Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro: Everything you need to know

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were a revelation for the Pixel line. By introducing a bold and unique design via the camera bar, Google suddenly had a handset that was clearly distinguishable from the sea of Galaxy and iPhone imitators. It was also Google’s triumphant return to the premium phone market. Mix in a healthy amount of marketing with affordable pricing, and the Pixel 6 series took off, selling more units than the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 combined.

Reinvigorated with new life, excitement for the Pixel phone line has arguably never been higher. With the Pixel 6 series riding off into the sunset, it’s time for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro to shine. In this buyer’s guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about this latest generation of Pixel phones.

When you look at the Pixel 7 series, you’ll notice it has a lot in common with the Pixel 6 series. With the Pixel 6 series, Google broke away from the familiar mold we had all gotten used to over multiple generations to create something drastically different. However, it’s not common for phone manufacturers to do major redesigns every year. It’s no surprise that the Pixel 7 series borrows much of its design cues from its predecessor.

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro still sport the camera bar the Pixel line is known for now. Additionally, the handsets have adopted the same camera setup as their predecessors.

As for durability, both devices will be protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. It will also have a dust and water protection rating of IP68. If you’re not familiar with IP ratings, we’ve explained everything you need to know right here.

Although the design is largely the same, Google did make a few minor outward-facing changes to help differentiate the Pixel 7 series from last year’s handsets.

The most obvious change to the design is the makeup of the camera bar. The camera bar on both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro used a glass casing to cover the device’s camera sensors and was outlined with metal. For the Pixel 7, the glass has been replaced by 100% recycled aluminum with a matte finish. The Pixel 7 Pro’s camera bar also has an aluminum casing, but the aluminum is polished.

Housed inside that new camera bar are dual cameras for the Pixel 7 and triple cameras for the Pixel 7 Pro. Both phones have a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide, but only the Pixel 7 Pro will have a 48MP telephoto camera. You can learn more about the camera configuration in our Pixel 7 camera overview.

Another notable change to the hardware is the Pixel 7’s screen. This year Google has made the base model’s screen slightly smaller, measuring 6.3 inches. However, with that smaller screen also comes smaller bezels. Additionally, the display is 25% brighter than the Pixel 6 series.

A surprising decision Google has made is to reduce the charging speed of the Pixel 7 series. When the Pixel 6 series debuted, Google claimed that its phones could charge up to 30W. After conducting tests, we found out it was actually closer to 22W. Google says the Pixel 7 is capable of charging at 20W and 23W for the Pixel 7 Pro.

Then there are the color schemes. Google has swapped out the old colorways with Obsidian (black) and Snow (white). The base model will also get an exclusive color Lemongrass (yellow), while the premium model gets Hazel (greenish grey). Unlike last year, these colors don’t appear to have a two-tone aesthetic.

Finally, we can’t forget about the new and improved Tensor chipset. Tensor G2 is the second generation of Google’s custom system on a chip (SoC) and it is powering the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. We don’t know that much about the actual processor, though we are doing some digging and will have a guide going into more details in the near future.

Google Pixel 7 key software upgrades

When it comes to Pixel phones, the software is one of the main sellers. So what’s different about the Pixel 7 series? Here’s everything you can expect:

• Google’s “At a glance” feature is now capable of displaying not just your flight info and gate, but also the luggage pickup belt zone.
• The assistant typing in Gboard now supports French, Spanish, and Italian.
• Google’s audio message transcription feature converts audio into text.
• “Direct My Call” will let users see the menu before the machine lists all of them.
• New machine learning upgrades allow for better background noise reduction from the caller.
• Users now have the ability to unlock their device with their face, something that we haven’t had since the Pixel 4 series.
• With special optimization from Tensor 2, users can unblur older and existing images to improve their quality.
• Night Sight is twice as fast as it was on the Pixel 6 series.
• Real Tone has been integrated with Portrait mode and Night Sight mode.
• The selfie camera has received a new accessibility feature for visually impaired people that uses audio and haptic signals to help them stay in the frame.

That’s just a short look at some of the most stand-out software changes. Of course, there are plenty of returning features too. Read more about the software in our Pixel UI guide. Additionally, Google will be giving the Pixel 7 series three years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates.

