Google appears to have turned a nook with the Pixel sequence. For years, Pixel units have been nice telephones, however they struggled to make a severe dent within the smartphone market — and never for lack of attempting. However with the Pixel 6, the corporate stepped issues up a notch, introducing a radically new design, and maybe extra importantly designed its personal chips. Now comes the robust half — taking the all-new, redefined Pixel 6, and really constructing on it. That’s the place the Google Pixel 7 is available in.
And, on paper, it does appear to construct on the Pixel 6. Certain, there’s no radical new design, however there’s a second era of the Google Tensor chip, an improved camera, and the brand new Android 13. Oh yeah, it’s additionally a hefty $300 lower than the also-new Google Pixel 7 Professional.
How a lot do you sacrifice for that $300? I’ve been utilizing each the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional to seek out out. Be aware, we’re specializing in the Pixel 7 on this review, however yow will discover our review of the Pixel 7 Professional right here.
Google Pixel 7
Score: 4 Stars
The Google Pixel 7 boasts a wonderful camera and Google-focused software program expertise, plus a variety of wonderful good options.
BGR could obtain a fee
BGR could obtain a fee
Professionals
- Nice camera
- Cheap
- Good efficiency
- Strong battery life
Google Pixel 7 design
Whereas the Pixel 6 sequence radically modified the design of Pixel telephones, the Pixel 7’s method is far more iterative. It nonetheless has the identical general form, with all the pieces just about in the identical place. And, there’s the identical Pixel-defining camera bar alongside the again of the telephone.
But it surely’s not precisely the identical. Maybe one of many largest adjustments is the truth that the camera bar is now lined in metallic as an alternative of glass, with a glass cutout for the camera. That ought to assist higher defend the camera from any cracks or scratches — issues that would affect your images.
The colours are totally different too. I actually favored the two-tone again on supply by the Pixel 6 sequence, however the Pixel 7 takes a extra uniform method — and now, the highest and backside would be the identical coloration. The Pixel 7 is available in three colours: Lemongrass, Snow, and Obsidian. I bought the Lemongrass choice, which I discover to be probably the most attention-grabbing choice.
The remainder of the general design is fairly just like the earlier era. It has an influence button and quantity rocker on the correct facet, and SIM card tray on the left facet. On the underside there’s a USB-C port.
Beneath the show there’s a fingerprint sensor, and it positively feels quicker than the Pixel 6’s sensor, which is nice information. You don’t have to make use of the sensor although — the Pixel 7 additionally has a Face Unlock characteristic that makes use of the front-facing camera. Google notes that the fingerprint sensor is safer than the Face Unlock one, so that you’ll have to consider whether or not or not you need each enabled. However regardless, it’s good to have choices.
Google Pixel 7 show
The Google Pixel 7 comes with a stable show, however it’s not fairly as spectacular as that on the Pixel 7 Professional. The machine comes with a 6.3-inch OLED show with a 90Hz refresh price and a 1,080p decision. It has a peak brightness of 1400 nits — and I discovered it to get greater than vibrant sufficient for all conditions.
I don’t thoughts the truth that the Pixel 7 has a lower-resolution show than the Pixel 7 Professional. Whereas It’s positively not fairly as crisp because the dearer machine, in day-to-day use, you gained’t discover a distinction. I care extra in regards to the decrease refresh price although — the Pixel 7 Professional has a 120Hz refresh price, which permits the machine to really feel that additional bit smoother. Different telephones on this value vary have a 120Hz show, and it seems like Google ought to have moved in that route this 12 months.
Nonetheless, the show isn’t dangerous by any means, and most will likely be completely proud of it.
Google Pixel 7 efficiency
Google is now formally on its second era of self-designed processors. Contained in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional, Google has included the brand new Google Tensor G2 processor, which is constructed on a 4nm manufacturing course of — an improve over the 5nm course of on the unique Tensor. The processor typically affords modest efficiency enhancements during the last genaration Tensor.
It nonetheless gained’t fairly compete with the quickest chips on the market — just like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and the Apple A 16 Bionic. But it surely’s fairly shut, and simply quick sufficient to deal with all of your multitasking and cell gaming wants.
Maybe much more necessary is the truth that the brand new Tensor G2 permits new good options, together with a bunch of latest clever camera options and higher speech recognition options. I count on we’ll proceed to see enhancements like this — slightly than a continuing emphasis on primary processing.
Google Pixel 7 battery and charging
The Pixel 7 comes with a 4,355mAh battery, which Google says will final “past 24 hours” and as much as 62 hours with the Excessive Battery Save. Now, I’m not essentially probably the most demanding person — I don’t play a ton of cell video games, for instance. I used to be in a position to finish most days with 40-50% of the battery left.
