Google has launched two new premium smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, powered by its own Tensor chip, which can leverage artificial intelligence for “cutting-edge” on-device processing.

After several years releasing more affordable mid-range devices, Google is taking a shot at the high-end market again with a Pro model set to retail from £849 in the UK.

Google’s head of devices Rick Osterloh said that the new phones are “flagships” but that the firm wanted to respect the heritage of the Pixel line by still offering users “good value”.

One of the biggest surprises is the inclusion of a new Tensor processor, which is said to offer almost twice the performance of the previous Pixel 5 while being more power-efficient.

Producing an in-house chip will allow Google to deliver better on-device processing, with a faster and more accurate Google Assistant, better live translation, and improved camera and audio among the benefits.

Both phones still feature the premium specs seen in other high-end devices, with the Pixel 6 Pro housing a large 6.7-inch 1440p display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and 12GB of RAM memory.

The more expensive model has an additional 48-megapixel (MP) camera to go with 12MP ultrawide and 50MP main sensors.

While the Pro is the better device, the standard Pixel 6 is a compelling proposition with its much cheaper £599 price tag.

The cheaper phone has a slightly smaller 6.4-inch 1080p display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 8GB of RAM.

Both models have a distinctive design with a large horizontal bar rather than a ‘bump’ that contains the cameras.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are available to pre-order now in the UK and will go on sale on Thursday (28th October).