very old pixel display screens pricelist

Google’s first smartphone line — the Nexus series — definitely wasn’t synonymous with ultra-premium design and features. The company has attempted to change that perception with its current phone family, the Google Pixel series. But that Nexus-to-Pixel name and strategy shift also resulted in another fundamental change — higher Google Pixel prices.

While flawless hardware still isn’t Google’s strong suit, the company’s software innovation has taken the Pixel series from zero to tech-enthusiast hero. To see how the company’s roadmap has changed since 2016, we’ve compiled price tags and some key product talking points for every Pixel handset so far.

At $649, the original Pixel seems relatively cheap compared to today’s flagships, but this wasn’t a particularly affordable debut. Samsung launched its Galaxy S7 flagship for $689. Meanwhile, the swanky S7 Edge variant retailed for $779, just a fraction more expensive than the Pixel XL’s $769 debut. The 128GB Pixel XL cost an eyewatering $869, while the ill-fated (see combustible), but far more sophisticated, Galaxy Note 7 cost $850. The Pixel series clearly intended to play with the big kids from day one.

The search giant didn’t shy from charging premium Google Pixel prices, even though, frankly, the first-generation Pixel’s hardware was hot garbage. The metal and glossy finish chipped too easily, the phone lacked the increasingly standard IP68 water and dust resistance rating, and the rear camera didn’t even feature OIS. There wasn’t a lot of hardware on offer for such a high price tag.

Instead, Google Assistant, the Pixel Launcher, and Google’s impressive HDR+ photography software won Google some early fans. To this day, software remains one of the most compelling reasons to purchase a Pixel handset.

Google sought to keep the entry point to the Google Pixel prices reasonably affordable with the arrival of the Pixel 2. The company stuck to its $649 base entry point for 64GB storage and $749 for the 128GB version. However, Google saw room for a price hike with the Pixel 2 XL. Its base cost leaped to $849 and $949 for the 128GB variant, a full $80 more than its first-generation equivalent.

$80 is hardly the largest price hike in history, but that put the Pixel 2 XL directly up against the $850 Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus. Perhaps not the best move for a phone that would prove to have some battery life and display issues, while also daring to ditch the headphone jack ahead of the curve. Google made strides with in-house hardware, though, introducing the Pixel Visual Core to enhance the phone’s AI and image processing capabilities, giving rise to one of the best cameras phones on the market.

Even with the considerably high cost in mind, Google did enough to refine its original vision and just about justify the higher price. As we said at the time, you don’t buy a Pixel just for the hardware. Instead, the Pixel 2 series was carried by its stellar software, three years of OS updates, and a best-in-class camera system.

After leading the way with 2017’s Pixel 2 XL, it was only a matter of time until the smaller entry in the series saw its price go up too. That happened a year later with the $799 Google Pixel 3. That’s a full $150 more than the most basic original Pixel and Pixel 2.

At the same time, the Pixel 3 XL saw its price rise by $50 compared to its predecessor. This put the 128GB storage option right on the $999 mark. Pretty pricey for a phone sporting just 4GB of RAM and a single rear camera. This was the year that Apple and Samsung normalized the idea of $1,000+ smartphones, which caused plenty of backlash at the time. Perhaps Google felt justified keeping pace with the big players.

Google did make efforts to justify the higher Google Pixel prices with more competitive hardware this time around, though. An IP68 water and dust resistance rating, a cracking P-OLED display, a wide-angle selfie camera, wireless charging, and a revamped premium look launched the Pixel series from a flawed but plucky underdog into a mainstream worthy smartphone. Just don’t mention the unsightly “bathtub” notch on the Pixel 3 XL or the dubious battery life.

2019’s Pixel 3a marked a significant shift in Google’s smartphone strategy, going with lower Google Pixel prices. With an affordable $399 price tag ($479 for the 3a XL), the Pixel 3a halved the cost of entry into Google’s ecosystem.

Google’s less-than-perfect hardware was easier to overlook at this price point. Plastic bodies, thicker bezels, and slower memory were all perfectly acceptable trade-offs. This was especially true because the Pixel 3a packed in many of Google’s previously high-end software features, including its industry-leading camera capabilities. Better still, the lower-end specs helped ensure Google’s more affordable phones could easily last a full day of use.

Overall, the Pixel 3a XL may have been a tad on the expensive side, especially in markets with plenty of affordable alternatives. But the smaller and cheaper Pixel 3a was a competitive package, priced just right for Western audiences.

After testing its fans with the Pixel 3 series, there was a collective sigh of relief when Google held off on any further price increases with the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. Both models and storage variants cost precisely the same as the previous generation. In a year of $1,000 smartphones, the Pixel 4’s stagnant price strategy defied the broader industry.

At the same time, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL packed in more hardware than ever before. The phones featured dual-rear cameras and a wide-angle rear lens for the first time. Display quality led the field, and Google was quick onto the 90Hz display trend. The Pixel 4 series also introduced Google’s Motion Sense and Soli radar system. While perhaps not worth the hit to already weak battery life, Motion Sense showcased Google’s continued efforts to marry unique hardware with improved software experiences.

Google’s willingness to experiment continued to be its greatest strength and weakness. While the Pixel 4 offered some of the best camera and software features around, its other features couldn’t quite shake that lack of polish that plagued early Pixels. Until that’s addressed, a flagship Pixel above $1,000 would be a tough sell.

The Pixel 4a was priced at $50 less than the Pixel 3a, which was the first time Google lowered the asking price for this generation. And talk about a bargain.

However, the Pixel 4a had even more competition than its predecessor. The Apple iPhone SE, the OnePlus Nord (outside the US), and the Samsung Galaxy A51 are all fighting it out at similar price points. Not forgetting a slew of other affordable phones from brands like Xiaomi and realme in Europe and Asia. But the Pixel 4a’s slight price cut gave it an edge in this increasingly busy market segment.

There was no XL model this generation. Instead, you could get the larger Google Pixel 4a 5G, which also supports 5G sub-6GHz data and sports a faster Snapdragon 765G processor. This phone retails for $499, making it $20 more than last year’s 3a XL, and more expensive than the 5G-enabled OnePlus Nord. $20 is not a considerable mark-up for 5G, but it puts the phone in a different market segment to the 4a. The $150 price gap with the Pixel 4a is Google’s biggest yet.

