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It’s important not to purely focus on the performance aspects of Tensor, as it doesn’t really seem to be the area Google is focussing on and there are plenty of phones out there that do place a greater emphasis on pure performance. It falls well behind the A15 Bionic chipset in Geekbench numbers and while it just about beats the Exynos 2100 for single-core performance, it’s not as capable when it comes to multi-core. Android 12 will of course be available on older Pixel phones (and other Android devices, although don’t expect the same features everywhere), but it does feel as if it has been designed for these Pixel phones specifically. Battery Life It isn’t just the hardware that’s seen a significant overhaul. The Pixel 6 also comes with Android 12, which brings with it a radically updated look and feel, courtesy of Google’s new “Material You” design language.
The Google Pixel 6 represents quite a departure from recent Pixel phone launches. Not only is it unashamedly premium in its design, but it costs the same amount as the Pixel 5 did at launch, is significantly faster and comes with improved cameras and a revamped UI. Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a: For '24-hour': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and the use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 31 hours. Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For 'up to 72 hours': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that for the 'up to 72 hours' claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower. Rumours suggest Tensor is built by Samsung, and is similar to one of the Korean brand’s Exynos chips that you’d find in many European versions of its phones. However, it also features a number of elements that Google has been refining over the years, including a focus AI and ML (machine learning). I do miss having a 120Hz refresh rate though and it’s one of few features I really wish this phone had. It’s not that uncommon to see 120Hz at this price (Asus Zenfone 8, OnePlus 9) either.
Google’s cut-throat Pixel 6 is a force to be reckoned with
Pixel 6a: For '24-hour': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and the use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 29 hours. Battery testing conducted using sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For 'Up to 72 hours': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that for the 'up to 72 hours' claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower. The all-day battery, reimagined interface and Smooth Display all adapt to the way you use your phone. Plus you get powerful 5G and enhanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. But that release is finally here and the Google Pixel 6 is now available to buy. I’ve had the Pixel 6 for about 10 days now and I have many thoughts about the direction Google has taken. Let’s start with regular daytime snaps. Most phones can handle these well, but the Pixel 6 certainly impresses thanks to that big sensor. There’s a wonderful shallow depth of field look when you’re up close to an object, like the tacos below, and this gives a real professional look to snaps. There’s loads of detail in the fur Bright colours pop The camera, design, performance and just about everything else has been improved. If you thought Google was going to fall into the rhythm of taking no risks with its phones after 2020’s focus on cheaper devices then both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will prove you wrong.
All the zoom skills on the Pixel 6 come via digital zoom and while the results are actually not bad (see the images of the coffee beans) it’s not a match for an actual folded zoom lens like the Pro. For digital zoom, it’s not too bad Magic Eraser, Real Tone, and Face Unblur are a few of the new camera features that the Tensor SoC makes possible. Except for Real Tone, which uses inclusive color science for more accurate representations of BIPOC people, none will fix a photo that's seriously messed up. Tensor is the first chip made by Google, just for Pixel. It's the same chip used in Pixel 6 Pro, so it helps keep your phone running smoothly and efficiently. So how does Tensor compete with the competition? Looking at the comparison, single-core speeds are matched with the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100, but Qualcomm and Samsung’s top-end mobile chipsets both outperform Google’s in regards to multi-core processing. The Apple A15 Bionic found inside the iPhone 13 is still top dog in both metrics. There’s glass at the front and rear, which is quite a departure from the recent plastic-bodied Pixel phones, and both panels are constructed from Corning’s toughest phone glass yet: Gorilla Glass Victus. There’s also IP68 dust and water resistance, as well as an optical under-screen fingerprint reader in a change from the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor of recent Pixels.
Other improvements within Android 12 include changes to widget settings, a one-handed mode and a new AppSearch feature. This allows you to search for stuff within an app in the phone’s settings menu, rather than launching the app itself. The selfie camera is on par with the 11.1MP lens on the more expensive Pro model (Photo: Steven Winkelman) Throughout the 10 days I have been using the Google Pixel 6 it has typically gotten me through the day with about 5-10% or so left by the end of it. On the other hand, battery life isn’t the Pixel 6’s strong suit. Lasting just a bit longer than the Pixel 6 Pro, the regular model topped out at just 18hrs 34mins in our video-rundown test, which represents a stamina decrease of 19% compared to 2020’s Pixel 5 (22hrs 54mins). You’ll be charging the phone more often, which is a shame. For the selfie camera, images are fine but nothing special. It’s a similar story for video, especially compared to the iPhone 13. 4K 60fps video looks good and the stabilisation is excellent, but there’s certainty fewer options here than elsewhere. Performance
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