Google’s Pixel lineup has been a huge success, and after the launch of the completely redesigned Pixel 6 series 2021, Google is back with its flagship smartphones. These phones will compete with the best of 2022-2023. The Pixel 7 series was revealed in full on October 6. It seems that this year’s focus is on refinement.
This is not a bad thing. As they strive to improve their hardware, companies like Samsung or OnePlus often borrow designs from previous years. We loved the design and concept of the Pixel 6We’re happy that Google didn’t make any drastic changes to its hardware and software. Google should be focusing its efforts on improving the hardware and software, considering the difficulties it faced with the Pixel 6’s launch.
The Pixel 7 receives some noteworthy upgrades that we appreciate. A curious downgrade that doesn’t turn out to be as bad as we thought and the same omissions as the Pixel 6. Pixel 7 ProThis is a good thing, but we don’t really care about that part.
Is this the Pixel 6? Can the Pixel 7 handle this and next years? best Android phones? My experience will help you decide if the Pixel 7 is your next phone. These are my thoughts after a few weeks of using the phone.
Google Pixel 7: Price & Availability
The Pixel 7 was teased first at Google I/O in 2022. A full launch took place on October 6, 2022. Preorders began on the same day. The phone shipped and was available for purchase in stores by October 13.
The 128GB storage model of the Pixel 7 is priced at $599 in the United States. In the U.K. and Europe, the phone starts at £599 and €649, respectively. It also goes on sale in India for ₹59,999.
The Pixel 7 can be bought at several retailers across the United States, including Amazon and Best Buy. It can also be found at major carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, as well as Google Fi.
There are many. Pixel 7 dealsWe have several benefits that users can use, so we encourage everyone to look them up if they are of interest to you.
Google Pixel 7: Hardware & Design
This review feels a bit repetitive, but if your familiar with the Pixel 6 design then you will be comfortable with the Pixel 7. The phone has a nearly identical design with the rear panel being interrupted at the top by a large housing for the camera. Smooth glass is used to protect the back panel. Although it feels cool, it can be slippery. Combining this with the soft metallic frame makes it easy for the phone to slip out of your hands. You might be better to go to one of these. Pixel 7 casesProtect your investment with these tips
Google made the camera visor aluminum this year instead of using glass. This is a nice change. It makes me less worried that I might accidentally break the glass or obscure the lenses. I like the way the matte aluminum connects to my frame.
Google moving the power button and volume knob is one thing that I can’t get used too. Almost every Android OEM I’ve used places the volume rocker below the power button, but for some reason, Google wanted to be a rebel. But I digress.
Google’s choice in color options for the Pixel 7 is not something I like. There are two dull colors: Obsidian (black), Snow (white), and then there’s a very offensive Lemongrass (yellow). Although the last color is the most intriguing, it’s too many. The other colors don’t feel enough. I wish Google would have adopted the Sage (green color) from the Pixel 6a, or the Hazel colorway of the Pixel 7 Pro. Google needs to do more when it comes to color.
The specs are quite different from the predecessor. Although they may seem minor, they make a big difference.
| Category | Google Pixel 7 |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| Display | 6.3-inches FHD+ (1080×2400), OLED up to 90Hz |
| Chipset | Tensor – G2 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128/256GB |
| Battery & Charging | 4355mAh, 21W wired, 21W wireless |
| Rear Camera 1 | 50MP, wide-angle, ƒ/1.85, 1.2μm |
| Rear Camera 2 | 12MP, ultrawide, ƒ/2.2, 1.25μm, 114° |
| Selfie Camera | 10.8MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.22μm, 80° |
| Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 mmWave), Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.2, Wi Fi 6E |
| Protection | IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Dimensions | 73.2 x 155.6x 8.7 |
| Weight | 197g |
| Colors | Obsidian. Snow. Lemongrass |
The Pixel 7 runs on the new Tensor – G2This chip handles the phone’s cameras and AI functions. This chip isn’t much different from the original Tensor, but every bit counts. This is followed by 8GB RAM with 128GB and 256GB storage. The battery is one of the most curious features. Google’s 4,614mAh capacity battery was replaced by a 4,355mAh one. More details will follow.
The hardware of the camera is almost identical, but the company did upgrade the 8MP camera to a 10.8MP model. TensorG2 should be able to take better selfies as it now has more Pixels.
