Google Pixel 7: A Comprehensive Review of the Most Sophisticated Phone Yet

Price when reviewed: $506.99 | Check price at Amazon

It is now feasible to find the Pixel 7 phone at a significant discount from its already attractive £599 RRP. With many flagship phones now costing more than £1000/$1000, the Pixel represents a genuine value. However, there is plenty of competition in the mid-range smartphone category, including Google’s own Pixel 7a, Nothing Phone (2), and Motorola Edge 40. So, is the Google Pixel 7 still worth buying in 2024? Here’s our entire review, which includes an in-depth look at its camera capabilities and much more.

Even while the Google Pixel series receives a lot of media attention, it remains somewhat specialized due to its limited market availability. However, Google has been working hard over the last few generations to appeal to a wider audience by introducing some distinctive features. Even the basic Android operating on today’s Pixels isn’t completely stock, as it includes some clever improvements and unique features. There are also claims that Google intends to launch a record number of Pixels next year.

The absence of features specific to the Pixel 7 Pro is noticeable, but what the basic Pixel 7 does provide – from its distinct appearance to its creative and competent camera and intelligent user experience – makes it a terrific value-for-money flagship buy.

Google Pixel 7 KEY FEATURES

An eye-catching design that is a minor improvement over the Pixel 6 that can nonetheless turn heads.90Hz for a flagship is behind the curve, however, the screen looks fantastic otherwise. Clean Android with several highly sophisticated Pixel-exclusive features to enjoy. The Tensor G2 chip executes its job well, even if it does not compare to mainstream competitors. Battery life lives up to Google’s claims, however, faster charging would have been preferable. Although there is no optical zoom and several functions may be improved, it is difficult to take terrible shots with this phone. Great functionality and nice hardware in a unique form at a reasonable price.

GOOGLE PIXEL 7 UNBOXING

As one would anticipate, the Google Pixel 7’s retail packaging is modest, containing simply the user manuals, a USB-C to USB-C cable for PD charging, and a USB-C to USB-A dongle in case you have a regular charger without a USB-C port.

There is no charger. The gadget supports up to 20W Power Delivery charging, so finding a charger compatible with the Pixel 7 should be simple.

CAMERA

• 50-megapixel primary camera.
• 13 megapixel ultrawide
• No telephoto lens.

Of course, the main feature of Google’s Pixel phones is usually their cameras. These phones are frequently seen as significant Android camera players, possibly even surpassing Samsung, so the pressure is on to see if the Google Pixel 7 can maintain those high standards.

The camera system appears to be very similar to that of the Pixel 6, at least on the back, where you’ll find a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens (the telephoto lens is reserved for the more expensive Pixel 7 Pro). On the front, there is a new selfie camera with a 10.8-megapixel resolution, which means it can now record 4K video.

It’s worth mentioning that, while the newer Pixel 8 has the same 50MP main and 13MP ultrawide sensor, the primary sensor is newer and more capable in low-light circumstances, thus selecting for the latest model will result in a tiny performance gain.

Regardless, I was impressed with the camera during my time using it in a variety of lighting circumstances.

Images captured with the Pixel’s rear cameras can be stunning at times; punchy but not overly colorful, highly detailed, and adaptable enough to provide a variety of shooting possibilities. Friends, including those who are not very interested in photography, commented on the quality of the images.

Creative shooting modes are also available, with the existing Action Pan and Long Exposure modes adding dramatic motion blur to or around a subject (depending on which one you select) with surprisingly good consistency, while a new Cinematic Blur mode adds portrait-style bokeh to videos. Cinematic Blur, like the Cinematic Mode debuted with the iPhone 13 series, appears to be in beta and needs additional development. Although the subject-tracking appears to perform well, the feature struggles to distinguish a subject from its background, causing the fake bokeh to flash and jitter across the frame.

Essentially, less motion is better, so shifting focus between a foreground and background subject is much easier than, say, following a moving automobile in front of you.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

• The Pixel 6 established a familiar yet distinct design.
• Slightly smaller than the Pixel 6, but yet seems large given its screen size.
• 6.3-inch Full HD+ 20:9 90Hz OLED Always-On Display
• Victus protects its display with Gorilla Glass.

The Pixel 6 series underwent a significant transformation in 2021 for a variety of reasons, the most noticeable of which was the design of the phones.

While the two-tone color scheme of the Kinda Coral Pixel 6 has not been carried over to this year’s Pixels, the Pixel 7 (and Pixel 7 Pro) have a more evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, aesthetic, with solid color behind the rounded Gorilla Glass Victus back, separated by metalwork.

The primary cosmetic change is to the characteristic black glass ‘visor’ of a camera bar, which previously concealed each phone’s multiple lenses. This year, it has been replaced by a mainly metal one that highlights rather than hides the lenses. It’s both polarizing and unique, making this Pixel series readily recognized as the last in a crowded field.

