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

You get the same chip and design, but there are plenty of differences between the two new Pixels.
By
December 7, 2022
Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro left angled rear panels
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

A QUICK LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES

The main differences between the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are in the display, camera, battery, and memory departments.

The Pixel 6 Pro has:

  • A curved 6.7-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the Pixel 6's flat 6.4-inch Full HD+ panel with a 90Hz refresh rate.
  • More RAM at 12GB. The Pixel 6 comes with 8GB of RAM.
  • More storage — up to 512GB. The high-end Pixel 6 comes with 256GB of storage.
  • A bigger battery (5,000mAh vs 4,600mAh) with faster wireless charging (23W vs 21W).
  • An extra camera at the back — a 48MP telephoto lens.
  • A higher resolution selfie camera (11.1MP vs 8MP).

Read on to learn more about the differences in detail.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have plenty of new specs and features on offer. They feature a completely new design compared to their predecessors, the first generation of Google’s 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.

Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Specs

Google Pixel 6Google Pixel 6 Pro
Display
Google Pixel 6
6.4-inch OLED
20:9 aspect ratio
FHD+ resolution
2,400 x 1,080
411ppi
90Hz refresh rate
HDR support
24-bit depth

Gorilla Glass Victus front
Gorilla Glass 6 back
Google Pixel 6 Pro
6.7-inch OLED
19.5:9 aspect ratio
QHD+ resolution
3,120 x 1,440
512ppi
120Hz adaptive refresh rate
HDR support
24-bit depth

Gorilla Glass Victus front and back
Processor
Google Pixel 6
Google Tensor
Titan M2 security
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Google Tensor
Titan M2 security
RAM
Google Pixel 6
8GB LPDDR5
Google Pixel 6 Pro
12GB LPDDR5
Internal storage
Google Pixel 6
128GB or 256GB
UFS 3.1
Google Pixel 6 Pro
128, 256, or 512GB
UFS 3.1
Battery and power
Google Pixel 6
4,600mAh (typical)
Fast wired charging
USB-PD 3.0 (PPS)
21W wireless charging (w/ Pixel Stand)
12W Qi wireless charging
Battery share

No charger in box
Google Pixel 6 Pro
5,000mAh (typical)
Fast wired charging
USB-PD 3.0 (PPS)
23W wireless charging (w/ Pixel Stand)
12W Qi wireless charging
Battery share

No charger in box
Cameras
Google Pixel 6
Rear:
- 50MP main
1.2 μm, ƒ/1.85, 82-degree FoV
1/1.31-inch sensor
LDAF, OIS, and EIS
- 12MP ultra-wide
1.25 μm, ƒ/2.2, 114-degree FoV
- Laser AF

Front:
- 8MP single
1.12 μm, ƒ/2.0, 84-degree FoV
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Rear:
- 50MP main
1.2 μm, ƒ/1.85, 82-degree FoV
1/1.31-inch sensor
OIS and EIS
- 12MP ultra-wide
1.25 μm, ƒ/2.2, 114-degree FoV
- 48MP telephoto
0.8 μm, ƒ/3.5, 23.5-degree FoV
1/2-inch sensor
4x optical zoom
OIS and EIS
- Laser AF

Front:
- 11.1MP single
1.22 μm, ƒ/2.2, 94-degree FoV
Video
Google Pixel 6
Rear:
4K at 30/60FPS
1080p at 30/60FPS

Front:
1080p at 30FPS
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Rear:
4K at 30/60FPS
1080p at 30/60FPS

Front:
4K at 30FPS
1080p at 30/60FPS
Audio
Google Pixel 6
Stereo speakers
Triple mics
Bluetooth 5.2
No 3.5mm port
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Stereo speakers
Triple mics
Bluetooth 5.2
No 3.5mm port
Security
Google Pixel 6
In-display fingerprint
Titan M2 chip
5 years security updates

IP68-rated
Google Pixel 6 Pro
In-display fingerprint
Titan M2 chip
5 years security updates

IP68-rated
Buttons and ports
Google Pixel 6
USB-C 3.1 Gen 1
Power button
Volume rocker
Dual SIM (single nano and eSIM)

