Pixel 6 Pro: Everything we know about the biggest Pixel 6 phone

Google teased the Pixel 6 Pro on August 2, confirming the return of Google’s larger flagship model. The 6 Pro will feature an all-new design and be powered by Google’s own Tensor processor. Read on to discover everything we know about the premium Pixel so far.

This year, Google will be launching two flagship models: the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro (which this guide is all about). Google surprisingly announced both phones in early August, promising more details ahead of the official release this autumn.

The 6 Pro will mark the return of Google’s higher-priced flagship, which has been absent from the line up since the release of the Pixel 4 XL in 2019. If you haven’t already guessed from the title of this guide, the 6 Pro will also be the first to ditch the XL moniker for the new Pro title.

While we don’t know every detail about the phone just yet, Google has given Pixel fans a peak at the design as well as some insight into the AI-centric Tensor processor. However, there are also plenty of rumours to speculate on when it comes to the specs and the camera.

Here’s what we know about the Pixel 6 Pro so far, including when it will arrive, how much it could cost, what it’ll look like and what specs it will pack.

Pricing and release date 

While Google hasn’t officially confirmed a release date for the Pixel 6 line, we now know it’ll arrive “this fall”, which is autumn to us Brits.

Historically, the Pixel has launched in October, with last year’s Pixel 5 arriving even earlier on September 30, so it would make sense that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro follow this timeline. 

Pricing is less clear as Google isn’t spilling the beans just yet. The Pixel 5 marked a more affordable turn for Google at just £599/$699. It’s possible that Google could stick to this price with its base Pixel 6 and charge more for the Pro model. The Pixel 4 XL cost £829/$899 to the 4’s £669/$799, so we might see a similar £160/$100 increase for the 6 Pro.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound as though the Pixel 6 will continue the Pixel 5’s trend of affordable pricing anyway, which means the 6 Pro is likely to be even more costly.

Google’s SVP of devices and service Rick Osterloh told German news site Der Spiegel in August that that the 6 Pro “has been designed specifically for users who want the latest technology” and “will be expensive”, while even the base Pixel 6 will also be a “premium” phone that “belongs in the upper segment and can keep up with competing products”.

Screen and design 

Google has completely revamped the design for the Pixel 6 line and the devices look much better for it. Rumours of the three-tone rear-casing have proven accurate, along with the camera bar that spans the entire width of the phone’s rear casing. About an inch above that is a neat colour accent.

While not as pronounced as on the Pixel 6, the Pixel 6 Pro will have black, champagne and silver options with what appear to be modest colour accents beneath the phone’s top edges. It also offers a “light polished aluminium frame,” compared with the Pixel 6’s matte aluminium finish.

We don’t know the size or resolution of the Pixel 6 Pro display yet but Google is showcasing the front of the phone with a much higher screen to body ratio and much slimmer bezels. As predicted in recent leaks, the selfie camera is now a punch hole in the centre of the display close to the top bezel.

Google isn’t spilling too many design or display specs right now, but according to renders shared by OnLeaks via Digit.in, the Pixel 6 Pro will feature a 6.67-inch display compared to the 6.4-inches rumoured for the Pixel 6. We’ve also been hearing thew Pro model may support a higher refresh rate and may rock a plastic AMOLED display.

Specs and features 

One of the biggest updates rumoured to be coming to the Pixel line this year was a new homemade processor. That has now been confirmed by Google. The SoC is called Google Tensor and is designed to make the most of Google’s AI and machine learning advances.

It means Google will no longer need to rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips to power its homegrown smartphones and, the company says, will enable its phones to continue to get better over time.

In a blog post confirming the new processor, Google says: “Tensor enables us to make the Google phones we’ve always envisioned — phones that keep getting better, while tapping the most powerful parts of Google, all in a highly personalized experience. And with Tensor’s new security core and Titan M2, Pixel 6 will have the most layers of hardware security in any phone.”

Google also says evidence of the new chip’s prowess will be showcased in the “completely revamped” camera system as well as speech recognition when using the Assistant.”

Recently, a report by GalaxyClub (via SamMobile) has highlighted the matching codenames shared by the Google Tensor chip and Samsung’s Exynos 9855. Both processors have been referred to as ‘Whitechapel’, suggesting the Tensor could be the unreleased Samsung chip repackaged for Google. If this is true, it could mean good things for the Pixel 6 series’ performance. The Exynos chip shares a similar internal model number to the Exynos 2100, or Exynos 9840, powering Samsung’s current flagship Galaxy S21.

Right now, other unconfirmed specs include a 5,000mAh battery, 12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB/512GB of storage. For comparison’s sake, the regular 6 is expected to include a 4,614mAh battery, 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage. Again this is all rumour and won’t be confirmed by Google until this autumn.

The phone will also be powered by Google’s own Android 12 operating system. The company recently released the beta 4 version of Android 12 to registered users and revealed that the OS has reached platform stability meaning its close to being ready for a public release.



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Camera 

The Pixel 6 Pro will have a 4x optical zoom telephoto lens (presumably with a periscope design) and three rear-facing cameras in total. This is the first Pixel phone to ever rock a triple camera array.

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