In terms of hardware, the Pixel 7’s gently textured aluminum (polished on the Pixel 7 Pro) offers the phone an almost jewelry-like feel, particularly in this generation’s stunning Lemongrass color option (shown). The metal on this phone is gold-tinted rather than silver or dark gray, as is the case with the other two available finishes: Snow (white / silver) and Obsidian (black / gunmetal).

Google’s use of 100% recyclable aluminum (a material Apple may want to consider moving to for its next best iPhones), along with the basic Pixel 7’s somewhat smaller footprint (compared to its direct predecessor), helps reduce the phone’s weight down to a respectable 197 grams.

Choosing a similar design to the previous year’s Pixels means the Pixel 7 isn’t the most slender or stylish smartphone on the market, and given its screen size, it still feels a touch too large in the hand. However, the Pixel 7 is not intended to be a mini Pixel in comparison to the 7 Pro (the Pixel 7a is a better fit for that designation).

The phone has a USB-C port and twin grilles on the bottom edge of its rounded body, the same as the Pixel 6. The power key and volume rocker are located on the right side, and the entire device is water and dust-resistant to IP68 standards.

As previously mentioned, the Pixel 7 is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6, decreasing from a 6.4-inch display to 6.3 inches. This distinguishes it from the larger 6.7-inch Pixel 7 Pro and places it among the few Android phones worth considering at this screen size.

The Pixel 7 has the same Full HD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio as the Pixel 6, so the display is imperceptibly sharper than its predecessor. However, Google has managed to increase the brightness so that it runs at up to 1000 nits in normal use and can push to 1400 nits at its peak (25% brighter than the Pixel 6’s display) for better visibility in bright environments.

The bezels have also dropped in comparison to last year’s model (though there is still a ‘chin’), but despite the gently rounded corners of the Gorilla Glass Victus-protected screen, the phone still appears a little larger than its screen size would imply. Despite being the smaller of this year’s two models, it has the same display size as previous ‘XL’ Pixels, such as the Google Pixel 4 XL.

A greater refresh rate for the display would have been a welcome addition this year. You still get a stunning OLED panel with fantastic viewing angles, rich colors, and deep blacks, and it feels responsive, but it only goes up to 90Hz. Sure, it may still make iPhone 14 users envious, but in the Android world, for a gadget of this quality and price, a toggle between a set 60Hz or 90Hz (where supported) feels rather out of date presently.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

• New Google Tensor G2 SoC with 8GB RAM.
• Focus on machine learning and AI functionality.
• Benchmarks behind competition, but excellent for real-world application.

Trying to put the Pixel 7’s (and 7 Pro’s) Tensor G2 hardware through its paces is more difficult than with traditional smartphone chipsets, particularly when it comes to testing the AI and machine-learning activities it’s been built for. This is exacerbated by the fact that, at the time of this evaluation (before to the Pixel 7’s general release), benchmarking applications were not available on the device we tested.

However, based on everything Google has revealed about Tensor G2, as well as what we learned from testing the original Tensor chip inside the Pixel 6 series and details that surfaced before the Pixel 7’s release, it lacks the raw power to compete with phones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, the difference is unlikely to be significant in practical applications.

Swiping around Android felt seamless, and when it came to gaming, thanks to the promise of graphical upgrades, and even when cranking up the fidelity settings in titles like Genshin Impact and Apex Legends, the Pixel 7 hovered around 60fps (frames per second) without complaint. Don’t expect this to compete with the top gaming phones on the market, but it will not disappoint if you want to utilize it to take on your buddies in Call of Duty Mobile.

Moving beyond the broad strokes of Tensor’s overall competence, speech-to-text functionality such as Live Dictation was nearly flawless (especially impressive given that it relies on an on-device model), while the long-awaited face unlock proved entirely viable, reliable, and snappy – so much so that we’re left wondering what held Google back from implementing the feature on the Pixel 6.

In terms of security, it’s worth mentioning that, in addition to fingerprint (and now face) unlocking, Google’s Titan M2 chip, which debuted in last year’s initial Tensor SoC, is also included. Its purpose is to keep your passwords and data secure from prying eyes, and it is widely regarded as a capable piece of hardware that meets industry requirements for security.

Overall, while the Pixel 7 lacks the raw horsepower of an iPhone 14 Pro, it can compete, particularly when it comes to AI tasks.

Buy it if...

• Compact and superior construction, easy to use, distinctive design, dust and water resistant.
• The display is sharp, bright, and color-correct.
• Good battery life for a phone of this size.
• Android from the source, a unique feature set, and an unequaled sense of smoothness on this side of the OS barrier.
• Excellent stereo speakers.
• Overall, it has excellent camera quality and an unforgettable persona with a devoted fanbase.

Don't buy it if…

• The display is just 90Hz as opposed to competitors pushing beyond 120Hz.
• Prolonged charging by the standards of the day.
• Certain software and hardware features are regionally limited – 5G, VoLTE, and much of the onboard AI stuff (though admittedly, so is the phone’s availability, to begin with).
• The ultrawide camera is underwhelming in low light.
• Selfies rarely come out tack sharp.

FULL SPECIFICATION