Google Pixel 7 review

Worth When Reviewed

649

 Though Google solely sells a fraction of the telephones that the likes of Samsung does, the Pixel collection continues to get new fashions and 2022 brings with it the Pixel 7. 

There’s maybe extra hype across the Pixel Watch this 12 months as its Google’s first smartwatch (exterior of Fitbit) in addition to the very fact telephones are on one thing of a ‘tock’ 12 months, versus ‘tick’ – to steal Intel’s previous clock system and metaphor – the place growth is incremental quite than an enormous leap. 

Nonetheless, with costs nonetheless beginning at simply $599/£599/€649 the Pixel 7 nonetheless units the benchmark for flagship Android telephones and will make for a really stable buy for a lot of smartphones customers on the market – excpet when you have a Pixel 6. 

Design & Construct 

• Extra compact 
• New colors 
• Gorilla Glass Victus back and front 

It’s not a lot of a shock that the Pixel 7 appears to be like similar to its predecessor, though Google has made just a few tweaks right here and there. It’s like seeing an previous buddy and never fairly having the ability to work out in the event that they’ve bought a brand new haircut. 

For the common 7 on take a look at right here, it’s principally that the telephone is a bit more compact than beforehand. Only a few milimetres right here and there in addition to 10g of weight shed. Having used the Pixel 6 for a 12 months, I’d say the distinction is noticeable and the telephone feels much less of a top-heavy brick than earlier than however it nonetheless stays an enormous telephone. 

In any other case, issues are very comparable with a barely slicker and extra space-aged wanting digicam bar which remains to be a chunky monkey with buttons moved slightly decrease down the aspect. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The obvious change is the colors to select from. A typical black (Obsidian) is joined this 12 months by white (Snow) and a garish yellow/inexperienced possibility known as Lemongrass. Every to their very own, however the Sage inexperienced Pixel 6a or Hazel Pixel 7 Professional are extra my fashion. 

One thing I observed instantly coming from the black colourway of the Pixel 6 is that the bezel is rather more noticeable in the event you select Snow or Lemongrass because it’s sandwiched between the show and lightweight colored aluminium. 

Talking of which, the aluminium body of the Pixel 7 is now manufactured from 100% recycled materials and it’s about time. As soon as once more, the telephone is IP68 rated so is absolutely mud and waterproof. 

One factor Google has upgraded right here is that either side of the telephone use Gorilla Glass Victus whereas the Pixel 6 solely had this on the entrance with Glass 6 on the again. 

Slipperiness apart (it’s nonetheless extraordinarily slick) I can sadly report on the toughness of that Victus glass because the telephone took a really unplanned tumble out of my automobile onto the tarmac. Though Corning has lab examined this from a peak of 2m, the telephone nonetheless cracked however solely within the nook to be honest. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Nonetheless, I’d advocate a case even to cease the telephone sliding off issues or out of pockets and many others. Google’s official ones are just like final 12 months (although reportedly laborious plastic with out the discolouration subject) and value $29.99/£24.99. 

I’m not the most important fan and want Google would convey again the material circumstances of previous. 

Display screen & Audio system 

• 6.3in 
• Full HD+ 90Hz 
• Stereo audio system 
• Face Unlock 

There’s a minor change to the display this 12 months with a 6.3in diagonal measurement making it 0.1in smaller than the Pixel 6. It’s not a lot however as talked about above, if you issue within the discount in chassis measurement and weight it does make the Pixel 7 really feel extra managable. 

In any other case, issues are nearly an identical with an OLED panel working at Full HD+ decision (1080 x 2400) making for a tall facet ratio of 20:9 and a pixel density of 416ppi. The refresh price remains to be 90Hz so that you’ll want to purchase the Pixel 7 Professional if 120Hz (with LTPO for dynamic refresh price) is a should have – it additionally has curved edges whereas the Pixel 7 is flat. 

Nonetheless, 90Hz is good and clean and Google has additionally elevated the brightness to 1000 nits (HDR) and as much as 1400 nits by way of peak degree – 25% greater than the Pixel 6. I measured it with a SpyderX Professional at a extra modest 485 nits however with adaptive brightness turned off. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

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You’ll solely get that most in the event you’re exterior in critically brilliant circumstances. Adaptive Brightness does some intelligent issues like study your desire for various circumstances in the event you make guide changes to the slider. 

