Google Pixel 6 could be the best Android phone yet — and finally beat Samsung

Google Pixel half dozen could be the best Android telephone yet — and finally trounce Samsung

(Image credit: Google)

I've been reviewing smartphones long before Google entered the loonshit with the original Google Pixel five years agone. (Remember Palm Treo). And the Google Pixel six represents the first flagship I've seen by the company that could actually crusade Samsung to look over its shoulder.

Make no mistake. Google's market share is a pittance compared to Samsung'due south, and the company'due south YoY growth was -seven% in the U.S. co-ordinate to Counterpoint Research. Meanwhile, OnePlus was up 400% and Samsung 17%.

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But if y'all look at what the Google Pixel 6 promises — and I do mean promise, as Google has just teased central features and then far — at that place'south plenty of reasons to believe that Google could finally break through as the all-time Android phone in a world dominated by the Galaxy.

Google Pixel 6: The Tensor departure

Conspicuously the tentpole Pixel vi characteristic is Google's Tensor SoC, which is designed to take AI and machine learning to the next level on phones. This is non a wholly new effort for Google, as it redefined the camera telephone with its computational photography efforts on the Google Pixel 4. Only it looks like Google will be able to do a lot more as it embraces its ain silicon and ditches Qualcomm for this flagship.

Google will be able to do a lot more than with computational photography as it embraces its ain silicon and ditches Qualcomm.

The most heart-catching demo Google gave some reporters of the Tensor bit's potential was the photograph of a moving toddler. Samsung Galaxy phones and the iPhone struggle in these situations, but the Pixel half-dozen is smart enough to take an boosted exposure from its ultra-wide angle camera and apply some mail service-processing fixes. The result: A shaper paradigm with a confront that isn't blurred.

The Tensor chip will also enable Google to apply its computational photography magic to videos, such as when you're shooting sunsets. This sort of setting is specially challenging for even the best camera phones, so I'm excited to see what the Pixel 6 tin practise here.

"Tensor chip is, peradventure, the near interesting matter about the Pixel 6," said Ramon Llamas, inquiry director for IDC. "And because Google had a mitt in its blueprint, Google can nautical chart its course a bit more clearly and a fleck tighter than rely on different generations of other SoCs powering other phones."

The Tensor SoC has lots of applications beyond the camera. For example, you lot'll be able to see instant speech-to-text on your telephone every bit you dictate while editing the text with your thumbs on the fly. And the Pixel six is also smart enough to deliver live captions of video you capture and fifty-fifty offer live translations. I'm sure this is only scratching the surface of what Tensor can do, and we'll learn a lot more than when the phone officially launches.

For Google, Tensor is its chance to stand out in an Android telephone space that has become a scrap stale over the last few years. But unlike the Pixel five, this time around Google is targeting a premium price.

"In one case you're investing in your own silicon, it only makes sense to target the loftier end of the market where you tin make back some of that R&D," said Avi Greengart, founder of Techsponential.

Google Pixel half-dozen: A truly 'new' design

While it's not as important, I'm also encouraged by the fact that Google went back to the drawing lath with the Pixel 6's design. It has a more premium glass body and a prominent camera bar that runs across the elevation, likewise every bit a wide array of 2-tone color options. It really looks "new."

At a time that shoppers are used to seeing the aforementioned old slabs from Samsung and others, the Pixel 6 looks like a jiff of fresh air. Only Google will need to back up these looks with the performance users expect and skilful battery life. The company has only promised "all twenty-four hour period" endurance thus far.

The Google Pixel 6 will feature a vi.iv-inch 90Hz display with two rear cameras, and the Pixel 6 Pro will sport a 6.vii-inch 120Hz console with a 4x optical zoom lens. Then Google should have direct competitors to the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Meanwhile, Samsung is reportedly readying 2 new flagship phones of its ain in the Galaxy Z Fold iii and Galaxy Z Flip three, which will be unveiled August eleven. I'1000 intrigued to run across the side by side generation of foldables, but unless there'south a dramatic price decrease the Pixel 6 will look more similar the mainstream option this fall amidst new Android flagship phones.

Pixel 6 vs Galaxy S21: An opening for Google

Of course, Samsung notwithstanding has the Galaxy S21 series and the crawly Galaxy S21 Ultra with its powerful zoom camera. Merely consumers just don't seem to have responded very well to these phones.

Having something at the high end to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple tree is important.

Ramon Llamas, IDC

In fact, Korean publication Business organisation Post reports that sales of the Galaxy S21 through the first six months are down 20% against the Milky way S20 and 47% compared to the Galaxy S10.

Samsung also has the rumored Galaxy S22 on the way, which could offer a new RGBW camera sensor along with a powerful new Exynos chip with AMD graphics might. Simply that's non expected until early 2022.

And it looks like Google is going to attempt to make the most of this narrow opening. "Nosotros are ready to invest a lot in marketing and we desire to abound," said Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh in an interview with The Verge. Just tin can Google really take on the likes of Samsung?

"Samsung is the 800-pound gorilla, and information technology's going to exist difficult to unseat it considering the legions of users out in that location. Even so, having something at the high end to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple is important," said Llamas.

Although Google has a very steep hill to climb to overtake Samsung in terms of sales, at the very least the Pixel six could showtime to change the conversation around who makes the best Android phone come this autumn.

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Marking Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom'south Guide and has covered technology for nearly twenty years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Marking specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on Television receiver to hash out the latest trends. Marking was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his piece of work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.