Google unveiled its latest Pixel smartphones at its fall hardware event on October 19th. There’s a lot to be excited about with the new Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but if you have an older Pixel, you may be wondering if it’s worth the upgrade.
Although we’d need a whole review to answer that question (and trust us, it’s coming!), we also put together this quick comparison to show what you get with a Pixel 6 over the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4.
Pixel 6
Pixel 6 Pro
Pixel 5
Google Pixel 4 XL
Display
6.4-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2400) OLED display, 411ppi, 90Hz refresh rate
6.7-inch, (1440 x 3120) LTPO AMOLED display, 512ppi, 120Hz refresh rate
6.0-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display, 432 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
6.3-inch, OLED display, 1440 x 3040 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 19:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Tensor
Tensor
Snapdragon 765G
Snapdragon 855
RAM
8GB of RAM
12GB of RAM
8GB of RAM
6GB of RAM
Storage
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB
128GB
64GB, 128GB
Dimensions (in.)
160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2mm
163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9mm
144.7 x 70.4 x 8.0mm
160.4 x 75.1 x 8..2mm
Weight
207g
210g
151g
193g
Rear Facing Camera
50-megapixel (primary) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
50-megapixel (primary) + 48-megapixel (telelphoto, x4 zoom) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
12.2-megapixel (f/1.7) + 16-megapixel (f/2.2, ultrawide)
16-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, wide angle) + 12.2-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, telephoto)
Front Facing Camera
8-megapixel
11.1-megapixel
8-megapixel (f//2.0)
8-megapixel (f/2.0, ultra-wide)
OS
Android 12
Android 12
Android 11
Android 10
Battery
4,600mAh
5,000mAh
4,000mAh
3700mAh
Network Connectivity
LTE/ 5G
LTE/ 5G
GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Sensors
Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass
Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass
Fingerprint (rear), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass`
face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
SIM Type
Nano SIM, eSIM
Nano SIM, eSIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM, eSIM
Launch Date
October 28, 2021
October 28, 2021
September 30, 2020
October 15, 2019
Misc
Colours: Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance
Colours: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance
Colours: Just Black | Subtle Sage, 90Hz refresh rate
Colours: Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White | Motion Sense, face unlock, New Assistant (coming to Canada), Active Edge
Display
Pixel 6
6.4-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2400) OLED display, 411ppi, 90Hz refresh rate
Pixel 6 Pro
6.7-inch, (1440 x 3120) LTPO AMOLED display, 512ppi, 120Hz refresh rate
Pixel 5
6.0-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display, 432 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Google Pixel 4 XL
6.3-inch, OLED display, 1440 x 3040 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 19:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Pixel 6
Tensor
Pixel 6 Pro
Tensor
Pixel 5
Snapdragon 765G
Google Pixel 4 XL
Snapdragon 855
RAM
Pixel 6
8GB of RAM
Pixel 6 Pro
12GB of RAM
Pixel 5
8GB of RAM
Google Pixel 4 XL
6GB of RAM
Storage
Pixel 6
128GB, 256GB
Pixel 6 Pro
128GB, 256GB
Pixel 5
128GB
Google Pixel 4 XL
64GB, 128GB
Dimensions (in.)