General, I feel Google has struck a pleasant stability right here of measurement and high quality and although issues like 120Hz could be good, it’s comprehensible that it’s withheld for the Professional. 

The Pixel 7 nonetheless has stereo audio system however doesn’t have a headphone jack (or an adapter within the field). Fortunately, the audio system sound first rate so in the event you’re missing a Bluetooth speaker then you’ll be able to nonetheless hearken to some tunes or watch YouTube movies with out grimacing on the audio high quality. 

Google as soon as once more provides a fingerprint scanner embedded within the show which works very properly. Nonetheless, Face Unlock makes a return to inventory Android after what appears like perpetually. 

You may set this up if you first flip the telephone on and it’s tremendous simple. Then if you wish to unlock the telephone, a hoop seems across the entrance dealing with digicam to indicate it’s on the lookout for you. Then, if it’s labored you have to look decrease down the show for the unlocked padlock image and a message on the backside. 

This technique took some time to get used to however I’m now very accustomed to the iPhone methodology so it’s not shocking. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Face Unlock on Android 13 works properly a number of the time, usually instantly, however I didn’t discover it as dependable as my iPhone 12 mini. The Pixel 7 sometimes struggles in decrease gentle and certain gained’t work in the event you’re sporting a masks or sun shades. 

It’s additionally price noting that Face Unlock can’t be used to authorise funds or signal into apps so it’s clear that the system remains to be a method behind iOS.  

Specs & Efficiency 

• Tensor G2 
• 8GB RAM 
• 128/256GB storage 
• Stereo audio system 

With a flat 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and the selection of 128- or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, it’s the brand new Google Tensor G2 chipset that’s the primary change beneath the hood of the Pixel 7 which Google says has been “designed to enhance Pixel’s efficiency and effectivity for excellent battery life.” 

A lot of that is on the machine studying and AI aspect of issues as, by way of uncooked specs, it’s not vastly completely different from the unique Tensor within the Pixel 6 vary. To geek out for a second, there are nonetheless Cortex-A55 cores on the effectivity aspect and a small improve from A76 to A78 for the efficiency cores. 

The Tensor G2 makes use of the identical Armv8 structure as earlier than the place rivals from Qualcomm and MediaTek are on newer Armv9. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Whereas this implies CPU benchmarks haven’t markedly improved from final 12 months – 6.8% in Geekbench 5 vs the Pixel 6 – and lag slightly bit behind rivals, for most individuals this doesn’t (and shouldn’t matter).  

In real-world utilization, the Pixel 7 could be very quick certainly and coming from the Pixel 6 there are some tangible variations. 

Issues like taking Evening Sight images (extra on the cameras beneath) and extra advanced duties carried out by Google Assistant are a lot snappier. It additionally makes issues like Cinematic Blur in real-time attainable. 

Again to benchmarks briefly, and there’s a much bigger bounce within the graphics assessments (as much as 13fps in comparison with the Pixel 6) so that is excellent news for players who wish to get the perfect framerates attainable with out forking out on a objective constructed gaming handset. 

The Titan M2 is identical as earlier than and handles the safety aspect of issues. One fascinating change is that Google is providing Pixel 7 customers its VPN by Google One totally free, although that is arriving later this 12 months and ‘restrictions apply’. 

Efficiency apart, the Pixel 7 is filled with the type of tech you’d count on for a flagship Google telephone. You get Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, 5G (mmWave + Sub 6GHz in sure markets), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 and Wi-Fi 6E. 

The latter being notably useful in the event you’re planning on getting the newest Nest Wifi Professional mesh community equipment from Google. 

Cameras 

• 50Mp fundamental 
• 12Mp ultrawide 
• 10.8Mp selfie 

Two out of three cameras on the Pixel 7 stay the identical because the Pixel 6 and it’s those on the again which are the identical. So, you get a 50Mp Octa PD Quad Bayer large digicam with a 12Mp ultrawide digicam alongside. 

Like many issues, the overhaul occurred on the Pixel 6 however that’s no dangerous factor contemplating the Pixel 7’s predecessor had a number of the finest telephone cameras available on the market. It additionally means Google has had a 12 months to fine-tune issues on the identical {hardware}. 

