very old pixel display screens brands

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are finally available in stores everywhere, with all sorts of trade-in offers and cashback deals to lure in some early adopters. We"ve fallen in love with Google"s latest hardware — both of them are some of the best Android phones you can buy today, bar none. That said, they aren"t necessarily our favoritePixel phones of all time, nor are they the ones that first stole our hearts away.

Last week, our readers selected the Pixel 6 Pro as their all-time best Pixel in a bracket-based Twitter showdown. This week, some of AP"s editors and writers got together to share their own selections for their favorite Pixel phones, and the submissions may surprise you.

After owning the original Pixel, the Google Pixel 2 was a huge difference. It was sleek, sturdy, and above all else, had the most wonderful camera. Plus, it was cutting-edge technology in a tight little package. I was upset when I upgraded to the Pixel 4; I experienced so many life events with my Pixel 2 that it was hard to picture(ha!) life without it.

While the Pixel 4 was a great upgrade, I didn’t know what I had ‘til it was gone. You know, stuff like long battery life and the slightly smaller screen. (Look, I’m small, I hate purses, and my pockets are small.) Also, I miss how much of a tank the Pixel 2 was. It may not have been “durable,” but I dropped that thing more times than I could count, and it survived my chaotic, destructive nature. I really miss that, especially since I have a Pixel 6 that cracked like an egg when I dropped it once (with the case on, mind you.)

Even as I await my Google Pixel 7, I still consider switching back to my Pixel 2, but unfortunately, it’s a relic now. - Sara Gitkos, Editor and Lead Trainer

Sure, the battery sucked, and Soli on phones was misguided at best, and it was at least $100 too expensive, but all the same, I can"t help but have a soft spot for the Pixel 4. I don"t think it was very well aligned with most Android users" expectations, but it felt almost tailor-made for me.

With a 5.7-inch display, the non-XL version was delightfully pocketable. It also came with a 2x telephoto lens over its secondary camera. That level of magnification isn"t very practical — especially now, in an era of 50-plus-megapixel primary sensors — but I"ve always preferred telephoto shooters to ultra-wides, and I"d eagerly pay a premium for a small Pixel 8 with a similar camera setup. Secure face unlock also beats fingerprint sensors in my book (heresy, I know), and that orange color was absolutely killer. - Taylor Kerns, Gadgets Editor

The original Pixel XL is often overlooked and forgotten, even though it kickstarted this new brand of Google smartphone. Other Pixels are more fondly remembered, despite the fact they all had more issues than the original. The Pixel"s only crime was having what some would call a boring design with big bezels. Look beyond that and you have one of the most consistently performing phones Google has ever made.

The Pixel 2 XL had a lousy screen, the Pixel 3 XL had a bathtub, the Pixel 4 XL had a mediocre battery, the Pixel 5 was too modest, the Pixel 6 Pro spent all its time looking for a signal, and the Pixel 7 Pro is too new to for me to form an opinion on.

The Pixel XL, by comparison, was one of the smoother launches for Google. It had excellent build quality, looked stunning in "Very Silver" — why we don"t have a decent picture of it here, I haven"t the foggiest — and introduced all of us to Google Assistant and the camera magic we grew to love. Aside from my Galaxy S2 back in 2012, no phone has had me run to the front door with such glee on delivery day. I loved every moment with the Pixel XL; from hospital stays to holidays, it was an almost-perfect companion. Perhaps if the subsequent Pixels excited me this much, I"d still use them. - Zachary Kew-Denniss, AP Freelance Writer

The Google Pixel 3a XL is by no means the best Pixel phone, and I don’t want to swap back to it from my new Google Pixel 7 Pro, but instead, I appreciate the groundwork the Pixel 3a series set out for the next four or so years of phone releases. It took what made the flagship phones before it good and packaged it into a significantly cheaper device. It was half the price at $399. At the time, I was floored by what the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL could offer. Honestly, I’m pretty much always impressed by what the Pixel’s cheaper alternative can do.

In my Pixel 3a XL review at the time, I asked why you’d buy a Pixel 3 XL (or a Pixel 4 later in the year), considering that the flagship was double the price. Of course, time showed that the flagship series remained popular among Android fans. Still, the Pixel 3a series set out Google’s vision for up-to-the-minute software, pretty impressive specs, and a smooth all-around experience in a cheaper alternative to its top-end devices. I’ll always love the Pixel 3a XL for kicking it all off. - James Peckham, Editor-in-Chief

When it came time to replace my Pixel 2 XL after three long years of use, I didn"t reach for the Pixel 5, nor did I pick up the year-old Pixel 4 (though based on the responses in this article, clearly I missed out). Instead, I sprang for the Pixel 4a 5G, a choice only partially influenced by my budget at the time. The Pixel 4a 5G wasn"t the world"s most exciting phone, but even today, I find it to be one of my favorite Android phones ever, a true example of something that just "worked."

