Google were banking on a trouble-free run for their new Pixel 6 smartphone. Now they’re dodging problems left right and centre, with issues relating to fast-charging, the display and the random calling of contacts.
In the past, Google has struggled to be taken seriously in the smartphone market due to hardware problems. Now questions are being raised about the fast-charging capability of their new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro models.
Last week, Google’s latest flagship smartphone, the Pixel 6 Pro ,has cracked the top-10 in the DxOMark rankings, as well as outperforming the new Apple iPhone 13.
It also among the top-10 powerful phones, due in part to its camera capabilities.
However, it seems there are still issues relating to the stated fast-charging potential of the new product.
A recent test showed the Samsung Galaxy S21 outperformed the Pixel 6 in charging speed and fingerprint recognition speed, while a separate test revealed the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s 30W charging capability may not be entirely correct.
According to smartphone site GizmoChina, a wired charging test of the Google Pixel 6 confirmed the charging speed is slower than officially stated by Google.
The official Google Pixel 6 Support page claims that up to a 50% charge could be accomplished in 30 minutes, using the Google 30W USB-C Charger with USB-PD 3.0 (sold separately).
However, multiple tests with the official 30W USB-C Charger revealed the maximum power obtained from the two Pixel 6 models was 22W, with an average of 13W over the full charging cycle.
The tests seem to be extensive, with other high-power USB Power Delivery PPS plugs from Samsung, Anker, and Elecjet all getting maximum power of 22W from the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
The results also show significantly higher average charging times for the Pixel 6 series compared with the Pixel 5, and also Samsung Galaxy S21.
While the Pixel 5 has a 4080mAh battery, the Pixel 6 series comes with a 5000mAh battery.
Another problem that has emerged is that new owners of the device claim the Pixel 6 random dials contacts, even during the night.
A Reddit thread has detailed the bug, with claims the device was usually in the pocket or was left alone when it called random contacts.
The culprit was initially thought to be Google Assistant, which had dialled random contacts by misinterpreting noise around the device.
Some users claimed the smartphone dialled contacts when they were asleep at night.
Investigations found Google Assistant wasn’t the culprit, after tests in a quiet environment revealed the same problem when the phone was kept in a quiet environment.
Currently there’s no official information available regarding this bug, but it’s expected Google will fix it with a software upgrade.
