THE Google Pixel 5 it hasn’t come out a long time ago – the phone has only been selling since last October – but the world of smartphones changes rapidly. And the details about Google Pixel 6 are already coming into focus.
It is unlikely that we will see the next flagship phone from Google by the end of this year, but that will not stop rumors and speculation about the Pixel 6 from bubbling up. Some tempting leaks have given us an idea of what the phone can offer when it arrives.
Internal code names for future Google phones were leaked last year – Passport, Raven and Oriole. The passport is believed to refer to a possible Google foldable phone, but that Raven and Oriole could be previous versions of Pixel 6. Maybe a standard and an XL model?
There is certainly room for improvement over the Pixel 5, a solid phone that continues Google’s tradition of producing great cameras, but has little power compared to some of the best android phones out there.
Here’s what we’ve heard so far about the Pixel 6’s release date, price, specs and features, as well as what we’d like to see on the next Google phone.
Google Pixel 6 release date
Google is quite predictable when it comes to launching Pixel flagships. Its main phones are almost always launched in October. A notable exception? The Pixel 5, which advanced one day on its debut to September 30 last year.
We expect Google to graduate and aim for the Pixel 6 launch in early October, although there are no rumors or leaks confirming this yet.
The Pixel 6 is probably not the only phone we’ll see from Google this year. Although the rumor is unlikely to Pixel 5 Pro will see the light of day, a Pixel 5a will probably appear at some point in 2021. Pixel 3a made its debut at Google I / O in May 2019, while the problems of COVID-19 pushed the Pixel 4a launch for late summer 2020. We expect the launch in the spring of the next Google economy phone, but that could change.
Google Pixel 6 Price
The pricing strategy for Pixel’s flagships is more difficult to understand. While Pixel 4 was launched as a premium model starting at $ 799 / £ 699, Pixel 5 was launched at $ 699 / £ 599. Of course, in order to get that lower price, Google had to make concessions like choosing for a less powerful processor than you would expect from a flagship phone.
It is unlikely that Google will want to further reduce the price of the Pixel 6, so the question will be whether it will again produce a more premium phone or stick to the price of the Pixel 5. We are assuming it will be the last, since both Apple Samsung opted for lower base prices on their phones – the iPhone 12 mini costs $ 699, while the Galaxy S21 starts at $ 799.
Google Pixel 6 cameras
The Pixel line has always had a strong reputation for excellence in the camera department. And while we are certainly impressed by the images produced by the Pixel 5, in a way that model looked like a throwback. Google removed the telephoto lens present on the Pixel 4 and continues to use a 12.2 MP IMX363 sensor that was very outdated even at launch.
It is unclear whether the telephoto lens will return with the Pixel 6, either as a replacement for the ultra-wide shooter or as a third lens. (We would vote in the latter case if Google is asking for opinions.) The only persistent rumor about the Pixel 6 camera that we heard is that Google may present a front-facing camera on its new phone.
ONE Google patent shows the appearance of a camera under the display and hopes that the feature will appear on the Pixel 6. ZTE has already defeated Google with the ZTE Axon 20 5G, which was the first phone with a camera on display.
Google Pixel 6 design
Google was not afraid to reinvent the appearance of the Pixel line over its various iterations, so the Pixel 6 could look very different compared to its predecessors.
The Pixel 5 was notable for using an aluminum chassis, although it was smart incorporating bio-resin plastic to allow the phone to support wireless charging. Pixel 6 is also likely to adopt this design element.
Heavy camera sets seem to be in fashion these days, so we don’t expect Google to try to cut the camera’s crop. At the very least, Google can take a look at the Galaxy S21 book and find a way to make the camera set less prominent with the Pixel 5.
As we approach the fall, we hope to see more conceptual designs and real leaks that give us an idea of what the Pixel 6 might look like.
Google Pixel 6 screen
Screen refresh rates have been a major focus for smartphone screens recently, and Google believes it will remain part of that trend with Pixel 6. Google has added a faster refresh rate to its main phones with Pixel 4 in 2019, and this will likely continue with your new device. The only question is whether Google increases the speed from the current 90 Hz to 120 Hz for Pixel 6.
Google Pixel 6: should we expect an XL model?
Google typically released two versions of the Pixel, a standard model and an XL version, although that approach ended with Pixel 5, which is only available as a 6-inch model. To get a bigger screen, you must go back to the 6.2 inch Pixel 4a 5G. Whether Google again gives us a choice between multiple screen sizes, it probably depends on how well the current models are doing.
