Skip to main content

7 amazing Pixel 6 features you have to try out

After a series of leaks and rumors, Google has finally announced the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Both smartphones come with new hardware, new cameras, Google Tensor chip, and Android 12, but aside from that, there are also some fairly unique features you won’t find on another phone.

Here are seven super-cool Pixel 6 features you need to know about and try out yourself once you get your hands on the devices.

Magic Eraser

Google Pixel 6 Magic Eraser feature.

Gone are the days when you needed to fire up Photoshop to remove unwanted objects and people from your beloved photos. Google is offering you the easiest way to perform this function. Pixel 6’s Magic Eraser feature lets you remove distractions with a few taps in Google Photos.

While the phone suggests stuff that you can remove, the user can select distractions in the photos themselves by simply rolling a finger over the unwanted object. Magic Eraser can detect distractions in your images, like people in the background, power lines, and power poles. It then suggests what you might want to remove. You can also choose whether to erase them all at once or tap to remove them one by one.

Motion Mode

Motion Mode before and after.
Motion Mode on the Pixel 6 series offers features like Action Pan and Long Exposure. These bring movement to your shots. You can use Action Pen to click photos of your child skateboarding with a filmy blurred background. The new feature also allows you to create long exposure shots where your subject is moving, like waterfalls or vibrant city scenes.

Making cameras more equitable

Images taken by a Google Pixel 6.

Cameras have been historically designed to capture light skin tones. When people of color shoot selfies, sometimes the white balance is off the charts or the skin tone isn’t captured correctly. Google noticed that stray light had a tendency to disproportionately wash out darker skin tones. The company is building better tools for people of color. Auto-exposure models help determine the brightness of an image, while auto-white balance models help determine color in a picture.

Android 12 goodies

Android 12 teaser images
Google

Android 12 offers a slew of features for customization and personalization. For instance, when you change your wallpaper, the entire Android 12 experience changes to match its colors. Material You also brings redesigned widgets that are more dynamic and customizable than ever. A new privacy feature lets you see when an app is using your microphone or camera, thanks to a new indicator in your phone’s status bar.

Better phone calls

Wait Times and Direct My Call make calling businesses easier. When you call a toll-free number, you’ll see the current and projected Wait Times for the rest of the week. Once the call goes through, Direct My Call helps you get to the right place with less hassle. The Google Assistant can determine when the business wants you to do something ​​–- like select a number (“Press 1 for hours and locations”), say a word (“Say ‘representative’ to speak with one of our agents”) or input your account number.

Five years of updates

Google Tensor Chip image.

The new Pixel 6 will get five years of updates, which means Google will offer security patches, Pixel drop features, and more till 2026. However, major Android updates are limited to 2024. Taking a dig at Qualcomm, Google said that making its own chip now allows it to offer more updates with less hassle.

Live Translate

The Live Translate feature lets you message people in different languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. It detects if a message in your chat apps, like WhatsApp or Snapchat, is different from your language, and if so, automatically offers you a translation.

Editors' Recommendations

Prakhar Khanna
Prakhar writes news, reviews and features for Digital Trends. He is an independent tech journalist who has been a part of the…
Sorry, but you’re all wrong — any Pixel 7 is a great buy
The Google Pixel 7a in a person's hand.

I bet you’re worried about buying a Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, or Pixel 7a, aren’t you? There are some nasty horror stories about terrible reliability out there, and they’re enough to send many potential buyers screaming into the waiting arms of a Samsung Galaxy S23 or an iPhone 14 Pro, each ready to provide comfort with their solid dependability.

Well, at the risk of sounding smug, I’ve used all three and had no serious issues with any of them. And how’s this for a daring follow-up statement: When someone asks me if any are worth buying, I’ll say yes. You heard me right, I think you should buy a Pixel 7 phone.

Read more
Have the Android 14 beta on your Pixel? You need to download this update now
Google Pixel 7a held in hand showing home screen

Google revealed a bunch of new goodies during its opening keynote for Google I/O 2023, showing off its latest advancements in AI with Bard, as well as the brand new Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. There was also a sneak peek at upcoming features in Android 14, including new lock screen clocks, shortcuts, and generative AI wallpapers.

If you have a Pixel phone, like the new Pixel 7a or the older Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, then -- surprise -- Google is rolling out the Android 14 Beta 2 starting right now.

Read more
The Pixel 7 Pro’s camera has finally met its match
The Huawei P60 Pro with the Google Pixel 7 Pro.

Huawei was once the camera phone brand to beat, with amazing models like the Mate 20 Pro and Huawei P30 Pro impressing with their ability — and setting significant trends in motion.

But over the past years, it has struggled to compete with Samsung and Google -- and more recently with brands like Xiaomi. However, there’s something different about the new Huawei P60 Pro.

Read more