About a year after the Pixel 6 series, Google now sends its successors into the race for the Android smartphone crown. The company wants to score with a new processor and improvements in the camera, but it is once again evident that it is mainly the software features that make the Pixel special. Our Google Pixel 7 Pro review explains what you can expect.
Technical data
| Processor | Google Tensor G2 |
| CPU |
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| Operating System | Android 13 |
| Display |
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| Camera |
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| Memory | 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM; 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.1 flash memory |
| Network | SIM card slot (nano-SIM) and 5G |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2 Gen. 2, GPS, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dimensions and Weight | 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (H x W x D); Weight: 212g |
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh with a maximum of 23 watts of charging power (wireless up to 20 watts) |
| Colors | Hazel, Snow, Obsidian |
| Prices (MSRP) | € 759.55 * |
Google Pixel 7 Pro review: scope of delivery and price-performance ratio
The launch of the new Google Pixel 7 Pro immediately caused a sensation from many aspects. Not only is Google one of the few manufacturers where the prices for the new smartphones have not increased – they keep the price of 899 euros from last year.
Google also releases the new models with a pre-order campaign that is unparalleled. Those who bought the Pixel 7 Pro got the brand-new Google Pixel Watch worth more than 400 Euros for the release.
The price for Google’s flagship is already very attractive and significantly lower than that of the high-end competition, and the free addition lowers it even more. We will find out how attractive the smartphone’s overall package is in the course of the test.
In the case of the Google Pixel 7 Pro, however, we hardly need to say anything about the scope of delivery. Besides the smartphone itself, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, instructions and a SIM card tool are included. There is no power adapter or other accessories.
Design and workmanship
- High-quality and unique design
- Controls very easy to reach
- New camera strip made of polished aluminum
Not too much has changed in the design of the Google Pixel 7 Pro compared to its predecessor (our review). The dimensions of 163 mm in height and 76 mm in width are exactly the same as last year.
The 6.7-inch display, the USB-C port on the bottom, and the buttons exclusively located on the right side in the form of the power button and the volume up and down button are largely the same as the Pixel 6 Pro. However, the controls have moved a bit further down this year, which makes it much easier to use.
However, there are differences in the color schemes and the camera hump on the back. The latter is now placed in an aluminum strip that stretches across the entire width of the smartphone. It protrudes slightly less high from the case.
On the other hand, the color division of the predecessor, which had a different color above the camera strip than the rest of the back – in all variants – has been dropped. The Google Pixel 7 Pro presents the back in a uniform color.
Workmanship of the Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Very high-quality workmanship
- Comparatively less susceptible to fingerprints
- Aluminum camera frame quite scratch-prone
Just as convincing as last year, the build quality of the Google Pixel 7 Pro presents itself. The smartphone feels very high-quality and looks like it was cast from one piece. The coating on the back is made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and is supposed to be particularly resistant to fingerprints.
I can confirm that, at least for the greenish model in the “Hazel” color scheme. The black model, on the other hand, is supposed to be much more susceptible. The control elements convince with a pleasant feel.
However, the camera strip and its frame made of polished aluminum are much more susceptible. According to various tests, the first scratches appear after just one week. However, everything is still fine for me after one week.
In return, the camera bar serves another purpose and allows the smartphone to be placed on the table without shaking. There is also an IP68 certification as protection against water and dust, as well as a really convincing and once again improved vibration motor.
All in all, the build quality is on a very high level. However, a cover for protection should be mandatory.
The display of the Pixel 7 Pro
- Bright, high-contrast and high-resolution 120 Hz display
- Perceptibly improved brightness up to 1,500 cd/m²
Not much has changed in the Google Pixel 7 Pro’s display compared to its predecessor, either – at least at first glance. We get to deal with a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with QHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3,120 pixels.
The LTPO panel offers an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, which is dynamically reduced depending on the displayed content to save battery power. Colors and contrasts are convincing, as is typical for OLEDs.
However, the screen also offers two improvements: Unlike the normal Pixel 7, Google uses rounded corners in the Pro model. Compared with the predecessor, however, these are noticeably more discreet, and less likely to lead to accidental inputs (for example, swiping from the left edge to the right to navigate back).
The second and most important innovation addresses one of the biggest criticisms of the predecessor: the brightness. Especially in outdoor use under direct sunlight, the Pixel 6 Pro was somewhat difficult to read.