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The Pixel 7 is a well-designed smartphone that offers a great set of specs, which rivals many other Android smartphones in this price range. The haptics are amazing! I cannot tell you how happy I feel when I swipe away an app or swipe up to get into the app drawer. The phone emits subtle vibrations that are dependent on your actions, which add to the overall experience.
Google Pixel 7: Display
The Pixel 7 screen looks and feels as good as it does.
There’s much to love about the display. It’s not as sharp as flagships with QHD+ panels or 120Hz panels, but it does have a foldable display. Google reduced the size of the panel to 6.3 inches to make it more compact and easier to carry. This means that the FHD+ resolution will be a bit sharper. Although I was initially puzzled by Google’s decision to not go with the 6.1-inch display on other flagships, this feels very comfortable to me.
The panel is just as smooth and good as the back panel. Even though I set the display to “Natural”, the colors remain vibrant. Scrolling and animations felt very smooth due to the 90Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 7 display can reach 1400 nits peak brightness and was easy to see outdoors.
These bezels are not the smallest and the phone is not the most expensive. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus just like the back. We recommend that you cover the display with Gorilla Glass Victus. Protector for Pixel 7 screenYou can also add extra protection by placing it over it.
The fingerprint sensor is located under the display and I have never had any issues with it. It does take about a second for your phone to unlock after you use it. However, this isn’t the only way to unlock your phone.
Google Pixel 7: Software & Performance
Google claims that the true magic is in its software, even though the hardware hasn’t changed much. That much was true about the Pixel 6 series, and the Pixel 7 series aims to take things up a notch… eventually. This is because I have seen some of the Promised featureseither aren’t yet available or don’t work for me. However, the ones that worked were enjoyable and some even useful.
Face Unlock is one of my favorite features. Google should have brought this feature sooner, given how limited it is. It’s not secureSurprise, surprise! It’s not Face ID. Face Unlock works flawlessly when unlocking Pixel 7 and unlocks often before I get a chance for my thumb to touch the fingerprint sensor. The phone’s front camera emits a ring to signal it’s searching for you. Within seconds, the phone locks automatically.
You can also set it to automatically open your phone to the previous screen. You can set it to open your eyes for it to work. This will prevent shady individuals from trying unlock your phone while your asleep. It worked very well, according to my experience. Google warns that this system is not foolproof and the phone could be unlocked by someone similar to you.
Many people complained that they couldn’t use their phone while using Google Pay. It is a bit confusing to be able to unlock your phone by using your face. The phone will then tell you to use the fingerprint scanner. This has not been an issue in my experience. Although I use Face Unlock and Google Pay independently, I have never encountered any issues when making payments. It could be that I am used to defaulting on the fingerprint when I make payments. Also, I don’t use face unlock with my Galaxy S22.
Assistant Voice Typing is another feature I love. Although it’s a great feature, I don’t use it often unless I have to. Google launched the Pixel 7 with a demonstration of its ability to suggest emoji depending on what you are typing and insert them without the need for the correct names. For example, I inserted the “Unamused Emoji” (😒) by calling it “Side-eye emoji.”
Contact Screen isn’t anything new, but it’s a handy feature, and I’ve had to use it a few times. I must admit that I enjoy receiving calls from spammers and seeing them hang up when Google Assistant prompts them. This saves me the hassle of dealing directly with them.
Voice Message Transcription is a very cool feature that Google has added. The feature was initially not compatible for me as I don’t use voice messages very often. However, I have found it to be very accurate in limited testing. Even though the audio was muffled.
The Pixel 7 also features cough and snore detection. I find this interesting. This feature is part of Digital Wellbeing, and can be accessed via the Clock app’s Bedtime mode. While I know that I don’t snore a lot, it is surprising to see the moments when my phone detects I’m snoring. Thankfully, the phone does not record the audio so I am not able to expose myself to embarrassing croaking.
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However, some features are still not available at the time this article was written.
- Multiple speakers can be identified by the Recorder App
- Clear Calling
- VPN by Google One (free for Pixel 7 owners).
These features are expected to be added later this year along with the December feature drop. Android 13 betaClear Calling is available to you before its release at the end the year.
Still, all the AI-assisted goodies you know and love are here, and it’s all running smoothly on Android 13. Following the tumultuous launch of the Pixel 6 series, I’ve not noticed any glaring bugs or hardware defects, although it’s still early. The software is stable and responsive to changes. Android 12Android 13 is minimal as we have noted in our Android 13 review.
