It took about an hour during the start of sales for the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, at the end of October, before most models were actually sold out. Perhaps that was due to the scarcity caused by the pandemic. You might also think that buyers were interested in this nice deal where you can instantly get a good pair of headphones with the device. With that said, it will be less than the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, because even if it’s just the hardware itself, it looks like the interest will be much more this year.

Google’s Pixel phones have always relied primarily on software. The devices always promise a smooth Android experience without much of a fuss, plus quick updates and some new Google functions and services first. Also with those who want the right google browser, Pixels are in great demand, because you can install your operating system in no time thanks to the wide range of dedicated ROMs. All this makes Pixel phones popular with tweakers. Certainly in the Netherlands, the Pixel is also a bit of an option for the public, because officially Google has never released one in this country. Fortunately, there are German or French web shops that offer their services in the Netherlands. If you need it faster, there are Dutch web stores that import it themselves, which of course entails an additional cost.

With previous Pixel devices, we’ve always missed a certain feature compared to competing smartphones, and last year’s Pixel 5 was definitely a poor offering: a phone that doesn’t have many Pixel 4 features, with a soc that’s more mid-range than high-end. What undoubtedly makes the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro more popular is that Google now combines its prized software with really good hardware. The Pixel 6 features an all-new camera and a much larger screen than its predecessor. The heart of the device consists of the new Tensor-soc, Google’s first proprietary smartphone chip specifically designed to power the machine learning models that Google’s software draws its power from. The more expensive Pixel 6 Pro has the same fast SOC and redesigned main camera, while adding other luxury features, like a larger 1440p OLED display and, for the first time, a telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom.

In addition to improved hardware and familiar software, Google is also diving under the price of other devices with similar features. Officially, the Pixel 6 in the configuration with 128 GB of storage costs 649 euros, while the Pixel 6 Pro costs 899 euros. By importing Dutch gray, about €100 will be added for the pixels either way, but still. The Pixel 6 is the same price as last year’s Pixel 5, but is more comprehensive, while the Pixel 6 Pro can compete on paper with Pro, Plus or Ultra smartphones of €1,000 or more. In terms of the price-quality ratio and hardware features, the pixels seem to be quite good for the first time. In this review, we look at whether this potential is actually realized in the final product.