Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 3
Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.4-inch Google Pixel 6 (with Google Tensor) that was released on October 19, 2021, against the Google Pixel 3, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and came out 38 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6
- 2.5x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (835K versus 338K)
- Comes with 1699 mAh larger battery capacity: 4614 vs 2915 mAh
- Has a 0.9 inch larger screen size
- Delivers 113% higher peak brightness (850 against 399 nits)
- Shows 46% longer battery life (30:01 vs 20:31 hours)
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- Has 2x more RAM: 8GB versus 4GB
- Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
- Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
- More energy-efficient CPU – Google Tensor
- Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 3200 MHz
- Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
- Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3
- Weighs 59 grams less
- Better grip in hands – the body is 6.6 mm narrower
Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Performance
CPU and memory performance (apps, system)
Gaming
Capabilities for playing modern games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
Value for money
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | OLED | OLED |
| Size | 6.4 inches | 5.5 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | 1080 x 2160 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 20:9 | 18:9 |
| PPI | 411 ppi | 439 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | No |
| Max rated brightness | 500 nits | 420 nits |
| Max rated brightness in HDR | 800 nits | - |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10+ | Yes, HDR10 |
| Screen protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 83.4% | 78.87% |
| Display features |
- DCI-P3
- Always-On Display |
- DCI-P3
- Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | 99.8% | 99.6% |
| PWM | 397 Hz | 245 Hz |
| Response time | 5 ms | 4.4 ms |
| Contrast | ∞ Infinity | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 158.6 mm (6.24 inches) | 145.6 mm (5.73 inches) |
| Width | 74.8 mm (2.94 inches) | 68.2 mm (2.69 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) | 7.9 mm (0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 207 g (7.3 oz) | 148 g (5.22 oz) |
| Waterproof | IP68 | IP68 |
| Rear material | Glass | Glass |
| Frame material | Metal | Metal |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Yellow | White, Black, Pink |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, in-display | Yes, rear |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Google Tensor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| Max clock | 2800 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (2 + 2 + 4) | 8 (4 + 4) |
| Architecture |
- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex A55
- 2 cores at 2.25 GHz: Cortex A76 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-X1 |
- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55)
- 4 cores at 2.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75) |
| L3 cache | 4 MB | 2 MB |
| Lithography process | 5 nanometers | 10 nanometers |
| Graphics | Mali-G78 MP20 | Adreno 630 |
| GPU shading units | 1280 | 512 |
| GPU clock | 848 MHz | 710 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~2170.9 GFLOPS | ~727 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
| CPU | 232971 | 106221 |
| GPU | 264190 | 68184 |
| Memory | 150880 | 74197 |
| UX | 181239 | 86932 |
| Total score | 835401 | 338061 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Max surface temperature | 42.1 °C | 39.8 °C |
| Stability | 56% | 93% |
| Graphics test | 38 FPS | 9 FPS |
| Graphics score | 6379 | 1647 |
PCMark 3.0
| Web score | 7569 | 6935 |
| Video editing | 6393 | 6412 |
| Photo editing | 17623 | 18134 |
| Data manipulation | 10303 | 6772 |
| Writing score | 15037 | 9617 |
Memory
| RAM size | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 3200 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| Channels | 4 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128, 256 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12) |
| ROM | Stock Android | Stock Android |
| OS size | 17.6 GB | 12 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 4614 mAh | 2915 mAh |
| Max charge power | 30 W | 18 W |
| Battery type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | Yes (21 W) | Yes, Qi (10 W) |
| Reverse charging | Yes, (wireless) | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (41% in 30 min) | Yes, Quick Charge 4 (50% in 40 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:53 hr | 2:00 hr |
| Web browsing | 08:58 hr | 06:22 hr |
| Watching video | 16:38 hr | 09:07 hr |
| Gaming | 05:24 hr | 03:04 hr |
| Standby | 92 hr | 76 hr |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 50 megapixels | 12.2 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 8192 x 6144 | 4032 x 3024 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | Dual LED | Dual LED |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 30FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (720p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 114° | - |
| Lenses | 2 (50 MP + 12 MP) | 1 (12.2 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens |
- 50 MP
- Aperture: f/1.9 - Focal length: 25 mm - Pixel size: 1.2 micron - Sensor: 1/1.31", Samsung GN1 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization |
- 12.2 MP
- Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
| Ultra-wide lens |
- 12 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 17 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron |
- |
| Camera features |
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode - RAW support |
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode - RAW support |
| Samples | Photo samples of Google Pixel 6 from DxOMark | Photo samples of Google Pixel 3 from DxOMark |
| Megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3264 x 2448 |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.8 |
| Focal length | 24 mm | 28 mm |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | 1.4 microns |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | - | 1/3.2" |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
DxOMark camera tests
Photo quality
Video quality
Generic camera score
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi features |
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | LE, A2DP | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| USB features |
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC * | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM * | 1 | 1 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | - | Standby |
| eSIM support * | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat * | 20 | 16 |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | No | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
Speakers test
Max loudness
Other
| Category | Flagship | Flagship |
| Announced | October 2021 | October 2018 |
| Release date | October 2021 | November 2018 |
| Sensors |
- Barometer
- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Barometer
- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
| Bundled charger | Not included | - |
*
Disclaimer!
NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
After analyzing all the data, we think that the Google Pixel 6 is definitely a better buy.