The Google Pixel 6 is a proper flagship phone for under $1k

After teasing its latest handsets for almost three months, Google has finally taken the wraps off the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. After focusing more on affordable and "semi-premium" devices last year, the pair represents the search giant's return to the flagship space, with its sights clearly set on the likes of Apple and Samsung. What's surprising, however, is pricing. 

The Pixel 6 starts at just $999, while the Pixel 6 Pro will set you back $1,299 for an entry-level model. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S21 now starts at $999 thanks to recent price-cuts while you'll need to drop at least $1,199 for an iPhone 13 mini.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here's the important stuff. Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are available for pre-order from today ahead of an October 28 launch. 

If you pre-order either phone from Telstra, you'll save $200 off the outright price of the device, across the length of your term. And if you pre-order either device from Optus or Vodafone, you'll get a free pair of Pixel Buds A-series. 

While the pricing certainly is attractive, the biggest difference between the Pixel 6 pair and any other phone is the processor. Instead of using a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip like past Pixels and the vast majority of Android smartphones, the new devices use a custom-made chip designed by Google.

Dubbed Tensor, Google says the processor is 80% faster than the chipset found in last year's Pixel 5. But rather than focusing on performance, Google says Tensor is more about on-device artificial intelligence, and helps enable better voice-to-text, faster translation, and better photography, all while saving power.

When it comes to photography, the Pixel 6 features a 50MP primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The Pixel 6 Pro adds to this with a 48MP 4x optical zoom lens. Google says the primary sensor captures 150% more light than the Pixel 5, so we're expecting better low light performance. 

In addition to upgraded hardware, the Pixel 6 cameras are full of new software tricks. There's a "Magic Eraser" that can get rid of unwanted people in the background of your photos, and a "Motion Mode" that creates realistic blur around moving subjects or can be used for long exposure effects (like silky waterfalls). Google also says the Pixel 6 is now better at accurately capturing the skin tone of non-caucasian subjects. 

There are of course other differences between the phones: the Pixel 6 is a 6.4-inch handset with a flat 90Hz display, while the Pixel 6 Pro has a subtly curved 6.7-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both use the traditional glass-and-metal sandwich design we've come to expect from phones, but the Pixel 6 has a matte finish on its aluminium frame, while the Pixel 6 Pro has a polished appearance. 

Google says both phones tout an "all day" battery, and can charge from flat to 50% in about half-an-hour. As has become the trend, the wall plug is now sold separately. 

While both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro feature 5G connectivity, the Pixel 6 Pro is the first device to launch in Australia that supports mmWave. mmWave is a faster form of 5G that operates on higher frequencies. This allows for faster download speeds - over 3Gbps - but at the cost of range. At present, there is almost mmWave coverage in Australia, so it isn't really a reason to consider the Pixel 6 Pro over any other smartphone. 

Here's a complete rundown of how the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro compare in terms of hardware:

The Pixel 6 is available in a choice of Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, and Storm Black. The Pixel 6 Pro comes in Sorta Sunny, Cloudy White, and Storm Black. 

In addition to offering three years of operating system updates, Google says the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will get five years of security updates. 

Complete pricing for the new phones is as follows: 

• Pixel 6 (128GB): $999
• Pixel 6 (256GB): $1,129

• Pixel 6 Pro (128GB): $1,299
• Pixel 6 Pro (256GB): $1,449
• Pixel 6 Pro (512GB): $1,599

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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