Google Pixel 7

Google Pixel 7 Review

The Google Pixel 7, launched on October 13, 2022, is a mid-priced smartphone aiming to deliver a premium experience through Google's software and hardware integration.

Design

The Pixel 7 features a refined design with a height of 155.6 mm, width of 73.2 mm, and a depth of 8.7 mm. It weighs 197 grams. The phone incorporates a distinctive camera bar across the rear panel. Color options include Obsidian, Snow, and Lemongrass. The build quality feels solid, and the phone has a premium in-hand feel.

Display

The device is equipped with a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 416 ppi. The screen has a 90Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 1400 nits, with 1000 nits in HBM. The display offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a fluid visual experience, complemented by a 20:9 aspect ratio, and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Features include a hole-punch notch for the selfie camera, always-on display, DCI-P3 color gamut support, and scratch resistance. The touch screen is capacitive and supports multi-touch.

Performance

The Pixel 7 is powered by the Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) chipset, an octa-core CPU consisting of two 2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 cores, two 2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 cores, and four 1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Mali-G710 MP7 GPU handles graphics. The device is paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Storage options are 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, but there is no microSD card slot for expansion. The AnTuTu benchmark v10 scores suggest a performance of 827,033. The phone features a cooling system to help maintain performance during intensive tasks.

Camera

The Pixel 7's camera system includes a 50MP main camera using a Samsung GN1 ISOCELL sensor with a 1/1.31" sensor size, 1.20µm pixels, and an f/1.85 aperture. It utilizes 2x2 pixel binning. The ultrawide camera is a 12MP Sony IMX381 Exmor RS with a 1/2.3" sensor, 1.55µm pixels and an f/2.2 aperture. The front-facing selfie camera is a 10.8MP Samsung S5K3J1 ISOCELL sensor with a 1/2.65" sensor size, 1.22µm pixels, and an f/2.2 aperture. Rear camera video capabilities include 4K recording at 30fps and 60fps, along with 1080p options at various frame rates up to 240fps, all with HDR, OIS, and EIS. The camera app offers a variety of features, including digital zoom, optical image stabilization, autofocus (PDAF and LAF), manual focus options, and various modes such as panorama, HDR, and night mode. The device also provides dual-LED flash and supports 8x digital zoom and 114° field of view. DxOMark scores indicate strong performance, with a Mobile main score of 140 and Selfie main score of 138.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7 is equipped with a 4355 mAh Li-Polymer battery, supporting 20W fast charging, 23W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The device lacks a charger in the box.

Software

The Pixel 7 ships with Android 13 and is eligible for an upgrade to Android 14. The phone includes Google's own software optimizations and features, with regular updates directly from Google.

Pricing

The Google Pixel 7 is positioned in the medium price range. Prices for the 8GB/256GB version vary by retailer, with example prices ranging from $245.50 to $324.00.

Connectivity

The phone offers robust connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2 with LE, and NFC. It supports GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, and Galileo. The device is Dual SIM capable, supporting a Nano SIM and eSIM. The USB Type-C 3.2 port provides charging, mass storage, OTG, and host functionality. The network bands supported are comprehensive, including various 5G, 4G LTE, 3G and 2G options.

Overall Verdict

The Google Pixel 7 presents a well-rounded smartphone experience, combining a strong display, Google's Tensor G2 processor, a versatile camera system, and the latest Android software. While it may not boast the highest specifications in all areas, its focus on user experience and software integration positions it as a compelling option in its price range. Its shortcomings include the lack of a charger in the box and no expandable storage.