Google Pixel 7, analysis – review with opinion and features

We tested the cheapest of the new Pixels: an in-depth analysis of the Google plus Pixel 7.

October is the month of pixels. As every year since 2016, Google plus presented a new generation of its family of flagship teléfonos inteligentes, which for the second year in a row consists of a “habitual” model and a “Pro” version, the latter more expensive and higher quality.

But unlike what Apple did with its iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, Google plus didn’t make much of a difference between his two teléfonos inteligentes and despite his existence 150 euros plus charge in favor of the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 7 retains most of its older brother’s qualities.

It does exactly that The Pixel 7 is such an attractive model. And that’s it costs less than 650 eurosBut it offers the experience of a model hundreds of dollars more expensive in features like programa, camera or build quality.

Google plus Pixel 7

The Pixel 6 led the way, and this new generation has come to further perfect the elabora and establish itself as the the reference Android móvil in segment under 650 Euro.

Google plus Pixel 7, review and score

Google plus Pixel 7 price and where to buy

This time there are: the Google plus Pixel 7 perro be bought in Spain from the day of his release, the October 13th.

It cánido be grabbed by the Official Google plus en línea shop and on Amazon. For The price starts at 649 euros for the version with 128 GB memory.

Google plus Pixel 7

When buying yes three different color variants Choose: white, black and light green.

Technical data sheet

Where is the Google plus Pixel 7?

The Google plus Pixel 7 the cheapest model of the family (excluding the Pixel 6a, which belongs to the previous generation). Because of its properties, it also comes into question one of the cheapest high-end phones that is on the market today.

Between main differences on the Pixel 7 Pro we see a different screen, which relies on strict OLED technology and is several levels below the “Pro” in terms of quality. In addition, it cánido only update at a maximum of 90 Hertz, has a lower resolution and does not use Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO), so it cannot Dynamically change the refresh rate to save energy.

Likewise y también.g The camera system lacks the telephoto lens that it’s present in the Pixel 7 Pro and not only is the battery smaller than that of the 7 Pro, but so is it slightly lower capacity to the predecessor Pixel 6, probably because of its smaller screen size.

This along with the fact that 4 GB less memoryIs the the main differences between the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro. Enough to justify the plus £150 the Pixel 7 Pro costs? Everything depends on the needs of each usuario, but in my opinion The vast majority of people will enjoy the Pixel 7 without the features that make a “pro” a “pro”.

The Pixel 7 is arguably the best Pixel for most users / Image: Christian Collado

What about the rest of the candidates? Since it is in the segment of High end cheaper As a result, the Pixel 7 has a large number of direct competitors that will not have an easy time attracting the public.

Xiaomi 12T

Among them, we must draw attention to models like that Xiaomi 12Ta newly launched model that stands out from its own 120 hertz displayhis 108 megapixel main camera or its battery capacity of 5000 miliamperio-hora and support for 120W load. By the way, its price is 50 euros cheaper Up to the Pixel 7.

iPhone 14

He is iPhone 14 It’s another model that could fully entrar the fight for the crown High end is affordable better…unless Apple went completely new. The “cheapest” model of the iPhone 14 series It costs no less than 989 euros340 euros more than the Pixel 7. A huge price difference that corresponds to the benefit Powerful and efficient processor and better screen quality.

Motorola Edge 30 Fusión

Returning to the Android universe, we find other models that directly compete with the Pixel 7, including the Motorola Edge 30 Fusión, one of the big surprises of this year 2022; or the latest models in the family Realme GT, mainly the GT 2 Pro with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.

Field GT 2 Pro

In short, the Pixel 7 is the Pixel for those who want to enjoy the latest, but don’t want to spend almost £900 on a “Pro”. A great device that is worth a lot more than it costs and joins our most recommended mobile phones.

design

I am fully aware of this are the design features of the Pixel 6 series They are among the most polarizing to hit the phone market in recent years. But personal I consider myself a seguidor Most of the decisions Google plus made when designing its hardware on an aesthetic level and I think the company managed to meet the difficult challenge build a coherent visual language across the entire product portfolio and was achieved at the same time develop recognizable designs and original.

With the Pixel 7, the company has delivered different suéters in terms of design, with the Pixel 6.

He is build quality one of the most impressive since it is enough to hold the device in your hand to know that it is a much more sophisticated productwith major improvements in the use of materials and the fusing of those materials throughout the cartridge.

Thanks to the materials, the curves and the smaller size than the previous model, the Pixel 7 feels good in the hand / Photo: Christian Collado

His appearance has also changed slightly, always retained Trademark which Google plus has already standardized in its móvil catalogue. And yes, it means that the “Camera Bar” is again the main character.

This year however the viewfinder creates a single camera image next to the metal bezel that surrounds the phone and acts as a backlink between the front and rear glass panels. Because it’s about the pixels 7aluminum is treated with zirconium oxide to give it a soft matte finish, unlike the 7 Pro with its glossy finish that tries to simulate a jewel.

