Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6: Should you upgrade?

The Pixel 7 is a more refined version of the Pixel 6, but is either worth buying in 2024? Largely, no.

By  Manuel Vonau and Steve Smith Jan 11, 2024

The Google Pixel 6 launched in 2021 and instantly became one of the best Android phones you could get, despite a few stumbling blocks from Google's first-gen Tensor chipset. The Pixel 7 launched a year later, fixing many of those issues and providing a more polished experience. Both phones look, feel, and act very similarly, and at this point, both have been made obsolete by the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a.

Best wireless chargers for the Google Pixel 6 & 6 Pro in 2024

Fast charging, cable-free with these great wireless options

By  Hagop Kavafian and Dan O'Curry Dec 27, 2023

Wireless chargers are commonplace nowadays, and thanks to new standards like Qi2, it's better than ever. Simply pop your phone down and let it charge without worrying about cables slipping out or tripping over a plug.

Best Google Pixel 6 cases in 2024

Your all-glass phone needs a very good case, and here are your best options

By  Chris Thomas Nov 30, 2023

The Google Pixel 6 is still going strong almost two years in, fully justifying its reputation as our 2021 Phone of the Year. And with the Android 15 update on the horizon next year, it's clear that this phone still has a lot of life left in it.

Google Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 6: Now's a good time to upgrade

One's twice as good, one's (sometimes) half the price

By  Chris Thomas Nov 26, 2023

While the Google Pixel 6 got off to a rough start, a few months of post-launch updates turned it into a respectable flagship and worthwhile investment. By every measure, the Pixel 8 exceeds it in terms of performance, build quality, and features.

Android 14 is locking some Pixel 6 users out of their phone’s storage

The issue is likely linked to having multiple user profiles

By  Rajesh Pandey Oct 17, 2023

Every new major Android release is bound to have some bugs and issues. Android 14 appeared to be an exception, with initial reports from Pixel 6 and 7 owners praising the OS for improving their phone's thermals and battery life. But some Pixel 6 owners are not as lucky. While they are not facing overheating or battery drain issues, they have run into a bigger problem and are experiencing storage problems after installing the latest Android release. In some cases, users reportedly lost access to their phone's internal storage and files stored on it.

Google Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6: What are the differences?

Google's midrange marvel gives the Pixel 6 some stiff competition

By  Rajesh Pandey and Cale Hunt Aug 18, 2023

Although Google has released the newer and upgraded Pixel 7-series models, the company’s Pixel 6a and Pixel 6 remain good options for anyone looking for a capable Android phone on the cheap.

Some Google Pixel owners are facing random app crashes

Another day, another bug affecting Pixel users

By  Rajesh Pandey Jul 19, 2023

Google's Pixel lineup ranks high among our favorite Android devices on the market. And while we love the Pixel phones for their clean Android experience, the reality is they are relatively buggy compared to the best Samsung phones. Over the last year alone, there have been multiple reports of Pixel 6 and 7 users facing random battery drain and overheating problems that Google eventually addresses. Now, another such issue seems to be happening right now, with many Pixel owners complaining of random app crashes.

Some Google Pixel phones have excessive battery drain after June Feature Drop

A few people also face connectivity issues following the update

By  Rajesh Pandey Jun 26, 2023

Google rolls out a new Feature Drop for its Pixel phones every quarter. With the June 2023 Feature Drop, the company added several new features like cinematic wallpapers, improvements to its Recorder app, and emoji wallpapers. Sadly, as has been the case with many Pixel updates in recent times, the latest build seems to introduce unwanted battery drain and overheating issues.

Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 5: Which is for you?

The answer is definitive...

By  Rajesh Pandey and Joshua Hawkins May 30, 2023

It's been two years since Google introduced the Pixel 6, bringing Tensor to the world and offering a smartphone that was truly Google through and through. Despite their age, the Google Pixel 6 and even Pixel 5 are both excellent phones and were even considered some of the best Android phones by many when they were released. But which one is better? Does the slightly older Pixel 5 stand taller with its Qualcomm processor, or was Google's first-generation Tensor chip everything that Google made out to be? Let's compare.

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera guide: What you need to know about telephoto quirks, sensor size, and ‘macro' mode

Everything you need to know about the Pixel 6 Pro's cameras, including telephoto quirks, sensor size, and 'macro' mode, and more

By  Scott Scrivens and Will Sattelberg May 17, 2023

Although we're all about the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro these days, both phones build on the legacy laid out by their predecessors. Just like on Google's 2022 flagships, the periscope telephoto lens was one of the main differentiators between the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, forcing photo bugs to spend an additional $300 for the additional sensor.

Some Pixel phones are running too hot, but a fix is rolling out

A buggy app update was the root cause

By  Chandraveer Mathur May 16, 2023

Heat and electronics rarely ever pair well together, and that goes for the best Android smartphones as well. Intensive use, wireless charging, and atmospheric conditions are the usual reasons overheating smartphones, but now and then, software takes the blame. Recently, that was the case with the Google app running in the background and generating excessive heat on many phones, but mostly the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 7. Instead of letting the issue fester, Google has now rolled out an update which should fix the issue for all affected users.