Google’s flagship smartphone for 2020 was the Pixel 5. It breaks away from the company’s previously premium pricing strategy. Priced at $699 in the US, the Pixel 5 is cheaper than both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 and is barely any more expensive than the OG Pixel. However, Google had to ditch several high-end features to hit this price point.

This lower price tag nets you a mid-tier Snapdragon 765G processor, an IP68 rating, wireless charging, Google’s 12MP rear camera with a new 16MP wide-angle lens, and 5G with mmWave support for US customers. That’s a very comprehensive package that offers serious value for money. Sadly, a few premium features that debuted with the Pixel 4, such as Face ID, have disappeared.

The move to a more affordable price point makes sense in the broader picture of lackluster Pixel 4 sales and the far better reception of the Pixel 3a series. With 5G pushing prices up, Google switched to a “just works” rather than full bells and whistles approach with the Pixel 5.

The Google Pixel 5a 5G launched without much fanfare, and for good reason. It is pretty much just a slightly improved version of the Pixel 4a 5G. In fact, aesthetics are nearly identical. You would be hard-pressed to differentiate between the two handsets. There’s also not much of a change in the spec sheet, but some key elements might make it more enticing than the previous 5G Pixel.

At $449, the Pixel 5a costs $50 less than the Pixel 4a 5G. Not only that, but it’s a slightly better phone in multiple departments. For starters, it comes with an IP67 rating, making it resistant to both water and dust. This is a feature neither of the Pixel 4a devices come with.

The newer Pixel 5a also features a slightly bigger 6.34-inch display and a larger 4,680mAh battery. All other specs seem identical to the Pixel 4a 5G, though. This made it a great alternative to buy in 2021. With that said, it was hardly worth upgrading if you already had the Pixel 4a 5G. Not to mention the competition, which is pretty fierce in 2021.

The Google Pixel 6 series came blasting doors with an all-new design that is sure to turn some heads. We can’t deny they look great, are built amazingly, and the company has taken things up a notch with their hardware, too. These are genuine flagship contenders, which would make anyone worried about the price.

We’re still surprised to see that, while the Pixel 6 does much more to differentiate itself from the crowd, it’s actually cheaper than the Pixel 5 at launch. The base Pixel 6 costs $599 for the 128GB version, which is a very aggressive price point. The 256GB variant comes in at $699.

On the other side of the spectrum, the most expensive Pixel 6 Pro can cost as much as $1,099 for the 512GB unit, which is the highest we’ve seen a Pixel price go. The 128GB base version sits more comfortably at $899, though, which is still an affordable price given the specs and features the phone comes with. There’s also a 256GB variant available that costs $999.

Regardless of which you pick, all Pixel 6 devices offer impressive specs. They’re the first to come with a Google-made chipset — the Tensor. It should provide great performance and a tight integration with the rest of the hardware. Other specs don’t disappoint either. You can learn all about them in our Pixel 6 series buyer’s guide.

While the cheapest Pixel 4 option costs $150 more than the original Pixel’s launch four years ago, the Pixel 5 has brought the cost of entry tumbling back down, and the Pixel 6 decreased the price even further while offering much more. Years of consecutive mark-ups that followed broader industry pricing trends have been set almost straight to square one. Google’s Pixel range is now much more competitively priced than flagships from rivals Apple and Samsung, which continue to push four-figure sums.

Only the highest-specced Pixel 6 Pro has dared venture north of the $1,000 mark. And that price is only for users who want a whole 512GB of storage. Most people can keep costs well under $1,000 and still get a fantastic device. And the regular Pixel 6 is only $599!

The Pixel series was becoming increasingly expensive, which, while controversial, did offer a clear-cut difference between the more affordable Pixel “a” range. The lines between premium and affordable are starting to blur now.

Google’s affordable series has become cheaper, though. The Pixel 4a is a crisp $50 cheaper than the Pixel 3a and comes with some much-improved hardware and Google’s blend of software excellence. The Pixel 5a retails at $449. And while it isn’t an amazing upgrade, it’s still a very affordable entry point into the 5G market.

The Pixel 5 isn"t quite worth its high price, especially since its software support window ends soon (October 2023). Amazon currently sells the Pixel 4A 5G for the same price as the Pixel 6A, and while it"s a good phone, it should be cheaper. You"re better off sticking with the Pixel 6A. As for older Pixels, they"re not worth picking up. They"re just too old (and the Pixel 4 suffers from poor battery performance). Many of those devices will stop getting software updates soon if they haven"t already. Buy one of the newer models.

The revamped case for the Pixel 7 series feels more durable than ever before, and you can match them with your Pixel"s color. The thermoplastic elastomer feels nice to touch, and there are raised edges on the front to protect the screen. The Pixel 7"s case is made with more than 30 percent recycled plastics, and the polycarbonate shell uses 77 percent recycled plastics. There are metal buttons for power and volume and they"re 100 percent recycled aluminum. The cases for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6A are similar but slightly different.

This is hands-down the best case if you frequently attach your Pixel to the handlebar of a bike or electric scooter. Peak Design"s mounting system lets you magnetically affix the phone to its Universal Bike Mount ($50) and it stays put—after nearly a year of testing, I"ve yet to have a phone fall off my ride using this mounting system. It doesn"t interrupt the Pixel"s wireless charging either. The company has several other magnetic accessories you can use, like a car mount. The case itself is nice; I just wish the edges were raised a bit more for better screen protection.

This is one of the best clear cases you"ll find, especially at this price, for the Pixel. The buttons are clicky, the Pixel"s color comes through clearly, and the rear doesn"t feel too sticky, which can be a problem with some clear cases.Caseology Tempered Glass Screen ProtectorPhotograph: Caseology

Pixel phones don"t have a great track record with screen durability—they scratch easily. We tested this protector originally for the Pixel 5A, but it"s not available anymore. Caseology does sell it now for the Pixel 7, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6A. Installation is easy, and it includes a squeegee to get rid of air bubbles. You get two screen protectors for the price, including a microfiber cloth, a wipe, and dust removal stickers.

This is another easy-to-apply tempered glass screen protector. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 version comes with two protectors, but Spigen only includes one for the Pixel 6A. Boo. You get a whole cleaning kit to wipe down your phone, an alignment tool that helps you get the application right, and a squeegee to get rid of the air bubbles.

