Google and Apple are both expected to drop their latest smartphones later this fall, including the Pixel 6 and iPhone 13, respectively. If Google can play its cards right and make a few small (but important) tweaks over last year’s Pixel 5, it stands to create one of the best smartphones of the year — and one that could potentially beat out the iPhone 13 in the process.
While it didn’t see the same mainstream success of devices like the Galaxy S20 and iPhone 12, the Pixel 5 was an important release for Google. Where all previous Pixels have had one or two big deal-breakers that held them back from being easy recommendations, the Pixel 5 wasn’t subject to that curse. It didn’t ship with the best or flashiest specs, but it delivered a user experience that was thoroughly enjoyable in almost every regard — and still is here in 2021. The foundation of the Pixel 5 is one that clearly works but, going up against the iPhone 13 this year, there are a few things that need to be addressed. It’s unclear if Google will be able to deliver, but the potential is there for something amazing.
More than anything, Google needs to use new camera hardware on the Pixel 6. The 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor in the Pixel 5 is the exact same one Google’s used since 2018 in the Pixel 3. It’s never been the most technically impressive bit of camera hardware, but Google’s image processing ability allows images to turn out looking amazing. It’s a setup that’s proven to work over the years. However, if Google wants to seriously compete with all the innovation happening in the mobile photography space, it can’t keep relying solely on software. There’s amazing innovation happening with camera sensors of all shapes and sizes right now. Primary cameras are capturing more detail than ever before, ultra-wide sensors are reducing edge distortion to an impressive degree, and telephoto lenses are enabling zoom shots that previously weren’t possible. Meanwhile, Google has been limiting itself with a camera that’s four years old. Google’s software for the Pixel camera is nothing short of amazing, but if it’s as good as it is with such outdated hardware, imagine how much better it could be with truly modern camera tech. It’s an area of the Pixel experience that’s long overdue for an upgrade. If Google wants to truly set itself above what Apple will deliver with the iPhone 13, taking the camera seriously is a must.
The Pixel 6 Also Needs Processor Improvements & New Biometrics
Outside of camera improvements, there are other possible upgrades that could push the Pixel 6 to the top, one of which is a new processor. It’s all but confirmed that the Pixel 6 will feature the first piece of Google silicon, codenamed GS101 Whitechapel. It’s unclear what kind of specs and performance it’ll offer, but it needs to be fast to compete with phones like the iPhone 13. Qualcomm and Apple are both doing incredible things with their mobile chipsets. The Snapdragon 888 is one of the best Qualcomm chips in years, the A15 expected for the iPhone 13 will likely be the fastest mobile CPU of the year, and Whitechapel remains a mystery compared to them. Google’s expertise still lies in software and smart optimizations, but Whitechapel also needs to deliver the necessary horsepower to provide a strong foundation for those things to excel. If Google can deliver a powerful chipset, robust AI, and optimize all of that specifically for the Pixel 6, that could be enough for it to stand out from the rest of the Android landscape.
Something else that would be great to see is a rethinking of biometric authentication. The Pixel 4 shipped with the best face unlock system ever to grace an Android phone, but, with the Pixel 5, it was ditched for a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Rumor has it that the Pixel 6 will shake things up yet again, this time using an in-screen fingerprint sensor. In addition to that new sensor placement, Google should also bring back face unlock and give users the choice of two authentication methods. It’s something people are begging for on the iPhone 13, but that Apple likely won’t deliver, giving Google a perfect opportunity to one-up it with a feature a lot of folks are asking for.
It’s hard to say whether or not Google will emerge with these things, but one can certainly hope. If Google keeps what works with the Pixel 5 and addresses all of the points mentioned above, the Pixel 6 can easily give the iPhone 13 a run for its money.
