The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have just become Google’s latest flagship phones, but at a glance there’s not much new. So what has really changed? Here’s everything we could find.
Updated design
Two-tone colors are gone
The unique design language of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro really stood out, but one of the core elements of that design is missing this time around. Whichever color you choose, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will have a uniform color from top to bottom, minus the camera bar, as you can see above.
Smaller phones
Google has made both devices a little easier to hold
Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were big phones, something that was surely for the best. Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have the same screen sizes, but they’re a little less bulky to use.
Google’s latest two phones reduce their bezels and overall hardware a bit, with the end result being a device that’s easier to hold. If you thought last year’s phones were too big, these changes probably won’t completely change your mind, but it’s a good change overall. My only complaint is that this means the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro cases won’t fit this year’s generation.
Google moved the buttons on the Pixel 7 Pro
They are a little lower, oddly
We don’t know why, but the Pixel 7 Pro’s buttons are mounted a bit lower than the Pixel 6 Pro.
Additionally, the mmWave window is now much less obvious and more in line with the tastes of Samsung and Apple.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is much less curved
Evil is (partially) defeated!
I hate curved screens.
The Pixel 6 Pro basically had a “waterfall” display that curved dramatically on either side, but the newer model has a much more tame curve on each side. This probably won’t make it much easier to use a screen protector with this device, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Google. Flat screen next year! Please! The Pixel 7 screen is so much better.
G2 tensor
Only time will tell
Under the hood of the Pixel 7 series is the Tensor G2 processor, which gives Google a chance to work through performance, heat and efficiency issues with the previous model. This has the potential to be by far the biggest upgrade to Google’s new phones, but only time will tell if they actually work.
Stay tuned…
“Cinematic Blur” and “Macro Focus”
Google’s new camera features have clear inspiration
Two of the main new features of the Pixel 7 series come from the camera, with “Cinematic Blur” available on both phones as a video recording feature. We got to try it out briefly, and it works reasonably well on my chosen non-human subject, a pair of Pixel Buds.
The other novelty is Macro Focus, which works brilliantly with the Pixel 7 Pro’s ultra-wide camera. The level of detail is excellent and I was amazed at how close you could get. I have a feeling this will be the main reason to get the Pixel 7 Pro over the smaller, cheaper model.
Pixel 7 Pro has up to 30x zoom
You can see much further now
We were also able to briefly try the 30x zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro and, yes, it works very well. Details stay sharp even at maximum zoom, and the stabilization announced by Google at the launch event works very well. It’s a lot like what Samsung is doing with “Space Zoom”, but much less dramatic in branding.
Unlocking by facial recognition
Bringing back the best feature of the Pixel 4
The Pixel 7 and Pro bring back face unlock, a feature missing from Pixel phones since the brief introduction in 2019’s Pixel 4 series. That’s the good news. The bad news is that, unfortunately, we couldn’t test it because Google’s hands-on opportunity was a bit limited as to what we could do. We will certainly be happy to try it in our next reviews.
The Pixel 7 has a smaller battery
Google seems to be pushing lightweight device over long battery life
Another thing that will require testing to see if this is an issue is battery life on the smaller Pixel 7, as it loses around 300mAh compared to the previous generation. Hopefully that won’t have an impact, as battery life was one of our favorite things about the little phone last year. But on the bright side, this year’s $599 model feels noticeably lighter.
Brighter screens
Ready for summer 2023
One of the things I immediately noticed picking up the Pixel 7 and the Pro was the new display. Both phones have much brighter panels and what I found to be much sharper. Sure, they’re still the same size and resolution as last year, but the bump to 1,400 nits of peak brightness should be an immediate improvement for next summer.
9to5Google’s review
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro clearly show that Google is opting for a “ticking” release cycle. As we have already said, it is certainly for the best!
Still, these are pretty minor changes overall. My hunch is, if you have a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro today, it’s Most likely not even worth considering an upgrade at this point, especially since Google’s trade-in values remain somewhat disappointing. But that could change over time. Much of what Google has changed on the Pixel 7 series will take time to decide if it actually has an impact.
Stay tuned for our full review of the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch, and let’s discuss it in the comments! What do you want to know about these devices?
Pre-orders are open now. Our Kyle Bradshaw has broken down the best deals here, including Best Buy’s $200 gift card and Google’s enhanced trade-in credits.
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