You get only one screen protector here and it"s very expensive. That"s because Zagg claims that the protector is five times as strong as traditional screen protectors. I haven"t seen too many scuffs on my Pixel 6A yet, but take this with a grain of salt. It"s easy to apply with the included application tool, but Zagg doesn"t include a squeegee at this price so you"ll have to use your fingers to push the air bubbles out. It comes with a dust sticker, a wet wipe, and a microfiber cloth.Google Pixel Stand (Gen 2)Photograph: Google

Of the Pixels we recommend in this guide, wireless charging is available only on the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. Google"s very own Pixel Stand is one of the best wireless chargers around because it"s simple. The base doesn"t slide around, the phone stays put, and it enables some fun features, like turning the screen into a digital photo frame and quick access to Google Assistant. It"s made of 39 percent recycled materials, with mostly eco-friendly packaging too. Our Best Wireless Chargers guide has more options. It"s also available at Best Buy.

This charging adapter is all you need to recharge your Pixel, whichever model you have. The newest high-end Pixel phones don"t come with chargers in the box, so if you don"t have any spare USB-C chargers, it"s worth picking one up. This one"s prongs don"t fold up, but it"s still really compact.

These cases are pricey, but they have raised lips and offer decent protection around the edges. The buttons are clicky, and you get a few designs to choose from for the rear, including walnut, leather, bamboo, silver pearl, and aramid fiber. (I love the walnut.) What makes this case special is that it supports MagSafe—yes, Apple"s magnetic system for accessories. I"ve used the Mous Limitless 5.0 successfully with a few MagSafe accessories, like a Belkin wireless charger, to recharge the Pixel 7 Pro. You can also go with Mous" IntraLock case to use the company"s own magnetic accessory system to hook your phone up to its bike or car mount with more security.Photograph: Spigen

Want a kickstand to prop your Pixel up? This Spigen case has one built in and it does the trick, though unfortunately, you can keep your device up only in landscape mode—not great for hands-free TikTok. It has a thick bumper offering nice protection around the edges, though there"s not much of a lip sticking out, so you"ll still want to pair it with a screen protector.

Of all the Pixel cases I"ve tried, this feels the best. It has a wonderful texture that"s pleasant to touch, and the case keeps a slim profile. The buttons remain clicky, and the ports are well-exposed. It"s affordable, but the front edges aren"t raised. There"s a good chance the screen will hit the ground when you drop it.Photograph: Moment

The Pixels have great cameras, but you can take them further by using third-party lenses like these from Moment. Slap on a fish-eye lens for a fun, distorted photo effect. Use a 58-mm telephoto to get even closer to your subject. Whatever lens you pick, you"ll need a Moment case for the system to work. Unfortunately, the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 6A cases aren"t compatible with the lenses. Still, I like "em because they have magnets embedded inside—they"ll work with Moment"s various MagSafe mounts, like one for tripods, video lights, and mics.

It takes some effort to install this case on the Pixel, but once you do, it"s arguably the most protection you"ll find. There"s an inner two-piece polycarbonate shell that snaps over and under the Pixel, and then a thick synthetic rubber slipcover goes over for extreme durability. The buttons are surprisingly clicky, though the whole phone will be thicker, wider, and heavier. It"s made of more than 50 percent recycled plastic, and there"s a holster you can pop it in to carry your Pixel with pride on your belt. (The holster can double as a kickstand.)

There are some key features exclusive to Pixels that you won"t find on any other Android phone. Some of these are only available on select Pixels—the ones powered by Google"s Tensor chips are more capable since it"s the company"s own silicon. Here"s a quick breakdown:

After many leaks, official teases, and months of waiting, Google has finally given its latest Pixel phones a formal launch. The new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are the latest high-end phones from the company that hasn’t traditionally been able to make much of a dent in the high-end phone market. Both are available for preorder starting today, October 19th, and will begin shipping on October 28th. Google says all the major US carriers, plus retailers such as the Google Store, Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, and others, will be selling the phones.

There are a lot of things to cover with the new Pixels, but the most important place to start is this: $599 and $899. Those are the starting prices for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, respectively. That pricing is aggressive compared to similar iPhones, Samsungs, or even OnePlus phones, especially when you consider that Google is providing 128GB of storage in both base models. (The 6 can be equipped with up to 256GB, the 6 Pro has options up to 512GB.)

Aggressive pricing has long been a Pixel thing, and though the new Pixel 6 and 6 Pro represent a new push from Google to make phones that are competitive with the best from Apple and Samsung, these prices are just lower than the competition. A big draw for a lot of people might be that, at the end of the day, the Pixels just cost less.

Both the Pixel 6 Pro (left) and the Pixel 6 are large phones — Google isn’t offering small and large options this year. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

The other big thing to note with the Pixels is their new processor, a custom-designed ARM SoC (System on a Chip) that Google is calling Tensor. Google says it’s competitive with the Snapdragon 888 from Qualcomm, which is what you find in basically every other high-end Android phone available right now.

There’s a lot going on with this processor. The most important piece is that there’s a custom TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) for AI built right into the chip and many main processing pipelines. In addition, there are two high-power application cores, two mid-range cores, four low-power cores, a dedicated coprocessor for security, a private compute core, and an image processing core. The Pixel 6 pairs the new chip with 8GB of RAM, while the 6 Pro has 12GB.

Visually, the new phones are a departure from prior Pixel phones. Though they share a common design language, that language doesn’t really connect back to the Pixel 5 or the Pixel 4 that came before. Instead, these are flashier, shinier phones, with polished metal frames (on the 6 Pro) and glossy glass backs (on both). Google is offering each phone in three different colors, but the 6 Pro’s are decidedly more “professional” (read: boring), while the regular Pixel 6 colors are clearly more fun.

I haven’t really been able to put a finger on how I feel about the new designs, but there’s something undeniably generic about them. Take the G logo off the back, and these could be phones from Samsung, TCL, OnePlus, Oppo, or any one of a number of other Chinese OEMs. Prior Pixel phones often were criticized for having a plain look that bordered on reference designs, but they all had a Google-y aesthetic to them. I’m not sure these new models have it.