Google now increases the brightness considerably. Up to 1,000 cd/m² for HDR content and 1,500 cd/m² at peak are now possible. That corresponds to an improvement of 25% and proves to be extremely useful in practice. However, a Galaxy S22 Ultra or iPhone 14 Pro (our review) becomes noticeably brighter again.
Is the Google Pixel 7 Pro fingerprint sensor better now?
- Noticeably improved fingerprint sensor
- Face Unlock possible; however, not as biometric unlock
The in-display fingerprint sensor of the predecessor was the second big point of criticism, although Google had improved it significantly over time. This point is largely eradicated with the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
Especially the recognition of my fingers now works impeccably and reliably at all times. It is still not one of the fastest on the market and the area for the support is also quite small, but the reliability does not make any mistakes.
Another new feature on the 7 Series is unlocking using the front camera. Face recognition also works very quickly and reliably. When the smartphone tries to recognize your face, a white circle is displayed around the front camera.
However, the unlocking is not as secure as, for example, a Face ID from Apple and thus cannot be used for biometric unlocking. Thus, unlocking payments in banking apps or similar is not possible with it, but the Face Unlock feature is perfectly suitable for quickly unlocking the smartphone – at least in good lighting conditions.
Software: The best Android is only available in the Pixel
- Android 13 out of the box
- No bloatware; exciting Pixel feature drops
- 5 years of security, 4 years of Android updates
Before we get to the hardware of the Google Pixel 7 Pro, which even in the second generation of the in-house Tensor chip cannot keep up with high-end SoCs like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or Apple A16, however, we should talk about the software.
Google itself knows that it does not deliver the best gaming performance here and therefore focuses on the software including some features that are only available in Pixel smartphones and especially only in the Pixel 7 series.
The new generation already comes with Android 13 from the factory – which only offers a few real innovations compared to the big redesign with version 12. In any case, stock Android without frippery, bloatware and any bloated designs offers an experience that is unparalleled in my eyes.
In addition, there are five years of security and four years of Android updates, which speaks for longevity. Not to mention the Google Pixel feature drops, with which the manufacturer gradually equips its devices with new, exclusive features – not available from any other manufacturer in this form.
But what really sets the Pixel 7 Pro apart and sets it apart from all the other smartphones on the market are the Pixel-exclusive features. Here, they have actually put some thought into it and cover areas that have been neglected in smartphones for years.
For the new smart in the phone
- Many unique features that are only available on Pixel devices
- Clear Calling noise cancellation works great
- Automatic song recognition and translation
Did you know that you can use a smartphone to make phone calls? Incredible, but true. When was the last time a manufacturer actually paid attention to telephony features?
Google certainly does. And thus, in conjunction with the other Pixel-exclusive features, actually manages to reinvent “smart” in smartphones. I, at least, find myself sorely missing these features on other smartphones once I’ve experienced them.
The first feature is the so-called call screening, which I really appreciate as someone who doesn’t like to make phone calls. If an unknown number calls you, you can use Google Assistant to interact – without even answering the phone – with the caller.
“Hold form me”, on the other hand, has not yet been launched in Germany, but in conjunction with Google Assistant it offers the option of receiving a transcript of the announcements for calls in the queue and immediately seeing if someone on the other side has answered the call.
Simply ingenious and also available in this country is the new “Clear Calling” feature, which is currently exclusive to the Pixel 7 series. Here, the smartphones use the AI functions of the new chip to enable a reduction of background noise.
The result is simply stunning. If you are in a noisy environment – such as a train station or with children playing in the background, the Pixel 7 Pro factors out these noises, allowing for clear communication. I have not seen this in any other smartphone.
Relatively practical, but not yet widely available, is the option to automatically convert voice messages into text. Unfortunately, this only works in the Google Messages app so far. Hopefully, the feature will soon come to WhatsApp as well.
There are also other handy features like the ability to quickly copy or share a URL or text in the overview of open apps, automatic song detection that reliably auto-detects music in the background except for brand new songs or a few exceptions and displays the artist and title on the lock screen, and more.
You can have subtitles automatically displayed in videos and even translated, or add an additional feature to the back of the smartphone by “quick tapping”, which can be used to take screenshots or open apps, for example.
With Google Lens, it is now even possible to translate texts live with the camera open and without having to take a photo at all. It is these and many other practical features that make the Google Pixel 7 Pro so special. On top of that, there are smart camera features, which I’ll get to later.
