The Pixel 7 Pro signifies Google’s commitment to improving its smartphones, albeit not as intensely as some might prefer. This new flagship showcases a beautifully refined design and aims to be the premier Android phone, coming very close to that achievement. Its impressive cameras, the upgraded Tensor G2 chip, a brighter display and excellent value make the Pixel 7 Pro potentially my favorite Android device.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra should be wary because the Pixel 7 Pro offers significant cost savings compared to Samsung’s top-tier phone. Google has addressed many issues from the previous year’s Pixel 6 Pro, such as a faster fingerprint sensor and improved battery life.
Google’s upgraded Tensor G2 chip is a major advantage for the Pixel 7 Pro. Not only is it significantly faster than its predecessor, approaching the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in tests, but it also introduces numerous new AI and machine learning features unique to the Pixel 7 Pro (and Pixel 7). Some of these new capabilities, like Photo Unblur and faster Night Sight, are quite impressive.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Incredible cameras
- Enhanced software features
- Excellent value
Cons
- Only three years of platform updates
- Underwhelming telephoto colors
- Mediocre battery life
Specifications
- Price: Starting at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299
- Android version: 13
- Display: 6.7-inch OLED (3120 x 1440), 10-120Hz refresh rate
- CPU: Tensor G2
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB (no expandable storage)
- Rear cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x telephoto
- Front camera: 10.8MP
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, 8:04 battery life (adaptive)
- Charging: 30W wired, fast wireless
- Size: 6.4 x 3 x 0.3 inches (162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm)
- Weight: 7.5 ounces (212g)
- Colors: Obsidian, Snow, Hazel
Design
The Pixel 7 Pro, especially in the Hazel colorway, features a refined design language introduced last year. The metal camera bar that blends seamlessly into the frame and the prominent camera lenses make it a visually striking device. At 7.5 ounces, it feels heftier than the Pixel 6 Pro, despite only a slight increase in weight. The 0.1-ounce difference is noticeable and despite a thinner profile, the latest Pixel feels no less chunky than its predecessor. However, one drawback is its slipperiness. The Pixel 7 Pro tends to slide out of hand or off surfaces easily, a problem that persists from the Pixel 6 Pro. Hopefully, future models like the Pixel 8 Pro will address this issue.
Display
The Pixel 7 Pro features a 6.7-inch OLED display with QHD+ resolution. Compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, the display is significantly brighter, making outdoor use much more manageable. However, some users have reported scrolling issues, possibly due to the snappy 120Hz refresh rate. An update seems to have resolved this for some users.
Here are some display metrics:
| Pixel 7 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro | Galaxy S22 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.7 inches | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| sRGB (%) | 104.9 (Natural) | 119.8 | 137.5 (Natural) |
| DCI-P3 (%) | 74.3 (Natural) | 84.8 | 97.4 (Natural) |
| Delta-E | 0.28 (Natural) | 0.25 | 0.25 (Natural) |
| Peak brightness | 927 nits | 993 (SDR) / 1448 (HDR) | 644 (SDR) / 1359 (HDR) |
While the Pixel 7 Pro’s display doesn’t quite match the iPhone 14 Pro or Galaxy S22 Ultra, nearing 1,000 nits of brightness is still impressive. Colors are vibrant with sharp contrast and deep blacks, making it a pleasure for media consumption.
Cameras
The Pixel 7 Pro’s triple rear camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor and a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The 10.8MP front camera performs well under most conditions. Check out our Pixel 7 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max camera comparison for more insights.
Performance
The Tensor G2 chip is a significant highlight of the Pixel 7 Pro. This latest generation of Google’s in-house chipset offers substantial improvements over its predecessor, nearly matching Qualcomm’s performance in tests. It also brings advanced AI and machine learning capabilities with the new Tensor Processing Unit (TPU).
Benchmark tests:
| Pixel 7 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro | Galaxy Z Fold 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Tensor G2 | A16 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 |
| Geekbench 5 | 1060 (single-core) / 3046 (multi-core) | 1891 (single-core) / 5469 (multi-core) | 1328 (single-core) / 3831 (multi-core) |
| Geekbench ML | 322 (CPU) / 975 (GPU) / 1824 (NPU) | 1005 (CPU) / 2482 (GPU) / 3173 (NPU) | 500 (CPU) / 2196 (GPU) / 3165 (NPU) |
| 3DMark Wild Life | N/A | 74 FPS | 53 FPS |
| 3DMark Extreme | N/A | 19 FPS | 16 FPS |
| Adobe Premiere | 0:47 | 0:26 | 0:45 |
The Tensor G2 performs well, coming close to Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. Although it still lags behind Apple and Qualcomm in some respects, the Tensor G2 is a notable upgrade, especially for gaming and AI tasks.
Battery Life and Charging
The Pixel 7 Pro’s 5,000 mAh battery should theoretically provide long battery life, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery was underwhelming. In tests, the Pixel 7 Pro lasted an average of 8 hours and 4 minutes, which is below the average smartphone battery life. With the adaptive refresh rate turned off, it lasted 7 hours and 55 minutes. While this is an improvement over the Pixel 6 Pro, it’s still not impressive.
In real-world usage, the Pixel 7 Pro performs better than its test results suggest. It handles heavy photography and gaming sessions well, but it doesn’t match the battery life of other top phones. It supports up to 30W wired charging, which is better than Apple’s 20W but still behind Samsung’s 45W and other brands like OnePlus or Xiaomi. Google has not disclosed the wireless charging speed, but it’s likely around 21W.
Software and Special Features
The Pixel 7 Pro comes with Android 13, which has been available for older Pixels since September. While the software experience is similar to other Pixel devices, the Pixel 7 Pro offers exclusive features.
The Pixel 7 Pro enhances the Call Assist suite, starting with Call Screen, which screens calls before you answer them. Direct My Call, which transcribes business call directory options, now displays options before the automated voice reads them out. Clear Calling, which mitigates background noise during calls, is another new feature, with the full version arriving in December.
Assistant has become smarter thanks to Tensor, with improved voice text understanding. The Pixel 7 Pro can suggest relevant emojis and transcribe voice texts, though this feature wasn’t functional during my review period. A software update also introduced a new feature in the Recorder app, recognizing different speakers in transcriptions.
One area to be cautious about is the Markup tool, which had a vulnerability allowing edits to be undone due to the way Google Pixels save edited files.
In conclusion, the Pixel 7 Pro is a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a refined design, better performance and enhanced features, making it a strong contender in the Android market.
FAQs
What is the price of the Pixel 7 Pro?
The Pixel 7 Pro starts at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299.
What is the screen size and resolution?
The Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3120 x 1440.
Which processor does the Pixel 7 Pro use?
It uses Google’s Tensor G2 chip.
How much RAM and storage does the Pixel 7 Pro have?
It comes with 12GB of RAM and options for 128GB or 256GB of storage.
What are the camera specifications?
The rear cameras include a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 48MP 5x telephoto. The front camera is 10.8MP.
How long does the battery last?
The battery life averages 8 hours and 4 minutes with adaptive settings.
Does the Pixel 7 Pro support fast charging?
Yes, it supports 30W wired charging and fast wireless charging.
What colors are available for the Pixel 7 Pro?
The available colors are Obsidian, Snow and Hazel.
What is unique about the Pixel 7 Pro’s software?
It features exclusive software capabilities like enhanced Call Assist, Clear Calling and advanced AI and machine learning functions.
How many years of software updates does the Pixel 7 Pro get?
The Pixel 7 Pro receives three years of platform updates.