There’s a new standard wide camera and new ultra wide camera in both phones; the Pixel 6 Pro adds a 4x telephoto camera to the mix. Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

The most prominent feature on the 6 and 6 Pro is the back camera housing. I call it a ledge; you might call it a shelf; Google seems to refer to it as a “bar,” but it’s an enormous protuberance that spans the entire width of the phone and houses two (Pixel 6) or three (6 Pro) cameras and related sensors in it. The bar is large, but unlike camera housings located in the upper corner, like you get on an iPhone or Samsung, it doesn’t cause the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro to rock when placed down. A case will likely help mitigate the size, as well.

That back camera housing is so prominent because, as usual with Pixel phones, the camera is one of the most important parts of these new models. Google has finally switched to a new camera sensor after using the prior one for four straight generations. Both phones have a 50-megapixel main sensor that is hard coded to output 12.5-megapixel images. It’s a much larger sensor than Google’s used before — physically larger than even the iPhone 13 Pro’s new camera sensor — comes with 1.2μm pixels, and is behind an f/1.85 aperture optically stabilized lens. Google says it captures 150 percent more light than the Pixel 5’s camera. Next to it is a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with a 114-degree field of view, f/2.2 lens and similarly large 1.25μm pixels.

If you spring for the Pixel 6 Pro, you also get a 4x telephoto camera that’s not available on the standard Pixel 6. This uses folded optics, has 48-megapixels (also binned down to 12-megapixel output), and has an f/3.5 aperture lens. 4x is slightly longer reach than you get with the iPhone 13 Pro’s 3x tele but not nearly as far as the 10x lens that Samsung has been putting on its high-end phones (not to mention the even longer lenses companies like Xiaomi and Huawei have deployed recently).

The front cameras differ between the models, too, with the Pixel 6 getting an 8-megapixel, 84-degree field of view and the 6 Pro using an 11.1-megapixel, 94-degree camera. That translates into you’ll be able to fit more people in a selfie with the 6 Pro than you can with the 6.

The Pixel 6 has a 90Hz, 1080p, 6.4-inch OLED screen (left); the 6 Pro steps up to a 6.7-inch, 120Hz, 1440p OLED with LTPO. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Turning to the front of the devices, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro both have large, OLED displays. The 6’s screen measures 6.4 inches diagonally, has 1080p wide resolution, and can refresh at 90Hz for a smoother scrolling experience. It’s a flat panel and has slightly larger bezels all around than the 6 Pro, which utilizes curved sides on its 6.7-inch, 1440p screen to minimize the bezels. The 6 Pro also uses LTPO technology to vary its refresh rate from as low a 10Hz all the way up to 120Hz, depending on what you’re doing on the phone. Both phones’ displays are covered in the latest Gorilla Glass Victus glass and support HDR.

The screens are bright and look good, though if you turn them off-axis, you can see noticeable color shift, and there’s a visible shadow in the 6 Pro’s curves. Those are things we don’t see in the best screens from Apple and Samsung at this point.

As you can probably guess from those screen sizes, both of these phones are big. Unlike prior years where Google provided a small and a big option, there’s no real small phone in this lineup. In fact, the Pixel 6 is effectively as big as an iPhone 13 Pro Max; the 6 Pro is even larger, though its curves help mask its large footprint somewhat.

Both phones also support 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, though only the 6 Pro and a special version of the 6 for Verizon (which costs $100 more) have millimeter wave support. Batteries are large in both models, as well: 4614mAh in the 6 and 5004mAh in the 6 Pro. We won’t know for sure until we’re able to fully review them, but the concerns of Pixel phones coming with underequipped batteries seem to be fully in the past at this point.

As you’d expect from a Pixel, the new models ship with the latest version of Android — in this case, Android 12. We’ve already gone in depth on Android 12, but the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro add a few new features that leverage their custom processors, such as faster on-device translation and those new AI-powered image editing features mentioned above. Importantly, Google says the new phones will get a minimum of five years of software support, longer than any other Pixel before and longer than virtually any other Android phone you can buy now.

Google really wants us to know that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are a turning point for the company. In an interview ahead of the announcement, Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh said “this is truly the starting line for Pixel, in that, we’ve brought together all the elements that we think we need to be a real player in this space.” We can’t tell yet whether Google will finally be a “real player” in the smartphone world with its Pixel phones, but the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro do look like its best effort yet. Stay tuned for our full review in the near future.

Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro: Measured diagonally; dimension may vary by configuration and manufacturing process. Smooth Display is not available for all apps or content.

Maximum resolution and field of view with RAW image files setting turned on. Setting is turned off by default. See g.co/pixel/photoediting for more information.

Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7: For “24-hour”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 31 hours. Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network. For “Up to 72 hours”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 72 hour” claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

Pixel 6a: For “24-hour”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 29 hours. Battery testing conducted using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “Up to 72 hours”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 72 hour” claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

Fast wired charging rates (up to 21W on Pixel 7 and up to 23W on Pixel 7 Pro) are based upon use of the Google 30W USB-C® Charger plugged into a wall outlet. Actual results may be slower. Adapters sold separately. Charging speed based upon testing with device batteries drained to 1% and charged with Google 30W USB-C® Charger. Charging testing conducted by Google in mid-2022 on preproduction hardware and software using default settings with the device powered on. Charging speed depends upon many factors including usage during charging, battery age, and ambient temperature. Actual charging speed may be slower. Wireless charging rates up to 20W (Pixel 7) and up to 23W (Pixel 7 Pro) charging with Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen) (sold separately). Up to 12W with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately). Actual results may be slower.

Coming soon. Restrictions apply. Some data is not transmitted through VPN. Not available in all countries. All other Google One membership benefits sold separately. Pixel VPN offering does not impact price or benefits of Google One Premium plan. Use of VPN may increase data costs depending on your plan. See g.co/pixel/vpn for details.

Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network in California in early 2022 (for Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro) and mid 2021 (for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro) on pre-production hardware and software using default settings. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

Your Pixel will generally receive Feature Drops during the applicable Android update and support periods for the phone. See g.co/pixel/updates for details. Availability of some Feature Drops may vary.

Available only in the US. Includes YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and Google One. Does not include carrier service plan. Monthly subscription price varies by plan. Monthly subscription price varies by plan. Upgrades may change monthly price. If you cancel during the 24-month cycle, you will be required to pay the remaining value of your Pixel device at a non-discounted price, and your access to bundled services will terminate. Device protection includes an additional year of coverage for mechanical breakdown (in addition to the one-year manufacturer warranty), and up to four claims of accidental damage for two years (limit 2 per rolling 12-month period, beginning with the date of first repair or replacement). Claim coverage subject to deductible(s). See g.co/pixelpass/tos for full terms.

