Since two weeks, I have been using my Google Pixel 6 and the camera section of the review for Android Central has felt the most straightforward. The main sensor took great photos, day and night. I also captured some amazing videos. Although white levels were sometimes missed, they were always within the range of the toggles for highlights/shadows. The main sensor photos of the Pixel 6 were excellent. After those words were written, however, I felt the need to alter or hedge them for many days. After the other reviews of the Google Pixel 6 series arrived, the gnawing became a hard stone. While many reviewers didn't like the new 50MP sensor, others found the Pixel 6 to have a great camera with minor adjustments. VPN Deals: Monthly plans starting at $16 for a lifetime license
Nicholas Sutrich, our own 6 Pro reviewer, stated that the iPhone 13 Pro "handily beat it on all counts" in indoor, night, and video noise photography. In their video reviews, Danny Winget and Marques Brownlee (seen above), stated the exact opposite: the iPhone 13 was better in all circumstances. The best part? The best part? All of the reviews, and all the rest that I will mention below, were true to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pros as we saw it in action. This makes the Pixel 6 Series the best and worst. And that's a perfect review.
The Verge stated in its Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro reviews that "the Pixel 6 photos have the classic Pixel look: High contrast, slight underexposure, extreme sharpness and cooler white balance". However, it also claimed that the Pixel 6 was close to the iPhone 13 Pro. The 13 Pro won some shots and the Pixel 6/Pro won others. Amazing shots can be taken by the Google Pixel 6. It doesn't always turn out to be amazing. It's perfectly fine. MKBHD's reviews have echoed the high contrast and excessive processing. Brownlee said that he liked the Pixel's overall look for photos over the past few years but admitted that Google is trying too hard with the Pixel 6 using too much HDR, and having too many colored shots. Brownlee also noted something that I believe contributed to the grainy/glitchy appearance that many reviewers believed they saw when taking photos or video in more difficult conditions. Google adjusts the ISO in the camera viewfinder to create a seamless preview that is high-frame rate. This prevents the preview from becoming stuttery as some smartphones do. High ISO can cause scenes to look grainy in the preview. However, once processed, most photos look fantastic. Although it takes some getting used to, Brownlee says the adaptation is worth it. "While it seemed strange at first, I actually believe this is a great move. Tensor can run the stuff at high ISO. The preview may not be great but it isn't choppy or laggy. It will then over-promise and under-deliver; people will see it in the viewfinder and believe this is a bad shot, but then they'll be stunned at the final result.
Although there were some great shots in his video review as well, we have seen them all in other reviews. However, the MKBHD verdict gave the iPhone 13 the advantage over the Pixel 6 due to the 6's inconsistent performance. This is why opinions can vary from one person to another. When discussing the quality of a feature or product, consistency is essential. A phone that can last 21 hours and then dies by noon the next day with the same casual use would be worthless. Cameras work in the same way. If you don't trust your camera to take the right photos at the right time, can you really trust it to make them? Below, Mrwhosetheboss and Danny Winget highlighted the inconsistency of their head-to-head comparisons with Pixel 6.
The discrepancy in photos is not as stark. Even Google's "bad shots" are still 6/10 and the majority of them are excellent quality. The quality of videos can be inconsistent due to a greater variety of factors such as stabilization, light level, crowd size, or activity in a scene. However, the Pixel 6 is still better than previous Pixels and even more so when compared with the latest flagships. Tech reviewers and YouTubers may have different expectations about cameras than the average person. Given how great smartphone photography has become, we had to dig deeper into the differences between the devices to find the deficiencies. Danny Winget stated, "Most tech people probably care so much about dynamic ranging details, colors and accuracy. Most people care only about the phone that works best for social media. I believe the iPhone is my favorite. My camera test is not applicable to everyone. I may nitpick on the details, but cameras these days are so great I must."
When I am reviewing a product, I tend to start with the "cons". It's easier to discuss the pros than the cons, which is what I do when reviewing products. It's been a long time since I was a nitpicky gal. This helps me with reviews as it allows me to find issues and make sure they don't ruin the experience for readers. The Pixel 6's camera system is great for most users. It is a shame that only a small number of people are responsible for reviewing the Pixel 6. Despite not being able to agree on Pixel 6's camera quality, all reviews agreed on two things. The Pixel 6 Series' ultrawide camera is only OK. It boarding on "meh." These shots are great for social media. However, switching between the main 50MP camera and the ultrawide 12MP camera will instantly make your photos worse, according to CNET's review. Google must bring us the very best cameras. The ultrawide sensor needs to be as good as Google's main sensor.
Night Sight is too slow to be used for other types of photography than static landscape photography. Even then, a slight breeze can make it blurry. Night Sight was fast and easy for me. It also made it easier for those with tremors like mine. Even so, I agree with Night Sight's limitations in tripod work and astrophotography. In most reviews, it is mentioned that the product could improve over the next few months. While the hardware is excellent, it's the processing and algorithms Google uses that are causing problems. Winget agreed with me that the software wasn't ready for launch when I asked him about this issue. He said that Google's biggest problem was not having enough time to adjust the camera to the new sensor. Instead, they are using older algorithms to compensate. "This is why I believe a lot the images are inconsistent because they haven't had enough time to properly tweak them." The Google Pixel 6 is currently the best Android phone available. I am enjoying Halloween, taking in the beauty of the world, and using the 50MP sensor to capture it. It's worth considering if you have been contemplating buying a Pixel 6 - especially with the Pro being so back-ordered.