The truth is that the matte finish it gives the device a more modern look, more in line with Google plus’s aesthetic lines and style in my opinion Use different materials to create contrasts between the different elements that make up your body.

As a matter of fact It covers most of the camera viewfinder There are advantages to using metal instead of glass, as has been the practice in the past. The resistance It is one of the most important since it is not so easy to damage the glass that covers the lenses. Secondly, the large strip of glass There was quite a bit of that in the Pixel 6 window to reflection, which in some cases cánido affect the result of a photo.

The “camera bar” is now part of the phone’s body, leaving the glass behind / Image: Christian Collado

Aesthetics aside, the “Camera Bar” has its pros and cons alike. on the good side, there is some symmetry on the back of the phone and prevents it from “dancing” when placed on a table. However, It’s quite a magnet for dust. and dirt, and do not remove from it protrudes several millimeters from the back of the device.

Unlike the Pixel 6a The Pixel 7 has glass on the back. It emplees a Gorilla Glass Victus pane on both the rear and front Should be more resistant to bumps and scratches. In addition, the IP68 protection guarantees u Water and dust resistance.

100% of the materials in the Pixel 7 are recycled

The front part has also changed a bit. The Pixel 7 has reduced the size of the edges that surrounds the panel, creating a slightly more modern look. However, the bottom edge (the “chin”) is still wider than the rest, which is noticeable given that Google plus has been able to do this desire for symmetry two years ago with his Pixel 5.

He is own panel It’s also reduced its size by 0.1 inches compared to the Pixel 6, which helps make better use of the front that’s moving better ergonomics thanks to a more compact format that emplees the subtle curves rear glass for easy grip. Incidentally, these curves are not present in the initial part, since The Pixel 7’s screen is completely flatUnlike the Pixel 7 Pro.

There are other small details of its design filtered compared to the previous model: now, The keys are arranged somewhat lower To make them more accessible, y también.g proximity sensorwhich is located under the screen, its position has been slightly changed to offer better performance when it comes to it Turn the screen on or off when we call vía the headset and that screen corners They have a curve whose angle is equal to the corner of the chassis itself, creating a more harmonious appearance.

In this case, by the way, I had the opportunity to do so Try the white color model. I think those are the two shades of green that Google plus is offering the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro in select the models this year Yes or yes,Y the white tone I find it the most “dull” of the three, although it pairs well with the silver tone of the aluminum that surrounds the chassis.

Screen

The screen of the Google plus Pixel 7 is significantly brighter than the previous generation / Image: Christian Collado

We won’t find many differences between the Pixel 7’s screen and the previous Pixel 6’s screen. Although we refer again to the title of this analysis, we shall see further customization in several sections.

The brightness is finally at the level of the best screens on the market

It is about a 6.3-inch diagonal rigid OLED panelslightly smaller than that of the Pixel 7. It adds one Full HD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and is capable of a maximum refresh rate of 90 hertz. Also his the maximum brightness level is increased very much to be able to hit 1400 nits.

I agree, It is the brightness that is most appreciated when using the Pixel 7, especially in very bright environments. I’m happy to see that Google plus has been able to improve one of the most important points of the previous generation, and that is increasingly the brightness of the screen. The Pixel 7 is even a brighter screen than my Pixel 6 Proand after all, it is on par with the best in this regard.

This is necessary in order to be able to use the maximum brightness of the screen fall back on the brightness of cars (or “customized” as Google plus likes to call it), or play vídeos that take advantage of it HDR support this disc. With the manual brightness control, it is impossible to reach the brightness of 1400 nits specified in the device’s data sheet. Also the punk The glow only lasts a few seconds before returning to a lower level to avoid overheating and disminuye energy consumption.

The fingerprint reader a facial recognition system is added that only unlocks a mobile phone / Photo: Christian Collado

He is color interpretation It’s still one of the most accurate and natural that we cánido find in the entire Android landscape and perro switch between them two different color profiles, and not three as in previous generations. In my opinion it’s worth it “Natural” profile..

This new model has solved some problems of the previous generation, namely the Absence of color errors most important. On the Pixel 6 when Disminuye the brightness below 30% and espectáculo a dark background (not actually black), we may be seeing color inconsistencies due to a lack of lighting uniformity. These errores have been fixed with this new installment.

The only remaining imperfection is that of the viewing angle. When viewing the screen from certain angles, a more pronounced “rainbow” effect cánido be seen when viewed against bright lights or a white background.

Otherwise, The sharpness of the panel is excellent Due to a good cómputo between resolution and size, as with all OLED screens, the contrast is excellent and the 90Hz They still seem to me to be more than enough to be able to enjoy a smooth experience.

Below the screen is one of the main points of this device and one of the more noticeable improvements compared to the previous model: the fingerprint reader.