Trade-in values vary based on eligibility, condition, year, and configuration of your trade-in device, and are subject to change upon inspection. Credit card refund only available if a Pixel phone is purchased on that card. Phone trade-in credit will be issued as a refund back on the credit card used for the phone purchase at Google Store or in the form of Store Credit if the purchased phone has already been returned. Refund is based on (and paid after) phone received matching the description provided at time of estimate and will be issued to form of payment used for order. Phones sent for trade-in must be received within 30 days of initiation of trade-in process, provided the purchased device has not been returned during that time. Additional trade-in and store credit terms are located here: store.google.com/intl/en-US_us/about/device-terms.html.

The Pixel 7 offers the best version of Android, with guaranteed security updates through fall 2027—plus the best Android smartphone camera we’ve ever tested. It also has excellent build quality and costs half as much as Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Google’s Pixel smartphones have always offered the best Android software experience, but the Google Pixel 7 proves that Google is taking the hardware seriously, as well. It has a crisp 6.3-inch OLED screen and a solid wrap-around aluminum frame. The Pixel 7 also offers the best camera performance of any Android phone save for its sibling, the Pixel 7 Pro, and Google’s custom Tensor G2 processor holds its own against the high-end chips in other phones. In addition, the Pixel 7 is more likely to remain secure for years longer than most Android phones thanks to its five years of guaranteed monthly patches. And at $600, it costs hundreds less than other Android phones that won’t last as long or perform as well.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is similar to the Pixel 7 but adds a larger OLED screen with a higher resolution and refresh rate, more expansive 5G support, and a 5x telephoto camera. These improvements bump the price up to $900, so the value isn’t quite as strong as with the Pixel 7. But the Pixel 7 Pro is a more capable phone with the same excellent software and five years of update support.

For quite a bit less, the Pixel 6a offers the same excellent version of Android as the Pixel 7 with updates through 2027, and it has the high-end Tensor processor that debuted in the Pixel 6. The camera is a step down from those in new flagship Pixels, but it’s still better than those in some phones costing hundreds more.

The Google Pixel 6a is priced $150 lower than the Pixel 7 but still has almost every feature you might expect from a high-end phone. The Pixel 6a runs on Google’s clean, fast version of Android 13, with five years of guaranteed security updates. It also offers camera performance that surpasses what you can get from phones that may cost twice as much, though it’s not as good in that regard as the Pixel 7. On top of that, the Pixel 6a’s screen lacks the high refresh rate of the Pixel 7 and Samsung Galaxy S22 displays, so it doesn’t scroll as smoothly and isn’t as bright.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is essentially a Galaxy Note by another name. It has the biggest, brightest screen of any smartphone you can buy, and the included S Pen can help you take notes, mark up documents, and create art in ways you can’t do on any other phone. It offers the best build quality of any Android phone, with a custom aluminum-alloy frame that wraps around the edges, and the matte glass repels fingerprints. The S22 Ultra also has the best camera hardware in a phone, including a 10x “periscope” zoom lens and manual controls for more experienced photographers. Its primary drawback is its high regular price of $1,200—for $300 less, the Pixel 7 Pro is better at most things. While the S22 Ultra has better camera hardware, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro’s camera software helps them produce great photos without the need for fine-tuning. The S22 Ultra is ideal if you demand maximum versatility from your phone, but you should buy it only on sale—we recommend purchasing when it’s closer to $1,000, or if you have an older Samsung phone to trade in.

The Galaxy S22 has the same powerful processor as the S22 Ultra, but its compact frame and smaller display make it easier to use, even if you have only one hand free.

I"ve been using the Pixel 5 I bought for myself for about half a year now. I"m kind of in love with it. Which is weird, because I"m in a definite minority among the Android Police staff. I"m going to take a few minutes to completely disagree with my editor-in-chief"s assessment of the latest Google hardware… it"s not like it would be the first time.

The weird thing is, I don"t dispute any of the broad points in our original review. The Pixel 5, despite dropping its price dramatically from the previous generation, is a bad value compared to similarly-equipped phones from other manufacturers. And it"s particularly poor in comparison to the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G — I should know, I reviewed both of them myself before I came back on the staff here.

The SoC is low-power for the $700 field. Just two cameras — with no telephoto — puts Google well behind the curve in photo flexibility, even if it remains ahead in quality. The display could be bigger, and I actually prefer the cheaper 4a 5G"s extra screen real estate. Charging could be faster — the Pixel 5 is probably the slowest charging $700 Android phone around. Dropping face scanning is hard to see as anything but a step backwards.

But dammit, I"m finding it really difficult to care. The Pixel 5 is everything I was hoping for after the letdowns of Google"s premium hardware in, well, basically all of the previous Pixels. A focus on practicality over flashy features, and nailing the upgrades that people do want, means I"ve never once regretted plopping down $700 for this phone. It"s been a long time since I felt that way about a premium Google device.

Here"s a little context for you. I started my Android journey with a Nexus One (Editor-in-Chief"s note: same, and Michael is still wrong), and while I"ve bought an embarrassing number of Google-branded tablets, my purchases of official Google phones have been surprisingly light: only the Galaxy Nexus (ouch) and the Nexus 6. I passed on all of the previous Pixels; while I bought a Pixel 3 and reviewed it, I returned it for being too small and too thirsty on battery. Despite wanting that big screen, I couldn"t get over the Pixel 3 XL"s aesthetic issues.

I was soon using that review unit as my primary phone, and once again reveling in the fastest Android updates around. Its slower performance didn"t bother me (though I could have used a little extra RAM), and the battery life was unbeatable. Oh, and it didn"t have the infamous notch-and-a-half that the pricier Pixel 3 XL did. All I really wanted, I told myself, was this phone, with wireless charging, water resistance, and perhaps a screen that didn"t pick up so many light scratches.

At that point, I had already passed on the Pixel 4 and 4 XL: too expensive, not enough battery life, and I didn"t see any point in paying for face unlock or Google"s Soli sensor, since I had never used similar features on my Note8 when they were available. When rumors started circulating that Google would focus on the basics and drop prices for the next round of Pixel hardware, I waited with eagerness.

