The best Google Pixel 6 plans in Australia

Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro reject the more mundane and approachable tactics of 2020’s Google Pixel 5 in favor of a sleek and futuristic design, high-end specs and a downright cutthroat price-tag. 

Built around a 6.4-inch OLED display and Google’s first house-brand processor, the Google Pixel 6 comes armed with up to 256GB of on-board storage, 8GB of RAM and a dual-lens rear camera that uses software smarts to get the most out of a 50-megapixel camera with a wide angle lens and and a 12-megapixel camera with an ultrawide one. 

For those who aren’t satisfied with that, there’s the Google Pixel 6 Pro. Those who opt for the upgraded version of Google’s 2021 flagship smartphone snag the option of more on-board storage (up to 512 GB), a few extra gigabytes of RAM and a third, 48-megapixel telephoto lens when it comes to the device’s rear camera array. 

If the Google Pixel 5’s ‘less is more’ approach left you cold, the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro feel purpose-build to have the opposite effect. 

While the Google Pixel 6’s starting price-point of $999 already gives it a leg up on many other Android flagships, those looking at pulling the trigger on either of Google’s latest flagships will want to do their research beforehand to make sure they get the best-value plan they can for the new devices.

Here are our picks for the best Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro plans in Australia:

If you’ve dabbled with any of Google’s earlier Pixel smartphones, there’s a decent chance you may have done so on a Vodafone plan. 

Even if the carrier's usual disadvantages (such as its limited 5G footprint) can be tricky to discount,  Vodafone typically doesn’t mess around when it comes to sweetening the appeal of Google’s Pixel devices with bonus data and other trade-in incentives.

Paired up with a Google Pixel 6 Pro, the current Vodafone’s $45 Lite+ plan will cost you a total of $81.01 a month. In return, you get 30GB of monthly data, 5G connectivity in selected areas, 100 mins of international calls to Zone 1 countries plus unlimited standard national calls and text and unlimited standard international SMS messaging. 

For those looking at taking advantage of the possibility of international travel in the coming months, Vodafone’s $5-per-day roaming also factors in as a potentially critical value-add. 

Meanwhile, those who live in fear of bill shock may benefit from Vodafone’s unique “infinite data” allowance. Rather than supercharge your monthly bill or cut you off outright, exceeding the data cap on the Vodafone Lite+ plans only slows down your connection. 

Over the 36-month duration of the plan, you’re looking at a total cost of $1343.88. While the final cost of Optus’ adjacent $45 Optus Choice Plus Plan is more or less identical, Vodafone’s offering nets you an extra 10GB a month - which makes it a clear winner 

If you’re living somewhere where the Vodafone network struggles to reach but still itching to get your hands on the Google Pixel 6 Pro through a postpaid plan, then the $45 Optus Choice Plus Plan is probably your next best option.

By itself the $45 a month plan includes unlimited national calls and SMS within Australia, access to Optus’ faster 5G network speeds plus 20GB of monthly high speed data. As with Vodafone’s “Infinite data,” your smartphone will be speed-capped once you hit your monthly data limit rather than charged at a higher rate.

The $45 Optus Choice Plus Plan also includes access to Optus Sport and an OS Fitness subscription, which is a neat value-add for more active or sports-savvy consumers. 

Combined with the cost of a new Google Pixel 6 Pro, the $45 Optus Choice Plus Plan will ultimately hit your wallet for either $72.74/month over 36 months or $86.61/month over a 24-month plan.

The above said, those who need a little more data might still want to consider bumping things up to the $55/month Optus Medium Choice Plus Plan.

Vodafone’s $45 Lite+ plan delivers just as much bang for buck if you’re looking at the Google Pixel 6 as it does with the Google Pixel 6 Pro. The main difference here is that, since the Pixel 6 itself costs less, the total burden of the plan is about $300 cheaper. 

Paired up with a brand new Google Pixel 6, Vodafone’s $45 Lite+ plan will cost you a total of $72.75 a month over 36 months. That sum gets you 30GB of monthly data, 5G connectivity in selected areas, 100 mins of international calls to Zone 1 countries, unlimited standard national calls and text plus unlimited standard international SMS messaging. 

You also get $5-per-day roaming in eligible countries and infinite-but-speed capped data should you exceed your monthly allowance. 

If you want to cut some corners and save a few bucks on the mobile plan that lands Google’s latest flagship smartphone in your hands, then bumping down from Vodafone’s $45 Lite+ plan to the $40 Lite plan might make sense for you. 

Vodafone’s standard Lite Plan is basically a slimmed-down version of its $45 counterpart. You get 10GB rather than 30GB and you don’t get 100 mins of international calls to Zone 1 countries, but otherwise includes many of the same perks. 

Paired up with a brand new Google Pixel 6 kitted out 128GB of on-board storage, Vodafone’s $40 Lite plan works out to be $67.75 a month over a 36 month period or $81.62 per month over a 24-month period. 

Those looking to get the most out of the Pixel 6’s 5G connectivity may chafe on the geographical limitations of Vodafone’s network, but if your data needs aren’t tremendous and you don’t live in a regional area, then the $40 Lite plan is definitely an option worth considering. 

While Google fans only had one device to choose from in 2020, the 2021 Pixel lineup gives those seeking two plus a few storage options. 

There’s a lot of overlap between these two devices, so whether it makes more sense to settle for the baseline Pixel 6 or the more powerful model is likely going to come down to what’s drawn your eye towards Google’s smartphone range in the first place.

If you’re in it for the camera or crave the experience of a larger and more high resolution smartphone screen, then the Pixel 6 Pro's extra bells and whistles could be worth the premium. The Pixel 6 Pro adds a third telephoto lens into the mix, which can allow for sharper and more versatile smartphone photography at a distance.

Likewise, power users are going to prefer the larger and higher resolution screen on the Pixel 6 Pro to that of its sibling. You don’t just get a bigger screen, you get a better one and you’ll be able to reap the benefits of doing so more-or-less every second you spend using the device.

The Pixel 6 Pro also includes 4 GB of additional RAM (bumping the total up to 12 GB) and the option to bump things up to the maximum 512 GB of on-board storage. By comparison, the Pixel 6 caps out at 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM.

On the other hand, if you’re happy to settle for a pretty solid dual-lens camera rather than a boundary-breaking triple-lens setup or prefer a form-factor that's a little more pocket-friendly, then the basic Pixel 6 may be the better buy.

For more modest users looking to save money, the Pixel 6 already packs in plenty of value. The Pixel 6 Pro does have some pretty clear advantages, but whether or not you'll feel their absence is going to vary from person to person.

Here’s how the specs compare between the two devices:

Australian pricing for the Google Pixel 6 starts at $999 for the 128GB model. The 256GB version of the device is slightly pricier at $1,129. 

The more powerful Google Pixel 6 Pro naturally commands a higher asking price, starting at $1,299 for the 128GB model. Opting for the 256GB model will cost you $1,449, while the 512GB version of the Pixel 6 Pro tops out the range at $1,599.

These prices are taken from the official Google store but don’t expect third party resellers and retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman to deviate too far from this baseline in the short term.

If you’re looking to squeeze more out of your money, the best way is going to be by picking up the device on a plan or by holding off until the device you're looking to buy goes on sale.

If you're not satisfied with our picks above, check out the widgets below for the rundown on what each of Australia's carriers has to offer when it comes to plans for the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.