We're just a little over a week away from the full Pixel 6 and 6 Pro announcement at the time of this writing, which can only mean one thing. Google's next big iPhone rivals are leaking like crazy, with rock-solid insiders like Evan Blass and M. Brandon Lee threatening to reveal every last secret in advance of the search giant's presumably glamorous October 19 product launch event.
While nowhere near as well-established as Blass in the mobile tech leaking business, Lee has been coming up through the ranks of late, proving his reliability in multiple videos on his YouTube account This Is Tech Today over the last few weeks. The latest revelations are made as part of a Twitter thread touching on a number of topics, one of which remains pretty "sensitive" and unclear.
Will the Pixel 6 5G be wildly overpriced?
Well, for starters, that obviously depends on what you might consider to be a "wildly overpriced" device. If the hottest new gossip is to be trusted, the non-Pro Google Pixel 6 will cost $850 in its entry-level configuration in the US, which does sound excessive by budget 5G smartphone standards.
Of course, that's a category where the $700 Pixel 5 couldn't be easily included, and compared to its predecessor, the 6.4-inch Pixel 6 5G looks like an entirely different kettle of fish, at least on paper.
Even though we're still not sure the first-of-its-kind Tensor chipset will be able to take on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 beast, a massive raw power upgrade over the middling Snapdragon 765 SoC inside the Pixel 5 is definitely in the pipeline. Then you have a hugely improved 50MP primary rear-facing camera paired with an undoubtedly solid 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, as well as an arguably sleeker design.
In other words, it makes perfect sense for Google to charge more than $700 this fall, although $850 may still seem like a slightly exaggerated entry point into the Pixel 6 portfolio. That's 50 bucks costlier than the cheapest iPhone 13 variant, mind you, not to mention a full $100 above the handset's expected European pricing equivalent.
Then again, the Pixel 6 model tipped to go for €649 on the old continent is not set to support the mmWave 5G technology needed in the US to achieve the highest download speeds available on carriers like Verizon.
Recommended Stories
As far as the Pixel 6 Pro is concerned, there's no new information to share at this time, but it's now safe to assume the previously disclosed €899 European price point will equate to around $1,100 stateside, which is also... not ideal.
Colors, Pixel Pass, and more
While Google hasn't left a lot to the imagination in terms of how its Pixel 6 and 6 Pro colors will look, the unconventional marketing names of said paint jobs have stayed under wraps... until today.
We now know the "value"-focused 6.4-incher will see daylight in Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam, and Stormy Black hues, with the jumbo-sized 6.7-incher set to borrow the latter option and replace the former two with Sorta Sunny and Cloudy White flavors.
That long overdue second-gen Google Pixel Stand is also expected to come in two different colors at the same $79 MSRP as its forerunner while rocking an active cooling fan, supporting wireless charging up to 23W speeds, and allowing you to charge your true wireless Pixel Buds alongside your hot new Pixel 6 or 6 Pro.
Last but certainly not least, it looks like Google is working on an Apple One rival... of sorts dubbed Pixel Pass, which will allow you to buy your next Pixel phone together with Google One, Play Pass, YouTube Premium, extended device warranty, and (optional) Fi service for a presumably reasonable monthly fee.
That might make the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro prices considerably easier to swallow... for hardcore Google fans who want all that aforementioned stuff, but of course, it all depends on how much you'll have to spend each month. So, yeah, there's still a bit of mystery intact, but then again, there's also still plenty of time left for the last questions to get their own premature answers.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: