The Google Pixel 7 has made quite an impression in the smartphone world, standing out as a flagship device that balances a sleek design, premium features, and the power of Google’s in-house software. As part of Google’s ongoing efforts to refine its Pixel lineup, the Pixel 7 aims to improve on its predecessors while still offering the distinct experience users have come to expect from Google’s devices. In this review, we’ll explore the various aspects that make up the Google Pixel 7, including its design, hardware, display, performance, camera system, software experience, battery life, and overall value.
The first thing that strikes anyone about the Google Pixel 7 is its design. Google has stuck to its minimalist philosophy, creating a device that is sleek yet practical. The overall design of the Pixel 7 is similar to its predecessor, the Pixel 6, but with some key refinements. It still features a bold camera bar that runs across the back of the device, but this time, it’s more seamlessly integrated into the chassis. The phone has a premium feel with an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back, giving it durability and a high-end look. It’s available in several colors, giving users some variety in style preferences.
The size of the Pixel 7 is comfortable for one-handed use, and it feels solid without being too heavy. It strikes a good balance between being a large enough device for content consumption while not being cumbersome in the hand. The phone is also IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, which adds to its overall durability and makes it more resilient to everyday accidents. Google’s decision to maintain a distinctive design identity with the Pixel lineup is evident here, and the Pixel 7’s design is a testament to that.
When it comes to display quality, the Google Pixel 7 excels with a 6.3-inch OLED panel that supports a 1080 x 2400 resolution. The display is bright, vibrant, and offers excellent color accuracy, making it great for watching videos, browsing photos, or gaming. The OLED technology ensures deep blacks and good contrast ratios, providing an immersive experience for media consumption. The refresh rate is 90Hz, which might seem a little less impressive compared to some flagship devices that offer 120Hz displays, but it still delivers smooth scrolling and animations. For most users, the difference between 90Hz and 120Hz may not be immediately noticeable in everyday usage, making the Pixel 7’s display more than sufficient.
The brightness of the display is another notable feature, as it performs well even in bright outdoor conditions. The phone automatically adjusts brightness based on the surrounding environment, and this adaptive brightness feature works effectively to provide optimal viewing. The HDR10+ support ensures that video content from streaming platforms looks fantastic, with enhanced contrast and dynamic range.
Internally, the Pixel 7 is powered by Google’s own Tensor G2 chipset, which is a follow-up to the custom-built Tensor chip introduced in the Pixel 6 series. This second-generation chipset is designed specifically for Google’s needs, allowing the Pixel 7 to deliver impressive AI and machine learning capabilities that power many of its software features. In terms of raw performance, the Tensor G2 provides smooth operation across the board. Whether you’re multitasking, playing graphic-intensive games, or running demanding apps, the Pixel 7 handles it all with ease.
One of the most significant improvements brought by the Tensor G2 is the enhanced power efficiency. This is particularly evident in the way the Pixel 7 manages battery life, as the chipset helps optimize performance without draining the battery unnecessarily. The chipset is paired with 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most users’ needs. Apps open quickly, and there’s no noticeable lag when switching between them.
Gaming on the Pixel 7 is a solid experience, though it’s worth mentioning that it’s not necessarily a gaming-focused phone. The Tensor G2 chip provides enough power to handle most mobile games without issue, but some users may notice that it doesn’t quite match the gaming performance of devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Apple’s A-series chips. That said, for casual and even moderately intense gaming, the Pixel 7 holds its own.
The Pixel 7’s storage options are standard for a flagship, with 128GB and 256GB variants. Unfortunately, there’s no expandable storage, which is a common trend among modern smartphones, but for most users, the available options should suffice.
Where the Pixel 7 truly shines is in its camera system. Google has always placed a heavy emphasis on computational photography, and the Pixel 7 continues this tradition. The phone features a dual-camera setup on the back, with a 50MP wide lens and a 12MP ultrawide lens. While this setup may not sound as impressive as some of the triple or quad-camera systems found on competing devices, the Pixel 7’s strength lies in its software processing.
