The Pixel 6 Professional lastly brings Google again into the flagship dialogue, however Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Extremely is arguably the top of Android {hardware} right this moment. So is the Pixel 6 Professional sufficient to problem it?
The Pixel 6 Professional is a generational leap for Google {hardware}, which is especially surprising coming from the decidedly mid-range Pixel 5 final 12 months. From the surface, it appears sudden, however Google spent years on analysis and improvement to get to the discharge of the Pixel 6 Professional. The outcomes present; the {hardware} design, the Tensor chip, the brand new digital camera array and refined software program make final 12 months’s Pixels look years older.
For its half, the Galaxy S21 Extremely wasn’t a transformative replace from the Galaxy S20, nevertheless it didn’t must be. Samsung already provided among the greatest {hardware}; it achieved that once more this 12 months whereas including a novel design and enhancing its software program assist.
Final 12 months, the Pixel couldn’t start to carry as much as one of the best that Samsung needed to supply, however this 12 months, the Pixel 6 Professional and Galaxy S21 Extremely are each among the many greatest smartphones and an intriguing face-off to contemplate in case you are available in the market for a flagship cellphone.
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Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely : worth and worth
The Pixel 6 Professional begins at $899 for a 128GB mannequin with 12GB of RAM. Upgrading to 256GB or 512GB of storage will price you $999 and $1,099, respectively.
The Galaxy S21 Extremely begins at $1,199 for a similar 128GB and 12GB of RAM as you get with the bottom Pixel 6 Professional. Upgrading to 256GB is simply $50, and leaping to the top-of-the-line 512GB mannequin takes you to $1,379 and bumps the RAM as much as 16GB.
It’s value noting that whereas these are the total retail costs for the cellphone, the Galaxy S21 Extremely is now often discounted. It is best to count on to pay someplace between $1,000 to $1,050 for the bottom mannequin. We’ve seen some Pixel 6 Professional offers already, however they’re far much less frequent because the cellphone has solely been obtainable for a month on the time of writing.
Even factoring within the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s discounted worth, the Pixel 6 Professional wins this spherical. The Galaxy S21 Extremely definitely has some {hardware} benefits which will change the equation for you, however the Pixel 6 Professional is the higher worth for most individuals.
Winner: Pixel 6 Professional
Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely: design
Google lastly discovered a standout design with the Pixel 6 Professional. The total-width digital camera array on the again of the cellphone is a bit polarizing, nevertheless it creates a definite Pixel look that’s instantly recognizable. This 12 months, Samsung managed the same trick with the Galaxy S21 Extremely; the Contour Minimize Digital camera housing that wraps from the cellphone’s edge throughout the again affords a profile others are simply beginning to replicate.
From a pure utility standpoint, I choose the Pixel 6 Professional design because it permits you to lay the cellphone on a desk or desk even in case you are going caseless by avoiding the digital camera array wobble that just about each fashionable cellphone falls sufferer to. Nonetheless, within the title of defending your practically $1,000 principally glass gadget, you might be probably going to show to a case, and that negates among the design advantages. The Pixel 6 Professional does come out barely forward there as properly although as its digital camera array is substantial sufficient that it stays recognizable in a case.
Wanting on the sturdiness of every cellphone, they’re on equal footing with IP68 water and dirt resistance and comparable display screen safety. Each use Gorilla Glass Victus on the back and front of the cellphone. Gorilla Glass Victus affords you safety from the standard bumps and minor drops you would possibly encounter, however fancy names apart, the glass will nonetheless break if it takes a big fall or hit.
Neither of those telephones will disappear into your pocket, however that if you end up shopping for a cellphone with a 6.7-inch or 6.8-inch display screen (until you get the Galaxy Z Flip 3). Regardless of its barely smaller show, the Pixel 6 Professional matches the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s dimensions precisely at 6.5 x 3.0 x.035 inches. It’s noticeably lighter at 7.4 ounces to the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s 8.1 ounces.
There’s no clear winner right here as the target measurements for these telephones are all just about an identical. Together with the iPhone 13, these are two of one of the best cellphone designs that we’ve seen in years. They handle to be distinct and as straightforward to carry and use as is feasible at this dimension.
Winner: Draw
Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely: show
The Pixel 6 Professional makes use of Samsung’s show tech in opposition to it with a 6.7-inch, QHD+ (3120×1440 pixel) LTPO OLED show with Google’s Easy Show introducing adaptive 120Hz refresh charge to a Pixel for the primary time. The Galaxy S21 Extremely practically matches it with a 6.8-inch, WQHD+ (3200×1440 pixel) LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X show.
Which means each shows supply the flexibility to scale the refresh charge from 10Hz as much as 120Hz relying on the content material on the display screen. On the excessive finish, this provides you buttery easy animations by way of the working system and supported apps, and on the low finish, it ought to ship improved battery life when viewing static content material.
