Google’s Pixel handsets are a few of the greatest smartphones cash should purchase. And in contrast to most of their rivals, they do not include loopy worth tags. The newest within the vary, the Pixel 5, prices simply £599 ($699, AU$999), which is superb worth for such a well-specced handset.
The Pixel 5 launched on the finish of final 12 months, however already rumours are rumbling of a successor. It leaked not too long ago that Google plans to launch a foldable cellphone sooner or later within the close to future – might that be the Pixel 6? Or a separate machine altogether?
Under, we’ll try and reply that in addition to many different questions concerning the Pixel 6, resembling what sort of specs it’s going to have, how a lot it’s going to value and when it’ll launch. So let’s dive in and see what Google has in retailer.
Google Pixel 6: launch date and worth
It is early days for the Pixel 6 – the Pixel 5 is just 4 months outdated, so we’re not anticipating an official announcement till a lot later within the 12 months. The agency at all times publicizes its Pixel telephones in late September or early October, and we’d anticipate this 12 months to be no totally different. A launch then is smart, permitting the cellphone to land on store cabinets simply in time for the busy Christmas interval.
Do not imagine us? Simply take a look at the dates of Google’s previous Pixel bulletins.
So the sensible cash is on a launch occasion happening on the finish of September or starting of October.
The value is tougher to pinpoint. Google positioned the Pixel 5 as a way more reasonably priced handset, giving it a price ticket of simply £599 ($699, AU$999). An analogous pricing technique was additionally adopted by Samsung for the Galaxy S21, which prices £769 ($799, AU$1249). So can we anticipate the Pixel 6 to observe swimsuit?
Possibly, but it surely’s removed from a useless cert. Google often sells an even bigger, higher-specced and costlier variant of its Pixel telephones. The newest, the Pixel 4XL, prices £829 ($899, AU$1280). However the Pixel 5 was the primary to to not be joined by an XL model. Google might preserve to this technique, and re-position the Pixel vary as solely a mid-range proposition. Or it might enlarge the scale of the usual Pixel and up the value. Or, after all, it might launch a Pixel 6 XL and preserve the usual Pixel 6 as extra reasonably priced.
All of it depends upon what else Google has deliberate for this 12 months. If it does launch a foldable cellphone – stated to be codenamed “Passport” – it’ll undoubtedly have the next price ticket, which might legitimise retaining the Pixel 6 as a mid-range affair. But when the folding cellphone is pushed again to 2022 or past, Google might nicely spec out the following Pixel and cost extra for it.
It additionally depends upon Google’s technique for pricing the Pixel 5 decrease within the first place. Did it foresee the financial fallout from the worldwide pandemic and reckon that individuals can be much less keen (or much less in a position) to spend huge on a smartphone? Or did it admit to itself that it could not problem Apple and Samsung’s dominance within the excessive finish and determine to make a play for the center market as a substitute? The way it positions the Pixel 6 would possibly reveal so much about its market technique for the long run.
Google Pixel 6: specs
The specs are a bit difficult to name at this early stage, primarily as a result of no leaks have revealed specs for the handset but. However utilizing our trade information we will make some educated guesses.
For starters, Qualcomm not too long ago launched its newest chipset, the Snapdragon 888. If Google needs to trick out the Pixel 6 with the absolute best efficiency, it’s going to seemingly go for Qulcomm’s newest. But when it needs to maintain it a mid-range machine, it would use a much less highly effective processor, one thing just like the successor to the 765G. This hasn’t really been introduced but, however is broadly anticipated to be known as the 775G.
There’s additionally a rumour that Google is partnering with Samsung to develop its personal vary of chips. So there’s a probability that the Pixel 6 may very well be powered by the primary ever Google-made cellular chipset.
Even when Google does go the lower-specced route, we will nonetheless anticipate the handset to be 5G. The know-how is turning into increasingly more widespread, and if Google hopes to persuade individuals to purchase and use its cellphone for years to return, 5G will likely be a necessity, even for a (comparatively) extra reasonably priced handset.
Subsequent up is the display screen. Excessive refresh price shows have gotten all the fad with Android telephones – and never simply on the excessive finish of the market. Certainly, Samsung is putting the tech into its mid-range phones. So we will most likely anticipate the Pixel 6 to have both a 90Hz or 120Hz panel.
These refresh charges are higher for rendering fast-moving content material resembling sports activities and video games, that means much less blur.
In the intervening time, there are treasured few leaks to go on by way of laborious specs, however we’re presently anticipating the Pixel 6 to have similar 6-inch display screen dimension because the Pixel 5, with the identical decision of 2340 x 1080 pixels.
Battery-wise, we’re anticipating at the least 4000mAh, matching the Pixel 5, and probably extra if Google opts for an even bigger display screen or extra power-hungry processor.
Google Pixel 6: cameras
The cameras have at all times been one of many Pixel vary’s highlights. Certainly, we known as the Pixel 5’s snapper a “class-leading digital camera”. So what can we anticipate from the Pixel 6?
We might see the return of the telephoto lens beforehand featured within the Pixel 4. This was dropped for the Pixel 5, however might make a welcome comeback, both as a alternative to the extremely huge lens, or as a 3rd digital camera within the rear array.
We might additionally see some thrilling tech within the front-facing digital camera. Specifically, it may very well be constructed below the display screen itself. This is not simply rumour – Google has patented the tech (through Patently Apple). An under-screen digital camera would imply no unpleasant notch or ‘pinhole’ obscuring the show. Not solely would the handset look a lot sleeker, it could additionally improve our enjoyment of movies, TV reveals and video games.
Google would not be the primary with this tech – it is already been seen within the ZTE Axon 20 5G. And simply because Google has patented it, that does not imply it’ll implement it within the Pixel 6. Nevertheless it actually makes it a chance…
Google Pixel 6: design
Google could not be accused of being caught in its methods with regards to its cellphone designs. The Pixel 5 options an aluminium physique coated by a skinny pores and skin of bio-resin plastic to allow wi-fi charging. It gained plaudits for its easy however trendy look, so we’ve no motive to assume Google will not persist with the same design for the Pixel 6.
Google Pixel 6: verdict
An excessive amount of concerning the Pixel 6 stays unknown to make any type of judgement proper now. That is not precisely shocking, seeing as we’re an excellent eight months away from its launch. But when Google’s earlier efforts are something to go by, and judging by the prevailing requirements of the present Android competitors, it’ll positively be one to observe within the run-up to its launch this autumn.
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