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The Pixel 6 Pro is the elephant in the roomįeel and design aside, we’ve got to talk about the physical size of this phone. It’s almost an eyesore since it’s visible from the front, but once again, a case quickly solves that problem. The “window” is used for the mmWave 5G radio and isn’t unique to the Pixel, but Google’s version is larger and more obvious than others. The other little quirk about the device is the plastic “antenna window” at the top of the frame. This is something that’ll probably annoy you for a couple of hours, but after that, I forgot about it entirely. All phones with OIS rattle when you shake them, but the Pixel 6 Pro is louder. What is still a little noticeable is that the camera module rattles a bit more than others. With a case on, it’s not even noticeable. Its wide stance means the phone won’t rock on a table, and it’s not so large that it gets caught on your pocket. It’s certainly large, but I found it entirely acceptable. Matte glass would have only sweetened the deal.Īlso notable is the camera module, which juts out the back of the device. I really would have preferred if Google used the matte black coating from the standard model on the frame of the Pro device, as it’s a nice change of pace from your typical smartphone design and adds both grip and a “soft” element to the design. However, the two together are a slippery pair that had me rushing to slap on a case. The polished aluminum frame, too, is comfortable. The glossy glass is far from my favorite design trait, but the oleophobic coating feels quite good in the hand. In the hand, the feel is a bit of a mixed bag.
I just wish Google hadn’t fallen into the same trap as Samsung in thinking that “Pro” customers want the dullest colors in existence but instead had embraced bright and fun colors to go with Material You. It’s still a bit dull for my taste, but the subtle gold shades look really nice in person. When it comes to the colors, I think the “Sorta Sunny” color variant pictured here is by far the best one you can get on the Pro model. Yet, the other choices make it feel like Google is trying to keep up with its direct competition. Unique choices from Google, such as the large “visor” camera module and the dual-tone colors, ensure that you won’t confuse the Pixel for something from Samsung or OnePlus at a glance. The look of the Pixel 6 Pro is by no means offensive, and it still stands out. Over the past week using the Pixel 6 Pro, I’ve concluded that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
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The glossy glass back, polished aluminum frame, and curved display sides all bring up the memory of a typical Android flagship more than they do a Google device. That changes with the Pixel 6 Pro, a flashy flagship that looks like it came straight out of the minds of Samsung and OnePlus. They were never flashy or attention-grabbing, just practical designs that got the job done while looking aesthetically pleasing (notches aside).
Starting with the Pixel 2 and ramping up from there, Google’s design for Pixel smartphones fell in line with the company’s other products – This is to say they felt somehow more “human” and “soft” than other Android phones. Hardware A new take on Google’s smartphone design The Pixel 6 Pro is Google’s first true flagship with top-tier specs and the company’s own chipset under the hood, and it’s exactly what Google needed to put out at this moment in time. But finally, everything seems to have clicked into place. The Pixel 5, despite being a relatively good phone, was a low point for the entire series. It was a launch that changed the game for how we thought about Google’s hardware ambitions, but several generations in, things weren’t exactly working out all that well. 2016 marked a major year for Google, with the launch of Assistant and its first self-made smartphone, the Google Pixel.