The 2 shows are just about indistinguishable in relation to sharpness. The Galaxy S21 Extremely delivers a formidable 515 pixels per inch (PPI) and the Pixel 6 Professional nips at its heels at 512 PPI. That may be a level within the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s favor given its taller display screen, however should you can see the pixels on both of those telephones, you might be means too near your cellphone.
I’ve spent appreciable time watching content material on each of those telephones. As all the time, I flip to Our Planet and Life in Shade with David Attenborough for some attractive HDR visuals to point out off their full capabilities. My eyes can’t select a winner between the 2. In the event you use the boosted or vivid coloration modes on both cellphone, you get a picture that some could think about too saturated, nevertheless it appears nice, and you’ll tone it down with the pure show choice should you choose. The colour replica is strong, with not one of the slight tonal shifts that I’ve skilled with the iPhone 13 Professional.
Letting our colorimeter outcomes weigh in with some knowledge to assist my eyes, the Pixel 6 Professional covers 74% of the DCI-P3 coloration gamut in its Pure coloration setting, which is behind the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s 81.4%. Once more, if you need essentially the most vibrant look, you may push these shows to roughly 130 to 140% of the DCI-P3 coloration gamut, however that’s a matter of private choice.
Brightness is extra reduce and dry; the Pixel 6 Professional delivers a formidable 842 nits, simply edging out the Galaxy S21 Extremely with 821 nits. Each are behind the iPhone 13 Professional’s preposterous 1,024 nits, however we’re properly into the realm of irrelevance as any of those shows are completely seen even within the brightest sunlit setting.
General, this class is a draw. If the display screen dimension is a very powerful factor to you, then the Galaxy S21 Extremely takes it by a hair, however these shows are in any other case too just like crown a victor.
Winner: Draw
Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely: efficiency
Google is taking over Qualcomm this 12 months with its customized Tensor chip and it affords some distinctive benefits and long-term advantages. Nonetheless, the Snapdragon 888 powering the Galaxy S21 Extremely stays a powerful choice.
In day-to-day utilization, this isn’t going to be a noticeable distinction for most individuals. We loaded dozens of Google Chrome tabs, apps, picture-in-picture movies, and video games in our overview of every cellphone, and neither skipped a body. In contrast to final 12 months’s Pixel lineup, I may hearth up intensive video games like Name of Responsibility Cell on the Pixel 6 Professional, and even at its excessive settings, it performed completely. Naturally, this was true for the Galaxy S21 Extremely, and if you have a look at the benchmarks, you get a greater thought of the additional CPU headroom that the Galaxy S21 Extremely has over the Pixel 6 Professional.
On the Geekbench 5 total efficiency take a look at, the Pixel 6 Professional managed a rating of two,760. That’s properly behind the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s 3,440, which isn’t even the quickest Android cellphone. Whereas it is a largely meaningless distinction for most individuals, it’s cheap to imagine that the Pixel 6 Professional processor will begin displaying its age before the Galaxy S21 Extremely. Google could fight that as it could design with its chipset in thoughts, however the uncooked energy distinction is an excessive amount of to disregard utterly.
Our graphics-focused testing was a special story, with the Pixel 6 Professional delivering 40 frames per second, which manages to outclass the Galaxy S21 Extremely (34 fps). We’re nonetheless within the early days with Google’s Tensor chip, however it appears that evidently Google leaned into gaming and graphics efficiency greater than we’d have anticipated, which carries over to different duties.
The Adobe Premiere Rush video modifying take a look at confirmed this off once more with the Pixel 6 Professional ending rendering and exporting a 4K video to 1080p in 48 seconds. That’s about 24% quicker than the Galaxy S21 Extremely’s 1 minute and 3-second end.
Neither cellphone will current any points for customers by way of churning by way of typical every day duties or just about any Android app that you would be able to throw at them right this moment, and finally, that is too near name. The most important argument favoring the Snapdragon 888 is Qualcomm’s confirmed monitor report versus the brand new Tensor chip.
Winner: Draw
Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely: battery life and charging
Battery life is one other space the place the 2 telephones are practically an identical from a {hardware} standpoint with 5,000mAh batteries in every. However issues get a bit extra difficult in actuality.
My expertise with the Pixel 6 Professional battery life has been very constructive; nevertheless, that hasn’t been the case for everybody, with Pixel 6 Professional battery life reviews ranging significantly. Some discover them to be properly in need of the competitors.
Our personal Laptop computer Magazine Battery take a look at produced a horrible outcome for the Pixel 6 Professional at 7 hours and 43 minutes, and whereas that didn’t align with our real-world testing, it’s value noting. You’ll be able to take a look at the report for a whole image; the consensus is constructive, however there are some notable exceptions. With all that in thoughts, the Galaxy S21 Extremely is the clear winner in relation to battery life, with 10 hours and seven minutes in our official take a look at and strong leads to our real-world testing as properly.