As noted above, the leaked documents offer two codenames thought to belong to Pixel 6 – Raven and Oriole. It seems likely that one of them is the standard Pixel 6 and the other an XL model, although this is not a guarantee. And even if there is a second model of the Pixel 6, Google could easily stop working on it as supposedly happened to the Pixel 5 XL.
Google Pixel 6 specifications
With the Pixel 6’s likely launch even more than half a year away, the full specifications of the phone remain a mystery.
The biggest question Google faces will be which processor to use in its next flagship. With the Pixel 5, Google opted for the Snapdragon 765G, a capable system-on-chip, but nowhere near as powerful as Qualcomm’s Series 8 chipsets, like the Snapdragon 865 that powered many of last year’s top Android phones.
Qualcomm’s silicone leader at the moment is the Snapdragon 888 – that’s what’s fueling the Galaxy S21 family, and you will undoubtedly see it inside more phones when the Pixel 6 launch arrives. Choosing the Snapdragon 888 may raise the price of the Pixel 6, but there is a possible alternative for Google.
Qualcomm also launched the Snapdragon 870 5G, which is essentially a more advanced version of the Snapdragon 865 Plus. We would assume that the chipset costs less than the 888 and could be an option for phone makers like Google, which produce premium phones, but have a fixed eye on the overall cost. Like the Snapdragon 888, the 870 incorporates a 5G modem, so the Pixel 5 would still be compatible with the emerging wireless network standard, no matter what chipset it uses.
Qualcomm praised several phone manufacturers who plan to use the Snapdragon 870, and Google was not on that list, but that does not stop Google from adapting the chipset for the Pixel 6 later this year.
Or, if the rumors are true, Google may be about to deal a blow to Qualcomm and become the owner of Qualcomm, developing its own chipset with the help of Samsung. That rumor came at the end of last year, and the chips resulting from the partnership may reach Pixel phones starting this year.
Google Pixel 6 battery
Previous pixels had difficulties in the battery life department. With a 4,000 mAh battery, the Pixel 5 ran for 9 hours and 29 minutes in its standard 90 Hz mode in our battery test, which is below average for a smartphone. Pixel 5 offers an Adaptive Battery feature to control which applications consume power.
Google could choose a larger battery for the Pixel 6, especially if it increases the refresh rate on the phone’s screen. (The faster the refresh rate, the greater the impact on battery life.)
Google Pixel 6: will there be a charger?
There is another problem with battery life and charging that has suddenly become relevant for the next phones, like the Pixel 6 – will it include a charger?
Last fall, Apple became the first phone maker to stop including chargers on its phone when it shipped the four iPhone 12 models without the accessory in the box. Apple says the move is better for the environment, and while some rival companies rolled their eyes at Apple’s decision, they also followed suit. Samsung also does not include a charger on Galaxy S21 models.
So it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see the Pixel 6 come with little more than just a USB-C charging cable next to the phone. It is better to start accumulating these energy blocks as a precaution, as it seems that this sector trend is here to stay.
Google Pixel 6: what we want
When Pixel 6 comes out, we’ll not only be inundated with current phones like the Galaxy S21, but Apple will likely have launched the iPhone 13. (And there may be additional Samsung phones, like a new Galaxy Z Fold model.) Given this level of competition, Google has a difficult job making the Pixel 6 stand out from the crowd.
See how we think Google can do that.
Three camera setup: Offering three cameras is fast becoming an industry standard (at least on major models), so Google’s Pixel smartphones are discrepant with just two rear lenses. The Pixel 6 could rectify this omission by offering a trio of cameras – a combination of prime, telephoto and ultra-wide camera. In addition, it will maintain Pixel’s reputation as one of the best camera phones very intact.
120 Hz display: The 90 Hz refresh rate for the Pixel 5 is good, but 120 Hz would be even better and we would love to see that on the Pixel 6. Especially with services like Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as xCloud) with big budget streaming games for phones, this higher refresh rate will really elevate games.
HDMI support:We appreciate that Google wants to encourage people to buy a Chromecast, but there is no excuse for the Pixel 6 not to support HDMI video output via a USB-C to HDMI connector. Being able to connect your phone to a TV in this way is very convenient, especially when traveling. Having to use a Chromecast (not to mention having to buy one in the first place) to bring the contents of your phone to a TV looks so archaic, so this is something that Google could easily fix.