Google Pixel 6 Pro review

Design, build quality, handling

Google said that its inspiration for the design and aesthetic of the Google Pixel 6 Pro comes from "high-quality finishes from jewelry and watches". The dual-tone design on the back is subtle but stunning. This dual-tone look feels like it evolved from the first three generations of the Google Pixel, the "glass window" on the back in particular.

Our Stormy Black unit has a dark graphite back panel and an upper accent glass of what might be described as a cross between gray and silver above the pitch-black camera bar. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is the first Pixel phone with three main cameras. These include a new 50MP main camera, an updated 12MP utlrawide, and the 48MP periscope camera with optical zoom is the one behind the rectangular opening in the camera bar. This camera bar is reminiscent of the days of the Huawei-made Nexus 6P.

Both glass panels on the rear use 3D glass made of Gorilla Glass Victus and curve evenly over the edges of the Pixel 6 Pro's frame. The front panel is also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, which Google claims has up to 2 times better scratch resistance than the Pixel 4a 5G's Gorilla Glass 3.

Even with the fingerprint-resistant coating, the phone is easily smothered in fingerprints with its glossy finishes all around. Perhaps the lighter colors are better at hiding smudges.

The Pixel 6 Pro measures 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (including the camera hump) and weighs in at 210g. The hardware is designed to withstand up to 1.5m deep of water for up to 30 minutes with its IP68 dust and water resistance rating.

The 6 Pro's dimensions are identical to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and roughly the size of the Google Pixel 4 XL. It is also just slightly taller and slightly narrower than the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.

When holding the phone, these curves sit nicely in the palm of your hand, and no hard edges are poking into the palm. There's no denying that the Pixel 6 Pro is large with its 6.71" edge-to-edge display with HDR10 support, 120Hz refresh rate, and great brightness. This is also the first Pixel to ever feature curved glass on display.

The rounded corners of the display are a bit more squarish for a bolder look here, compared to the more rounded corners of the Pixel 5 lineup. At the top of the display is a centered punch-hole cut out that houses the 11.1MP camera, and there's a thin slit across the top edge of the glass where the phone's in-call speaker is housed. We're glad to see Google reverted from its decision to use an under-display speaker on the Pixel 5.

The frame that wraps around the phone is made of a "polished alloy" made of recycled aluminum. The top edge of the frame is capped with plastic, though it blends nicely with the metal. This is so that radio signals can pass through the top of the phone, especially when mmWave 5G is concerned. On the underside of the phone, there's a USB-C port, microphone, and loudspeaker ports.

Ever since the Google Pixel 2, the accented power key was a staple of the Pixel brand. We're sad to see the colorful trend go the wayside, but perhaps adding accent colors to a single button across multiple color schemes would have delayed the production of the Pixel 6 models more than Google wanted to. The keys themselves are very tactile and emit a satisfying, clicky sound when you press them.

The left side doesn't have any keys, but this is where the nanoSIM tray is. These side views also give us a really good idea of how large the camera hump is.

Google was known for making fabric cases for its Pixel smartphones since the Pixel 3, but the company has dropped them for unknown reasons. It has instead switched to vibrant translucent covers made from more than 30% recycled plastic. We are not sure whether the new cases will be susceptible to turning yellow over time like other translucent cases. The first-party case isn't snug, and dust is quickly introduced between the case and the phone, which could cause marks on the frame if it isn't frequently cleaned out.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is certainly a large device. Its design is both curvy and angular. Its dual-tone finishes are stunning, though they aren't smudge-proof. Aside from this, some may or may not prefer the curve of the display's edges. Let's talk about this in the display section of the next page, where we'll also talk about battery life, charging, and the loudspeakers.