Android 13 only adds to the fun of the Pixel 7.
Pixel UI isn’t my favorite as too many UI elements take up space. The software is fun and bright, which many users might enjoy. It makes Android seem fun and could be used to encourage users to choose the software over iOS, or other Android phones. Samsung has a much more serious approach to Android than I prefer.
The Pixel 7 still has many useful features, such as Quick Tap. It’s my favorite feature. You can set up an app to open, or function to start by double-tapping your back. I wish that the Pixel UI included a shortcut panel for commonly used apps. This feature is available on all Samsung, Motorola, LG, and LG phones and I cannot live without it.
Pixel 7 gives you an extra boost for quick phrases. I love the ability to shout “Silence!” It’s so easy to just shout “Silence!” at the phone and it will silence the ringer. It feels more natural, and it comes in handy whether I’m cooking, showering, or asleep.
Although this isn’t a gaming device, it should be able to play most of your mobile games without any problems. The phone did not produce any heat, but it can get warm when you play some more heavy titles. Aluminum makes the camera visor a little warmer.
The Pixel 7 is fun to use, despite the lack of certain features. Google is planning to add more features to the phone. While it is disappointing that some of the promised features aren’t yet available, it is part of the joy of owning a Pixel.
Google promises the same update promise for Pixel 7. This means that you can expect three OS updates and five years worth of updates. That’s quite sweet.
Google Pixel 7: Battery
Google reduced the Pixel 7’s battery capacity, as I have mentioned. It’s not a popular move, especially since phones are getting more powerful and battery life is more critical than ever. However, the battery life of my Pixel 6 isn’t as bad as it used to be.
Despite the small battery capacity, the battery life is remarkable.
The Pixel 7 has been giving me roughly 7 to 8 hours of screen time, which is about the same as the Pixel 6. It’s not bad. Considering that I’ve been using the phone constantly to take photos, shoot video, and mess with various features over the past few days, it’s surprising the phone can last this long.
Sometimes I’d even take my phone from the charger an hour before I went to bed. The phone would last me until the morning when I was ready to get up.
This is coming from someone who must often charge the Galaxy S22By noon. The Pixel 7 is great for me as it allows me to get through my workday (which ends around 5 pm, give and take), without having to recharge. For more normal use, the phone should last for a full day.
The phone can also be charged quickly with a Google 30W charger, if you need it. My 25W PPS charger is not available, so I use it. The phone charges in a matter of minutes. It can charge from 1% to 50% in 30 minutes and then reach 100% in an hour and 40. Although it is not the fastest charger, it should work well if your phone needs a fast charge. You can also use wireless charging, but this will need to be purchased separately. Pixel Stand (Gen 2).You want to get the most out your wireless charging.
Google Pixel 7: Cameras
Here comes the best part. The best thing about any Pixel smartphone are its cameras. This is true even for the Pixel 7. Google went with a 50MP sensor as a primary sensor. It gives the Tensor chips more pixels. It’s a powerful smartphone camera that produces natural-looking images. It also doesn’t push saturation to extreme levels. This holds true for the primary and ultrawide cameras. I was impressed.
The Pixel 7 lacks a zoom sensor. The Pixel 7 can still capture high-quality images at 2x zoom, and Super Res Zoom can be pushed to 8x for distant subjects.
Thanks to the 10.8MP sensor, selfies are great. Processing can sometimes go a little too far depending on the lighting. And I can’t help but feel like the phone is trying to compensate my skin tone.
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Comparing the Pixel 7 camera to the Samsung Galaxy S22’s 3x Telephoto Lens, I was surprised at how well the Pixel holds its own. The Pixel gives images lots detail and contrast. I also compared Pixel 7’s Super Res Zoom with the 4x optical zoom on the Pixel 6 Pro to see how it would perform.
During the nighttime, the Pixel 7 performs well, but I’m not blown away by the images. When taking these photos, I kept Night Sight off. Night Sight was used for the final image of the church. It turned out to be a great choice.
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The Pixel 7 is unable to compete with the Galaxy S22. It uses Night Sight for dark scenes. The Galaxy S22 can pull in more light using the dedicated night mode. Even with Night Mode on both phones and set to three seconds, the S22 image still looks brighter.