Hardware and performance
One of the most important innovations of the Google Pixel 7 Pro is in the chip. Here, we once again rely on the specially developed Tensor chipset in the second generation (Tensor G2). Unlike other manufacturers, Google does not reveal any details about the clock rates of the eight CPU cores, which are supported by 12 GB of working memory in the Pro model.
However, the readout from benchmarks reveals that the performance and clock rates have marginally increased compared to the first Tensor generation in the Pixel 6 series. Once again, the manufacturer relies on three different Arm Cortex processing cores, which do not necessarily stand out for their particularly high performance, but mainly for their machine learning capabilities and improved efficiency.
| Pixel 7 Pro (Tensor G2) | Pixel 6 Pro (Tensor G1) | |
| CPU | 2x Arm Cortex-X1 (2.85GHz) 2x Arm Cortex-A78 (2.35GHz) 4x Arm Cortex-A55 (1.80GHz) |
2x Arm Cortex-X1 (2.80GHz) 2x Arm Cortex-A76 (2.25GHz) 4x Arm Cortex-A55 (1.80GHz) |
| GPU | Arm Mali-G710 MP7 | Arm Mali-G78 MP20 |
So, if you are looking for a really blazing fast gaming flagship smartphone, the new Pixel is probably once again not necessarily the right address. However, the current model masters everyday tasks like switching between apps quickly, multi-tasking or video and image processing noticeably faster than last year.
Our benchmark tests also show that the Tensor G2 strongly approaches the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in terms of performance. However, a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ offers significantly higher clock rates and the Apple A16 Bionic processor is once again significantly better in the simulated tests.
However, the Pixel 7 Pro is also very well positioned for demanding mobile games like Apex Legends Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile. The games run wonderfully smoothly, although not in maximum graphics details.
| Benchmark | Pixel 7 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 11,752 pts | N/A |
| GeekBench 5 (Single Core) | 1,045 pts | 1,873 pts. |
| GeekBench 5 (Multi Core) | 3,105 pts. | 5,517 pts. |
| 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited | 6,537 pts; 39.10 FPS | N/A |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | 1,835 pts; 11.00 FPS | 3,378 pts; 20.2 FPS |
However, the real strength of the Tensor G2 lies primarily in its efficiency, AI and ML capabilities, and interaction with the pure Android experience. Especially those who like to take a lot of pictures or record videos will feel the improved performance compared to the predecessor.
Minimally improved battery life in the Pixel 7 Pro
- Minimally better battery life compared to the predecessor
- Relatively slow charging speed (23 watts)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging possible
The fact that the Tensor G2 is actually much more efficient to the action can be seen in the battery life of the Google Pixel 7 Pro. Here, the predecessor was merely average despite a capacity of 5,003 mAh, although the runtime has improved noticeably since the release.
The battery of the Pixel 7 Pro is even (quite) minimally smaller with 5,000 mAh. However, the runtime has improved, albeit depending on the scenario and only minimally. However, Google uses a trick here because the smartphone only has a FHD+ resolution ex-factory and does not use the full resolution – that obviously saves energy, especially since the difference is hardly noticeable in everyday use anyway.
Compared with the predecessor, the battery life increased minimally in my test. At around seven hours of display use in the battery test, 12 percent was still recorded at the end of the day. The Pixel 6 Pro was already at the end here.
Thus, this is a significant increase that allows you to get through long days without problems. On a lazy Sunday with about four hours of display use, 55% of the battery was still available at 10:00 p.m..
Nevertheless, current flagship smartphones with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or an iPhone 14 Pro last considerably longer. Unfortunately, there are no innovations in terms of charging speed.
Although Google offers a suitable 30-watt power adapter, charging is – just like last year – not at full speed, but only at 23 watts. That is still faster than Apple’s, but from today’s point of view it could be improved significantly.
The first 50 percent are charged within 30 minutes, but a full charge takes around 71 minutes. Wirelessly, the Pixel 7 Pro charges with a maximum of 20 watts and reverse wireless charging is also supported.
Google Pixel 7 Pro cameras: Clear buying argument
The cameras of the Pixel smartphones have always been considered a selling point of Google devices. Even the Pixel 6 Pro still easily keeps up with the best camera smartphones today, which the manufacturer achieves through convincing hardware and excellent software.
This is not different for the new Google Pixel 7 Pro, whose camera setup has improved only minimally this year, but in the right places – and sometimes significantly. Not much has changed on the hardware side, but the software and the new Tensor G2 make the camera setup of Google’s new flagship one of the best on the market.