Its screen size was just the right compromise between too big and too small, fitting comfortably in my hands without feeling overwhelming, and that matte plastic finish was a far cry from the glossy finishes on the Pixel 6 and 7 series. The camera was as good as any other Pixel phone at the time, competing with devices twice as expensive, and the battery life was unstoppable — this thing got me through more than a full day on a single charge without breaking a sweat.

Sure, it lacked some features many would find essential today, like wireless charging, a 90Hz display, and any sort of IP rating to help survive water. But it got all the basics right, and at only $450, it was a total bargain. I still use my Pixel 4a 5G today, both for installing Android betas and for using wired headphones in bed at night, and I"ll be sad when it drops off Google"s update list next November. But I"ll never forget the utilitarian approach of the Pixel 4a 5G. Nothing flashy, nothing extravagant — just everything you needed and nothing else. - Will Sattelberg, Phones Editor

The Pixel 4 was the last really, really great phone Google made. Have we gotten some really nice A-series phones since then? Sure, and those are fine when you"re willing to settle. But in the flagship space, everything since then has just been too large — yeah, even the Pixel 5. I love how the Pixel 4 wasn"t afraid to have a nice, thick top bezel, which gave Google plenty of room for its awesome face unlock hardware — an experience I"ve yet to see surpassed on Android. Could the battery have been bigger? Well, mine actually ended up swelling, so if anything I"d argue it was too big. Was Soli weird and useless? Sure, but Google"s at its best when it"s trying odd, boundary-pushing stuff like that. - Stephen Schenck, Managing Editor

I was skeptical the Pixel line would just exist as expensive Nexus devices, seeing that polish and reliability aren’t typically Google’s strong suits. Suffice it to say, I still feel I was partially correct as I watch the fallout from every Pixel release and the endless bugs, though I did dip my toe into the water with the Pixel 4. Perhaps it was the giant forehead that drew me to the smartphone, or maybe it was the silly Motion Sense air gestures that never saw enough support to make them worthwhile, but there was something about the phone that appealed, so I went out of pocket and picked one up.

The one feature I did enjoy was how small the regular Pixel 4 is. Really, this is the main reason I wanted one, to finally go back to a small phone after using behemoths for years. Sadly the idea of a small phone is more appealing than actually using one, at least for me when my day-to-day entails testing endless amounts of games. So I only used it for a few short months, completing my one foray into Pixel land.

The funny thing is, I didn’t sell it, as I still think it’s a great size when games aren’t a factor, and the fabric case for the Pixel 4 line is hard to beat, even to this day. But this is Google we are talking about, and I’m still incredibly trepidatious regarding any Google hardware (my Stadia controller says hi, along with my bricked Pixelbook and Nexus 9). Still, for me, the Pixel 4 is the one that stood out. Too bad Motion Sense ended up being a useless gimmick. - Matt Sholtz, Games and Apps Editor

The Pixel 2 XL replaced my Motorola Droid Turbo 2, which died due to a charging port issue (good riddance to Micro USB). The Pixel 2 XL was stunning, especially in the so-called “Panda” colorway that I had. The two-tone black and white back with the bright orange power button is still probably the prettiest smartphone I’ve ever seen. I really miss it.

The phone did have a good number of issues with the screen, none of which I ever experienced. Compared to my Droid, the display was much more vibrant and bright, and I loved the default live wallpapers that came with it. I enjoyed the back-mounted fingerprint sensor, which was fast and accurate, and made getting to my homescreen easy. The best part about the phone was easily the camera. It was a fantastic point-and-shoot camera for the time, and captured many excellent photos for me. I also loved the squeeze-to-activate Assistant feature, which was incredibly underappreciated.

Ironically, I had to get a second Pixel 2 XL under warranty because the charging port on my first one broke — just like on my Droid Turbo 2. Nonetheless, I hope one day there’s a phone that excites me as much as the Pixel 2 XL did. - Zach Traverso, AP Freelance Writer

The Google Pixel 3 XL may go down in history as one of the worst implementations of the notch, but the smaller Pixel 3 didn’t share that same design flaw. Instead, it came with even bezels top and bottom. While these were bigger than the bezels on many other phones of its era, the Pixel 3 was still an attractive phone all around with its two-tone back and the small, pocketable form factor. For me, Google only really managed to nail design like that with the Pixel 5 and onwards (discarding the a series here), and I held on to it for all that time.

