Skip to main content

Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro get official Pixel Fall Launch confirmed for Oct 19

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro finally have an official launch date and a livestream to go with it. The long-anticipated and much-leaked devices will be revealed during the Pixel Fall Launch event at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 19. You’ll be able to watch it live right on Google’s Pixel Fall Launch landing page.

The confirmation of the event comes after the release of the Android 12 update on Monday, October 4. Oddly, the release didn’t hit the existing Pixel devices right away, breaking with precedent and raising questions among both users and commentators about whether Google was undermining the value of the Pixel devices.

Related Videos

#Pixel6, the new Google Phone.

Tune in October 19th at 10 am PT: https://t.co/zmp5byVq1y#Pixel6Launch pic.twitter.com/v3wwySE5gs

— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) October 5, 2021

Now it seems clear that Google has set it up so the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be among the first Android devices to run the Android 12 update, though Samsung is already far along, with OneUI Beta 4 2.0 running the update with Material You.

Google intends for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to be premium devices that can compete with flagships like the iPhone 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The phone will feature Google’s first triple-camera setup and it will be powered by a beefy in-house Tensor processor. We’ve already gotten a comprehensive set of leaks for both devices, seen the design in the wild, and even gotten a look at some camera samples.

While it might seem like there are no surprises to be had here, there is an outside possibility that we might see the potential launch of a Pixel Fold. That would put Google in direct competition with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.

There’s no word on other hardware, but to see more about what we expect, take a look at our full Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro roundup to get all the details and up-to-date specs.

Editors' Recommendations

Pixel Feature Drops used to be spectacular — now they’re horribly mediocre
The back of the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro.

With the Pixel line, Google introduced the concept of Feature Drops — small quarterly updates delivered to push quality-of-life improvements to Pixel phones. The promise is simple: your Pixel phone gets better over time. Still, Google's approach to updates has recently left much to be desired, with most Feature Drops this year consisting of little but emoji updates and new wallpapers for most Pixel users. At the same time, improved software update timelines from other smartphone makers continue to leave Google's promises in the dust.
Questionable decisions
While Google's Feature Drops have gone larger on the macro scale, they have also grown more limited at the same time. The company has dedicated column space to objectively good causes and highlighted wallpapers and art by minority communities — including, people of color, women, and the LGBT community. It's also done some fun things with the emoji kitchen app that extends the number of emoji available on Android. Feature drops also come with fantastic new features for Pixel hardware.

Simultaneously, there are times that Google does roll out genuinely useful features to Pixel phones -- only to lock them to new releases like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The Pixel Feature Drops can be amazing, but Pixel 6 owners are getting short shrift just a year into their purported four-five year support cycle — not to talk of the Pixel 5.

Read more
Update your Google Pixel 7 now for three big security and audio features
Google Pixel 7 home screen with rainbow gradient wallpaper in light

Every few months, Google releases Feature Drops with new features and fixes for its Pixel phones. While 2022 may be nearly over, that hasn't stopped Google from pushing one final Feature Drop before the year ends.

This latest Feature Drop is primarily focused on adding features to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro that Google announced in October when it first unveiled the phones. The first big addition is free Google One VPN access. Anyone with a Pixel 7 or 7 Pro can use a Google One-powered VPN at no additional cost — this is great for more secure web browsing. Considering Google's VPN is traditionally only available with a $10-per-month Google One subscription, it's a nice value add we're happy to see.

Read more
These 6 things could make the Pixel 7a the perfect Google phone
The back of the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 7a, when it eventually arrives, will almost certainly be the cheapest model in Google’s Pixel phone lineup. And if the Pixel 6a is anything to go by, it will be a real bargain.

We really like the Pixel 6a, and that got us thinking about what we want to see from the Pixel 7a. We are a while away from its release, but here’s what we hope Google will deliver with the next major Pixel phone release.
Don’t change too much

Read more