The Google Pixel 6 looks to be a significant change from the Google Pixel 5 based on recent leaks, and it may be difficult to discern that the two phones are related. What is less clear is whether the Pixel experience will survive such an overhaul.

Android enthusiasts have great respect for the Pixel phones' well-implemented versions of Android and their excellent photo post-processing, but this has not translated into many Pixel sales. the latest leaks of the Pixel 6, despite its odd-looking design Despite this, Google claims that it shows that it is taking hardware cues from its rivals.

No doubt, it doesn't really hurt that Google is shaking things up so much, but beyond the aesthetics of the phone, it's a bit It's sad.

We have seen some fascinating leaks of the Pixel 6 recently, most notably the rendered images provided by Jon Prosser and OnLeaks. These renderings show just how much Google is changing the Pixel formula.

The leaked design that can be seen in the images on this page bears no resemblance to other current Android phones. Android phones have an unfortunate tendency to blend in with each other when it comes to design.

The center punch hole, thin side bezels, horizontal bar on the rear camera, and black, white, and orange color scheme make the Pixel 6 look wildly like a concept phone, but Prosser and OnLeaks have assured us that this is the final design available for purchase later this year.

Beyond the rumored design, the refreshed look also points to significant changes internally. And that leads me to the root of my concern that Google is trying to make the Pixel more generic.

In a possible example of Google emulating Samsung, OnePlus, and other major Android phones, the Pixel 6 will be the first Pixel with three cameras, according to Prosser's leak. In the first three generations of Pixels, Google stubbornly insisted that one rear sensor was enough to take great pictures; even when it moved to multiple rear cameras in the Pixel 4, Google decided on two, an unusually small number for an Android flagship.

However, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that an Android phone, regardless of price, must have three or more cameras to be taken seriously. Google has already proven time and again that its Pixel phones can take as good or better snapshots than the competition, and its devices routinely rank on lists of the best camera phones. If this rumored triple camera becomes a reality with the Pixel 6, it could spell the end of the convenience and simplicity that has defined photography on Google phones.

The size of the phone is a similar case. Google was one of the resisting forces in the Android market when it came to making phones with screens larger than 6 inches. There is definitely a niche for compact devices, and that was something the Pixel did well with its non-XL models. But with the Pixel 6 rumored to come in 6.4-inch and 6.7-inch models, Google risks losing another unique quality.

Speaking of the XL name, Prosser has stated that the suffix will not return in the Pixel 6 and will instead be replaced by the Pixel 6 "Pro," similar to the iPhone 12 Pro and many other major flagship models. adopting the Pro title makes some sense, as it is a common way to designate the highest version of a phone. However, it would be another step away from the familiar Google.

While I'm not confident in the hardware leaks, I still hold out hope that Google will thread the needle between the current Pixel and the theoretical new Pixel. It starts with software.

Google has always been a software-oriented company, and while the Android and Pixel teams will not be joined at the hip, the Pixel 6 is expected to offer the cleanest version of Android 12, just as the previous Pixel did.

Another major rumored change, one that inspires hope rather than fear, is that Google is designing its own chipset for the Pixel 6. Rather than using the same Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon as most other Android phones, Google is reportedly working on its own "Whitechapel" chip design. Presumably this is a move following in the footsteps of Apple's A-series chips and Samsung's Exynos chips, but the benefits of using a proprietary chip are up to Google. With control over the hardware and the most basic Android features, the Pixel 6 could be the ultimate Android experience, even if its power doesn't match the iPhone 13 or Samsung's Galaxy S22.

If Google follows its recent release pattern, the Pixel 6 will likely arrive in the fall, or early October. That leaves plenty of time for further leaks and teasers to further clarify Google's plans. However, based on what we know so far, for better or worse, it looks like a completely new type of Pixel phone is on the horizon.

It makes sense for Google to target smartphone shoppers where they are likely to spend their money. Just remember that when Google refreshes the Pixel line, it will keep the special elements of the Pixel line intact. Hopefully the more impressive shell will convince more people that the Pixel is the way to go.