Google Pixel 7 Pro review
The Google Pixel 7 Pro offers a wide range of flagship-grade features, including some unique AI-based ones. The phone's camera capabilities are particularly impressive, with excellent daylight photos from the main sensor and great results from the ultra-wide-angle camera as well. In low-light conditions, the Pixel 7 Pro's cameras hold their own, but may not match the quality of competing flagships. The five times telephoto lens performs admirably in darkness, but the auto Night Sight feature is often necessary to achieve good results. Video recording capabilities are also strong, with excellent footage from all three cameras and a range of stabilization options. The phone's battery life and charging capabilities could be better, and those who value benchmark scores may find more powerful chipsets on other devices. However, the Pixel 7 Pro still offers a smooth stock Android experience and is well worth considering for anyone in the market for a new smartphone. At $900, the Pixel 7 Pro is priced competitively with other flagship devices. While some features, such as AI-powered capabilities, may be region-specific, the phone's overall value proposition remains strong. With its excellent camera performance, intuitive interface, and robust feature set, the Pixel 7 Pro is a solid choice for anyone seeking a top-tier Android experience. Ultimately, the Pixel 7 Pro offers a compelling package that should appeal to fans of Google's flagship series. While it may not be perfect in every regard, it's a notable improvement over its predecessor and well worth considering for those looking for a high-end Android device.
Build Quality and Design
The Google Pixel 7 Pro boasts an impressive build quality and design that is sure to turn heads. The device's exterior is crafted from high-quality materials that exude a sense of premium-ness. The stainless steel frame provides a solid foundation, while the Gorilla Glass Victus protection on both the front and back adds an extra layer of durability. The design of the Pixel 7 Pro is sleek and modern, with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. The device's dimensions are compact and manageable, making it easy to hold and use in one hand. The weight distribution is also well-balanced, ensuring that the phone feels substantial without being too heavy. One of the standout features of the Pixel 7 Pro's design is its camera module. The large, rectangular camera hump on the back provides a significant amount of space for the device's impressive camera setup. While some may find the camera bump to be slightly awkwardly positioned, it does not detract from the overall aesthetic of the phone. The color options available for the Pixel 7 Pro are also worth noting. The device is offered in several different hues, including a sleek black and a more muted green. Each color option has its own unique charm, and users can choose the one that best suits their personal style. In terms of build quality, the Pixel 7 Pro feels like a premium device from top to bottom. The buttons are well-made and have a satisfying click to them, while the display is protected by a sturdy glass cover. Overall, the Google Pixel 7 Pro's build quality and design make it a compelling choice for anyone in the market for a new smartphone.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is an impressive smartphone in many ways, but its battery life is a notable letdown. Despite being a flagship device, it fails to deliver the long-lasting power that users expect from their high-end smartphones. In my testing, I found that the Pixel 7 Pro's battery life was nothing spectacular. It managed to last around a day with moderate use, which includes some social media scrolling, email checking, and music streaming. However, if you're someone who uses your phone extensively throughout the day, you may find yourself needing to top up the battery more frequently. The charging speeds are also somewhat underwhelming. While it's true that the Pixel 7 Pro supports fast charging, I found that it didn't quite live up to its potential. It took around an hour and a half to fully charge the phone from zero to 100%, which is not exactly lightning-fast. Considering the competition in this price range, the Pixel 7 Pro's battery life feels like a missed opportunity. Other smartphones in the same category offer significantly longer battery life, making it difficult for me to recommend the Pixel 7 Pro on these grounds alone. Overall, while the Pixel 7 Pro has many strengths, its battery life is a clear weakness that may give users pause.
Display
The Google Pixel 7 Pro boasts an impressive display that elevates the overall user experience. The phone's screen measures 6.7 inches diagonally and features a crisp, vibrant OLED panel with a Quad HD+ resolution (1440 x 3120 pixels). Colors are accurately rendered, with deep blacks and rich, saturated hues that make watching videos or browsing through photos a joy. The display is also HDR10+ certified, which means it can handle high dynamic range content with ease. The Pixel 7 Pro's screen is also incredibly responsive to touch, making it feel snappy and intuitive to navigate. Whether you're scrolling through social media, playing games, or watching videos, the display responds quickly to your inputs. One of the standout features of the Pixel 7 Pro's display is its ability to accurately capture and display color nuances. The phone's screen can render a wide gamut of colors, making it ideal for creatives who want to see their work in its truest form. In terms of brightness, the Pixel 7 Pro's display is more than capable of handling itself indoors or outdoors. It gets plenty bright when needed, and the auto-brightness feature works well to adjust the screen's brightness based on ambient light conditions. Overall, the Google Pixel 7 Pro's display is a highlight of the phone, offering a premium viewing experience that's hard to beat in this price range.
