Full Over Views of Google Pixel 7 Flagship Smartphone
The Google Pixel 7 was released last year in October 2022 as the latest smartphone offering from Google. This device aims to provide a premium smartphone experience at a more affordable price than other smartphones.
Pros and Cons Google Pixel 7
Pros
– Excellent dual rear camera system
– Vibrant 6.3″ OLED display with up to 90Hz refresh rate
– Tensor G2 provides good performance
– Android 13 software with guaranteed updates
– Compact and comfortable design
– Face unlock feature finally added
– Good value at $550 price point
Cons
– Disappointing battery life
– No telephoto camera like the Pixel 7 Pro
– No headphone jack
– Slow charging speed
– Performance could be better for gaming
Excellent Design and Compact Body
The Google Pixel 7 features a 6.3-inch OLED display, and it’s still one of the more compact flagship phones available in 2022. The bezels surrounding the screen are fairly thin, maximizing the screen real estate on the front. At 197g, the phone still has some heft but remains comfortable to hold.
Google has gone with an aluminum frame on the Google Pixel 7, which has a matte finish that helps resist fingerprints. The back is made of glossy Gorilla Glass Victus, which should help protect against scratches and cracks. Google Pixel 7 is IP68 water resistant as well.
The phone comes in three color options – Snow, Obsidian, and Lemongrass. The camera bar on the back blends seamlessly into the metal frame for a sleek look.
Design Highlights
– 6.3” OLED display with thin bezels
– Compact size for a 2022 flagship
– Matte aluminum frame resists fingerprints
– Glossy Gorilla Glass Victus back
– IP68 water resistance
– 3 color options available
– Improved camera bar integration
Display & Audio
Google Pixel 7 6.3-inch OLED display looks fantastic, with the deep blacks and vibrant colors we expect from OLED panels. Viewing angles are also excellent, thanks to the OLED technology.
The screen can reach up to 1400 nits peak brightness for improved visibility in sunny conditions. It also supports HDR content streaming and has a smooth 90Hz refresh rate.
For audio, the Pixel 7 has a stereo speaker setup. The bottom speaker does more heavy lifting, but the audio quality is decent overall, considering the phone’s size. There is no headphone jack, but Bluetooth 5.2 is supported.
Display & Audio Highlights
– 6.3” 2400×1080 OLED display
– Vibrant colors and deep blacks
– Excellent viewing angles
– Up to 1400 nits peak brightness
– Smooth 90Hz refresh rate
– HDR streaming supported
– Stereo speakers
– Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
Performance & Gaming Performance
The Google Pixel 7 is powered by Google’s own Tensor G2 chipset, along with 8GB of RAM. Performance is generally solid, though some initial gaming tests have shown occasional frame rate drops even at lowered settings in graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact.
Optimization updates will improve gaming performance over time. The phone also supports 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6E for fast data speeds.
Gaming features like screen recording and Google’s Game Dashboard are present as well. So, the Google Pixel 7 offers decent all-around performance but may struggle with intense 3D games compared to other flagships.
Performance & Gaming Highlights
– Google Tensor G2 chipset
– 8GB RAM
– Solid overall performance
– Gaming performance could be better
– 5G and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
– Game Dashboard and recording tools
Battery Life & Charging
With its smaller 4,355 mAh battery (down from the Pixel 6’s 4,614 mAh), battery life looks like an Achilles heel for the Pixel 7 based on early impressions. It should still last a full day for many users but may need a top-up for heavy use.
For charging, a 30W wired charger can get you a 50% charge in about 30 minutes. But there is no charger included in the box. Wireless charging is supported as well. The charging speed is a bit slow compared to other latest flagships.
Battery & Charging Highlights
– 4,355 mAh battery capacity
– Full-day battery life expected for most
– 30W wired charging supported
– 50% charge in 30 minutes (with 30W charger)
– Wireless charging supported
– Slower charging vs. competitors
Camera Performance
Google Pixel 7 features a dual camera setup, with a 50MP main wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. This allows for 2x optical zoom. The main camera utilizes Google’s computational photography expertise to deliver excellent images.
New camera features include a Cinematic Blur video mode, Long Exposure for artistic shots, and Action Pan to blur backgrounds with moving subjects creatively. Night Sight and Portrait Mode also help capture great low light and portrait shots respectively.
The 10.8MP selfie camera should provide sharp self-portraits as well. Overall, the Pixel 7 cameras continue the Pixel tradition of offering one of the best smartphone camera experiences.
Camera Highlights
– Dual camera system
– 50MP main wide angle
– 12MP ultra-wide angle
– Excellent image processing and optimization
– New Long Exposure and Cinematic Blur modes
– Bright and detailed photos in any lighting
– Up to 4K 60fps video recording
– 10.8MP front facing camera
Software & Features
The Google Pixel 7 ships with the latest Android 13 software and Google’s Material You interface. Visual customization options and seamless integration of Google services are highlights here.
Useful software features include the At a Glance widget for showing useful info on the home screen, Digital Wellbeing monitoring for optimal phone usage, and Face Unlock for quickly unlocking the phone hands-free.
Google promises five years of security updates for the Pixel 7, which is great for long-term peace of mind. The company’s new built-in VPN service is expected in the near future as well.
Software & Features Highlights
– Latest Android 13 operating system
– Intuitive Material You interface
– 5 years guaranteed security updates
– Customizable home screen widgets
– Face Unlock for hands-free unlocking
– Digital Wellbeing usage insights
– VPN service coming soon
So, my opinion of Google Pixel 7
The Google Pixel 7 still delivers core flagship phone experiences like outstanding cameras, a smooth 90Hz display, and clean software starting at just $550. Battery life could be better, and the Tensor chip still needs optimization to unlock the phone’s full gaming performance potential, but overall, the Google Pixel 7 packs impressive value. For Android users who don’t need every bell and whistle, the Google Pixel 7 merits strong consideration.
3 Key Questions about the Google Pixel 7 and Answered:
Should I upgrade to the Pixel 7 from a Pixel 6?
For most Pixel 6 owners, upgrading may not make sense. The overall experience is very similar, from the design to the cameras. Performance and battery life improvements are incremental. Unless you really want a slightly more compact phone or the Face Unlock feature, it may be better to wait for the Google Pixel 8 and 8 pro or later models.
How does the Pixel 7 compare to more expensive flagships?
The Google Pixel 7 provides a very good flagship-level experience at $550, significantly cheaper than flagships like the iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22, which cost more than $800. You sacrifice extras like telephoto cameras and maxed out specs, but get excellent software, cameras, and design for much less. For many users, the Google Pixel 7 provides all the flagship features they actually need.
Does the Pixel 7 work well for photography?
Absolutely. The Pixel phones are known for their computational photography, and the Pixel 7 continues this tradition. Between the optimized 50MP sensor, excellent image processing, Night Sight low-light shots, creative modes like Long Exposure, and up to 4K video, the Pixel 7 has one of the most versatile camera systems you can get. For the price, it’s one of the best camera phones available.