My editor assigned me the review of the Pixel 4a, which is the only phone to which I"ve ever given a perfect score. The 4a wasn"t just a triumph for the Pixel line, it was a new benchmark in value for any Android device, improving on the 3a in every single dimension. As someone who"d been spoiled by premium hardware, I was ready to buy the Pixel 5 — presumably designed along the same lines — on day one. I wanted a little more RAM, water resistance, more premium materials, and wireless charging.

And I got all of those things with my funky little green phone. Over the last six months, it"s been the most reliable Android smartphone I"ve ever used, and I"ve been satisfied if not delighted with its battery life… which is what I had hoped from my experience with the more conservative hardware of the Pixel 3a XL and 4a. The specs prioritize roomy RAM and storage over screaming processors and general utility over fancy extras like radar. (Remember that weird "squeeze to activate" feature that clung on in the Pixel line"s HTC heritage? It"s gone now.)

Having said all that, I must freely admit that at twice the price, the Pixel 5 is nowhere near twice the phone that the Pixel 4a is. I"d say the 4a 5G is a pretty fantastic deal considering its bigger size and faster processor, though I maintain that I"d happily swap out that 5G radio for water resistance and wireless charging at the same $500 price. However you slice it, I paid a premium for my phone versus its own stablemates and much of the competition.

But even knowing that the numbers say the 4a and 4a 5G are better phones when price enters the picture, and that something like the OnePlus 8 or Galaxy S20 FE would be more capable in terms of raw performance, the Pixel 5"s focused design and superior software make it a winner for me. It"s nice to be so unreservedly pleased with a phone purchase. Judging by the way it"s avoided the infamous price drops that Android phones fall victim to in the months after release, I"m not the only one who feels this way.

Google"s Pixel 7 series come in two models, a vanilla Pixel 7 and a souped up Pixel 7 Pro, and both of them are flagship models with tempting prices that give the iPhones and Galaxies of this world a run for their money.

The Pixel 7 series were first teased by Google in May 2022, but officially and fully unveiled on October 6th, 2022, with the release date on October 13th.

Google mostly sticks with the Pixel 6 formula from last year: two models, a slightly more compact $600 Pixel 7 and a larger Pixel 7 Pro with a bigger screen, bigger battery and a dedicated zoom camera for $900.

The Pixel 7 family was officially and fully unveiled on October 6th, 2022 at a dedicated event for the new phones and a new Pixel Watch. Google held this event a bit earlier than previous years, and it also pushed the release date of the Pixel 7 series a week or two earlier compared to previous generations.

For reference, we have the table below that shows the release date times for the previous Pixel series, as well as the expected dates for the next generation of Pixels:

Despite inflationary headwinds, Google keeps the same tempting prices for the Pixel 7 series, and they look even better as the competition has raised prices in many markets across the globe. The vanilla Pixel 7 at $600 looks like a particularly good deal compared to $800 phones in the same bracket by Apple and Google, but the Pixel 7 Pro version at $900 also undercuts the $1,100 iPhone 14 Pro Max and the $1,200 Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Google has the second generation of its in-house chip, and it calls it the Tensor G2. Notable are slight changes to the size of the Pixel 7, as it"s now more compact, but that also comes at the cost of a smaller battery. The Pixel 7 Pro retains the size from the previous generation model and it also has the same battery capacity as before, but it"s got a new, longer-range 5X zoom lens.

Google has new Pixel 7 colors this time around. Both the vanilla and Pro models come in Obsidian (black) and Snow (white), but there is a third, signature color for each version. For the Pixel 7 Pro that third colorway is Hazel (a dark, nutty gray with gold accents) and for the Pixel 7 it is Lemongrass.

The Pixel 7 Pro comes with a 5,000mAh battery, a size that has become the de-facto standard for big-screen flagships in the Android world. However, interestingly, the slightly smaller Pixel 7 comes with a slightly smaller battery. Here are the details:

As you can see, Google estimates the same battery life for both Pixel 7 versions. Despite the fact that the Pro model comes with a larger battery, it is not quoted as having longer battery life.

While Google recommends and sells a 30W charger for its Pixel series, the maximum wired charging speeds on both models are lower. The Pixel 7 Pro charges at up to 23W, while the Pixel 7 maxes out at 20W charging speeds via a cable.

Interestingly, you can achieve the same speeds with wireless charging provided you use the Google Pixel Stand 2nd gen. You can also use other Qi-compatible wireless chargers with the Pixels but charging speeds won"t be quite as fast.

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro keep mostly the same camera hardware as the previous models with a 50MP main sensor coupled with an ultra-wide shooter for the Pixel 7 version, while the Pro model has an additional, third telephoto zoom camera. Check our dedicated Pixel 7 camera article for the full scoop.

The one more notable change is the switch from a 4X zoom lens to a 5X one on the Pixel 7 Pro, which gives users more range and more clarity when shooting far-away objects. Also, not reflected in this camera sheet is a new 2X optical-grade zoom that is possible thanks to a crop from the main sensor. This is great news for portrait mode photos, which were the big camera sore in previous Pixel generations. The front camera is also finally getting 4K video support, a feature that was strangely missing on earlier models.

Google sells a few official cases for the Pixel 7 family, and good news is that those cases seem to be improved compared to the previous generation where cases would yellow and age very quickly.

Of course, there are various third-party cases for the Pixel 7 family, and to guide you in this vast universe of Pixel cases we have an article summarizing our favorite case options.

Both Pixel 7 models are offered at lower prices than the competition, which in itself is a great deal, but you can save even more with trade-ins and other very tempting deals that we have summarized in our dedicated Pixel 7 deals article. We are constantly updating that too, so you know you are getting the most up-to-date and best deals possible.

Pixels are no stranger to top-end phone prices. Though all this time, it"s seemed that Google hadn"t yet released a true spiritual flagship that they were happy with—at least not until now with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. This year, it"s clear that Google"s new phones are the ones that the company takes pride in, but for all we know, that might just be all talk. So what better way to demonstrate the Pixel"s resurgence than to test out their effort and commitment to the display?

About this review: The Google Pixel 6 and the Google Pixel 6 Pro used for this review were personally bought from the Google Store. Google Ireland did provide my colleague Adam Conway with a Pixel 6 Pro, but the unit was not utilized for this review. Google had no involvement in the contents of this review.