The Pixel 3 was my companion for almost three years, with me buying the phone when I first joined Android Police in 2019 and only replacing it with the Pixel 6 in 2021. That’s not to say that everything was perfect. The Pixel 3 had a notoriously weak battery life, with almost all phones I tested in the meantime being much more enduring. But I just kept coming back to the Pixel 3 due to the excellent Pixel skin, the constant and reliable software updates, and the form factor. I still wish manufacturers would create more small phones like this. Sure, there is the Asus Zenfone 8, but that’s not the norm. Just look at the brand-new Google Pixel 7 Pro, which has a screen almost as big as the 2012 Nexus 7 tablet, sans bezels. - Manuel Vonau, Google Editor

From the very beginning of my Android writing career, I have lamented the whales of the smartphone market. I am a small woman with small hands and small pockets — because women’s fashion is warped beyond all sanity — and all I’ve ever wanted was a phone that fit in my front pocket and actually performed properly. The last phone to do this in my experience was the original 2013 Moto X, but Google’s second a-series Pixel came close and remains one of the most iconic phones Google ever made.

While the Google Pixel 4a wasn’t a powerhouse, it worked well, fit perfectly in my hand, gave users a great camera experience for a great price, and was reliable as any flagship. We made it our 2020 smartphone of the year for a reason, but even beyond the technical experience, it was just so refreshing to have a phone that was small compact, and easy to use again after half a decade of phones getting overpriced and over-inflated like a balloon, it was spellbinding. Say what you will about its battery — and I say “that’s what sweet, slim power banks are for” — but the Pixel 4a was the first phone in years that felt like it was perfectly made for me rather than some half-giant barbarian. - Ara Wagoner, Commerce Editor

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:

Google Pixel is a brand of portable consumer electronic devices developed by Google that run either ChromeOS or the Android operating system. The main line of Pixel products consist of Android-powered smartphones, which have been produced since October 2016 as the replacement of the older Nexus, and of which the Pixel 7 is the current model. The Pixel brand also includes laptop and tablet computers, as well as several accessories, and was originally introduced in February 2013 with the Chromebook Pixel.

Google announced the first generation Pixel smartphones, the Pixel and the Pixel XL, on October 4, 2016 during the #MadeByGoogle event.HTC released the U11, which also scored 90 points.Google Photosunlockable bootloader.

Display: 5.0" AMOLED 60Hz display with 1080×1920 pixel resolution (Pixel 2); 6" P-OLED 60Hz display with 1440×2880 pixel resolution (Pixel 2 XL); Both displays have Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Display: Pixel 3 5.5" OLED, 60Hz, 2160×1080 (18:9> pixel resolution; Pixel 3 XL 6.3" OLED, 60Hz, 2960×1440 (18.5:9) pixel resolution; both displays have Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Display: Pixel 3a 5.6" OLED, 60 Hz, 2220×1080 (18.5:9) pixel resolution; Pixel 3a XL 6" OLED, 60 Hz, 2160x1080 (18:9) pixel resolution; both displays have Asahi Dragontrail Glass

Display: Pixel 4 5.7" OLED, 90 Hz, 2280×1080 (19:9) pixel resolution; Pixel 4 XL 6.3" OLED, 90 Hz, 3040×1440 (19:9) pixel resolution; both displays have Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Google announced the Pixel 4a on August 3, 2020 and the Pixel 4a (5G) on September 30, 2020, as budget alternatives to the original two Pixel 4 devices.

Display: 5.8" OLED (4a) 6.2" OLED (4a 5G), 60 Hz, 2340×1080 (19.5:9) pixel resolution; the display uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Both have a hole punch for the front camera.

Camera: 12.2 MP dual-pixel sensor with f/1.7 lens, autofocus with dual-pixel phase detection, optical and electrical image stabilization. In addition, the 4a 5G has a 16 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens. Both have an 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens.

Camera: 12.2 MP sensor with f/1.7 lens and 16 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens, autofocus with dual-pixel phase detection, optical and electrical image stabilization; 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens.

Camera: 12.2 MP sensor with f/1.7 lens and 16 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens, autofocus with dual-pixel phase detection, optical and electrical image stabilization; 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens.

