Tech That: Google Pixel 6

What: Google Pixel 6

Where: Google, Amazon, Currys, Argos and John Lewis

How much: from £599

What is it?

The Google Pixel 6 is the companies first attempt at making a true iPhone competitor. With the hardware and software being designed to work with each other, this is also the first time Google has manufactured their own processor from scratch.

Plus points

·         The design of this phone is great. It’s the first major redesign Google has made since 2016 and I love it. The camera bar spans the full width of the phone giving it a unique design which stands out from the crowd.

·         The new Tensor chip inside the Pixel 6 works as advertised. Its main benefits are with image processing and machine learning tasks such as text to speech and keeping your phone secure. It came in very handy on a recent trip to Israel, pointing my phone at text and it overlaying the English in real time.

·         The camera is exactly what you’d expect from a Pixel phone. Great photos every time with excellent portrait shots.

·         I was pleasantly surprised by the battery life on the Pixel 6. Usually, Android phones take a hit to battery when you throw mid to heavy usage at them. I would find myself ending a day with around 20% left.

·         Pricing of this phone is very good for what it offers. Undercutting the base iPhone 13 by £80

Nil points

·         The under-screen fingerprint sensor must be the worst thing about this phone. I haven’t used such a slow sensor in years. The Pixel 6 would often reject my fingerprint for no reason. Even after software updates it hasn’t improved at all.

·         Since the fingerprint sensor is so unreliable, it’s a shame Google didn’t opt for any facial recognition to unlock the phone.

·         If music is your thing, then don’t rely on the built in speaker. They’re not very loud and sound very tinny compared to other flagship phones.

Verdict:

✡ ✡ ✡ ✡

Even though the dodgy fingerprint sensor could be a deal breaker for some, the Pixel 6 is Google’s best smartphone yet. They’ve set the bar high, and I can’t wait to see what they do for the Pixel 7!

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