The Google Pixel 6 (2021) was Google’s first custom-silicon smartphone, introducing the Tensor chip. It shoots DNG RAW via Pro mode and has no mechanical shutter — the image counter stored in each DNG file records total electronic captures. Drop a Pro mode DNG file to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The Google Pixel 6 is powered by Google’s first custom Tensor G1 chip (developed with Samsung — replacing Qualcomm Snapdragon used in all previous Pixel phones). It features a dual-camera system: a 50 MP Samsung GN1 main sensor (1/1.31-inch, f/1.85, 26 mm equiv, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) and a 12 MP Samsung JN1 ultrawide (1/2.9-inch, f/2.2, 114°, fixed focus). Unlike the Pixel 6 Pro, the standard Pixel 6 has no telephoto camera. The 6.4-inch OLED display runs at a fixed 90 Hz.
Like all Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 6 uses CMOS electronic readout only. There is no mechanical focal-plane shutter. Every photo — from either lens — increments the persistent image counter embedded in DNG files from Pro mode.
| Model | Release | Main Sensor | Telephoto | Shutter Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel 6 | 2021 | 50 MP GN1 (f/1.85, OIS) | None | Electronic only |
| Pixel 6 Pro | 2021 | 50 MP GN1 (f/1.85, OIS) | 48 MP 4× (f/3.5, OIS) | Electronic only |
| Pixel 7 | 2022 | 50 MP GN1 (f/1.85, OIS) | None | Electronic only |
| Fujifilm X-T5 | 2022 | 40 MP APS-C X-Trans | — | Mechanical + Electronic |
DCIM/Camera. Copy the .dng file to your computer. Alternatively, use Google Photos: open the photo, tap Share → Download and select the original.exiftool -ImageNumber yourfile.dng to read the counter from the file.The Pixel 6 is a popular value option thanks to its large sensor and clean Android experience. Key hardware factors to evaluate:
| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery → Battery usage; third-party apps (AccuBattery) give more detail. The 4614 mAh cell degrades noticeably after 400+ cycles |
| Display condition | Inspect the 6.4-inch OLED for burn-in (test on mid-grey background), dead pixels, or touch dead zones. Pixel 6 had some reported touch sensitivity issues — verify all areas respond |
| Camera lenses | Check the 50 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide for scratches or fogging; test autofocus in low light and at distance |
| Under-display fingerprint | The Pixel 6 uses an under-display optical fingerprint sensor; early units had slow unlock speeds. Test in various lighting conditions to assess whether the hardware is functioning normally |
| Polished aluminium frame | The two-tone aluminium frame can accumulate micro-scratches; inspect around the camera bar for dents |
| Image counter | High count (>40,000) indicates intensive use — useful context, not a hardware failure indicator |
The Pixel 6 captures DNG files in Pro mode using the full 50 MP GN1 sensor. Unlike Apple ProRAW, Pixel DNG output is closer to traditional raw sensor data — Google’s computational photography pipeline (Magic Eraser, Motion Mode, HDR+) is applied to JPEGs but does not bake into the DNG in the same way Apple ProRAW does. The DNG remains more “raw” and gives editors greater latitude.
The image counter is stored in the DNG EXIF metadata under the ImageNumber field. This is a persistent hardware counter that increments with every capture across all camera modes and cannot be reset by a factory restore or Android reinstall.
The Tensor G1’s dedicated image signal processor introduced improved motion deblurring, Real Tone (which improves skin tone rendering for diverse complexions), and better video stabilisation compared to the Snapdragon 765G used in the Pixel 5. All these improvements apply to JPEG output; DNG RAW from Pro mode captures sensor data before these post-processing steps.
No. All Pixel 6 cameras use CMOS electronic readout. There is no focal-plane shutter mechanism and no rated mechanical lifespan. The image counter in the DNG file tracks electronic captures only.
The main camera differences: the Pixel 6 Pro adds a 48 MP 4× telephoto lens (absent on Pixel 6), a larger 6.7-inch LTPO display with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh (vs 6.4-inch fixed 90 Hz), a slightly wider ultrawide aperture with autofocus (f/2.0 AF vs f/2.2 fixed), and a larger 5003 mAh battery. Both use the same Tensor G1 chip and 50 MP main sensor. Image counter works the same on both.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent hardware memory and cannot be reset by a factory reset, Android update, or any user action. It is a reliable indicator of total device usage history.
Casual users accumulate roughly 5,000–15,000 captures per year; active photographers or content creators may exceed 30,000 per year. Given the Pixel 6’s 2021 release, a well-used device could show 20,000–70,000 total captures. There is no mechanical wear threshold — battery health is the primary condition indicator.
Pro mode on the Pixel 6 can be used in low light and captures a single-exposure DNG (not a multi-frame Night Sight fusion). For full Night Sight quality, you must use the automatic Camera app — but Night Sight produces JPEG only, not RAW. The image counter increments regardless of the mode used.