Display: Pixel 6 6.4" OLED, 90 Hz, 2400×1080 FHD+ pixel resolution; Pixel 6 Pro 6.7" LTPO OLED, 120 Hz, 3120×1440 QHD+ pixel resolution; both have Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

Pixel 6: Rear 50 MP sensor with f/1.85 lens, laser detect autofocus, optical image stabilization; Rear 12 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens; Front 8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens and 84° field of view;

Pixel 6 Pro: Rear 50 MP sensor with f/1.85 lens, laser detect autofocus, optical image stabilization; Rear 12 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens; Rear 48 MP telephoto sensor with f/3.5 lens; Front 11.1 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens and 94° field of view.

Camera: 12.2 MP sensor with f/1.7 lens and 12 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens, autofocus with dual-pixel phase detection, optical and electrical image stabilization; 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens.

Display: Pixel 7 6.3" OLED, 90 Hz, 2400×1080 FHD+ pixel resolution; Pixel 7 Pro 6.7" LTPO OLED, 120 Hz, 3120×1440 QHD+ pixel resolution; both have Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

Cameras: Pixel 7 Rear 50 MP sensor with f/1.85 lens and 12 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens, front 8 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens and 92.8° field of view; Pixel 7 Pro Rear 50 MP sensor with f/1.85 lens, 12 MP ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 lens and 48 MP telephoto sensor with f/3.5 lens, front 11.1 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens and 92.8° field of view; Laser detect autofocus, optical image stabilization.

The Pixel C was announced by Google at an event on September 29, 2015,Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P phones (among other products). The Pixel C includes a USB-C port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and later received Android 7.x Nougat and Android 8.x Oreo. Google stopped selling the Pixel C in December 2017.

The Pixel Slate, a 12.3 in (31 cm) 2-in-1 tablet and laptop, was announced by Google in New York City on October 9, 2018,ChromeOS on Intel Kaby Lake processors, with options ranging from a Celeron on the low end to an i7 on the high end. In June 2019, Google announced it will not further develop the product line, and cancelled two models that were under development.

Google announced the first generation Chromebook Pixel in a blog post on February 21, 2013.Mini DisplayPort, combination headphone/microphone jack, and two USB 2.0 ports. Some of the device"s other features include a backlit keyboard, a "fully clickable etched glass touchpad," integrated stereo speakers, and two built-in microphones.

The Google Pixel Watch is a first-generation wearable made by Google. It features a circular display. Multiple wristbands for the watch are available on the Google Store for purchase.

At Google"s October 2017 hardware event, a set of wireless earbuds were unveiled alongside the Pixel 2 smartphones.Google Assistant.Google Translate.Pixel 2 with the help of the Google Assistant and "Nearby".

Alongside the launch of the Pixelbook in October 2017, Google announced the Pixelbook Pen, a stylus to be used with the Pixelbook. It has pressure sensitivity as well as support for Google Assistant. The Pen is powered by a replaceable AAAA battery and is priced at US$99.

In October 2018, Google announced the Pixel Stand alongside the Pixel 3 smartphones.Qi wireless charging, the Pixel Stand has wireless 10 watt charging using a proprietary technology from Google.smart display similar to the Google Home Hub.

Unlike the Nexus phones, which Google shipped with "stock" Android (AOSP), the Pixel UI that came with the first generation Pixel phones were slightly modified compared to "stock" Android. Currently, Pixel UI and its home launcher are available on Pixel family devices only. (However, third-party modifications allow non-Pixel smartphones to install the Pixel Launcher with Google Now feed integration).

Google officially launched the Pixel Launcher and Pixel UI together the Pixel phones; unlike the Google Now Launcher which allowed non Nexus phones to install, the Pixel Launcher was only available on the Pixel phones. Most Android smartphones including Nexus phones are not compatible with the launcher.

From time to time, I’ll grab a random device out of the Verge reviews closet and spend a week or two with it. It’s mostly out of random curiosity and for the sake of comparing “old” products against the latest and greatest. Most recently, I was drawn to Google’s Pixel 5. So I gave it a factory reset, updated the phone to Android 12, and have been using it as my daily driver for the past several days.

The experience has been fantastic. I’ve got very large hands — an iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn’t look out of place in them — and I prefer large screens, so I don’t think I could fully switch over to the Pixel 5. But it’s such a good “small” phone (by 2022 standards) that I’ve certainly been tempted. The Pixel 5 makes it easy to do anything I need one-handed. Its midrange processor performs better than ever on Android 12, and this phone still looks unique next to the competition.

