This video is MKBHD's three-week review of the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. He considers them the best Pixel phones yet, particularly due to their competitive pricing, but they are not without significant flaws. The new design language, centered on a prominent camera bar, is polarizing but functional. A primary highlight is the custom Google Tensor chip, which enables powerful AI features like exceptionally accurate real-time speech-to-text and the "Magic Eraser" photo editing tool, rather than focusing on raw benchmark performance.
However, the review is critical of two key areas. First, battery life is disappointing and "average at best," failing to meet flagship expectations despite the custom silicon and large batteries. Second, the new and much-improved camera hardware is hampered by overly aggressive software processing, a holdover from older models. This leads to inconsistent results, with some photos looking incredible while others appear artificially over-processed and "over-HDR-y." MKBHD concludes that the base Pixel 6 is an excellent value at $599, while the 6 Pro, despite its upgrades, struggles to justify its price against more consistent flagship competitors like the iPhone.
Pixel 6 and 6 Pro Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Googly
0:00:24 - A True Google Flagship: MKBHD reviews the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, noting they are a major step up in hardware and Google's first real attempt at a flagship. Pricing is very competitive: $599 for the Pixel 6 and $899 for the 6 Pro.
0:01:35 - Polarizing "Visor" Design: The new camera bar design is distinctive and functional, as it prevents the phone from rocking on a flat surface.
0:03:34 - Good, but Flawed Displays: Both phones are large. The 6 Pro features a 6.7-inch, 120Hz display, but its curved edges and slight off-axis color shift are minor drawbacks compared to top-tier competitors.
0:04:13 - Slow Fingerprint Reader: A notable hardware weakness is the optical in-display fingerprint reader, which is described as slow and annoying to use.
0:05:28 - The Tensor Chip's Purpose: Google's custom Tensor chip is not meant to win benchmark tests. Its real strength lies in powering unique AI and machine learning features.
0:07:27 - Standout AI Features: Tensor enables "unreal" speech-to-text that is fast, accurate, and automatically adds punctuation. Another feature is "Magic Eraser," which allows users to remove unwanted objects from photos with impressive, though not always perfect, results.
0:09:46 - Disappointing Battery Life: A major weakness. Despite large battery sizes, screen-on time is "average at best" (3.5-4.5 hours on the Pro), which is a significant shortcoming for a flagship phone. Charging speeds are also just okay.
11:17 - Android 12 "Material You": The software experience is praised for its new aesthetic, which automatically themes the UI based on your wallpaper. The only complaints are minor UI inconveniences with the brightness slider and internet toggles.
14:08 - Inconsistent Camera Processing: The new 50MP sensor is a huge hardware upgrade, but Google's aggressive software processing often makes photos look unnaturally over-sharpened and "over-HDR-y." The processing, designed for older, weaker sensors, is now too much for the new hardware.
17:27 - An Inconsistent Shooter: The camera can produce "10 out of 10" shots, particularly in difficult lighting, but it also produces mediocre "7 out of 10" shots. MKBHD concludes the iPhone 13 Pro's camera system is better overall due to its consistency.
20:10 - Final Verdict: Pixel 6 is the Real Deal: The Pixel 6 is an "incredible" value at $599. While the 6 Pro is a better phone with its 120Hz screen and telephoto lens, the $300 price jump doesn't vault it over the top of other flagships, making the base model the better buy for most people.