Hi all, I’ve been road testing my new Pixel 6 Pro with my iPhone 13 Pro Max for the last few days since Friday. I wanted to use both together before giving my initial impressions. Grab some popcorn as it’s a little long & wordy!
Design & Build
With build quality, the 6 Pro has massively improved from the Pixel 5. It’s first class and flagship status worthy now. The 6 Pro design looks fresh against the iPhone and Android competition- the camera bar clearly distinguishes it in the market from a sea of smartphones with the exact same camera placement & configuration like the Samsung S21 Ultra etc. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro looks different too but not in the same league as the Pixel imo. Many of us & YouTubers are saying the 6 Pro is big phone, yes it is I agree with that but actually no bigger than the 13 Pro Max. In fact, to me it feels less wieldy due to weight & slimness. The 6 Pro is marginally taller than the 13 Pro Max. Exact height specs are 6.45” (163.9mm) for the Pixel 6.33” (160.8mm) for the iPhone. So taller but in the hand holding both it’s not that noticeable really.
Primary factor here, the Pixel is much slimmer than the iPhone, it’s far easier to hold in the hand as a result in plus the weight advantage of the Pixel really helps too. Exact width specs are 2.99” (75.9mm) and 3.07” (78.1mm) for the iPhone. That is definitely noticeable. Weight-wise the 6 Pro is 7.41 ounces or 210 grams for the Pixel and 8.46 ounces or 240 grams for the 13 Pro Max. Pixel just felt thinner too than the iPhone.
Screen Display
The 6 Pro quad HD display screen with 512dpi looks gorgeous, colours & details pop & to my eyes it just looks better than the 13 Pro Max. I’ve had no issues with 120mhz, everything is just fast & smooth. The hole punch is more aesthetically pleasing than the notch - the 6P looks modern, the 13PM looks outdated. 6P looks virtually bezel-less. Side by side, the 6P has the 13PM licked for sheer visuals, especially full screen coverage where the hole punch does not intrude to the viewing like the notch does. Damn Apple that notch honestly needs to go now! Text clarity on the 6 Pro screen is A1: you can see everything even on the smaller settings.
The curved screen I was worried about from the start as I definitely prefer flat screens but it is just a total non-issue - it’s subtle compared to Samsung’s more prominent curves. I’ve had no issues with holding the Pixel, viewing angles, swiping or accidental pressing & the palm rejection works great. I guess edge panels would have helped as being useful but with a case on, again, it’s a non-issue.
Cases & Screen Protectors
Talking of cases, I currently have the Golden Glow official case (Stormy Sky on pre-order) which fits like a glove & evens out the front bezels. I liked the case so much I went bonkers & ordered the Soft Sage & Light Frost colours too! The cases work with new Pixel features like the rear tap too. Also I need to try and find a decent screen protector in the UK - currently rarer than hens teeth! Usually I get a tempered glass screen protector but will have to be a flexible one this time for the curved edges and FPS. Bellroy do decent leather cases as an alternative along with the usual like Spigen, DBrand etc.
Fingerprint Sensor
Moving onto the FPS, so ok I have to admit I don’t understand why they’ve been so many complaints - it’s just been 100% accurate for me, I registered slowly with 2 thumbs at a lot of different angles plus index finger. To me, it’s fast as I just don’t notice it during unlocking. The S21 Ultra FPS might be quicker but we’re talking milliseconds! Yes, I would have definitely have preferred the face unlock option too like the iPhone (Pixel 4XL face unlock was ridiculously fast) but then the screen would need more than a small hole punch. In my own tests, the 6P unlocked faster every time with the FPS vs 13PM face unlock & of course FPS is better whilst wearing a mask. Otherwise I just use the multi-swipe lock to enter. One feature I’d love to have back is motion sense as per Pixel 4XL - something that I initially thought was a gimmick I ended up using it daily during my 4XL usage. Small gripes though.