Part of what made the Pixel 6 such a great value is that Google managed to stuff many of the features from the premium model into the base model. The same is mostly true for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. However, Google did give the premium model a little more this time around. Here are the major differences between the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro:

• Dimensions: The Pixel 7 is a little smaller than the Pixel 7 Pro. The base model phone is sized at 155.64 x 73.16 x 8.7mm. In comparison, the 7 Pro is measured at 162.9 x 76.55 x 8.9mm.
• Display: The Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch display with 1080p resolution, 1,400 nits, and a 90Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is 6.7-inches with 2K resolution, 1,500 nits, and 120Hz variable refresh rate.
• Battery size: The Pixel 7 will have a slightly smaller battery than it predecessor at 4,355 mAh. While the Pixel 7 Pro will maintain its 5,000 mAh battery.
• Cameras: As mentioned earlier, the base model has a dual camera setup up while the premium model has three. The additional camera on the Pixel 7 Pro is a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom.
• RAM/storage: Both phones come with the same storage options (128/256GB), but the available RAM is different. The Pixel 7 offers 8GB and the Pixel 7 Pro comes with 12GB.
• Colors: Each model has one exclusive color scheme. Lemongrass is available for the base model and Hazel is available for the premium variant.

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are solid phones, especially at their price point. However, the Pixel 7 series aren’t the only phones out there for consumers to choose from. So how does the Pixel 7 series stack up against its competitors?

Do note that due to the base model’s low cost, it undercuts most of its competition. The Pixel 7’s starting price is closer to that of a mid-tier phone, but manages to still give users a flagship experience. Because of this advantage, you’re going to pay more for comparable phones. While we have a guide to the best phones, below are a few alternatives for the Pixel 7 series.

Pixel 7 competitors:

• iPhone 14 ($799) — The latest iteration of the iPhone is essentially a carbon copy of the iPhone 13. Not only does it feature the same design, but it also has the same CPU as last year. The Pixel 7 has Google’s second-generation Tensor G2 chip. However, Apple has given the iPhone 14 a few upgrades like new camera sensors, crash detection, and more.
• Samsung Galaxy S22 ($799) — The Pixel 7 still lacks a telephoto lens, but the Galaxy S22 has one. The Galaxy S22 also has a longer update promise with a commitment of four versions of Android from Samsung compared to Google’s promise of three Android updates. The Galaxy S22 and Pixel 7 essentially offer a similar package, but the Pixel benefits from being $200 cheaper.
• OnePlus 10T ($649) — OnePlus’ T line tends to teeter between being an affordable alternative to its flagship or being an improvement. This year’s device is an affordable variant. Although it’s a mid-range phone, the OnePlus 10T is a capable device that actually has a better processor than the OnePlus 10 Pro. However, a better processor doesn’t defeat the middling features that make up the whole.

Pixel 7 Pro competitors:

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra ($1,199) — The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was one of the best phones of 2022. If you’re looking for a premium phone, the S22 Ultra delivers a top-tier camera system, specs, and hardware. Its one drawback is that it’s really expensive, compared to the Pixel 7 Pro’s $899 price tag.
• iPhone 14 Pro ($999) — The iPhone 14 Pro is a clear step up from its vanilla version with Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip, improved adaptive-refresh-rate screen, and Dynamic Island. Apple has even given the iPhone 14 Pro pixel binning for photography, bringing it closer to its Android competitors.
• OnePlus 10 Pro ($899) — One premium device giving the Pixel 7 Pro a run for its money is the OnePlus 10 Pro. The company’s latest flagship is the best OnePlus handset that you can currently get your hands on. It offers the same size display and battery capacity as the Pixel 7 Pro, but has a charging speed of 65W. A Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip also powered it.

Price and availability

Pixel 7: $599 / €649
Pixel 7 Pro: $899 / €899

The Pixel 6 series were great phones, but unfortunately, not everyone could get their hands on it. Thankfully, it’s a different story for the Pixel 7 series. Google is making the handsets available for purchase in 17 countries: US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Interestingly enough, this is the first time a Google flagship has been officially available for purchase in India since the Pixel 3.

Anyone looking to get their hands on these new smartphones can start preordering today. But the phones won’t be on store shelves until October 13. It’s also worth noting that select countries in Europe may also be offering special pre-order deals that include the Buds Pro free with the Pixel 7, or even a free Pixel Watch with the Pixel 7 Pro. In India you’ll also find some pre-order deals, such as Pixel Buds A series for just Rs. 5.999 with a Pixel 7, or a Fitbit Inspire 2 band for Rs. 4,999 with the Pro.