Camera
The camera system on the Google Pixel 7 Pro is one of its standout features. The phone boasts a 50-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), paired with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens that offers up to 5x zoom. In daylight conditions, the primary camera delivers excellent results, with clear and detailed images featuring good contrast and vibrant colors. The dynamic range is impressive, with well-balanced shadows and highlights. Portrait mode shots are equally impressive, with nicely defined subjects and proficient separation between the subject and background. The telephoto lens performs admirably in its designated role, offering a 5x optical zoom that produces sharp and detailed images. However, it's worth noting that the zoomed-in portraits don't quite match the quality of the regular camera mode, with lower detail levels and a less impressive color palette. Low-light photography is where the Pixel 7 Pro really shines. The primary camera excels in capturing well-lit and detailed images, even in relatively dim conditions. The Nightsight feature helps to reduce noise and improve exposure, resulting in crisp and detailed shots that rival those from other flagship devices. One notable omission is the lack of a dedicated night mode for the ultra-wide-angle lens. While it can still capture good-quality images in low light, they often require some adjustments in post-processing to match the quality of the primary camera's output. The ultra-wide-angle lens itself produces sharp and detailed images with excellent color accuracy, making it an ideal choice for capturing expansive scenes or group shots. However, the lack of autofocus on this lens limits its versatility compared to other flagship devices. Overall, the camera system on the Google Pixel 7 Pro is a significant improvement over previous generations, offering exceptional image quality and a versatile feature set. While there are some minor drawbacks, such as the limited zoom capabilities of the telephoto lens and the lack of autofocus on the ultra-wide-angle lens, the primary camera delivers consistently excellent results that rival those from other top-tier devices.
Price and Value
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is a flagship device that offers a wide range of premium features, including some unique AI-based ones. With a price tag of $900, it's essential to determine whether this phone provides value for its cost. One of the standout aspects of the Pixel 7 Pro is its camera system, which delivers exceptional results across various scenarios. The phone's main camera produces high-quality photos with plenty of detail, low noise, and excellent contrast. The ultra-wide-angle camera is also impressive, capturing great-looking images with minimal distortion. While there are some limitations in certain situations, such as low light or high-end zooming, the Pixel 7 Pro's cameras are among the best on any Android device. The phone's smooth stock Android experience is another significant plus point. The user interface is clean, intuitive, and free from bloatware, making it a joy to use. The battery life, however, could be better, with moderate usage likely to see you through a day but not much beyond that. Charging speeds are also not particularly impressive. When considering the price of $900, potential buyers need to weigh their priorities. If camera quality and a smooth Android experience are top priorities, then the Pixel 7 Pro is an excellent choice. However, if battery life and charging speeds are essential for your daily needs, you might want to explore other options. Ultimately, the value proposition of the Google Pixel 7 Pro depends on individual preferences and needs. While it's not perfect in every aspect, its strengths make it a compelling option for those seeking a high-end Android device. However, with several excellent alternatives available at similar price points or even lower, the competition is fierce.
Performance
The Google Pixel 7 Pro's performance is a mixed bag, with some aspects standing out more than others. On the plus side, the device handles everyday tasks with ease, launching apps and switching between them quickly and smoothly. This is no doubt due to the improved hardware under the hood, which includes a more powerful processor and ample RAM. However, when it comes to demanding tasks or intensive usage, the Pixel 7 Pro's performance can feel somewhat constrained. Multitasking, in particular, can become sluggish if you're running too many resource-intensive apps at once. This is not uncommon among flagship devices, but it's worth noting nonetheless. In terms of benchmark scores, the Pixel 7 Pro holds its own against other top-tier smartphones. It scores well in CPU and GPU tests, although it often lags behind its competitors in overall performance. This is likely due to Google's prioritization of software features over raw processing power. One area where the Pixel 7 Pro shines is in its ability to handle demanding camera workloads. The device's cameras are incredibly adept at taking and editing photos, even when using complex features like multi-shot mode or 5x zoom. This suggests that Google has optimized the device's performance specifically for camera-related tasks. Overall, the Pixel 7 Pro's performance is solid, if not exceptional. While it handles everyday tasks with ease, it may struggle with more demanding usage scenarios. However, its strengths in areas like camera performance and software features make up for this to some extent.