Colour & Finish
Colour-wise, I went for Stormy Black which gives the 6 Pro a more stealth look & I prefer black only bezels to watch videos like series, movies, YouTube etc. Plus I require a more professional look for work. However, I checked out the Cloudy White in store and it’s stunning, much better in person than videos with my only issue is top stainless steel showing too much white. Sorta Sunny is more of an acquired taste with the yellow but I can see how that would appeal to people.
Personal taste, I would have preferred a matte finish on the 6 Pro rear instead of glossy and colourful Pixel side buttons like previous Pixels but I guess Google decided to go more mainstream for sales after the 5.
Cameras
All camera lenses have been well documented all over the Interweb but, in my own experience, the main camera is exactly what I want a Pixel phone to be - up there with best in class. Everything I’ve taken with the primary lens looks exactly right colour-wise, Google has clearly gone for more detail and HDR is the best I’ve seen on any smartphone. Portrait mode is superb. When I compare to the orange faces on the 13PM, Google have 100% nailed the colour accuracy on the 6P. The Night Sight photos are also better than I was expecting after the reviews in terms of light/detail bar the processing time & too much exposure sometimes. Software updates should improve this further. The 6P ultra-wide is not as wide as the 13PM but detail is still there. The 6P telephoto is stella, a real highlight, much better than the 13PM for zooming & capturing more light, colour & details. The extras like Motion Camera & Magic Eraser are fun to use, 2nd/3rd reiterations of these could be really powerful. Also, compared to the S21 Ultra, in my opinion, the photos on the 6 Pro look less washed out with better colour accuracy. Two areas I’d like to see on the Pixel Pro phones next year is a macro camera and more ‘Pro’ features for a flagship.
Video
Google has treated the 6 Pro to serious significant video advancements since the 5 which had mediocre, mid-tier video. I’ve been shooting in both 4K 60FPS & 4K 30FPS and, overall, I have been really pleased with the 6 Pro’s video. Areas where a software update would help improve is bright lighting outdoors and smoothness when walking fast. Night videos were better than I expected too but not quite as good as I expected. However, iPhone is still video king - the progress Apple have made in 2 years with video is phenomenal. Every outdoor 4K video I take with the 13 Pro Max is brilliant. The only exception is indoors when it’s more hit & miss with less light & details. I’ve not used Pro-Res video on the iPhone yet so looking forward to that. Cinematic mode on the 13PM is pretty decent with the changing bokeh effect but more of a gimmick in first iteration form, as it’s a video first from Apple (and any smartphone) they’ve used it to their advantage - classic Apple sales tactics!
Sound & Haptics
The speakers on the 6P sound great with bass, depth and that immersive sound. I’ve not experienced any issues connecting wireless Bose or AirPods Max headphones. Haptics, now this is where I reckon Apple is currently overall better than Google. Now I do love the Pixels haptics, they’re intense & make the 6 Pro come alive! Best Android haptics I’ve experienced. However, the 13PM haptics motor just feels more solid, it’s difficult to explain.
Also, I noticed the power button is a bit too high on the 6 Pro, placement on the right hand side by the volume rocker is a strange decision - that would bother some people. Call quality has been fine, perfectly clear both calling and incoming calls.
Battery
Again, battery has been covered absolutely everywhere. 6 Pro in my usage is great and lasts me the whole day but 13 Pro Max clearly remains the battery champion. Hoping either a software update will help or the Tensor chip learning so to yield better battery gains for the 6 Pro. Also 30W fast charging could be quicker, it’s not the best nor fastest. Wireless charging with Pixel Stand 2 will hopefully be faster at 23W than previous Pixel Stand. In contrast, the 13PM is beast for the battery although arguably maybe that has having more to do with easier managing of IOS than the Pixel has with Android 12 and Material You! Expecting the 6 Pro battery to improve over time.