Above all else, I’ve come away disappointed that Google gave up on the Pixel 5’s style and size after just one year. The smallest phone in the company’s lineup is currently the Pixel 5a, which has a 6.3-inch display. To its credit, Google is shrinking things down slightly with the upcoming 6A. But with the A-series models, you’re giving up niceties like the 90Hz display and wireless charging. In those ways, the Pixel 5 might be the last of its kind in Google’s lineup. So much for the even bezels, too.

I now find myself wishing that Google would keep the 5 around as an “iPhone SE”-style product that gets brought up to speed with hardware upgrades every couple years — without losing what makes it good. Let’s cover some of the Pixel 5’s strengths.

Design and materials:The Pixel 5’s 6-inch OLED display is surrounded by thin, symmetrical bezels that go a long way in making the phone comfortable and usable in one hand. And the textured “bio resin” coating on the 5’s body results in a unique feel and reassuring grip when you’re holding it throughout the day. The volume rocker shares this texture, while the power button is glossy metal — making it easy to distinguish between the two by touch. Owing to its feel and palm-able size, the Pixel 5 is one of those phones that can go caseless without causing much consternation.

Before Google went all in on the common “glass sandwich” design with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, previous models in the series often used distinctive materials and textures that helped the phones stand out. With the Pixel 2, it was the almost-coarse rear shell of the black model. The Pixel 4 had grippy side rails. But after the 5’s bio resin — I’m still a big fan of the Sorta Sage green colorway with this finish — Google opted for a more basic in-hand feel with last year’s flagships.

A better screen: The Pixel 6’s OLED panel might seem perfectly fine based on first impressions. But in all honesty, it’s mediocre. There are plenty of threads on Reddit complaining about uniformity issues, an unsightly green tint at lower brightness levels, and other imperfections. The Pixel 6 Pro’s gorgeous LPTO panel exhibits none of these problems, so it’s clear that Google settled for less as part of reaching the 6’s $599 price.

Even the Pixel 5’s screen seems of a slightly higher quality to me than the 6 that replaced it. They’re both 90Hz displays, but the 5’s white point, uniformity, and overall image are just a bit nicer to my eyes. This can sometimes come down to variance between individual units, but I hope to see better from the Pixel 7.

Pixel Imprint rear fingerprint sensor:I’m still let down that phone makers decided in unison to relocate the fingerprint reader from the back of the phone, where your index finger often naturally rests while holding it, to underneath the display. Google’s Pixel Imprint scanners were perhaps the fastest and most consistent in the entire Android ecosystem, and, well, let’s just say the in-screen sensor on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro has never matched it — even after Google improved the performance through software updates.

Consistent camera performance:Google spent several years optimizing its computational photography for the 12-megapixel main camera shared by the Pixel 5 and its predecessors. And while it lacks the dynamic range of the Pixel 6 / 6 Pro and doesn’t offer features like Real Tone or Magic Eraser, the Pixel 5 is a consistent shooter. You know what you’re going to get, which can’t always be said of the Pixel 6 line. I don’t love the unpleasant-looking background blur you sometimes get from the 6’s larger sensor, but this is something Google will no doubt improve.

Although I’m mostly satisfied with the smooth performance and general responsiveness of the Pixel 5 on Android 12, there are still occasions where the midrange Snapdragon 765G processor hits a wall and gets bogged down. Snap a photo, and the frustrating delay while the phone processes the shot remains present. The 5 can also get hung up if you get overly ambitious with multitasking.

While I’m sold on the Pixel 5’s look and feel, Google’s hardware quality assurance isn’t always the best. Many units have a slight gap between the display and body. After the phone’s release, the company said the gap wasn’t anything to worry about — but it’s exactly the sort of minor detail that I find annoying.

But even with those downsides factored in, there’s still something special about this phone. I’ve come close to buying one from Woot, which is selling new, unopened Pixel 5s for $450. Apparently Google must’ve stumbled across some extra inventory in a warehouse somewhere. With Apple’s mini iPhone rumored to be cut from the upcoming iPhone 14 lineup, it seems small phones are on the way out (again). That makes this a tempting moment to buy. The only asterisk to consider in Google’s case is that software support for the Pixel 5 will end in October 2023.

But maybe by then, Google will reintroduce a small Pixel that doesn’t skimp on hardware features and doesn’t so blandly take after its larger siblings.

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.

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 21 watts on Pixel 7 and up to 23 watts 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.

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.

