A Bold Step Then, A Compelling Value Now?
Launched back in October 2021, the Google Pixel 6 marked a significant turning point for Google’s smartphone ambitions. It ushered in a radical new design language, debuted the company’s first-ever custom silicon, the Tensor chip, and further solidified the computational photography prowess for which Pixels were already known.
Now, several generations later, in April 2025, how does the original Pixel 6 hold up? Is it still a viable option in a market saturated with newer, faster devices, or have time and usage revealed critical flaws? Let’s dive in.
Design and Build: Still Distinctive
The Pixel 6 immediately stood out with its horizontal “Camera Bar” spanning the width of the phone’s back. This design choice, initially polarizing, gave the Pixel line a unique identity that persisted for several generations. Clad in Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and Gorilla Glass 6 on the back, encased in an aluminum frame, the Pixel 6 feels substantial and premium, weighing in at 207g. Its IP68 dust and water resistance rating remains a valuable feature, offering peace of mind against accidental splashes or submersion. Although the design is no longer novel, it hasn’t aged poorly and still offers a distinct look compared to many of its competitors. Some long-term users have reported physical issues, such as volume buttons popping out or the battery swelling, which can cause the screen to lift. However, these appear to be isolated incidents rather than widespread defects.
Display: Smooth and Vibrant
The Pixel 6 features a flat 6.4-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels, ~411 ppi density). It’s 90Hz refresh rate provides a noticeably smoother experience for scrolling and animations compared to older 60Hz panels. However, it falls short of the 120Hz+ rates that are now standard on newer flagship devices and even mid-range models. The panel offers vibrant colours, deep blacks typical of OLED technology, and supports HDR10+ for compatible content. Brightness is generally adequate for most conditions. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, it offers good scratch resistance for its time. An always-on display feature is also present.
Performance: The Tensor G1 Legacy
The heart of the Pixel 6 is the first-generation Google Tensor (5 nm) chip. Designed in-house, Tensor was optimized for Google’s machine learning and AI tasks, enabling features such as faster voice transcription, real-time translation, and advanced camera capabilities.
- CPU: Octa-core (2×2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2×2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Mali-G78 MP20
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 (non-expandable)
In 2025, the Tensor G1 still delivers perfectly adequate performance for everyday tasks such as browsing, social media, messaging, and streaming. The 8GB of RAM aids multitasking. However, its limitations are now more apparent. The chip is known to run warm and can throttle significantly under sustained load, such as demanding 3D gaming (like Genshin Impact) or prolonged 4K video recording, especially in warmer environments. While benchmark scores were competitive at launch, they are easily surpassed by newer mid-range and flagship chipsets. Furthermore, the Exynos-based modem paired with the Tensor G1 has been a source of frustration for some users, who report weaker cellular connectivity and signal drops compared to their Qualcomm-equipped counterparts, particularly in areas with marginal coverage.
Camera: Where the Pixel Magic Persists
The Pixel 6 camera system remains a highlight, especially considering its current price point on the used and /refurbished market.
- Primary: 50 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.31” sensor, 1.2µm pixels, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, Laser AF
- Ultrawide: 12 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ FoV, 1.25µm pixels
- Selfie: 8 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm pixels
The large 50MP primary sensor, which downsamples to 12.5MP images, captures excellent detail, dynamic range, and accurate colors in good lighting. Google’s computational photography shines with features like: * Real Tone: Tuned to represent diverse skin tones accurately. * Magic Eraser: Removes unwanted objects or people from photos. * Face Unblur: Combines frames to ensure faces are sharp even with motion. * Motion Mode: Creates long exposure or action pan effects. * Night Sight: Still produces impressive low-light photos.
The ultrawide camera provides versatility, though it’s not as wide as some competitors. The lack of a dedicated telephoto lens means zoom is purely digital, and quality degrades quickly beyond 2x. The 8MP selfie camera is adequate but lacks the detail and broader field of view of the Pro model or newer phones. Video recording is solid, offering up to 4K at 60fps with good stabilization (OIS + EIS), although some users noted that HDR processing could be aggressive. Recent software updates, such as the March 2025 patch, have reportedly introduced glitches for some users, including camera flickering under certain lighting conditions.
Battery Life and Charging: A Mixed Bag
The Pixel 6 houses a 4,614mAh battery. At launch, reviews were mixed: some found it easily lasted a full day, while others, heavy users, found it merely average, sometimes requiring a top-up before bedtime. Factors such as 5G usage, 90Hz displays, and Tensor’s occasionally high power draw contribute to this variability. In 2025, battery health is likely to have degraded, depending on usage patterns, potentially making all-day use more challenging for heavy users.
Charging capabilities include:
- Wired: Supports USB Power Delivery 3.0. Advertised as 50% in 30 mins with a 30W charger, though actual sustained wattage is closer to 21W.
- Wireless: Supports Qi wireless charging up to 21W (with the Pixel Stand 2nd gen) or 12W with standard Qi chargers.
- Reverse Wireless: Can charge other Qi-compatible devices.
While adequate, these charging speeds feel slow compared to the rapid charging standards available today.
Software Experience and Longevity
Launching with Android 12 and the Material You design language, the Pixel 6 provided a clean, intuitive software experience that was packed with helpful Pixel-exclusive features. Crucially, Google has extended its software support window. The Pixel 6 is promised OS and security updates until at least October 2026, meaning it should receive Android 16 and potentially even Android 17, along with ongoing security patches. This significantly boosts its long-term value proposition.
However, the Pixel software journey hasn’t always been smooth. Historically, Pixel phones, including the 6, have experienced bugs and glitches following monthly patches or major OS updates. Recent user reports from March and April 2025 mention issues such as camera flickering and volume button malfunctions during calls after updates. While Google typically addresses these issues, the potential for temporary instability exists. The initially criticized optical under-display fingerprint sensor has improved significantly with software updates, but it may still feel slower than the ultrasonic sensors used by competitors.
The Verdict in 2025
Years after its debut, the Google Pixel 6 remains a compelling device under certain conditions.
Pros:
- Still excellent main camera performance, thanks to both hardware and software enhancements.
- Unique and premium design with an IP68 rating.
- Smooth 90Hz OLED display.
- Clean Android software experience with Pixel-exclusive features.
- Extended software support until late 2026 is a significant plus.
- Significantly more affordable on the used and refurbished market.
Cons:
- Tensor G1 performance can feel dated under load due to heat and throttling.
- Potential for modem/connectivity issues.
- Battery life can be inconsistent and may have degraded.
- No dedicated telephoto lens.
- Charging speeds lag behind current standards.
- History of software bugs post-updates.
Who is the Pixel 6 for in 2025?
If you prioritize camera quality (especially for stills) on a budget, appreciate a clean software experience, and value long-term updates, a well-maintained Pixel 6 can be a fantastic value purchase. Its performance is sufficient for general use, and its design remains effective.
However, if you’re a heavy mobile gamer, demand rock-solid cellular connectivity in all areas, need multi-day battery life, or require the absolute smoothest, bug-free software experience, you might look towards newer mid-range options or save up for a more recent Pixel or competitor device.
The Pixel 6 was a landmark phone for Google. While showing its age in certain areas, particularly in terms of performance under stress and battery longevity, its core strengths – namely, the camera and software support – continue to keep it relevant and worth considering, even today.