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Google's Pixel 6 Pro feels every bit as premium as it looks

Roll up, roll up. I've got your Pixel 6 Pro shots right here.

Andrew Lanxon headshot
Andrew Lanxon headshot
Andrew Lanxon
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1 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

After teasing it back in August, we've finally spent some real time with Google's Pixel 6 Pro Android phone. It's the best phone Google has ever made, packing a superb triple rear-camera setup, a glorious high-resolution 6.7-inch display and Google's own Tensor processor. 

At $899 (£849, converts to about AU$1,570), the Pixel 6 Pro costs a sizable $200 more than the Pixel 5. There's no question that Google is pitching it as a premium phone to be considered alongside the iPhone 13 and Samsung's Galaxy S21.   

Click through to take a closer look at the Pixel 6 Pro.

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2 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It has a glass back that is lovely to hold. It definitely has a more premium look and feel than the Pixel 5.   

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3 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The black and gray option doesn't look quite as attractive in my opinion.

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4 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Pixel 6 Pro will be doing battle with the iPhone 13 Pro -- a phone that offers stellar camera quality and great performance. 

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5 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Pixel 6 Pro (left) runs the latest Android 12 software while the iPhone (right) runs iOS 15.

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The Pixel 6 Pro (left) with the smaller Pixel 6.

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7 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Pixel 6 Pro, flanked by the iPhone 13 Pro and Pixel 5.

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8 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Pixel 6 is a superb phone for its price, but if you're looking for the best all-round Android experience, the 6 Pro is the one to go for. 

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9 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Android 12 has a neat look overall, which should make it easy for even Android newbies.

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10 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

That camera strip hides three cameras: a 50-megapixel standard lens, a 12-megapixel wideangle lens and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens that offers 4x optical zoom.

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11 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The iPhone 13 Pro takes superb images that are on par with those of the Pixel 6 Pro. The better option for you comes down to personal preference.

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12 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

There's a fingerprint scanner built into the display. No face unlock is offered here.

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The Android 12 settings menu. 

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14 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Pixel 6 Pro (left) has an 11-megapixel front-facing camera, while the Pixel 6's tops out at 8-megapixels. 

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15 of 26 James Martin/CNET

The camera strip protrudes from the phone, so it won't lie flat on a table.

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16 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

A fun, new software feature on the Pixels is the ability to have the system colors change depending on the dominant colors in your selected homescreen background. That way, you have a unified color palette across your device.

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17 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Starting at $899, the Pixel 6 Pro is cheaper than the iPhone 13 Pro ($999).

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18 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Google is smart to try to undercut Apple's phone.

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19 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Google's Tensor processor promises a variety of benefits, including machine learning, speech recognition, AI and better on-device security. 

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20 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The Pixel 6 Pro has one of the best camera setups you can get on a phone today.

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21 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 6 Pro works well.

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22 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Changing the background wallpaper. 

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23 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The privacy dashboard gives a clear view of which apps are using what information. 

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24 of 26 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Buttons in the pull-down notification bar let you turn off system-wide access to the camera and microphone.

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Both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro run the latest Android 12 software.

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The orange Pixel 6 Pro alongside the black and gray Pixel.

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