Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 3 XL
Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.4-inch Google Pixel 6 (with Google Tensor) that was released on October 19, 2021, against the Google Pixel 3 XL, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and came out 37 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the gadgets.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6
- 2.1x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (728K versus 341K)
- Delivers 106% higher peak brightness (851 against 414 nits)
- Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
- Comes with 1184 mAh larger battery capacity: 4614 vs 3430 mAh
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- Has 2x more RAM: 8GB versus 4GB
- Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
- More energy-efficient CPU – Google Tensor
- Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 3200 MHz
- The phone is 3-years and 1-month newer
- Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
- More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 12
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3 XL
- 27% higher pixel density (522 vs 411 PPI)
- Weighs 23 grams less
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Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Performance
CPU/GPU performance in apps and games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
NanoReview score
Final comparison evaluation
Value for money
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Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | OLED | OLED |
| Size | 6.4 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | 1440 x 2960 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 20:9 | 18.5:9 |
| PPI | 411 ppi | 522 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Max rated brightness | 500 nits | 400 nits |
| Max rated brightness in HDR | 800 nits | - |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10+ | No |
| Screen protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 83.4% | 83.39% |
| Display features | - DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | 99.8% | 100% |
| PWM | 397 Hz | 250 Hz |
| Response time | 5 ms | 15 ms |
| Contrast | ∞ Infinity | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 158.6 mm (6.24 inches) | 158 mm (6.22 inches) |
| Width | 74.8 mm (2.94 inches) | 76.7 mm (3.02 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) | 7.9 mm (0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 207 g (7.3 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| Waterproof | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Rear material | Glass | Glass |
| Frame material | Metal | Metal |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Yellow | White, Black, Pink |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, in-display | Yes, rear |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Google Tensor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| Max. clock | 2800 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (2 + 2 + 4) | 8 (4 + 4) |
| Architecture | - 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex A55 - 2 cores at 2.25 GHz: Cortex A76 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-X1 |
- 4 cores at 1.5 GHz: Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 4 cores at 2.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75) |
| L3 cache | 4 MB | 2 MB |
| Lithography process | 5 nanometers | 10 nanometers |
| Graphics | Mali-G78 MP20 | Adreno 630 |
| GPU clock | 848 MHz | 710 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~2171 GFLOPS | ~727 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 9
| CPU | 187698 | 94959 |
| GPU | 298218 | 116641 |
| Memory | 100887 | 44770 |
| UX | 137683 | 82658 |
| Total score | 728678 | 341247 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Stability | 55% | 94% |
| Graphics test | 38 FPS | 9 FPS |
| Graphics score | 6391 | 1663 |
| PCMark 3.0 score | 10569 | 8914 |
Memory
| RAM size | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 3200 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| Channels | 4 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128, 256 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12) |
| ROM | Stock Android | Stock Android |
| OS size | 17.6 GB | 13 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 4614 mAh | 3430 mAh |
| Charge power | 30 W | 18 W |
| Battery type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | Yes (21 W) | Yes, Qi (10 W) |
| Reverse charging | Yes, (wireless) | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (41% in 30 min) | Yes, Quick Charge 4 (50% in 35 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:53 hr | 2:00 hr |
| Web browsing | 08:58 hr | - |
| Watching video | 16:38 hr | - |
| Gaming | 05:24 hr | - |
| Standby | 92 hr | - |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 50 megapixels | 12.2 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 8192 x 6144 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | Dual LED | Dual LED |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 120FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (720p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 114° | - |
| Lenses | 2 (50 MP + 12 MP) | 1 (12.2 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens | - 50 MP - Aperture: f/1.9 - Focal length: 25 mm - Pixel size: 1.2 micron - Sensor: 1/1.31", Samsung GN1 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization |
- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
| Ultra-wide lens | - 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 17 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron |
- |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support |
| Samples | Photo samples of Google Pixel 6 from DxOMark | - |
| Megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3264 x 2448 |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.8 |
| Focal length | 24 mm | 28 mm |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | 1.4 microns |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | - | 1/3.2" |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
DxOMark camera tests
Photo quality
Video quality
Generic camera score
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi features | - Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | LE, A2DP | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC* | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM* | 1 | 1 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | - | Standby |
| eSIM support* | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat* | 20 | 16 |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | No | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
Speakers test
Max. loudness
Other
| Category | Flagship | Flagship |
| Announced | October 2021 | October 2018 |
| Release date | October 2021 | November 2018 |
| SAR (head) | - | 1.39 W/kg |
| SAR (body) | - | 1.4 W/kg |
| Sensors | - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
After analyzing all the data, we think that the Google Pixel 6 is definitely a better buy.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 5