The Pixel 6 is getting its ultimate Android model replace. Is it time to improve?

Aside from the release of the unique Google Pixel telephone again in 2016, no different unencumber used to be as vital because the Google Pixel 6. It ushered in what changed into the defacto Pixel design language, introduced Google’s personal Tensor processor line, and proved that Google may make a in point of fact top class telephone with out the top class value.

It additionally marked the primary time that Google promised 5 years of device updates, however that promise got here with a catch: it simplest assured 3 years of Android OS updates. While the telephone will nonetheless see safety updates for every other two years, the discharge of Android 15 marks the overall Android improve the telephone will ever obtain.

Which leads me to the query handy: is it time to improve your getting old Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro? As an entire, I do not believe so. You will have to look forward to the Pixel 10, however there are a couple of eventualities the place upgrading to a Pixel 9 would possibly make sense.

Why you will have to improve out of your Pixel 6

The Google Pixel 9 sequence simply got here out, and whilst the brand new, much more top class design no doubt may also be tempting, the true explanation why to improve to a Pixel 9 this yr is the collection of dimension.

For the primary time ever, Google is providing a smaller Pixel 9 Pro with the similar {hardware} configuration because the Pixel 9 Pro XL. That manner other people having a look to stay the superb zoom element in their Pixel 6 Pro can improve to a Pixel 9 Pro sequence and feature a call between sizes with out sacrificing one of the most very best portions of a high-end smartphone digicam enjoy.

Since the Pixel 6, Google has flattened its telephone presentations and decreased the bezels, which means that gigantic, gorgeous show may also be simply coated with a tempered glass Pixel 9 display screen protector. While I like the feel and appear of curved glass, there is not any denying it is a lot tougher to give protection to than flat glass, particularly when it has got a tempered glass layer on most sensible.

Google has additionally additional advanced its device replace promise because the Pixel 6 and now provides seven years of promised working device and safety updates for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 sequence. That manner if you wish to dangle on on your Pixel 9 even longer than you probably did together with your Pixel 6, you can nonetheless get the newest model of Android up till Android 21.

The Pixel 6’s fingerprint scanner used to be all the time beautiful terrible, and whilst Google advanced it with device updates, there is not any denying it is one of the most worst in-display fingerprint scanners because the Galaxy S10. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 each be offering considerably advanced fingerprint scanners, however every does it with a distinct generation.

For me, the Pixel 8 sequence has the most efficient in-display fingerprint scanners of any Pixel telephone available on the market. It makes use of optical scanning generation, which means that the show will get tremendous shiny beneath your finger so an optical sensor can learn your print. The primary criticism with this sort of scanner is, after all, that blindingly shiny gentle in the event you unintentionally faucet it in a dismal room, however I to find its accuracy is greater than definitely worth the trade-off. Most in-display fingerprint sensors use this sort of generation.

The Pixel 9 sequence introduced with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which many of us desire as it does not use gentle in any respect to learn your fingerprint. Instead, an ultrasonic sensor makes use of high-frequency sound waves to learn your fingerprint. But it does not paintings so smartly for everybody, and other people like me to find them to be irritating to make use of as they ceaselessly fail to learn my fingerprints. So some distance, just a handful of businesses have selected ultrasonic together with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 sequence.

Here’s why you will have to wait to improve

It’s no longer too onerous to discover a handful of causes to improve, however I feel it is value protecting directly to that Pixel 6 for yet another yr for one massive explanation why: Google Tensor G5. Before the Pixel 9 used to be introduced, Android Central contributor Brady Snyder wrote about this very subject, because the Tensor G4 within the Pixel 9 used to be rumored to be a beautiful minimum improve over the Tensor G3 within the Pixel 8.

It became out that no longer simplest used to be he proper, however Tensor G4 in reality downgrades efficiency in some classes. As I famous in my Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL overview, Tensor G4 is slower than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor within the Galaxy S22. Considering that Samsung will most probably release the Galaxy S25 in simply 4 months, the Pixel 9 might be at a considerable drawback.

