as what Google’s already announced, the Pixel 6 should be quite different from previous Google phones, especially the design and the new Tensor chip. As for the Pixel 6 Pro, it’s going to feature several upgrades over the standard device, though many of those changes remain rumors up to this point.
It’s impossible to say which phone may offer better value given that some of these specs aren’t confirmed, and nobody seems to know the price yet — Google has just said that the Pixel 6 will come at a premium price. But the increased display size, camera count, and the rumored larger battery and extra memory are all good signs that the Pixel 6 Pro will offer plenty of incentive to spend more over the regular Pixel 6.
At the very least, we’re getting a sense of how the two phones compare, and that can help you plan out which phone to get when they do arrive later this fall. Below, we break down the different rumored features of the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, to see how they compare.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Specs (rumored)
Google Pixel 6 | Google Pixel 6 Pro | |
OS | Android 12 | Android 12 |
Display | 6.4 inches AMOLED | 6.71 inches AMOLED |
Refresh rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
RAM | 8GB | 12GB |
Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
Rear camera | 50MP (Wide) + 12MP (Ultra wide) | 50MP (Wide) + 48MP (Tele) + 12MP (Ultra wide) |
Front camera | 8MP | 12MP |
Battery | 4,614 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
Colors | Black, Sage, Orange | Black, Sand, Gold |
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Price and release date
It seems a fair assumption that there will be a at least a $100 price difference between the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Looking to Google’s rivals for reference, there’s a $200 gap between the basic iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro, and also between the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, or the S21 Plus and the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
The current Google Pixel 5 costs $700, but as we’ll see later on, the Pixel 6 is rumored to be using much better hardware than its predecessor. Therefore, it seems possible that the Pixel 6 will cost around the $800 mark, with the Pixel 6 Pro likely to be Google’s first $1,000 phone (or more).
We anticipate both phones will launch at the same time. Rumors point to an October 19 launch date for the Pixel 6.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Design and display
The Pixel 6 looks like a completely unrelated phone to the Pixel 5, but the two Pixel 6 models should look fairly similar with this apparent three-color design.
The two models diverge in a couple of areas. The most obvious would be size, with the Pixel 6 sporting a 6.4-inch OLED display and the Pixel 6 Pro offering a 6.7-inch panel. The other big difference is the camera total — the Pixel 6 will have two cameras on the back, while the Pixel 6 Pro gets three.
Aside from the sizes, the displays on both phones are thought to use the same tech. Google has said that the Pixel 6 will sport a 90Hz refresh rate just like the Pixel 5, while the Pixel 6 Pro will have 120Hz like other top-tier Android phones.
You’ll likely have different color options for the two phones. The Pixel 6 is tipped to come in Just Black, Sorta Sage and Oh So Orange, while the Pro model could ditch the sage and orange options for sand and gold. Here’s a look at potential Pixel 6 colors.
Google’s given us an early look at the Pixel 6 Pro, at least, with that phone on display the company’s New York store.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Cameras
The basic Pixel 6 will likely feature two cameras on its back: a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera, according to a camera specs leak. The Pixel 6 Pro adds a third camera to this: supposedly a 48MP telephoto with a confirmed 4x optical zoom.
It’s also believed that both phones use single cameras on the front, but with different resolutions. The Pixel 6’s camera is tipped for an 8MP selfie sensor, while the Pixel 6 Pro could be a 12MP sensor.
Google has not yet confirmed the megapixel count on either phone, just the total cameras and their lens types.
Of course, Google phones are more about the software powering the camera experience than the hardware. We’re interested to see if Google boosts its computational photography skills by adding more features like Super Res Zoom and Night Sight. It will also be interesting to see if some features are restricted to the Pixel 6 Pro.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Performance
We now know that the new chip from Google is called Tensor, a reference to the company’s machine learning hardware in its data centers. The system-on-chip will supposedly unlock the true AI and machine learning capabilities on a smartphone. It’s been built from the ground up to provide a seamless experience. At the heart of Tensor is the Tensor Processor Unit (TPU), which will handle any and all AI tasks that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro perform. That means that other resources could be freed for other tasks, potentially leading to better performance and battery life.
MORE: Google Pixel 6 Pro alleged benchmarks just tipped key specs
This would make the Pixel line more like the iPhone, in that Apple designs both the hardware and software for its phones from the ground up. Combined with Google’s control over Android, the performance and responsiveness of the Pixel 6 could be quite impressive.
The two Pixel models look to be differentiated in terms of their memory capacities. The Pixel 6 is rumored to have 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The Pixel 6 Pro would instead use 12GB RAM, and either 128GB, 256GB or 512GB storage. This would be the most RAM and storage ever available in a Pixel, and would be a departure from Google’s historic focus on software over hardware when it comes to its phones.
Google launches its phones with the latest version of Android each year. Therefore we should see the Pixel 6 come with Android 12 out of the box.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Battery and charging
While both Pixel 6 models are rumored to have far larger batteries than the Pixel 5, there’s still a notable gap between their alleged capacities. The Pixel 6 is tipped to feature a 4,614 mAh battery, while the Pixel 6 Pro could get a sizable 5,000 mAh cell.
New leaks have suggested faster charging speeds for the Pixel 6 series. One leak tips the Pixel 6 wired charging speeds to reach 33W. That would be faster than what Samsung’s Galaxy S21 phones offer, though not as fast as the OnePlus 9 devices. Fast wireless charging could also be in the cards with the Pixel 6 reaching 23W wireless charging.
A new Pixel Stand wireless charger has been rumored to be in development at Google, which features a new built-in fan and therefore a likely higher charging speed than the current fan-less Pixel Stand’s 10W.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Outlook
The Pixel 6 Pro looks to earn its name compared to the basic Pixel 6. With an extra rear camera, a larger display, a bigger battery and potentially more memory, it’s got plenty of hardware that will allow it to go toe-to-toe with Samsung’s, OnePlus’ and Apple’s latest phones.
Whether the Pro model will be worth it compared to the regular Pixel 6 remains to be seen. You’ll get the same powerful Tensor processor and overall image quality with either phone. So it will likely all come down to how much you’re willing to pay, and whether you want 120Hz and a telephoto camera in the case of the Pro model.