The main 50MP sensor captures detailed and sharp photos, even in challenging lighting conditions. Google’s HDR+ technology ensures that photos have excellent dynamic range, with bright highlights and well-preserved shadows. The colors in the images are vibrant but not overly saturated, giving them a natural look. One of the standout features of the Pixel 7’s camera is its ability to handle low-light photography. Night Sight, Google’s proprietary night mode, continues to impress by producing clear, bright images in near-dark conditions without the need for a flash. The ultrawide lens is also capable of capturing impressive photos with a wider field of view, which is useful for landscape shots or large group photos.
The Pixel 7 also features Google’s Super Res Zoom, a digital zoom technology that uses computational techniques to improve the quality of zoomed-in shots. While it’s not as good as the optical zoom found on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it still performs admirably for a digital zoom, especially in well-lit conditions. Portrait mode has been refined as well, with better edge detection and more accurate background blur, making it great for taking professional-looking photos of people or pets.
Video recording on the Pixel 7 is another area where the phone excels. It can capture 4K video at 60fps, and the video quality is excellent, with good detail and accurate colors. The optical and electronic image stabilization work together to provide smooth video, even when you’re on the move. Google has also added some new video features, like Cinematic Blur, which creates a bokeh effect similar to what you’d find in portrait mode for still photos. This feature adds a professional touch to videos, making them look more cinematic.
On the software front, the Pixel 7 runs Google’s version of Android, which is known for its clean, bloat-free experience. With the Pixel 7, users get the latest version of Android with no unnecessary third-party apps or custom skins. This makes the interface fast, responsive, and easy to navigate. The phone also benefits from Google’s commitment to timely updates, as Pixel devices are always among the first to receive new Android updates and security patches.
One of the major selling points of the Pixel 7 is its integration with Google’s ecosystem and its AI-powered features. For instance, Google Assistant is more deeply integrated into the system, allowing for seamless voice commands and tasks. Features like Call Screen and Hold for Me use AI to handle calls intelligently, saving users time and frustration when dealing with robocalls or being placed on hold. Google’s Live Translate feature is another impressive tool, providing real-time translation for conversations, text, and even images.
The software experience is further enhanced by the smooth animations and intuitive gestures that make navigation a breeze. Customization options are also plentiful, allowing users to tweak the look and feel of their home screen, icons, and widgets. Overall, the Pixel 7 delivers one of the best Android experiences on the market.
In terms of battery life, the Pixel 7 performs well, thanks in part to the efficiency of the Tensor G2 chip. The phone is equipped with a 4,355mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than some other flagship devices, but it still manages to last through a full day of moderate to heavy use. With light use, you might even be able to stretch it into a second day without needing to charge. Google has also included fast charging support, though the charging speeds aren’t as fast as some competitors like OnePlus or Xiaomi. The phone supports 30W wired charging, and it also offers wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, which allows you to charge other devices like earbuds or a smartwatch.
Another area where the Pixel 7 stands out is in its price. While many flagship devices have been creeping up in price, Google has positioned the Pixel 7 as a more affordable premium option. This makes it an attractive choice for users who want a high-end phone without breaking the bank. The Pixel 7 offers excellent value for money, especially considering its top-tier software experience, camera capabilities, and AI features. It’s a device that feels like a true flagship without the hefty price tag that often accompanies such phones.
Of course, no phone is perfect, and the Pixel 7 has a few minor drawbacks. As mentioned earlier, the lack of a 120Hz display may be a downside for users who are used to the smoother experience provided by higher refresh rates. Additionally, while the Tensor G2 chip is powerful enough for most tasks, it doesn’t quite match the raw performance of the latest Snapdragon or Apple processors, which may be a consideration for power users or mobile gamers. The lack of a telephoto lens also means that the Pixel 7 doesn’t offer the same level of zoom performance as some competitors.
