Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: What’s the difference?

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are here, and there’s plenty new with these two smartphones. They feature a completely new design, the all-new Google Tensor chip, improved cameras, and plenty of other exciting bells and whistles.

There wasn’t much difference between the regular and XL versions with previous Pixel generations, except for the size. This time around, the Pro earns its moniker. Let’s take a look at all the differences between the two phones in this Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro comparison.

Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro come with a unique new look that really stands out. The prominent camera bar is hard to miss and will give case manufacturers nightmares. There’s also an interesting mix of colorways available, with the section above the camera bump adding a nice contrast to the handsets. A standard black with silver top is the only shared colorway.

See also: Hands-on with the Google Pixel 6

Both phones have a polished aluminum frame with a glass back, giving them a more premium look and feel than the matte aluminum finish of the Pixel 5. There’s a slight difference with the glass used, however. While the 6 Pro comes with the latest and toughest Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back, the smaller Pixel only uses Victus on the front, while the back is covered with the older Gorilla Glass 6. There’s also a difference in size and weight, with the Pro model obviously being larger and heavier — check the table above for more detailed info.

The two Pixel phones feature different displays. The Pixel 6 comes with a flat 6.4-inch Full HD+ panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the screen of the Pixel 6 Pro comes in at 6.7 inches, has a Quad HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and is curved on the sides. It offers more on paper, but some may prefer the slightly more compact size of the Pixel 6’s display.

Hardware and cameras

The all-new Google Tensor chip powers both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Google’s attempt at going the Apple route is bound to dominate the conversation for a while as we figure out precisely what kind of performance you’ll get. It’s hard to make a final call without more hands-on testing, but we can expect flagship, or at least close to flagship performance with both these phones. Google’s version of Android 12 will also undoubtedly contribute to smooth performance.

Read more: Google Pixel 6 Pro first impressions

The vanilla Pixel 6 comes with 8GB of RAM, while the Pixel 6 Pro ups that to 12GB. The Pro offers more in this area, but keep in mind that 8GB of RAM is still more than enough in 2021. But if you want to future-proof your device, having more RAM is obviously the better choice. As far as storage is concerned, both phones come in 128GB and 256GB variants, but the Pro model can also be had with 512GB of storage.

The larger size of the 6 Pro allowed Google to pack a 5,000mAh battery into the phone, while the Pixel 6 comes with a smaller 4,500mAh unit. However, we can expect battery life to be quite similar across the board, given the more demanding high resolution and refresh rate display of the Pixel 6 Pro. Both phones also come with 30W fast charging, giving you a 50% charge in around 30 minutes. It’s nowhere close to the quickest charging we’ve seen, but it’s still a necessary and timely upgrade. Of course, you’ll need to buy a compatible Power Delivery PPS charger for full speeds since neither comes with one in the box. Both phones also feature fast wireless charging.

Everyone calling for Google to upgrade its camera hardware finally has a reason to rejoice. Both phones come with a 50MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. Google also added a 48MP telephoto camera to the Pixel 6 Pro with 4x optical zoom, meaning that the phone offers more versatility when it comes to photography than its smaller brother.

Even with an aging spec sheet, Google’s cameras have always been among the best smartphone cameras you can get. The hardware upgrade should only make things better, although we’ll have to wait to review them before our final verdict.

A somewhat surprising difference between the two phones is the front-facing camera. Now at a central position along the top edge, the Pixel 6 comes with an 8MP front-facing camera, while the 6 Pro has an 11.1MP selfie shooter. I’m not sure this difference was particularly necessary, but it’s something else that gives the 6 Pro a leg up in this comparison, at least on paper.

Price and colors

The Pixel 6 is priced at a surprisingly affordable $599, making it even cheaper than the Pixel 5 at launch. The Pixel 6 Pro jumps into flagship territory not only with its specs and features but also with its starting price. Starting at $899, it’s the most expensive Pixel yet. But this time, it doesn’t feel like it’s more expensive than it should be. The price is in line with the competition, and Google has introduced plenty of hardware and software upgrades to make the 6 Pro a worthy competitor in the flagship space.

As far as colorways go, Stormy Black, black and a silver top, is the only common option with the two phones. The Pixel 6 is also available in Kinda Coral and Sorta Seafoam, while the Pixel 6 Pro has Cloudy White and Sorta Sunny as the two extra colorways.

Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Which should you buy?

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are powered by the same processor, look almost the same, and come with an IP68 rating for water resistance. You’ll get three years of software updates and five years of security updates regardless of which phone you get. But that’s where the similarities between the two end.

The 6 Pro has a display with a higher resolution and refresh rate, more RAM, a larger battery, an extra rear camera, and a better selfie shooter. The high-end version of the phone also comes with more storage at 512GB. It’s also understandably more expensive than the vanilla Pixel 6.

The Pixel 6 Pro offers more, but the regular Pixel is still a great phone. You get solid performance, impressive cameras, a great software experience, and more than decent battery life for a relatively affordable price tag. The footprint of the handset is also smaller, making it just a little more compact.

If you’re looking for the best Google has to offer in 2021, the Pixel 6 Pro is the way to go. But if you don’t care about all the extra bells and whistles the Pro model offers and want to save some money, the Pixel 6 is the better choice.