Head-To-Head: LG G6 Vs. Google Pixel XL

Smartphone Showdown

When Google launched its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones in October, the inclusion of the new Google Assistant was one of the big selling points. But Google isn't trying to keep the artificially intelligent assistant to itself. On the contrary, the company is working with other vendors to bake Google Assistant into their phones as well -- starting with the new LG G6, which was unveiled this week in connection with Mobile World Congress 2017. But aside from both having Google Assistant, how do the Android smartphones compare? In the following slides, the CRN Test Center lines up the LG G6 versus the Google Pixel XL on specs and price.

Display, Body And Overall Size

The LG G6 features the larger display at 5.7 inches, which is also higher-res at 2,880 x 1,440. LG boasts that the phone is the first to include Dolby Vision display technology (for, in Dolby's words, "astonishing brightness, contrast and color"). Google's Pixel XL has a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, which is no slouch on pixels either, with resolution of 2,560 x 1,440.

LG says the G6 is "mostly screen," referring to the minimal bezel around the FullVision display. And indeed, the LG manages to fit a larger display than that of Pixel XL into a smaller overall device. The LG G6 measures 5.86 x 2.83 inches, with thickness of 0.31 of an inch. By contrast, the Pixel XL measures 6.09 x 2.98 inches, and is 0.34 of an inch thick.

The bodies of both smartphones are built from aluminum and glass materials.

Battery Life

One differentiator Google has with the Pixel XL is a larger battery -- 3,450mAh. Google promises that the battery can provide up to 14 hours of internet use (over either Wi-Fi or LTE) on a charge. LG's G6 battery is just a bit smaller at 3,300mAh, but the company hasn't provided estimates on what sort of battery life users can expect.

Camera

Both Google and LG are highlighting the cameras on their respective devices as among the top features. The LG G6 includes a dual-camera setup of 13-megapixel cameras on the rear-facing side, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. LG says one of the rear cameras is a wide-angle camera with a 125-degree lens, for optimal panoramic shooting.

The Pixel XL packs only one rear camera, of 12.3 megapixels, that features HDR+ (for improving image quality) as well as advanced stabilization (useful for shooting video). The Pixel XL does come with a better front-facing camera, though, of 8 megapixels.

Processor, Memory And Storage

There isn't a whole lot to compare here, as the phones include the amount of RAM and the same processor. That would be 4 GB of RAM and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 processor (the LG G6 won't end up with the Snapdragon 835, as was once rumored). Meanwhile, the G6 will come with 32 GB of storage, while the Pixel XL has two storage options -- 32 GB or 128 GB.

Water Resistance

The LG G6 comes out ahead here, with the smartphone rated for IP68 -- meaning it can withstand submersion in water 5 feet deep for a half-hour. By contrast, the Pixel XL has a lesser rating of IP53, which means it can withstand "water falling as a spray" (i.e., a bit of rain) but won't necessarily recover from submersion.

Price And Bottom Line

Unfortunately, LG has yet to disclose pricing or availability details for the G6. The starting price for the Pixel XL is $769, for the model with 32 GB of storage.

For those in the market for a smartphone featuring the Google Assistant, it's clear that the LG G6 has some advantages over the Pixel XL -- including a dual-camera setup, better water resistance and a larger display on a smaller overall phone (which is also a higher-res display). In the event that the LG G6 is competitively priced with the Pixel XL, the LG G6 may be the better fit for many users.