In my expertise, neither cellphone will current an issue getting by way of a full day of utilization, nevertheless it’s definitely much less of a settled matter with the Pixel 6 Professional, and we’re persevering with to check and monitor others’ reporting of it as properly.
Turning to charging, it just lately was revealed that whereas Google launched a 30W quick charger with the Pixel 6 Professional, the cellphone can solely draw 23W, placing it barely behind the 25W charging for the Galaxy S21 Extremely. In our testing, the Galaxy S21 Extremely delivered on that promise, reaching 31% in quarter-hour and 56% in half-hour, whereas the Pixel 6 Professional solely made it to 50% in half-hour. It’s not a big distinction, however disappointing because it appeared Google was lastly taking an honest leap ahead with Pixel 6 Professional charging. Neither, in fact, features a charger within the field, so that you’ll want to choose up a quick charger should you don’t have one.
Assist for wi-fi Qi charging can be current on each telephones, which is a comfort that I’d have a tough time residing with out.
General, this class goes to the Galaxy S21 Extremely; it delivers unquestioned strong battery life and barely quicker charging.
Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely: cameras
Google could not need you to name it a comeback; the Pixels have been contenders in cellular images for years, however there’s no query that it misplaced floor final 12 months with the iPhone and even Samsung overtaking them in some conditions. The Pixel 5 didn’t take dangerous images by any means, nevertheless it couldn’t sustain with one of the best of one of the best.
The Pixel 6 Professional adjustments all of that with a brand new wide-angle major 50MP Octa PD Quad Bayer sensor with an f/1.85 aperture and a 1.2µm pixel width. That new sensor is 1/1.31”, one of many largest at the moment obtainable in a cellphone. The 12MP ultra-wide is improved with a bigger 1.25µm pixel width, f/2.2 aperture, and a wider 114-degree subject of view. The brand new telephoto is nearly as vital an replace as the first with a 48MP decision and a 4x optical zoom that may ship usable outcomes even at its full 20x digital zoom. For years now, the Pixel digital camera has completed extra with much less in relation to output versus {hardware}; it’s finally on comparatively equal footing with the competitors.
Until that competitors is the Galaxy S21 Extremely. Samsung packed this cellphone with a 108MP wide-angle major lens at a quick f/1.8 assisted by laser autofocus. Add in a 12MP ultra-wide lens at f/2.2, a 10MP 3x telephoto at f/2.4, and a 10MP, 10x telephoto at f/4.9, and it’s straightforward to see how that is essentially the most versatile digital camera cellphone {hardware} available on the market.
Samsung’s {hardware} retains an edge in most regards. It unquestionably affords superior telephoto lenses, nevertheless it’s nearer than it has ever been, and Google’s computational images prowess is sufficient to shut that hole.
Right here’s a have a look at some samples from all three lenses on the Pixel 6 Professional. The photographs are sharp, however there’s pop to the colour from the Pixel 6 Professional digital camera. Whether or not it’s a skyline or the intense white feathers of our rooster, the Galaxy S21 Extremely comes up simply shy of delivering. The depth of coloration is great with out pushing too far into the hyperreal look you get with another cameras’ heavy HDR.
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera samples
Listed here are some photographs from the Galaxy S21 Extremely. They aren’t dangerous in any respect, however I do assume they sacrifice among the real-life appears of the Pixel 6 Professional photographs in favor of a extra saturated picture. In the event you choose that look, then by all means, go for the Galaxy S21 Extremely. It’s able to producing some lovely photographs, however for me, it’s not fairly capturing the scene as I see it.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely digital camera samples
Turning to nighttime photographs, the Pixel 6 Professional positive aspects a big benefit, although the iPhone 13 Professional has a leg up on each of those telephones with its unimaginable aperture. Nonetheless, Google’s evening mode stays unchallenged in practically changing evening into day. And within the astrophotography world, the Galaxy S21 Extremely will get a uncommon win in opposition to the Pixel 6 Professional if you need a snapshot of the moon, however full photographs of the starry sky are the place Google reigns supreme.
Google lastly introduced again a telephoto sensor this 12 months, and the attain is spectacular. With a gentle hand, you may pull off a usable 10-12x zoom shot, and on a tripod, a full 20x zoom can work. Towards nearly some other competitor, this is able to be a win for the Pixel 6 Professional, however Samsung’s telephoto is unmatched. In the event you like taking images of wildlife or need to take footage of your youngsters with out having to hover proper subsequent to them, the Galaxy S21 Extremely is the most suitable choice by a large margin. Even handheld, you may get usable 30x zoom photographs, and if you wish to get ridiculous with it, the 100x zoom photographs are blurry however not one thing anybody else can match.
