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Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro review: Still the phone to get for Android purists

By Liu Hongzuo - 14 May 2022

Imaging Performance

Imaging Performance

Google Pixel 6 series rear camera specs
Google Pixel 6 Google Pixel 6 Pro
  • (Main) 50MP, f/1.85 aperture, 1.2μm pixel size, Octa PD, Quad Bayer
     
  • (Ultra-wide) 12MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1.25μm pixel size, 114° FOV
     
  • Laser detect Autofocus, OIS 
  • (Main) 50MP, f/1.85 aperture, 1.2μm pixel size, Octa PD, Quad Bayer
     
  • (Ultra-wide) 12MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1.25μm pixel size, 114° FOV
     
  • (Telephoto) 48MP, f/3.5 aperture, 0.8μm pixel size, 4x optical zoom, 20x Super Res zoom
     
  • Laser detect Autofocus, OIS

This time around, Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro imaging capabilities focus on its AI processing.

Namely, they are Magic Eraser (subject or distraction removal at the user’s will), Face Unblur (stacking wide and ultra-wide image data to sharpen subject faces), and Motion Mode (simulating panned and long exposure effects to give an illusion of speed in photography). Finally, there’s Real Tone for self-loving owners of all skin tones and colours.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro also check the boxes for high-quality video recording, allowing up to 4K60FPS via their rear cameras.

Folks deciding between 6 or 6 Pro should know that the 6 Pro touts an extra 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical and 20x hybrid zoom. Both models offer a 50MP main and 12MP ultra-wide camera. If you’re only concerned about hardware, the extra money you pay literally grants you an easier time to shoot clearer long-range photos. 

 

Magic Eraser

Below is a sample of how effective Magic Eraser can be. We used the feature to remove one object, and boy, was it clean. It’s not new for sure, given how other Android phones and their respective default image editors have similar removal tools. But, Magic Eraser is extremely easy to use, requires very little thought, and it’s undoubtedly ready right out of the box. 

Before Magic Eraser (original image) on the Pixel 6 Pro.

After applying Magic Eraser. Can you notice what's missing here?

Now, on to its sample images. We’ve categorised them based on each scenario, so you’ll know how each device handles photography for that shot, at one glance. Just remember that Pixel 6 is always the first shot, while the follow-up belongs to the Pro model.

 

Sample Images

In general, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro still deliver high-quality photos like their predecessors with great ease. If photography for social media usage is important to you, you won’t find much to gripe about with the 2021 Pixel handsets.
 

At the shop (daytime and shaded)

Pixel 6, Main Camera.

Pixel 6 Pro, Main Camera.

 

Outdoor at the playground

Pixel 6, Main Camera.

Pixel 6 Pro, Main Camera.

 

Outdoor at the park

Pixel 6, Main Camera.

Pixel 6 Pro, Main Camera.

 

 

Outdoor landscape

Pixel 6, Main Camera.

Pixel 6 Pro, Main Camera.

 

Outdoor landscape (Zoom Performance)

Note the differentiated zoom performance as the Pixel 6 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens, and it naturally fares a lot better than the Pixel 6 relying only on its main camera. Here, we've chosen to show each phone's max native zoom performance, followed by what combining digital zoom allowed, thus the differentiated zoom levels captured on each phone.

Pixel 6, 2x Zoom

Pixel 6, 7x Zoom

Pixel 6 Pro, 4x zoom.

Pixel 6 Pro, 20x zoom.

 

Outdoor landscape (Ultrawide Performance)

Pixel 6.

Pixel 6 Pro.

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