Internet search giant Google has finally taken off the curtains for its highly-anticipated smartphones Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Even though the two smartphones were confirmed in two months ago, Google only revealed their details during a virtual event this morning (Oct 20, 1am SGT).
Both smartphones run on the latest Android 12 mobile operating system and are powered by Google’s own Tensor chip. It is a mobile system on a chip designed specifically around Google’s industry-leading artificial intelligence technology. Google said the Tensor chip enables entirely new capabilities using machine learning in the Pixel 6 smartphones such as better speech recognition, live translation and computational photography
As you might expect, both smartphones are similar but yet different. The Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch FHD+ 90Hz flat display with a 8-megapixel (MP) hole-punch camera, while the Pixel 6 Pro sports a 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz curved display with a 11.1MP hole-punch front-facing camera.
The Pixel 6 Pro has 12GB of RAM and available in three storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB, while the Pixel 6 only has 8GB of RAM and available in 128GB and 256GB storage capacities.
Furthermore, the Pixel 6 smartphones are set to continue the series’ great photography tradition. These new cameras can be found on the camera bar at the rear of both smartphones.
The Pixel 6 features a rear dual-camera system of 50-megapixel (MP) wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 Pro has a rear triple-camera system with an additional 48MP telephoto (4x optical zoom) camera.
Both Pixel 6 models have the same 50MP main wide-angle camera that is said to feature a larger image sensor and thus captures 150 per cent more light for finer details and more accurate Night Sight. Both smartphones also sport laser autofocus sensor, image stabilisers and new computational photography features.
These new features include Magic Eraser, which remove strangers and unwanted objects in your photos, so your photos will just be about you and your friends. No more having to worry about photo bombs.
There is also Motion Mode options like Action Pan and Long Exposure for your shots to look dynamic and moving. Perhaps, the most significant advancement is the Real Tone feature. By gathering a large amount of dataset with increased number of portraits of people of colour, Real Tone helps to more accurately capture the darker skin tones without “whitewashing” them.
Not to mention, Snapchat has worked with Google to include a new feature called “Quick Tap to Snap”. By just tapping on the Pixel 6’s rear twice, you will be able to access SnapChat without unlocking the smartphone. This marks the first time Snap has created a camera-mode version of Snapchat accessible directly from a phone’s lock screen.
Pricing of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro starts from US$599 and US$899 respectively. The new smartphones can be pre-ordered today in the US and available on Oct 28. Unfortunately, there are no news if the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro will be coming to Singapore.
UPDATE: According to Google’s public relation agency, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be available in 12 markets, starting with the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, UK, Germany, France, and Ireland on October 28 and then Spain, Italy, and Singapore early next year. But local pricing is still not available yet.
