Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are the newest series of smartphones from Google. Both smartphones come with powerful cameras and excellent performance that can handle all tasks like normal day-to-day operations, browsing, gaming and more. The new design is also quite appealing one with a glass back and a classy camera cut out which adds a premium look as well. But are they worth spending your hard-earned money? We’re here to find out in this detailed review about these two awesome devices!
Hardware
At first glance, you’ll notice that the Pixel 7 is much more refined than last year’s model. The brushed aluminium finish on the back is thinner, while the front of the phone has gotten a bit more prominent. Instead of being flush with the screen like it was last year, it sticks out just enough to feel like it’s part of your hand—and not just an extraneous piece of plastic.
The Pixel 7 Pro also got some design upgrades this year—it now has an aluminium finish on its sides and an even more pronounced camera bar in the back—but unlike its smaller sibling, this one retains its matte texture.
With a design that’s both sleek and sturdy, these phones are ready for anything life throws at them. And with a display that pumps out incredible brightness, deep blacks and lively colors, you can take your photos to new levels of clarity and add some extra pizzazz to your selfies.
The camera is one of these phones’ strengths. Both models feature two 12MP sensors (one for wide-angle shots and one for telephoto) with optical image stabilization on both models. You can shoot 4K video at 30 fps, 1080p video at 240 fps or 720p video at 240 fps—all without sacrificing image quality, thanks to Google’s AI-backed HDR+ Enhanced mode.
And don’t forget about AI: Google’s Pixel line has always been known for its smarts, but the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro take it to the next level with integrated Google Lens support so you can take advantage of machine learning in various scenarios like identifying objects or making calls using just your voice (even if they’re overseas!).
Software
No matter what you think of the Pixel line, there’s no denying that Google has made some smart choices with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. And one of the most interesting features on both phones is Direct My Call.
You can use this feature to navigate those automated speech menus you sometimes encounter when contacting large companies. You won’t have to wait for all the alternatives to be heard before being presented with a text-based menu if Duplex is being used to pre-cache options.
Granted, the new caching features of Direct My Call are ineffective for mom-and-pop stores. However, features like this, Hold For Me, the incredibly good Pixel Recorder app, and the new Audio Message Transcription capability all work together to give a genuinely intelligent software experience that frequently saves you time and a few headaches.
Google Pixel 7
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Source: Engadget
Battery Life
Both phones offer solid battery life, with the Pixel 7 lasting 17 hours and 54 minutes on our standard video rundown test, which isn’t quite as good as the 21:17 we got from the iPhone 14 Plus but still respectable. Meanwhile, the Pixel 7 Pro fared just a touch worse with a time of 16:42.
But regardless of which phone you are using, even with moderate to heavy usage, both phones always will always have at least 25 percent left in reserve at the end of each day. The one caveat here: if you opt for a standard Qi wireless charging dock instead of Google’s own Pixel Stand 2 (which comes included with your purchase), speeds top out at 12 watts instead of 20 watts or 23 watts like they do when using Google’s own setup.
Performance
With Google’s newest Tensor G2 chip and the addition of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor inside, you’ll be able to do more than ever before on your phone. And even though the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are essentially the same phones—just with different display sizes—the Pixel 7 is still very much worth the extra cash if you want a high-end device that looks and feels like a premium product.
Both devices feel smooth and responsive, even during intense workloads like playing games or editing videos. It’s also worth noting that while they both get warm during heavy use, they don’t get too hot to hold comfortably on your hand. This should come as no surprise given how slim they are: The Pixel 7 weighs in at just 6.3 ounces while its larger sibling tips the scale at 6.7 ounces.
Camera
The Pixel 7 has a main camera with a 50-megapixel sensor, which is more than enough for any occasion. It also has a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens on the back, which helps you get all of those group shots without having to turn every head in your direction.
On the other hand, the Pixel 7 Pro has something called Night Sight mode with an 8x zoom lens up front. That’ll help you get those portrait shots at night without having to use flash or shine bright lights in their faces. It can do some extra tricks like enhance low light conditions and even make objects appear crisper than they would be on their own!
The Pixel 7 Pro comes with a larger 5x telephoto lens, better zoom processing, and the ability to take macro photos with the phone’s ultra-wide camera. Moving the phone up close to your subject and the Pixel 7 Pro will instantly enter macro mode, making it simple to take close-up pictures. The results aren’t horrible and there aren’t any buttons or settings to activate either.
The main new feature for video is Cinematic Blur mode, which aims to give the background of your recordings a soft bokeh to give them a more film-like appearance. Though it’s not entirely perfect, the outcomes are generally quite decent. It can be a little disconcerting to see some areas where the bokeh is applied unevenly or where it abruptly bursts in and out when objects move.
If you’re looking for something that doesn’t just take great photos, but also lets you take control of your photos through machine learning technology, then the Google Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro are perfect for you. They’re not only your best choice when it comes to photography on a smartphone – they’re also your best choice when it comes to smartphones!
Summing Up…
Google’s new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are the most intelligent smartphones you’ll ever buy. They’re packed with smarts, including a 120Hz refresh rate, an upgraded camera and 5x zoom, a longer battery life than ever before and much more.
Still, there are some caveats: if you need mmWave 5G speeds, you’ll have to pay more for Verizon’s version of the phone. Also, if you’re looking for one of those ultra-wide cameras that can also do macro shots—like Apple’s Super Retina Plus—you’ll have to go with the Pixel 7 Pro.
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