So instead of a generic review, I am just going to share what drove me to purchase it and my thoughts on it so far. As a little background if you know me, or at least have looked at my blog, you know I like technology. My current phone is a Pixel 6 Pro, before that I had:
OnePlus 8T+ 5G
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
When I had the S9 Plus, I was interested in something with a little less bloat and more "pure" Google experience. I ended up getting a great deal (basically free) on the OnePlus 8T+ 5G, so I went for it. While I did enjoy the phone and new interface, the updates still had lags and everything I read made it seem like OnePlus was moving away from the "different" company that attracted people to it.
So to get into it here are some of the reasons I ended up going with the Pixel 6 Pro:
Updates: I get the latest OS upgrades and security patches faster than any other Android device ( in theory at least ). No middle man by the vendor and/or carrier to get in the way. When the December 2021 update came up, I just side loaded it myself instead of waiting on the OTA push.
Google Tensor: Google custom designed processor. Why does this matter? They can focus on adjusting the processor performance to match the OS and the experience they want to provide. It isn't all about benchmarks. Along with the Tensor chip, they have added some hardware security (like Titan M2 security). For the average person this doesn't matter, but it is good to see Google focus on security.
Real Tone: To use Google's own words "Google’s mission to make our camera and image products work more equitably for people of color." Now, I will be honest it isn't like I take photos all the time but the principal here is what got me. Google took a problem that people knew existing, got the right people to help consult the issue and came up with a solution. At the end of the day, most people use their phone camera to capture a moment and they want to be able to look back on it and smile - not think about how the camera didn't capture the moment well.
Cool features: Some of the stuff on the Pixel 6 is just neat. A few examples:
- Magic Eraser: Just the other day, I used Magic Eraser to remove a person from a photo so it could be used online. At first I figured it was just a cool feature I wouldn't get practical use from, but I can see the value after having used it.
- Call Screening: Pretty simple, when someone calls you they are asked why they are calling and that information shows up on your screen.
- Hold for me: When you get put on hold Google can basically listen for you and let you know when someone is ready to talk.
- Direct my call: When you call a business with a voice prompt, like "Press 1 for sales, Press 2 for..." a menu shows up on your phone with the options. It might not seem like much, but it helps you avoid having to repeat the options.
- Safety features: I haven't played with these much, but it has some interesting personal safety features. For example, it has car crash detection. If it detects a crash, it checks to see if you are ok. If you don't respond, it will call 911 and share your location. It also has a "Safety check" option, let's say you go out for a walk. You can program it to check with you in a certain amount of time (for example 1 hour), if you don't respond it will notify whoever you set as safety contacts and they will get your location too.
The list above isn't a full list, just the things I noticed or paid attention to. If photos are important to you, make sure you read up on the features / reviews but overall the review seem positive.
I am very happy with my decision to shift to Pixel 6 Pro. If you are looking to get one, read up on the reviews and focus on what is important to you.
Useful links:
Google Pixel 6 Pro Product Page: https://store.google.com/product/pixel_6_pro