Whereas the Galaxy S21 Extremely has the superior selfie sensor with 40MP at f/2.2, the Pixel 6 Professional’s 11.1MP at f/2.2 delivers glorious outcomes. Samsung is responsible of over smoothing which supplies pores and skin an unnatural look, and it could’t fairly match Google’s edge detection in portrait mode, that means you get the occasional misfire with the bokeh.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely front-facing digital camera portrait mode
Pixel 6 Professional digital camera pattern front-facing digital camera
One Pixel 6 Professional picture function that I can’t overlook to carry up is Magic Eraser. It permits you to take away objects or folks from a photograph by merely tapping on them. It really works greatest when you have a considerably constant background, and the outcomes aren’t all the time going to carry as much as pinch to zoom scrutiny, however for simply sharing on-line, they’re incredible. You’ll be able to vanish a seaside or a theme park full of individuals within the background in seconds, it’s a exceptional instrument.
Returning to a power for Samsung, the Galaxy S21 Extremely eclipses the Pixel 6 Professional in relation to video seize. Leaving apart the preposterous 8K video at as much as 30fps, the 4K at as much as 60fps appears crisper than the outcomes from the Pixel 6 Professional and affords extra sturdy recording choices, together with the Director’s View which lets you report concurrently from the entrance and rear cameras.
General, this class goes to the Pixel 6 Professional as I imagine that the outcomes from the wide-angle, ultra-wide and even brief telephoto (3-5x) photographs are superior from the Pixel 6 Professional. Nonetheless, should you worth precise telephoto (10x and past) or take plenty of video together with your cellphone, the Galaxy S21 Extremely is probably going the higher selection for you.
Winner: Pixel 6 Professional
Pixel 6 Professional vs. Galaxy S21 Extremely: software program
Google and Samsung are unquestionably the highest Android producers in relation to software program updates. Google’s Pixel 6 Professional affords three years of main OS updates and 5 years of safety updates, whereas the Galaxy S21 Extremely will get the identical three years of OS updates, however 4 years of safety updates.
In the event you learn our overview of Android 12, then you definitely’ll know that the working system simply received a dramatic visible refresh, together with the brand new notification panel, privateness updates and another useful additions like common search. The Pixel will get some good extras like Maintain for Me, which can let you know when an actual individual comes again on an automatic name and dramatically improved dictation that’s assisted by the brand new Tensor chip. Digital camera options like Magic Eraser and Actual Tone are potential game-changers as properly.
The Galaxy S21 Extremely is likely one of the first non-Pixel telephones to get Android 12 and whereas One UI 4 does make some departures from the Pixel’s model, the identical underlying updates are all there. Many of the adjustments quantity to window dressing with barely completely different animations. Samsung’s keyboard provides new emojis, widgets which might be just like the Materials You look, however don’t observe the colour palette shift that’s potential with the whole working system in Android 12 on the Pixel.
Whereas the Pixel 6 Professional has a slight benefit on the software program assist facet with 5 years of safety updates versus 4 years, it’s shut sufficient that the One UI vs. Pixel pores and skin over Android is the larger deciding issue for most individuals. Every affords its personal advantages, with Samsung leaning into extra power-user options like DeX that may flip your cellphone right into a laptop computer alternative together with S Pen assist. The Pixel’s whole advertising and marketing marketing campaign focuses on its AI benefits in attempting to let the cellphone make extra clever choices about what you need to do with it and surfacing data or apps you want on the proper second.
It’s shut, however total this class goes to the Pixel 6 Professional. It affords quicker updates, distinctive Pixel software program options, longer safety assist, and total the Pixel model of Android delivers advantages which might be extra relevant to the typical consumer.
Winner: Pixel 6 Professional
General winner: Pixel 6 Professional
The Pixel 6 Professional is the higher smartphone for most individuals this 12 months. As you noticed, there are a lot of areas the place these telephones are just about indistinguishable from each other. Nonetheless, the extra reasonably priced pricing, superior software program, and assist, together with the stellar images put the Pixel 6 Professional excessive.
The Galaxy S21 Extremely retains just a few distinct benefits over the Pixel 6 Professional with power-user options like DeX, its distinctive S Pen assist, unmatched telephoto attain, and superior battery life. And whereas the scales finally tip in favor of the Pixel 6 Professional, it’s a fairly slender victory that just a few completely different priorities can tip the opposite means.
These are the 2 greatest flagship Android telephones obtainable right this moment, and also you aren’t making a mistake with both one. The Pixel 6 Professional is the higher choice for most individuals as the benefits of the Galaxy S21 Extremely are, for essentially the most half, extra area of interest wants than the broader benefits of the Pixel 6 Professional.
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