Some other people have famous that the Pixel 9’s day by day efficiency feels simply wonderful and that extra energy is not important. Others say that the Tensor G4 is designed in particular to make the telephone really feel as Google-like as conceivable, which means that the processor is designed in particular with Pixel-exclusive options in thoughts.

While I do not disagree with that, I do concern about how the Pixel 9 will really feel in only some years’ time. If it is already as gradual as a telephone from 2021, how will it really feel when it receives the Android 18 replace in 2027, let on my own the Android 21 replace a couple of years after that?

I even have to query Google’s pricing construction this yr. It’s uncommon that any individual can pay complete value when upgrading to a brand new telephone, whether or not that is as a result of they were given a perfect Pixel 9 deal or they were given loads off via buying and selling of their new telephone. But Google raised the costs of its Pixel 9 line via every other $100 this yr, which stacks on most sensible of the $100 value hike on 2023’s Pixel 8 sequence.

That manner you might be now paying $200 extra for a telephone that also plays at 2021 telephone ranges, which is only some months after your Pixel 6 used to be launched. Daily efficiency of the Tensor G4 over the Tensor G1 within the Pixel 6 is not a lot better both. Single core efficiency is simplest 13% sooner, whilst multicore efficiency is simplest 20% sooner.

I will be able to’t call to mind a unmarried different processor that is simplest observed a most of 20% efficiency growth over 4 generations—maximum processor upgrades accomplish that metric every yr—and I feel that is essentially the most embarassing phase in regards to the Pixel 9’s value hike.

The Pixel 10 is meant to mend this drawback with the release of Tensor G5, a brand new Tensor redesigned from the bottom up and entirely designed in-house via Google. Tensor G1 to G4 have all been co-developed with Samsung and be afflicted by the similar problems that Samsung’s Exynos line of processors does.

On to the remainder of the telephone, charging is quicker than ever, however it is nonetheless nowhere close to the rate presented via telephones just like the OnePlus 12, which completely fees in round half-hour from 0 p.c. At very best, the Pixel 9 will do about part that during the similar time frame.

The Pixel 9 sequence delivers the most efficient battery lifestyles on any top class Pixel telephone to this point, however that does not assist a lot on the ones events when you will have forgotten to rate sooner than heading out for the day.

The show could also be as harsh as ever, as Google continues to chase specifications like max brightness and pinpoint colour accuracy on the expense of eye well being. Anyone who’s PWM delicate, like me, will to find that the presentations at the Pixel 9 sequence are tremendous uncomfortable to make use of for a very long time. If you might be already very easily the use of a Pixel, this almost certainly would possibly not impact you, however it is the primary explanation why I now not use a Pixel as my primary software.

If you’re keen on the spherical edges and relaxed curves of your Pixel 6, you won’t like Google’s design for the Pixel 9. The aspect rails are utterly flat now, and paired with the flat back and front of the telephone, they make the telephone much less relaxed to carry.

My colleague Harish disagrees with me in this phase, even though, and the most efficient Pixel 9 instances would possibly utterly resolve those problems for you anyway. I do not believe this design will trade a lot subsequent yr, however I will be able to a minimum of hope.

If you might be making plans on conserving your subsequent Pixel for 3 years or extra, I’d counsel ready till the Pixel 10 to improve. Android 15 will nonetheless really feel recent till June 2025, when the Pixel 6 receives its ultimate scheduled Pixel Feature Drop, and via then, we’re going to be completely within the thick of Pixel 10 leak and rumor season, the place you are able to make the most efficient determination about upgrading. Plus, via then, Pixel 9 costs will have to be at an rock bottom.

The Pixel 10 is predicted to release with Android 16 until one thing occurs love it did this yr. The Pixel 9 marks the primary time that Google hasn’t introduced a brand new Pixel along a brand new model of Android, including extra arrows within the quiver of unhappiness for Google’s newest Pixels.

If you desperately wish to improve now on account of some roughly {hardware} factor together with your Pixel 6, I’d counsel getting the Pixel 8a as a substitute. Pixel 8a offers from firms like AT&T gets you the telephone for less than $6 a month, and you’ll all the time improve to the Pixel 10 when it comes out subsequent yr via the use of the corporate’s trade-in promos.