This time around, Google changed up its release formula, opting for just one general size—big—for its two main phones. The handsets are now differentiated by their feature set, with the more premium of the two Pixel 6"s adopting the "Pro" moniker. In terms of pricing, Google surprised us with numbers that undercut its previous phones, as well as much of the competition"s, for both Pixels" respective tiers within the smartphone market. Questionably, corners had to have been cut somewhere. With display components usually making up the largest share in a phone"s bill of materials, that"s usually where you"ll first find shortcomings.

The Pixel 6 Pro comes equipped with a sharp 6.71-inch OLED, and it has the best display hardware that Google has put on a phone till date. It uses a high-end configuration from Samsung Display, although it"s a whole step down when compared to its latest generation of OLED. This is one of those shortcomings. But considering that phones with newer display tech are generally more expensive than the Pixel 6 Pro, I"d say that its price justifies the hardware. Regardless, the panel is more than capable of delivering stunning visuals, and the 120 Hz high refresh rate makes interacting with the phone super smooth. There"s also a curve on the sides of the display that phone makers love to tack on in an attempt to make their phone look more premium, but I"m not a fan of it.

The regular Pixel 6 uses a lower-resolution 6.40-inch Samsung panel. Although both phones are using updated OLEDs, the hardware on the Pixel 6 is actually a downgrade in some ways compared to last year"s Pixel 5. For the first time since the Pixel 2, Google is using an inferior rigid OLED display stack in their main phone lineup to cut costs. Compared to modern flexible OLEDs (like on the 6 Pro and on most flagship phones), the typical rigid display stack has lower screen contrast, fluctuant viewing angles, and appears more sunken into the display. On the upside, the Pixel 6 does get brighter, and it does appear sharper than the Pixel 5 despite having a lower pixel density (more on this later).

Rigid OLEDs are an older construction that is now usually only used in budget phones. The main difference is that a rigid OLED includes a thicker glass encapsulation and substrate, while flexible OLEDs utilize a thin-film encapsulation and a bendable plastic substrate. The elastic nature of flexible OLEDs not only makes them more durable and moldable than rigid OLEDs, but it also allows for some optical advantages. Thinner encapsulation allows the physical pixels to appear closer to the cover glass, giving flexible OLEDs a more laminated look. Also, on rigid stacks, the refraction of the light transmitted through the glass layers causes unwanted rainbow viewing angles that you simply don"t see on flexible OLEDs. Lastly, not all "infinite contrast ratios" are made equal: newer flexible OLED display stacks contain darker internal materials, imposing deeper blacks than those of rigid OLEDs.

On the Pixel 6 Pro, higher-efficiency hybrid oxide transistors support the backplane, which greatly enhances an OLED"s driving stability. This is the catalyst in enabling a true variable refresh rate, saving power as it allows pixels to hold their charge for much longer between refreshes. Since they have a low rate of discharge, oxide driving TFTs can pulse at lower currents compared to an LTPS TFT to achieve the same steady-state luminance, which further saves battery and improves calibration precision. Anecdotally, every phone that I"ve used with an LTPO panel has had near-flawless panel uniformity and very little gray tinting in low light, and I believe much of that can be also be attributed to the improved stability of the hybrid oxide backplane.

Seldom mentioned is the difference in the subpixels between PenTile OLEDs. Larger subpixels improve power efficiency and lengthen their longevity, which reduces burn-in. Higher-density screens require packing in smaller subpixels, thus there are advantages to accomodating a lower physical screen resolution. Note that this is completely different than sampling a screen at a lower render resolution, which does almost nothing for the battery outside of full-resolution gaming since the physical subpixels are still the same size.

Instead of decreasing the screen resolution, another option is to increase the panel"s fill factor, which is defined as the ratio of the subpixels" emissive area to the total display area. For lower-resolution OLEDs, this has the added benefit of improving pixel definition, which reduces apparent color fringing around well-defined edges in the screen. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Display began to produce 1080p panels with higher fill factors, increasing the relative size of the subpixel area by about 20%. To my eyes, this had completely eliminated color fringing on these panels, and they now look closer to their non-PenTile counterparts. For those that use their phone for VR, a higher fill factor also reduces the screen door effect.

Fortunately, the Pixel 6"s 1080p screen has a high fill factor, and I observe no color fringing with it. Its screen appears sharper than 1080p PenTile screens of the past, including the higher-density panel of the Pixel 5, so those that are coming from 1440p displays need not worry too much. The OLED on the 6 Pro, however, has a lower fill ratio, so efficiency gains can be had with a better display design. Though as it stands, Apple is currently the only company that optimizes for both resolution and fill factor, with iPhone OLEDs having the largest subpixels out of any phone.

To obtain quantitative color data from smartphones, display test patterns are staged and measured using an X-Rite i1Display Pro metered by an X-Rite i1Pro 2 spectrophotometer in its high-resolution 3.3nm mode. The test patterns and device settings used are corrected for various display characteristics and potential software implementations that may alter desired measurements. Measurements are performed with arbitrary display adjustments disabled unless mentioned otherwise.

The primary test patterns are constant powerpatterns (sometimes calledequal energypatterns), correlating to an average pixel level of about 42%, to measure the transfer function and grayscale precision. It’s important to measure emissive displays not only with constant average pixel level but also with constant power patterns since their output is dependent on the average display luminance. Additionally, a constant average pixel level does not inherently mean constant power; the test patterns I use are of both. A higher average pixel level closer to 50% is used to capture the midpoint performance between both the lower pixel levels and the higher pixel levels since many apps and webpages contain white backgrounds that are higher in pixel level.

The color difference metric used is ΔETP (ITU-R BT.2124), which is an overall better measure for color differences than ΔE00 that is used in earlier reviews and is still currently being used in many other sites’ display reviews. Those that are still using ΔE00 for color error reporting are encouraged to update to ΔEITP.

ΔEITP normally considers luminance error in its computation, since luminance is a necessary component to completely describe color. However, since the human visual system interprets chromaticity and luminance separately, I hold our test patterns at a constant luminance and do not include the luminance (I/intensity) error in our ΔEITP values. Furthermore, it is helpful to separate the two errors when assessing a display’s performance because, just like with our visual system, they pertain to different issues with the display. This way, we can more thoroughly analyze and understand the performance of a display.