The Tensor G2 chip allows some new options akin to Cinematic Blur, which within the digicam app is a separate mode known as ‘Cinematic’ and, to neatly rival the iPhone 13 and 14 collection’ cinematic mode, you’ll be able to blur the background or foreground in movies. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Whether or not it really works on the Pixel will is determined by numerous components so, for instance, it labored properly with the telephone nonetheless and me simply transferring slightly bit inside the body (albeit not with the crispest edge round me). Nonetheless, making an attempt to chase my canine working around the backyard was far too advanced for it to maintain up with. 

With or with out cinematic video mode, footage is detailed, vibrant and really clean because of OIS (optical picture stabilisation). I shot on the default Full HD at 30fps however you’ll be able to shoot at as much as 4K at 60fps. Nonetheless, transferring to 60fps will disable the brand new 10-bit HDR mode in order for you enhanced colors and distinction. 

Again to pictures and I’m not stunned that the Pixel 7 is a really competent shooter in all method of conditions. As a degree and shoot digicam, it simply does every part for you and shortly, too. The outcomes are crisp, vibrant and with glorious publicity and dynamic vary. 

If you’d like, you’ll be able to shoot in RAW and there are different new options akin to Picture Unblur which, through the Google Photographs app, purpose to, properly, unblur images. You continue to get beforehand launched options like Face Unblur and Magic Eraser and the success price of those, as all the time, is determined by the precise picture. Some actually are like magic, whereas others are past assist. 

One thing unique to the Pixel 7 Professional is Macro Focus and the 7’s massive brother additionally has a telephoto lens once more. Nonetheless, Google has elevated the digital zoom capabilities of the telephone so Tremendous Res Zoom now goes to 8x on Pixel 7 quite than x7 and Google says the standard at 2x is just like a devoted telephoto lens. 

It provides cheap high quality in the event you want it however search for a telephone with a telephoto lens in the event you assume that is going to be one thing you want on the common. 

Shifting to the entrance of the telephone and that is the place we discover new {hardware} with a bounce from 8- to 10.8Mp with issues like a barely wider subject of view and larger pixels. 

In addition to getting used for Face Unlock, it takes nice selfies together with a portrait mode in fact. Google has additionally added Guided Body for visually impaired customers. This lets you get the shot appropriately lined up with a mixture of audio and haptic suggestions – which, by the best way, could be very crisp and clean. 

Battery Life & Charging 

• 4355mAh 
• 21W charging 
• As much as 20W wi-fi charging 

The battery on the Pixel 7 is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6 because of the extra compact measurement of the telephone, though Google nonetheless claims the identical ‘past 24 hours’ utilization and even stretches to 72 hours for Excessive Battery Saver. 

In my expertise, the telephone will final a few days however provided that you’re on the lighter aspect of utilization. In any other case, I’m assured the Pixel 7 will see the overwhelming majority of individuals via to bedtime with some cost to spare. 

Charging remains to be an advanced state of affairs with Pixel telephones, beginning with the very fact you don’t get an adapter within the field. Though Google sells a 30W USB-C charger ($25/£25), you’ll solely stand up to 21W on the Pixel 7 relying on numerous circumstances. 

I don’t have this charger to check however with a 65W laptop computer charger, the telephone bought to 48% in half-hour, so there are many rivals (a lot of that are cheaper) that may cost loads faster.  

Chris Martin / Foundry

Google did ship me the Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen) which permits the Pixel 7 to cost wirelessly at 20W. Nonetheless, though the Pixel 7 can also be Qi licensed, this may solely get you as much as 12W. 

With the Pixel Stand 2 ($79/£69), the Pixel 7 can go from lifeless to 50% in half-hour. 

Be aware that the Pixel 7 Professional can cost at a barely increased 23W wired or wi-fi (once more, with the best charger) if that makes a distinction to your selection. Both method, the Pixel 7 telephones assist Battery Share so you’ll be able to cost different appropriate units wirelessly.  