Is the Google Pixel 6's new Night Sight as good as the Pixel 7's?

Google’s improved Night Sight algorithm is nothing to sneeze at

By  Manuel Vonau Apr 5, 2023

One of the biggest highlights of Google’s March Pixel Feature Drop wasn’t the debut of a brand-new feature, but rather, extending the availability of a Pixel 7-exclusive feature to the Pixel 6 series: Google’s best phones from 2021 received the Pixel 7's new Night Sight algorithm and controls. The company started rolling out this camera update in March already, but it took quite some time until it reached all Pixel 6 units out there.

The March Pixel Feature Drop has finally started rolling out to Pixel 6 phones

New features and security patches arrive 2 weeks later than we expected

By  Dallas Thomas Mar 20, 2023

If you're rocking a Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6a, you're probably sick of mashing that "Check for updates" button after Google twice delayed the release of the March Pixel Feature Drop for its late 2021 and mid 2022 phones. The big quarterly releases usually start rolling out on the first Monday of March, June, September, and December, but this one seems to have been a bit of a bugaboo for Google.

Insecure Exynos modems put dozens of Samsung devices, and other Android phones, at risk

For the time being, avoid making Wi-Fi and VoLTE calls

By  Jay Bonggolto Mar 17, 2023

Many of the best Android phones released in the past year have used Samsung's Exynos modems to connect to the internet. However, if your handset uses any of these chips launched in the last three years, it could leave you vulnerable to hackers due to a critical flaw in those modems, as Google's Project Zero team revealed 18 unpatched vulnerabilities in Samsung's Exynos modems.

Last call for the Google Pixel 6 — we won't see a deal as sweet as $390 again

Grab last year's Pixel 6 at what are basically Pixel 6a prices

By  Stephen Schenck Nov 25, 2022

Google's Pixel smartphones are always easy to recommend, and while we absolutely expect a lot from them (and are well aware of places they occasionally drop the ball), there's just no beating them when it comes to getting the very best of Google and Android, right in your pocket. This Black Friday we've already seen some fantastic offers on the latest Pixel 7 phones, but this Best Buy clearance deal may be even harder to resist, scoring you a Pixel 6 for less than you'd normally pay for the Pixel 6a.

Wirelessly charge your Pixel and Pixel Buds at once with this Black Friday deal

It's a dynamic (wireless) duo for $38

By  Jules Wang Nov 22, 2022

Think back to all the times this year you've wanted to plug in your phone or earbuds, but decided against it since the cable was in an inconvenient place and you thought, "Eh, I'll be fine." It matters not if you were actually fine or not in the end, because if the number of times that's happened is greater than the number of fingers on your hands, you probably are craving the convenience that a wireless charging pad provides. This Black Friday, we suggest you pick up iOttie's iON Wireless Charging Duo. It's perfect for your Pixel phone and Pixel Buds and you can get it right now at its lowest price for a long time.

Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3 lets you turn off the Pixels' smart reverse wireless charging

Bet you did not know your Pixel would always turn on reverse wireless charging automatically when you plug it in

By  Rajesh Pandey Oct 21, 2022

Wireless and reverse wireless charging have become standard features on the best Android phones. Despite limited speeds, the latter is a useful way to top up accessories like earbuds and wearables with Qi wireless charging support when on the move. Before you start wirelessly charging a device, you must jump into the phone's settings menu or tap a Quick Settings tile to enable the feature. Google's Battery Share implementation on Pixel phones, like the Google Pixel 7 Pro, is smarter, as it automatically turns on for a short period when the device is plugged in to charge. Most Pixel phone users are probably unaware of this handy functionality, but Google is making it more obvious with a small tweak in Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3.

Pixel 6 series receives some shiny Topaz from Paranoid Android

OnePlus 9 series also getting an OxygenOS 13 alternative

By  Jules Wang Oct 17, 2022

Paranoid Android is kicking into high gear its Android 13 push with heaps of devices getting into pre-release builds of what it calls Topaz. The dev team fired the starting pistol over the weekend with an alpha for the Nothing Phone 1. But since then, it's been betas all the way for several OnePlus and Pixel phones.

Time's running out on Prime Early Access's insane $380 Pixel 6 deal

Why buy the Pixel 7 when you can get the Pixel 6 for over $200 off?

By  Chris Thomas and Ara Wagoner Oct 13, 2022

Google's Pixel 7 has undoubtedly taken over the tech news zeitgeist for the last week, but you shouldn't forget that the Pixel 6 was a big step forward and remains a powerful smartphone that will perform well for years. During Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale, the Pixel 6 is now cheaper than ever, with a genuinely budget-friendly cost of just $380. And if our Pixel 7 review left you feeling underwhelmed by the new model, save 37% and grab the Pixel 6 before it's gone.