Pixel 6
160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2mm
Pixel 6 Pro
163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9mm
Pixel 5
144.7 x 70.4 x 8.0mm
Google Pixel 4 XL
160.4 x 75.1 x 8..2mm
Weight
Pixel 6
207g
Pixel 6 Pro
210g
Pixel 5
151g
Google Pixel 4 XL
193g
Rear Facing Camera
Pixel 6
50-megapixel (primary) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
Pixel 6 Pro
50-megapixel (primary) + 48-megapixel (telelphoto, x4 zoom) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
Pixel 5
12.2-megapixel (f/1.7) + 16-megapixel (f/2.2, ultrawide)
Google Pixel 4 XL
16-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, wide angle) + 12.2-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, telephoto)
Front Facing Camera
Pixel 6
8-megapixel
Pixel 6 Pro
11.1-megapixel
Pixel 5
8-megapixel (f//2.0)
Google Pixel 4 XL
8-megapixel (f/2.0, ultra-wide)
OS
Pixel 6
Android 12
Pixel 6 Pro
Android 12
Pixel 5
Android 11
Google Pixel 4 XL
Android 10
Battery
Pixel 6
4,600mAh
Pixel 6 Pro
5,000mAh
Pixel 5
4,000mAh
Google Pixel 4 XL
3700mAh
Network Connectivity
Pixel 6
LTE/ 5G
Pixel 6 Pro
LTE/ 5G
Pixel 5
GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G
Google Pixel 4 XL
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Sensors
Pixel 6
Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass
Pixel 6 Pro
Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass
Pixel 5
Fingerprint (rear), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass`
Google Pixel 4 XL
face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
SIM Type
Pixel 6
Nano SIM, eSIM
Pixel 6 Pro
Nano SIM, eSIM
Pixel 5
Nano SIM
Google Pixel 4 XL
Nano SIM, eSIM
Launch Date
Pixel 6
October 28, 2021
Pixel 6 Pro
October 28, 2021
Pixel 5
September 30, 2020
Google Pixel 4 XL
October 15, 2019
Misc
Pixel 6
Colours: Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance
Pixel 6 Pro
Colours: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance
Pixel 5
Colours: Just Black | Subtle Sage, 90Hz refresh rate
Google Pixel 4 XL
Colours: Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White | Motion Sense, face unlock, New Assistant (coming to Canada), Active Edge
First things first: the specs. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are much larger than their predecessors, boasting 6.4-inch and 6.71-inch displays respectively. It’s also worth noting that the Pixel 6 continues offering a 90Hz display, while the 6 Pro bumps that up to 120Hz. As for RAM, the Pixel 6 is on par with the Pixel 5 at 8GB, while the Pixel 6 Pro boasts a whopping 12GB. Both the 6 and 6 Pro start at 128GB of storage and offer larger batteries at 4,600mAh and 5,000mAh respectively.
One of the biggest differences, however, is the new Google Tensor system-on-a-chip (SoC). While previous Pixel phones used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, this time around Google’s Tensor is powering all the new features. It’s arguably the star of the show — during the reveal event, Google showed off how Tensor enables new features like Magic Eraser, live translate and more.
Unfortunately, Tensor is going to be the main reason why many new Pixel 6 features don’t find their way back to older Pixel models. Google says that it designed the chip to power these features to improve efficiency and make them work faster — without Tensor, those features won’t work (or won’t work as well).
It still remains to be seen what performance is like with Tensor, but my guess is it’ll be fine thanks to Google’s optimization magic.
All-new camera
Another area that saw significant improvement was the camera. Google’s Pixel camera hardware hasn’t meaningfully changed in years, but the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro make some huge changes.
The most notable change is the new camera bar that extends across the back of the phone. It’s certainly a unique look, although I’m interested to see how large it is in real life. There’s the new 50-megapixel primary sensor, which is also larger than before. All this should mean we’ll see higher-res photos with more light from the Pixel 6 series.
Both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro also feature 12-megapixel ultrawide cameras, while the 6 Pro sports a 48-megapixel telephoto lens in a ‘periscope’ configuration. The periscope technique involves using a prism to reflect the light at a 90-degree angle, allowing phones to have more extensive lens configurations that extend through the body of the phone.
Couple with Google’s AI and ML magic and several impressive new features like ‘Magic Eraser,’ the new camera hardware looks set to provide some stunning pictures.
Considering all these new things together, it definitely looks like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will be must-have devices for most Pixel owners. Those with a Pixel 5 likely won’t need to upgrade, but the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro make a compelling case (at least, on paper).
For all of our coverage from Google’s Pixel 6 series event, follow this link.
Image credit: Google
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