The most important new features this year: The ultra-wide-angle camera has autofocus and offers a larger field of view (125.8 degrees compared to 114 degrees on the 6 Pro). The 48MP telephoto camera now has five times optical zoom, as well as up to 30 times SuperRes zoom (digital).
Another new feature is finally a macro mode, which I sorely missed in the predecessor. Like the zoom camera, it’s exclusive to the Pro model and offers a closest focusing distance of just 3 centimeters.
Without going into too much detail right now: I personally like the photos of all sensors from the Pixel 7 Pro outstanding and better than with all smartphones I could test so far. They all score with an enormously high level of detail and a dynamic range that no other manufacturer can match.
With clear details in dark areas and rich colors, this does not necessarily make for the most realistic picture – but it is one of the most beautiful and most attractive. The cameras are not without fault, though:
The iPhone 14 Pro is slightly sharper in macro mode, and the Vivo X80 Pro delivers even clearer details. But the Pixel 7 Pro is a real all-rounder and convinces across the board with excellent, sharp and detailed pictures.
Unedited test photos of the Pixel 7 Pro.
What I also really like is that the Pixel 7 Pro doesn’t do as much extreme sharpening on the software side as the iPhone 14 Pro (which makes for an unrealistic and even unattractive look at times), and it depicts significantly more detail in the shadows.
Unedited macro shots of the Pixel 7 Pro.
Impressive camera software features
- Unique features such as magic eraser and sharpener
- Motion modes for long exposure and action photos
- Astonishingly good and detailed super resolution zoom
For the camera setup, however, Google still has some, partly exclusive, features up its sleeve. On the one hand, the Tensor G2 now optimizes the pictures a notch better, but even much faster than the predecessor.
Night shots are now much faster with a maximum exposure time of three seconds. And the result is the same or even better in some cases. Google has once again optimized the “Real Tone” display of skin tones, which now delivers even more accurate results, especially for people of color.
Further improved and Pixel-exclusive is the “Magic Eraser”, with which you can easily (manually or automatically) cut out people or objects from images afterwards. In most cases, the results are much more attractive than last year.
New on the other hand, and currently only available in Pixel 7 models, is the “Sharpener”. With it, you can even sharpen 10-15 year old and blurry photos, if uploaded to Google Photos, thanks to machine learning. The results are impressive in places, but you should not expect a real miracle.
Furthermore, there are the “motion” photo modes that allow for long exposure or action photos. This can be used, for example, to silkily blur streams and rivers or keep fast-moving objects in focus while blurring the background. Both are done via AI and ML calculation, but the results are absolutely impressive.
Last, but not least: the highly advertised Super Resolution Zoom, which now allows up to 30x magnification on the Pixel 7 Pro. It is particularly convenient that the focus area is displayed enlarged in the camera app.
Up to a tenfold magnification, the zoom photos can indeed convince with a high sharpness and many details. Beyond that, however, the level of detail decreases noticeably. Photos with a 30x digital zoom are okay in good lighting conditions, but they cannot hold a candle to a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Video recordings
A few quick words about the video options in the Google Pixel 7 Pro. Videos are now possible on all camera with a 4K UHD resolution at 60 frames per second. And that finally also in 10-bit color including HDR.
There’s also new video stabilization that actually provides blur-free shots and a new Cinema mode that uses AI to create bokeh. This also works quite well, but an iPhone 14 Pro still delivers the better results here – as well as in the entire video area.
Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Conclusion
I was already impressed by the predecessor in all aspects. However, a very clear picture emerges in the Google Pixel 7 Pro test. The manufacturer was able to improve all points of criticism, sometimes more, sometimes less, and expand the already high feature set with clever innovations.
And all that without having to increase the price. For 899 Euros you get a total package that is quite something. You get one of the best camera setups among all smartphones, an improved and very good battery life, pure Android and a performance that is more than sufficient for all needs.
However, Google deserves great praise in my eyes because they integrated many features that are not available in any other smartphone and that you will definitely not want to miss once you have experienced them.
The Pixel 7 Pro might not be the best flagship smartphone par excellence in the different subareas, but the overall package and price-performance ratio can completely convince. Only the slow charging speed and the susceptible aluminum frame can be improved.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Workmanship
Hardware
Multimedia
Performance
Battery
Value for money
93/100
With the 7 Pro, Google improves all details of the predecessor and delivers excellent cameras, a good battery life, and clever software features at a very attractive price.
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