I believe even heavier customers will nonetheless finish the day with at the very least 30% or so, although after all, that may rely upon the person.
The machine is ready to cost comparatively shortly although. It helps fast-charging at as much as 30W, and Google says that may get you 50% cost in half-hour. And it helps 20W Qi wi-fi charging, and Battery Share, to have the ability to wirelessly cost different units.
Google Pixel 7 camera
The Pixel 7 Professional boasts a severe step up within the camera division, however fortunately, even the usual Pixel 7 has a number of tips up its sleeve. The machine has a twin camera array on the entrance, with one 50-megapixel major camera and one 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. The primary camera helps a brand new 2x optical zoom mode that principally crops the picture all the way down to the center 12.5 megapixels, and whereas the picture processing to attain that isn’t precisely the identical, it’s nonetheless a fairly neat trick. The ultrawide camera solely captures at 0.7x — so it’s not fairly the broad camera on supply by the Pixel 7 Professional, which captures at 0.5x.
The camera isn’t simply improved by the camera {hardware} — it’s improved by options that the Tensor G2 permits. For instance, the Pixel 7 now helps options like a quicker Evening Sight, higher picture stabilization, and a wise picture unblur mode.
In well-lit environments, the Google Pixel 7 is ready to seize unbelievable images with vibrant colours and glorious element. Images ship loads of distinction, and whereas they don’t fairly appear as contrast-heavy as Pixel telephones of some years in the past, they do look just a little extra pure, and that’s a great factor.
Important Digicam
Important Digicam
0.7X Zoom
1X Zoom
2X Zoom
3X Zoom
5X Zoom
8X Zoom
Evening Mode
The Pixel 7 Professional could effectively turn into the smartphone with the very best camera, however even the usual Pixel 7 is ready to maintain its personal. You’ll rise up to 8x zoom on the Pixel 7, which is digital zoom. It does look lots like an oil portray, however there’s nonetheless extra sharpness than you’d get on many different telephones, which is useful. The unblur mode is a cool thought, and at occasions it may well work decently effectively — however it appears just a little hit or miss as to when it’s going to work. It appears as if there’s no mode highly effective sufficient to deblur my kitten on a tear by way of the home.
The Pixel 7 is ready to seize 4K video at as much as 60 frames per second, and customarily, video appears to be like fairly good. Stabilization and video high quality nonetheless isn’t fairly on par with the iPhone, however it does appear to be getting higher — and also you’ll be proud of the machine when you’re in search of an Android telephone with a stable video high quality. Google has additionally launched the brand new cinematic blur characteristic, which is principally Google’s tackle Apple’s Cinematic Mode. It’s…not that nice. It may be cool at occasions, however it doesn’t look all that pure, and I’m hoping it’ll enhance lots over the following few years.
Usually, the Pixel 7’s camera will not be fairly as spectacular because the Pixel 7 Professional, however for a telephone on this value vary, it nonetheless has lots to supply.
Google Pixel 7 software program
The Google Pixel 7 comes with Android 13, with a number of additional Google-focused options and tweaks. The large query, given the Pixel 6 sequence, is how steady it’s. The reply? Largely steady, however I nonetheless bumped into a number of bugs.
For instance, once I first booted up the telephone and chosen my Wi-Fi community, the keyboard failed to look, and even hitting again and reselecting my community didn’t repair this. As soon as I turned the telephone off and again on once more, the keyboard appeared to work wonderful.
These sorts of bugs aren’t large offers — and so they’re comparatively simple to handle. However they nonetheless detract from the general expertise, and so they don’t bode effectively for the corporate that develops Android within the first place.
That stated, most of utilizing the Pixel 7 went easily, and I usually like Google’s method to software program. Google has added some nice new options, too, and prospects will likely be getting extra later this 12 months — like free entry to the VPN that’s usually solely included with a few of Google’s paid Google One plans.
Conclusions
The Google Pixel 7 represents a comparatively minor, however nonetheless worthy, improve over final 12 months’s Pixel 6. You positively don’t want a Pixel 7 when you have final 12 months’s mannequin — however it’s nonetheless an excellent telephone, at an excellent value. The machine affords a variety of wonderful good options, with nice efficiency, and a stable camera. And, all of it comes at an unbelievable value.
The competitors
You may be deciding between the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional, and it’s a troublesome choice. Whereas I like the higher show and telephoto camera on supply by the professional mannequin, it’s most likely not value an additional $300 for many prospects.
On this value vary, the Pixel 7 might be the very best telephone you will get. You might contemplate a tool just like the Samsung Galaxy A52s, and whereas that telephone does include a 120Hz show, it doesn’t supply the identical camera high quality, nor the identical variety of good options.
Ought to I purchase the Google Pixel 7?
Sure. It’s a wonderful telephone with a variety of nice options at an superior value.