Contrast, grayscale, and color accuracy are tested throughout the display’s brightness range. The brightness increments are spaced evenly between the maximum and minimum display brightness in PQ-space. Charts and graphs are also plotted in PQ-space (if applicable) for proper representation of the actual perception of brightness.

ΔETP values are roughly 3× the magnitude of ΔE00 values for the same color difference. A measured color error ΔETP of 1.0 denotes the smallest value for a just-noticeable-difference for the measured color, and the metric assumes the most critically adapted state for the observer so as not to under-predict color errors. A color error ΔETP less than 3.0 is an acceptable level of accuracy for a reference display (suggested from ITU-R BT.2124 Annex 4.2), and a ΔETP value greater than 8.0 can be noticeable at a glance, which I’ve concluded empirically.

By default, Adaptive mode is selected out of the box. Both Adaptiveand Boostedmodes increase color saturation just slightly, with the main difference being that Adaptive mode also uses higher contrast. Compared to the vivid profile of many other smartphones, the Adaptive mode is not as vibrant, and some people may even struggle to see the difference between Adaptive and Natural. All three profiles target a D65 white point, which might appear warm/yellow to those that aren"t accustomed to color-calibrated displays.

If picture fidelity is a priority, the Natural mode is the Pixel"s color-accurate profile. The profile targets the full sRGB color space (gamut, white point, and tone response) while Android"s color management system handles wide-gamut P3 content in apps that support it. Internally, Google is now also targeting Display P3 as the phone"s default composition data space, which is a small step in maturing their color management system.

For those that are not satisfied with the white balance of their Pixel, Google, unfortunately, does not provide any option to tune that aspect of the display (outside of Night Light). Google formerly had a feature called Ambient EQ on the Pixel 4 which automatically matched the white balance of the screen to the user"s ambient lighting, but the company scrapped it in its future phones for reasons unknown.

In terms of screen brightness, both the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro perform nearly identical to each other, and they both get bright enough to use the phone under sunlight. With auto-brightness enabled, both phones get up to about 750–770 nits for fullscreen white, boosting up to 1000–1100 nits for content with lower average light levels ("APL"). Sadly the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro can only maintain their high brightness mode for five minutes at a time out of every thirty minutes, so using the phone extensively outside may not be ideal. After five minutes, the phone display will ramp down to about 470 nits, which is both phones" maximum manual brightness when auto-brightness is disabled.

For the Pixel 6 Pro, these peak brightness values are standard and to be expected considering its price. But for the cost of the regular Pixel 6, these figures showcase excellent value, and phones that do get brighter generally cost a bit more than even the 6 Pro.

Apart from peak brightness, display tone mapping also plays a big role in improving a screen"s legibility under sunlight. This will be covered more later on, but in short, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro does boost shadow tones to help out with outdoor viewing.

When set to their dimmest brightness setting, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can get down to about 1.8–1.9 nits, which is typical of most, but not all OLED phones (namely OnePlus). At this brightness, the default Adaptive profile on both phones crushes near-black colors due to the profile"s steeper contrast curves. Natural mode exhibits lighter shadows, and on the Pixel 6 Pro the profile retains distinct shadow details with very little black clipping in low light. The Pixel 6, on the other hand, struggles a bit more with near-black colors, especially in its 90 Hz state.

The auto-brightness system on the Pixels has been the worst that I"ve used in any recent phone. One common argument is that it learns your brightness preference over time, but the underlying framework is fundamentally flawed in a way that fancy machine learning can"t fix. The result of the system is jittery transitions and a lack of resolution in the low end.

Before the Pixel 6, Google only reserved 255 distinct brightness values to control the display brightness. Even if all brightness values were to be efficiently spaced out, the resolution simply wasn"t enough to create perfectly smooth transitions. Now with the Pixel 6, Google increased the internal number of brightness values up to 2043 between 2 nits and 500 nits. That seems like it should be sufficient, but there are two important details: the mapping of those brightness values, and how the Pixel transitions through those brightness values.

Although the Pixel 6 has 2043 brightness values, those values are mapped linearly to its display brightness. This means that the spacing of brightness between those values is not perceptually uniform, since the human perception of brightness scales somewhat logarithmically, rather than linearly, in response to screen luminance nits. In Android 9 Pie, Google altered the Pixel"s brightness slider so that it would scale logarithmically instead of linearly for the reason that I just mentioned. However, this only changed how the position on the brightness slider mapped to the system brightness value, which is still internally linear.

Even with the higher brightness resolution of the Pixel 6, jitters can be seen between the brightness values below about 30% system brightness. For this inherent reason, the Pixel"s transition in display luminance can appear jumpy when the auto-brightness moves around in low light. The jitteriness is exacerbated by the speed and the behavior of the Pixel"s auto-brightness transitions, which steps linearly through display luminance at a constant pace that reaches max brightness from minimum brightness in one second—or about 500 nits per second. This makes any auto-brightness transition virtually instantaneous for small-to-medium adjustments.

Quickly touching on display power: When focusing on fullscreen display nits per watt, the Pixel 6 Pro consumes substantially more power than the Pixel 6 at high brightness. This is somewhat expected since the Pro has a slightly larger display and a higher resolution (read: smaller emissive pixel area), though I did not expect the difference to be this dramatic. Adding in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as another data point, it consumes less power than both Pixels despite having a larger screen, which showcases the impeccable efficiency gains of Samsung"s next-gen OLED emitters. The discrepancy in variable refresh rate was not tested.

A general rule of thumb in calibrating a display is to target a gamma power of 2.4 for dark rooms, or 2.2 for everywhere else. Smartphones are used in all sorts of viewing conditions, so they typically fall in the latter category. Hence, most phones target a gamma power of 2.2 for their standard calibrated display modes. This is what the Pixel had always done, but it"s a little different this year on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

In the default Adaptive mode, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have increased contrast compared to the other profiles. The tone response is approximately a 2.4 gamma power on the Pixel 6, while on the Pixel 6 Pro it"s more like gamma 2.3. At lower brightness levels, the Adaptive mode has too much contrast in my opinion, and a number of near-black colors can appear completely clipped, especially on the cheaper phone.

For the Natural and Boosted profiles, the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro now conform to the piecewise sRGB tone response curve rather than gamma 2.2.