The Pixel 7 has many fun camera features, many of which were borrowed from other Pixels. Although I find the Motion Mode features to be very useful, I doubt I will use them often.
I tried it out too. Photo UnblurHowever, the effect is subtle and it doesn’t seem to be very useful.
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Video capture was excellent. Video outputs with 10-bit support are richer in blacks and have more vivid colors. It’s only available when the framerate is set at 30fps but it’s still quite impressive.
Google has now introduced Cinematic Blur, which uses AI to blur out background and keep subject in focus. This feature has been tried and failed by Android phones in the past. However, it seems to improve with each successive generation. The Pixel 7 does a remarkable job blurring out the background around a subject as demonstrated in the screenshot below. The Pixel 7 is not perfect. Sometimes inanimate objects can fool the AI. This can be seen from my keyblade which was unnaturally blurred.
I’m looking forward to testing this more, especially in a crowded environment to see how it handles switching between subjects.
Google continues to pack its cameras with fun features that make it easy for users to capture amazing images in all settings. The Pixel camera is still my favorite, despite the poor zoom and slow nighttime performance. If I need to take a great photo, I will likely choose the Pixel 7 over the Galaxy S22. However, I’m still disappointed with the company. However, the manual mode will not be available.. While I understand that Google does not prioritize this, because they want us to be less focused on taking photos, it would still be nice to have.
Google Pixel 7 Competition
The closest competitor to the Pixel 7 is the Samsung Galaxy S22. The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the entry-level flagship. It comes with a small display, flagship chip, and rear triple-cameras. My experience with the phone was positive. The camera capabilities are great thanks to the telephoto lens, digital zoom, and 30x digital zoom. The battery is a bit weak, so I find myself often plugging my phone in. The $200 price tag is more than the Pixel 7. Learn more at my Pixel 7 vs. Galaxy S22 comparison.
OnePlus remains in business, and the company has just launched its latest product. OnePlus 10TThis smartphone is quite impressive. It boasts excellent cameras and a sleek design. Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. You can also charge it up with a fast 125W charger and a large battery. OnePlus isn’t the fastest at software upgrades, so you might be waiting around for the latest Android security update or OS upgrade.
The Motorola Edge (2022).This phone is great for those who need a long-lasting battery. The phone has a 144Hz OLED screen and a 50MP primary camera. Although it is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1050 mid-range processor, it performs extremely well and is available for $599 less than the Pixel 7. It’s not the most beautiful or well-built phone, and Motorola is notorious for slow updates.
Google Pixel 7: Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for…
- You didn’t buy the Pixel 6.
- For video and photos, you need a quality camera.
- You are planning to buy the Pixel Watch.
- You want a flagship that is affordable.
If you don’t agree with the following, you shouldn’t purchase this product.
- You need super-fast wired/wireless charging
- You need a QHD+ display and/or a 120Hz monitor.
- It’s not something you enjoy using phone covers (it’s slippery).
Overall, the Pixel 7 has been a great phone to use. Google is giving the Assistant more to do in order to cement its place in our daily lives. You can decide whether you want to make use of this feature. However, Google is making AI increasingly difficult to ignore with each new smartphone generation.
Google’s AI is the star of the show when it comes to camera quality. There are many options available for smartphones with good cameras, but the Pixel 7 is likely the best.
One thing is for certain: The Pixel 7 has the same specs as the Pixel 6. Google appears to be coming to its senses when it comes hardware. While the Tensor G2 design isn’t revolutionary, the phone’s features are still the same. However, the little changes that have been made give the phone an edge over its predecessors.
This phone, and the price tag that comes with it, will get you back on board the Pixel train if you weren’t impressed by the Pixel 6 or didn’t want to buy the first-generation.
The Pixel 7 is an affordable smartphone that offers a high-quality camera with a low price. You have many fun camera options that will enhance your images and give them a cinematic look. The Pixel 7 is the best camera phone.
Check the changelog
This review was published in its original form on October 12, 2022. The following modifications were made to the review on October 25:
- You can see more images of the Pixel 7 in the Design section.
- The software section has been updated with more information on cough and snore detection. This also reflects my experience with Google Pay when Face Unlock is enabled.
- These images are included in the Camera section. One Night Sight photo is also included.
- The Competition section has been updated with the Motorola Edge (2022).