Designed to comply with dust and water protection rating IP68 under IEC standard 60529 when each device leaves the factory but the device is not water or dust proof. The accessories are not water or dust resistant. Water resistance and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and will diminish or be lost over time due to normal wear and tear, device repair, disassembly or damage. Dropping your device may result in loss of water/dust resistance. Liquid damage voids the warranty. See g.co/pixel/water for details.

Boarding pass feature requires Gmail app. Event reminders require compatible email and calendar apps. Package delivery feature requires compatible Nest doorbell (sold separately) and the Google Home app or Nest app.

Not available in all languages or countries. Not available on all media or apps. See g.co/pixel/livetranslate for more information. Translation may not be instantaneous.

Personal Safety app features are dependent upon network connectivity and other factors and may not be reliable for emergency communications or available in all areas. For more information, see g.co/pixel/personalsafety.

Requires connection to compatible devices. Ringing to locate misplaced device requires the device to be nearby. Phone, watch, and earbuds sold separately.

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.

Save $100 on Pixel 7. Starts February 5, 2023 at 12:00 am PT and ends February 25, 2023 at 11:59pm PT, while supplies last and subject to availability. US residents only. Must be 18 years or older. Unless otherwise stated, offer cannot be combined with other offers and is not transferable. Purchase must be made on Google Store US. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Void where prohibited.

Buy Pixel 7 and get up to $300 back with qualifying trade-in. Starting on February 5, 2023 at 12:00am PT and ending on February 25, 2023 at 11:59pm PT. Trade-in values vary based on condition, year, and configuration of your eligible device, and are subject to change upon inspection. Typical representative amounts: $300 for iPhone 13 Mini or $300 for Galaxy S20 (5G). Credit card refund available only on a card used to purchase the Pixel phone. 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.

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. The curve differs in that it has a linear mapping near black which makes dark tones appear lighter compared to gamma 2.2.  Due to the increased complexity of the function, most people just calibrate to gamma 2.2 for simplicity, and it"s what monitor calibrators and artists have been doing for many years. The actual use of the precise sRGB curve is a controversial topic for this reason; even though it"s the "official" standard, it creates disparity among the vast majority who have already been working with gamma 2.2, which many argue to be the "correct" industry standard.

What makes this interesting is that I"m not sure Google even intended for this behavior. Samsung also ships phones with the sRGB tone curve, though only on their Exynos variants—the Snapdragon models still use gamma 2.2. The Exynos display pipeline inside the Pixels" Tensor SoC is likely responsible for decoding RGB triplets with the sRGB transfer function.

In regards to accuracy, both phones do a good job tracking the sRGB tone curve in their Natural and Boosted mode. But at lower brightness, the Pixel 6 fails to keep up with the performance of the Pixel 6 Pro as the cheaper panel struggles to lift darker tones in its 90 Hz clock rate. In general usage, the sRGB tone curve looks close enough to the standard 2.2 gamma curve to where most people won"t notice a difference for most imagery. However, a lift in shadows is definitely observable in the darker regions of content and in dark-themed interfaces. Some may prefer this look over gamma 2.2, while others may think it looks washed out. Personally, I prefer this tonal appearance on smartphones for the enhanced legibility in low light and in bright conditions.

When high brightness mode triggers under a sunny day, the displays will bump up the shadows, with the Pro phone being capable of being tuned a bit brighter. This helps improve the visibility of image details in brighter conditions without compromising the image quality.

At their dimmest setting, the Pixel 6 Pro paints a much more tonally balanced screen. In its Natural mode, the Pixel 6 Pro is one of the best-performing low brightness OLEDs on any phone. I claimed the same thing for last year"s Pixel 5, which had impeccable shadow tone control. Compared to it, the Pixel 6 Pro performs similarly, though this year"s display is just slightly worse near black. While the Pixel 5 was able to render its first bit step out of black (1/255) at all brightness levels, the Pixel 6 Pro can only do so at high brightness. It does globally render the very next step, however, and in my book, that"s still fantastic. The Pixel 5"s shadows were also a bit lighter overall in low light, but in my opinion it made things look a little too flat, and I now prefer the look of the 6 Pro.

Within the same conditions, the non-Pro Pixel does not compete. The cheaper display renders steep shadows that clip a little more near black, and in Adaptive mode, the Pixel 6 becomes a mottled mess at minimum brightness. For this reason, I cannot recommend the profile on Pixel 6.

Nominally, both displays strike very similar white points that measure decently accurate to D65/6504 K. Both my units erred slightly on the magenta side, though I have no qualms with this as I"ll explain later.

Un