Google Pixel 7: After the Hype, Is it Really That Good?
Google Pixel 7 is a much-hyped Android smartphone of this year. It is my first Google-made daily driver that I have been using for a few weeks now. The smartphone has developed a reputation for being a device with an exceptional camera, screen, and user experience.
So, here is my thorough review of the Google Pixel 7, covering everything positive and negative about the mighty phone.
Summary
Pros
- Great price
- Beautiful design and construction
- Fantastic camera
- Big, bright, and colorful AMOLED display
- 4K 60FP video recording
Cons
- Okish battery performance
- No option to customize the Nav-bar
- Very limited regional availability
Price
Pixel 7 starts at 599$. Yes, you read it right. The fantastic phone lies in a mid-range price bracket, making it even more interesting. Google is bending the rules and fitting many premium features at an unbelievable price.
Unboxing
Nothing special in terms of unboxing. It comes in a slim, sleek box and does not have a charger and headphones like other smartphones nowadays. Overall, the unboxing experience is good, almost identical to every smartphone we have tested for a year.
In the box, we have the Google Pixel 7, SIM ejection tool, quick switch adapter, guide, and a USB-C charging cable.
Appearance and Build Quality
Google has gone with a similar design to the Google Pixel 6. It has an identical camera bar on the back, but the mobile phone has a complimenting bar for all three colors instead of black. We have a 6.3-inch display on the front with a hole punch camera.
The rest of the phone is pretty generic, volume rocker and power button on the right, sim tray on the left, and Type-C port and speakers on the bottom of the phone. Overall, I really like the size in my hand; it looks and feels premium.
Technical Specifications
- Body: Aluminum Frame, Gorilla Glass Victus Front and back.
- Weight: 197 grams
- Processor: Google Tensor G2 Octa-core processor with Mali G710 MP7 GPU
- OS: Android 13
- Screen: 6.3-inches AMOLED screen with 1400nits peak brightness and 90Hz refresh rate.
- Memory: 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB
- Rear Cameras: 50MP wide with OIS and f/1.9 aperture, 12MP ultra-wide camera with 114° field of view
- Front Camera: 10.8MP ultra-wide camera f/2.2aperture
- Battery: 4355mAh battery with 20W wired and wireless charging
- Sensors: Under Screen Fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, and barometer
- Water Resistant: IP68 dust and water resistant
Performance and User Experience
Despite being a mid-range smartphone, Google Pixel 7 delivers almost equal performance to any other flagship in the market. The mobile is using Google’s propriety Tensor chipset. The 2nd generation has an 8-core processor with a solid Mali-G710 MP7 GPU. In addition to an excellent processor, we have 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB ROM.
I have been using the cell phone for a few weeks and never felt any performance issue. The smoothness is on par; there are no crashes, stuttering, or lagging. Moreover, the gaming experience is exceptional. I have tried all the high-end games, including COD mobile and Asphalt.
Moreover, the NFC module is more potent than other smartphones, and Wi-Fi has an outstanding and consistent performance. It also has dual sim standby (1 physical and an eSim). Another great thing about the Pixel 7 is some cool tweaks like a configurable double tap on the back, gesture controls, battery usage section, and improved security.
Camera
Google Pixel 7 is an excellent example of how smaller and older image sensors can produce excellent pictures with the proper software optimization. The image sensor is smaller than the Mi 11 Ultra, but the picture quality is significantly better in every aspect. Pixel 7 has a 50MP primary camera accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide camera with 114 FOV. The remarkable sensor is made by Samsung, which almost outperforms every Samsung device in the market, all thanks to Google’s post-image processing.
I seldom have to retake a picture. Optical Image stabilization is exceptional even at eight times zoom. It is crazy to see how mediocre hardware outperforms every single flagship in the market.
The night sight is better than ever. Google was the first to launch night mode in smartphones, and since then, they have been the leader in this category.
In terms of videos, Google Pixel 7 can shoot up to 4K 60FPS and 1080p 240FPS. The quality is exceptional, like the pictures. OIS also works exceptionally well in delivering a smooth video.
The 10.8MP front camera is also good. The pictures are as good as the rear camera and can also record at 4K 60FPS.
Display
Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with 1080×2400 resolution. The bright display has a 1400nits peak brightness with a 90HZ refresh rate. It also supports HDR 10+. Irrespective of the numbers and features, it is an excellent display performance-wise. The scrolling feels snappy, and the gaming experience is fantastic.
Moreover, HDR10+ and high-brightness colors look great, and outdoor visibility is also pretty good.
Battery
Battery performance is not among the key strengths of the Pixel 7. It has a 4355mAh battery with only 20W charging at times when other manufacturers are implementing 120W fast charging. Moreover, finding the correct charger is also tricky as most chargers are QUALCOMM compatible.
In addition to slow charging, the actual battery performance is also satisfactory. It lasts more than Mi 12 Pro but less than 12T Pro. It can last through the day, but two days is challenging. A great thing about the battery is the standby time. In airplane mode, it also consumes 1% to 2% per night, while another phone I have tested in the year usually burns 8% to 10% per night, which is positive about the smartphone.
Drawbacks
- Navigation bar is not customizable
- Limited regional availability
- No Pro mode in the camera
- Lack of 24FPS recording
Verdict
If you prioritize security, frequent updates, super-smooth software, experience, a superb camera, and future-proof configuration, then Google Pixel 7 is the right mobile phone. But for users looking for bleeding edge technology, Pixel 7 ain’t have that.
It is an excellent future-proof smartphone with a super smooth display and OS accompanied by the best-in-class camera.
