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VPNs for ad-blocking The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro flip this script with a design that screams premium. In fact, it does so with a design that screams “Samsung”. The slippery glass back and gentle curves around the edge of the screen, plus a move away from some of the more daring colour palettes of previous Pixels, is strongly reminiscent of Galaxy S series handsets from the last few years. But it is below the surface where the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro really shine, and it’s hard to ignore Google’s seriously competitive pricing. Apple has had similar success developing its own processors, claiming that it’s not just that the chips are fast, but that they have complete control over the way the hardware and software communicate with each other. Google now has a similar advantage over other Android phone makers and says that the Tensor chips are designed to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and that this is where the company is focusing its innovation efforts going forward. Whatever sorcery is at work under the hood, the results are noticeable when using the phone. The UI is incredibly snappy and responsive, and applications spring to life when selected. Most noticeable is the speed of the Chrome browser where new windows seem to load instantaneously. But the real magic happens in the second or two after you take a photo before the final image pops onto the screen. You can actually watch the original photo as it is enhanced by the photo software, from a good shot to an outstanding photo. Worse yet, these are some of the slipperiest phones I’ve encountered in a long time. The number of times I’ve caught one of the Pixels edging towards the edge of a table or sofa is well into double-digits now. The number of times I failed to catch them and had them clatter to the floor is more concerning. Which is to say, that even though you may think the new Pixel phones look great you are going to need to find an extra chunk of cash and cover up those glossy good looks with a case or cover. Whether you invest in a fast charger may come down to whether you think you need it, especially considering that both Pixels have great battery life. While the battery in the Pixel 6 has a lower capacity compared with the battery in the Pixel 6 Pro, both phones easily work through up to two days before needing a recharge. Phone themes: whenever you pick as new wallpaper, Android 12 automatically changes the colour theming across the interface. For example, if you took a photo of someone on a sunny day, the theme may include options from blues in the sky, flesh tones or green grass. These colours are then found across the phone, like in the notification panel and inside apps, like the calculator. Magic Eraser: this is a new option in the Google Photos editing tool which helps to auto-magically replace elements in photos that you want to remove. Our success with it has varied, but it is fun to play around with. Live Translate: Android 12 now has several cool ways to read, see and speak in different languages. A personal favourite is that you can now turn on translation in the existing Live Caption feature, so as you play media in a different language, you will see captions appearing in real-time. This is great for watching YouTube videos from around the world. The screens are probably the best examples. The higher resolution is hard to spot on the larger display on the Pixel 6 Pro, and the higher refresh rate, which should make scrolling animations appear smoother, switches on and off automatically, so it’s hard to know when you’re taking advantage of this feature. And when the difference in size is between 6.4-inches and 6.7-inches, it is a moot point. If I were to guess, I’d say that the Pro is only slightly larger to accommodate the extra camera hardware, and not to offer a discernible difference in size. The extra RAM could be something that proves useful when using certain applications, but I haven’t discovered any noticeable lag when using the Pixel 6 with its 8GB RAM. The battery life experience is mostly identical, with the larger battery capacity in the Pixel 6 Pro offset by the extra power needed for the increase in screen real estate and extra pixels. The exception to this is the versatility you get from having the extra telephoto lens and a 4x zoom option when taking pictures with the camera. The machine learning algorithms do a great job of cleaning up noise in photos taken with digital zoom, but nothing beats a dedicated zoom lens. Unfortunately, you will need to reserve some of these saved dollars and cents and fork out for a case and a fast-charging power adapter; one because the slippery design of the phone demands it, and the other because Google has cheaped out and not included it.
