Considering the Pixel 6 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra? Here’s what you need to know.
The Google Pixel 6 Pro is finally here, providing a two-tone full stop at the end of a busy year for flagship phones. That year started, of course, with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It was a formidable tone setter that most subsequent rival releases have failed to match. Does the Google Pixel 6 Pro fare any better? That’s what we’re here to find out. Now that we’ve had some time with Google’s latest premium phone, we’re in the privileged position to call a clear winner. The Pixel 6 Pro landed on October 28. Prices start from $899 / £849 / AU$1,299 for the 128GB model. There’s also a 256GB variant and a 512GB for some color variations. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra arrived way back on January 29, 2021. Prices start at $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849 for the 128GB model. The 256GB model costs $200 / £200 / AU$300 more, and the 512GB model represents another such bump. Even taking into consideration the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s age, and the fact that you can probably find a tasty deal for one right now, it’s clear that the Pixel 6 Pro is the cheaper device of the two. At 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm and 228g, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the heftier handsets on the market. The Pixel 6 Pro pushes it quite close, though, at a very similar 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm and 210g. Both phones have their own distinctive look, which we appreciate. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was an early contender for smartphone design of the year. That was easy to say when it was virtually the FIRST phone of the year, of course, but its looks have held up remarkably well. Its swooping camera module remains a Samsung signature, while the matte Phantom Black finish of our review unit remains a stealthy favorite. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, goes with a striking two-tone approach, splitting the color palette between the top strip and the main rear panel. Bisecting these is Google’s take on the oversized camera module, which isn’t as subtle or flowing as Samsung’s. Still, its full-width nature ensures that you don’t get any rocking when you lay the phone down flat, which is a bonus. Both phones pack an IP68 rating, which you’d expect in any genuine flagship phone these days, and both also feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus to front and back, sandwiching aluminum frames. Both have slightly curved displays, too. We’d perhaps give the Galaxy S21 Ultra the edge here in terms of looks. It might be heavier, but its design is less divisive and more flowing than its in-your-face Pixel 6 Pro brother. This is a close-run thing. Both phones pack large, sharp OLED displays with rapid 120Hz refresh rates. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra screen is slightly larger at 6.8-inches. But the difference is negligible, with the Pixel 6 Pro screen measuring 6.71-inches. Both OLEDs are capable of running at a 120Hz refresh rate and a Quad HD resolution at the same time. And both employ LTPO technology to scale that refresh rate according to the task, thus saving battery life. With a claimed peak brightness of 1,500 nits, the Galaxy S21 Ultra would appear to be able to get much brighter than the 800 nits of the Pixel 6 Pro.