Software program & Updates 

• Android 13 
• Three years of OS updates 
• 5 years of safety updates 

I’m not going to spend too lengthy on this part because it’s one other instance of final 12 months bringing the large bounce. Android 13 is extra of the identical actually with little tweaks right here and there akin to a extra customisable interface (together with non-Google apps), an up to date media participant and plenty of different small tweaks. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

General, it’s a joyous and stress-free expertise although there are nonetheless a few issues that irk me akin to cellular knowledge and Wi-Fi being bundled into one ‘web’ fast setting, and the information and climate a part of the house display taking over the entire width regardless of being on the left and you can’t take away it. 

Nonetheless, shopping for a Pixel is such a pleasant method to make use of an Android telephone with that peace of thoughts earlier than you even open the field you already know you’re getting the clear and pure expertise. It’s neat, bloatware free and dependable. 

There’s additional peace of thoughts as you get a minimum of 5 years of safety updates from when the telephone first launches after which three years of working system variations. That ought to take you to Android 16 then and solely Samsung provides extra years of OS updates. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Worth & Availability 

The Pixel 7 sticks on the identical worth as final 12 months so you will get one from $599/£599/€649 which is able to bag you the 128GB storage capability. If you wish to double that to 256GB, you’ll must pay $699/£699/€749. 

It’s obtainable to purchase from the Google store the place, till the top of 17 October, you will get a free pair of Pixel Buds Professional price £179 or that very same determine off the Pixel Watch. It’s also possible to stand up to £300 in the event you trade-in your telephone. 

It’s also possible to purchase the telephone from the likes of Amazon, Currys, Argos, EE, Vodafone and extra.

Within the US you’ll be able to’t get the identical deal however there’s up to $750 value if you trade in sure telephones in addition to $100 of credit score in your subsequent Google retailer buy. 

It’s also possible to get it from Amazon and BestBuy

Even with out these offers, the Pixel 7 represents glorious worth. For comparability, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is $799/£769 and the Apple iPhone 14 is $799/£849 – each with the identical 128GB storage. 

Take a look at our finest telephone and finest mid-range telephone charts for extra choices.

Verdict 

Contemplating the Pixel 7 is extra of the identical from Google and on the identical worth as final 12 months’s Pixel 6 it’s one other profitable flagship Android smartphone representing nice worth for cash. 

The truth that issues haven’t moved on from the Pixel 6 very a lot solely actually issues for house owners of final 12 months’s mannequin – and I doubt they are going to be chomping on the bit to improve. 

Nonetheless, within the wider market, the Pixel 7 is a stable and fascinating handset. For much less cash than loads of key rivals you get a really well-rounded and nice expertise. 

It’s good that Google has refined the design to be much less of a brick and also you get an amazing set of specs and options together with a stunning display, glorious cameras, stable efficiency and good software program assist into the long run. 

After all, it’s not good as issues like Face Unlock don’t meet the usual of the iPhone and charging speeds are behind the instances. Nonetheless, these are comparatively small blotches on what’s in any other case a really completed telephone. 

Specs

• Android 13 
• 6.3in 20:9, 90Hz flat Full HD+ (2400×1080), OLED HDR 
• Google Tensor G2 chipset 
• Titan M2 safety chip 
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM 
• 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage  
• 50Mp large digicam w/ 1.2μm pixels, f/1.85, 82° FoV, 1/1.31in picture sensor, OIS + EIS, 8x Tremendous Res Zoom 
• 12Mp ultrawide digicam w/ 1.25μm pixels, f/2.2, 114° FoV, lens correction 
• LDAF (laser detect auto focus) 
• 10.8 MP hole-punch entrance digicam w/ 1.22μm pixels, f/2.2, 92.8° FoV 
• In-display fingerprint sensor + Face Unlock 
• Stereo audio system 
• USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) 
• Twin SIM (through eSIM) 
• 4355mAh battery 
• Wired charging as much as 30W (USB-PD 3.0 + PPS) 
• Wi-fi charging 
• Battery Share 
• Excessive Battery Saver 
• WiFi 6E 
• Bluetooth 5.2 
• NFC 
• GPS 
• Sub6 + mmWave 5G (varies by market) 
• 195g 
• 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm 
• IP68 
• Gorilla Glass Victus entrance 
• Edgeless Gorilla Glass Victus rear 
• Matte aluminum body 
• Colors: Obisdian, Snow, Lemongrass