Last year’s Google Pixel 6 was a first of its kind, debuting as Google’s first ‘all Google’ device, with impressive AI learning capabilities, an all-new tensor chip and a refreshed design to mark the start of a new era. The Google Pixel 6 was built completely differently to learn and adapt to its users in so many ways. So, it’s safe to say the Google Pixel 6 set the bar tremendously high upon its release, which raises the question: did Google do enough this year to top their award-winning behemoth of 2021’s flagship?
Design
The Google Pixel 7 was released in early October this year, and it’s certainly safe to say that it has exceeded the high standards its younger brother set last year. Google’s first Android 13 device builds on the new design of the Google Pixel 6 to bring forward a few appreciated tweaks on the already brilliant design. Last year’s Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro both had a black camera housing which extended across the width of the handset to create a ‘letterbox-strip’ effect. Contrastingly, the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro adopted a hole-punch camera layout as opposed to the seamless black strip. By doing this, Google has made the camera setup a lot more prominent on the Google Pixel 7 range, and the design aspects are more in line with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S22. Moreover, the camera cutouts on the Google Pixel 7 range are oval, which fits well with the UI design elements considering the Pixel UI is shaped around a seamless user experience through rounded icons and widgets. Nevertheless, whilst the design may still be near identical to the Google Pixel 6 at a glance, the handset’s appearance, particularly with the new metallic camera bar, is definitely going to turn heads.
Specs
Google’s Tensor chip took the world by storm with its Tensor chip. The AI learning, excellent power efficiency and speed performance were features that blew the rest of the competition couldn’t quite seem to match. This year Google’s brain for their powerhouse is their all-new Google Tensor G2. The G2 is based on the same 5nm chip design as its predecessor and houses an octa-core processor, which, again, matches up with last year’s Pixel 6 range. Whilst on paper, there aren’t any real differences between the two, real-life usage paints a whole different picture. Firstly, the Google Tensor G2’s graphics processor has received a substantial speed boost for smoother gaming and video editing on the device, which is always a bonus for the PUBG mobile try-hards in the market for a new android. Furthermore, battery efficiency has seen an 11% increase on the Google Pixel 7 thanks to the Tensor G2.
Camera
The Google Pixel 7 houses a dual camera layout consisting of a 50MP wide-angle lens and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Contrastingly, the Google Pixel 7 features an additional 48MP secondary telephoto lens on top of the 50MP and 12MP setup; however, this was expected considering the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro both took an identical approach. Of course, both cameras support 4K video, with the rear cameras being capable of outputting 4K at 240FPS while the front 10.8MP sensors are capped at 60FPS. As for the performance of the camera setup on the Google Pixel 7 range – it’s nothing short of excellence. The lenses give a perfect balance of punchy photography without images feeling unnaturally vivid and saturated. Video on the Pixel 7 follows the same path with impressive stabilisation in tandem with an abundance of photo and video modes to choose from powered by that Tensor G2 powerhouse.
Battery
The Google Pixel 7 comes with a 4355mAh battery supporting 20W fast charging and 20W wireless charging with the inclusion of reverse wireless charging between two devices. Compared to last year’s Google Pixel 6, this is, in fact, a downgrade ever so slightly both in charging speed and capacity; however, as we’ve always said, specs are only one side of the story – with the Google Pixel 7 still managing to have a longer battery life than its sibling. Moreover, the Google Pixel 7 Pro houses a 5000mAh battery with 23W charging as opposed to the 20W charging speeds on the base model Pixel 7.
The Google Pixel 7 range is certainly a step up from 2021’s Google Pixel 6 range, and what a difficult step that was to climb. The Google Pixel 7 range has managed to build on the Google Pixel 6 in areas many didn’t even realise could be improved, which, after all this innovation, does leave us questioning what Google has in store for us next year. Let us know your thoughts on this article in the discussion section below.