Tensor chip & Material You with Android 12
I want to talk about the new Tensor chip & A12. Coming back to Android from primarily using iOS the last 2 years, Android 12 just feels like we’re running in 2021 not 2010! I love what Google have done with Material You, making everything customisable especially with the colour palettes but also easy to use and accessible. Having the wallpaper colours transfer to the rest of the interface & icons is just second to none - first class. For me, stock Android and Material You is bang on for Google. Security is high level too. In my view, Google are aiming Android 12, specifically Material You, directly at iOS users by removing all the complications of actually using previous Android software to make for a fun but also cool & modern experience. Everything is logical, straightforward and reliable with Android 12 with the Tensor chip, I wasn’t actually expecting that if I’m honest. Not had a chance to delve into Developer Options on A12 yet so more things to tweak in there will undoubtedly help.
One negative for current Android users would be customisation is certainly not as good on the Pixel as other Android phones like Samsung etc. Good example is always on display where you cannot customise as much. Having said that, it’s still light years ahead of the iPhone with customisation - iOS needs a much needed overhaul.
I’m going to caveat this by saying, as usual, there are early software bugs with Android 12 as with any new Android release that will need ironing out with software updates like in the notifications bar etc.
As for the new Tensor itself, it is flagship processing specs, it does some really cool stuff like helps the 6 Pro understand what your doing / how your using your Pixel. Tensor helps with the 6 Pro being super responsive with super fast & smooth scrolling speeds and split-screen multi-tasking that is all first class.
Pixel Features
As always with a Pixel it has those extra features that now take advantage of new Tensor chip. Google translation is remarkable but the new Google text to speech is where it’s really at - just unbelievable - 100% accurate and one of my personal favourite new features as well as a primary key feature of the Pixel 6 Pro. I’ve actually stopped typing less and using my voice more! Apple will need to learn from Google on this one as the iPhone’s Siri is nowhere close to Google. Other Pixel features that I like include Extra Dim, Now Playing and Call Screening, plus other Pixel only features. Fortunately the Pixel now has the tap on the back like the iPhone to perform key functions, this works with the official case too. To add, I tested two demanding games and had zero issues with freezing or slow frame rates, another testament to the Tensor chip.
Switching from iOS to Android
To any iPhone users considering switching to Android, I reckon the Pixel 6 Pro is the perfect opportunity to do exactly this, more than any other Android phone in the last few years. Google have at last given us techies a fully competing flagship. For us in the UK with the 6 Pro starting price tag of £899 price & Bose 700 headphones thrown in worth minimum £200 on resale, make the Pixel absolutely exceptional value for money against the 13 Pro Max starting price of £1099. The 6 Pro is a no-brainier purchase. I’d also throw it out that the Pixel 6 at £599 entry price will be the best value smartphone of 2021.
If Google improve their video quality and battery plus release a Pixel watch for the Pixel 7 release, they’ll have a real iPhone killer combo! I will continue to keep the dual run of both my Pixel 6 Pro and 13 Pro Max. I would love Google to have the seamless experience Apple has evolved across devices. Using the Apple Watch may put of potential iPhone users to switch to the Pixel but I’d say the Pixel is worth the switch!
To finish, I gotta say switching back & forth from both the Apple 13 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 6 Pro has been really interesting. The 3 real benefits of the iPhone over the Apple for me are video, battery and haptics. Apart from those, the Pixel competes and often excels the iPhone. On a purely personal point, the 6 Pro hits on an emotional level in terms of the way it actually makes you feel using it. The Pixel experience feels smart, modern & cool whereas the iPhone UI feels very much generic and outdated despite some new features, as a user you just know what you will get - a solid Apple experience but not awe-inspiring. Other Androids out there can’t match that feeling of using the Pixel either due to their software UI overlay. Sony come the closest to Google with their stripped back UI. Sounds strange trying to get it down into words, this is hard to describe but hopefully you all get what I mean!
Anyway, appreciate the read, I had a lot to say!