No expandable storage
No 3.5mm port
Google Pixel 6 Pro
USB-C 3.1 Gen 1
Power button
Volume rocker
Dual SIM (single nano and eSIM)

No expandable storage
No 3.5mm port
Connectivity
Google Pixel 6
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth 5.2
NFC support
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth 5.2
NFC support
UWB chip
Bands
Google Pixel 6
[5G Sub 6GHz] Model GB7N6
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1,2,4,5,6,8,19 LTE: Bands
B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13
14/17/18/19/20/25/26
28/29/30/32/38/39/40/
41/42/46/48/66/71
5G Sub-62: Bands
n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14
20/25/28/30/38/40
41/48/66/71/77/78
eSIM

[5G mmWave + Sub 6GHz] Model G9S9B3
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1,2,4,5,6,8,19
LTE: Bands
B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14
17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29
30/32/38/39/40/41/42
46/48/66/71
5G Sub-6: Bands
n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14
20/25/28/30/38/40
41/48/66/71/77/78
5G mmWave: Bands n257/n258/n260/n261
eSIM
Google Pixel 6 Pro
[5G Sub 6GHz] Model GLUOG
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1,2,4,5,6,8,19 LTE: Bands
B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14
17/18/19/20/25/26
28/29/30/32/38/39
40/41/42/46/48/66/71
5G Sub-62: Bands
n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14
20/25/28/30/38/40
41/48/66/71/77/78
eSIM

[5G mmWave + Sub 6GHz] Model G8VOU
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1,2,4,5,6,8,19
LTE: Bands
B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13
14/17/18/19/20/25
26/28/29/30/32/38/39
40/41/42/46/48/66/71
5G Sub-6: Bands
n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14
20/25/28/30/38
40/41/48/66/71/77/78
5G mmWave: Bands n257/n258/n260/n261
eSIM
Software
Google Pixel 6
Android 12
Pixel UI
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Android 12
Pixel UI
Dimensions and weight
Google Pixel 6
158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm
207g
Google Pixel 6 Pro
163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm
210g
Colors
Google Pixel 6
Stormy Black, Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Stormy Black, Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny
In-box contents
Google Pixel 6
1m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0)
Quick Switch adapter
SIM tool
Paperwork

No charger in box

(*France has charger and headphones included per local laws)
Google Pixel 6 Pro
1m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0)
Quick Switch adapter
SIM tool
Paperwork

No charger in box

(*France has charger and headphones included per local laws)

Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Design and display

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro perpendicular
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

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.

Here’s our take: Google Pixel 6 review

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.

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro displays scattered on table
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

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.


Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Hardware and cameras

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro bottom edges
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Google Tensor chip powers both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. It’s a great chip overall that can handle demanding tasks, but it’s not quite as good or fast as the best from Qualcomm.

Read more: Google Pixel 6 Pro revisited

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 2022. 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.

Google finally made a serious upgrade to the camera hardware.

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 ultrawide 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.

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro one on top
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

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.


Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Price and colors

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro camera closeups
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Pixel 6

  • 128GB: $599 / £599 / €649
  • 256GB: $699 / £699 / €749

Pixel 6 Pro

  • 128GB: $899 / £849 / €899
  • 256GB: $999 / £949 / €999
  • 512GB: $1,099 / £1,049 / €1,099

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, on par with the newer Pixel 7 Pro. 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.

Just keep in mind that these are launch prices. The two phones can be found for much less these days since the Pixel 7 series is already available.

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?

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro displays
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

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.

Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 6 Pro: Which one would you choose?

898 votes

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 want as many features as possible, 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.

However, keep in mind that the Pixel 7 phones have already launched before you decide to make your purchase.

google pixel 6 press image sorta seafoam
Google Pixel 6
The more affordable Pixel
The Google Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch FHD+ display and runs on the all-new Google Tensor SoC. It has an upgraded camera system, exclusive software features, and offers some of the best hardware Google has ever produced.
google pixel 6 pro camera
Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Pixel 6 Pro outshines its little brother with a 6.7-inch QHD+ display and 120Hz refresh rate. It has the same two rear cameras as the Pixel 6 but with an additional 4x optical telephoto lens.