Google Pixel 6 Pro gets longer battery life option with unofficial 1080p display mode

Developer @mile_freak07 has managed to backport a Pixel 7 Pro feature to the Pixel 6 Pro, which will remain Google's current flagship smartphone for at least another month or so. When we reviewed the Pixel 6 Pro, the device could only muster meagre battery life with an 11-hour runtime in our Wi-Fi test. In short, the Pixel 6 Pro could not keep up with the iPhone 13 Pro, Oppo Find X5 Pro and the Xiaomi 12 Pro, despite its 5,000 mAh capacity.

For reference, @mile_freak07 is one of the developers behind the Kirisakura kernel, a popular custom kernel for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Now, a new version allows the Pixel 6 Pro to operate at 1080p or 1440p, an expected feature for the upcoming Pixel 7 Pro. As we have discussed previously, the Pixel 7 Pro is reputed to utilise a new version of the 6.7-inch AMOLED display found in the Pixel 6 Pro.

Once installed, the updated Kirisakura kernel makes it possible to switch between display resolutions on Android 13. It is worth noting that there are a few caveats and drawbacks. Currently, the feature will not stay active following a reboot. Hence, the Pixel 6 Pro will revert to 1440p if you restart it. Also, the system will error if you select 'Show refresh rate' within Developer options.

Theoretically, the 1080p mode will allow the Pixel 6 Pro to run more efficiently, with the Google Tensor having to render significantly fewer pixels than in 1440p mode. As it stands, we would not necessarily recommend installing the kernel on the Pixel 6 Pro for now, at least until the developers iron out a few early issues. 

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