Personally, I have no problem with the fingerprint reader of the Pixel 6 series. Yes, it’s slower than other similarly priced models, but unlocking the phone reduces the difference to a few milliseconds.

Be it as it may I’m glad Google plus listened to the criticism. and choose improve the fingerprint reader for this new generation. it works now it’s fasterand it’s still as accurate as before.

You perro’t use Pixel 7’s face recognition to authenticate aplicaciones or authorize purchases

In this case also Does biometrics have an unlock method in addition to the fingerprint reader: the face recognition.

Google plus takes advantage of this Dual Pixel Technology the new 10.8 megapixel front camera and its models machine learning to Create a depth map usuario-centric without requiring dedicated hardware, and therefore allows to unlock the phone recognize facial features.

The operation of this system it’s fast and accurate, but it’s not without flaws. Since he has developed a solution that does not require any special hardware, this is implicit The system is not effective in dark environments. Also, Google plus considers it a “Class 1” biometric system, which is less secure than “Class 2 or Class 3” methods, and therefore It cánido only be used to unlock the cellphonebut not to identify yourself in applications or to verify payments and purchases.

So, The Pixel 7’s facial recognition isn’t as advanced as Face IDthan the biometric system that the Google plus Pixel 4 in 2018. Rather, it is a additional comfort This makes unlocking the phone easier and doesn’t offer as much additional security as the fingerprint reader.

Another function that is closely related to the screen is the haptic engine. As usual, Google plus gifted their latest device with one vibration motor of good quality that provides an answer firm, precise and pleasant when interacting with the usuario interfaz. The experience is closer to last year’s Pixel 6 Pro than the Pixel 6, which is good news for those who prefer to keep the device’s haptic features on.

hardware and performance

The Tensor G2 processor brings the 5-nanometer, 8-core Pixel 7 to life / Image: Christian Collado

Both the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro carry those Second generation Tensor processorcalled tensor G2.

It’s a chip some important changes are introduced compared to the previous generation, although they were made in the same 4nm process by Samsung.

It is the main architectural level newcomer to be found in action two Cortex-A78 cores that perro run at a maximum of 2.35 GHz, compared to the two Cortex-A76 cores of the first edition of Tensor. The change is for the better, but in any case we are not talking about Google plus using the latest technologies in the field of microprocessors.

Of course, that’s not his intention either.

There is a tensioner G2 a Processor whose performance is closer to the Snapdragon 8 series processor from several generations ago, except Apple A16 or Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. When Google plus really tried, these Improvements that result in better performance when performing speech recognition tasks, image processing, and basically any action that requires complex calculations rather than brute force.

What we have every day is a hundred percent satisfactory experience in every daily activity. As in every pixel so far, everything runs smoothly and smoothlypartly due to the fenezca-tuned programa and improvements that the second generation of Tensor brings, albeit subtle.

He is GPU’s It has also improved, and now we have a generation much more powerful than the previous one. However, this is noticeable in heavy games The Pixels aren’t the most suitable phones for gaming just yet.

But another year Tensor’s biggest problem is again temperature. It’s easy for the Pixel 7 to get hot when used a little harder than usual, although I have to say I felt that during these days of testing The Pixel 7 does a better job than my Pixel 6 Pro when it comes to maintaining sustained performance regardless of temperature rise.

programa and experience

The “purest” Android experience is present in the Pixel, with updates from day one and monthly security patches / Image: Christian Collado

There it is Android experience where the Google plus Pixel really shines, and it wouldn’t be any less more refined delivery so far from the search engine company’s family of teléfonos inteligentes.

The Google plus Pixel 7 is coming along Android 13the latest version of the operating system with some new Pixel-specific features that no other móvil inteligente will update to this version.

We have already reviewed the main changes of Android 13 in its analysis. For the version that comes with the Pixel 7, we have to stop at some new features.

The first is the Sick language writing powered by Google plus Assistant, now available in Spanish, French and Italian. With her it is possible write texts, send messages and order other types of commands with voiceUsing a much faster and more accurate recognition system that leverages Tensor advances to transcribe and interpret everything we say.

The “At a Glance” widget on the lock screen has also received some new tricks and is now able to Display of the weather forecast for the current daywith precipitation warnings or relevant information about our flights and baggage Espectáculo.

Unfortunately, other new features that Google plus has announced for the Pixel 7, such as Direct My Call or improvements to the recording aplicación, will initially only be available in English. Others aren’t even available in the version of programa running the test unit we’re testing.

One available is the Identify snoring and coughing, integrated into the Google plus clock application, in the “Rest” section. To work, it emplees a new API introduced in Android 13 and allows listening throughout the night to find out if coughing or snoring could be altering our sleep cycles.

Surprisingly, the only downside to the Pixel 7’s programa is related to this your support as your updates. Well, although Samsung already has that four years ensures updates for the latest teléfonos inteligentes in the Galaxy family, Google plus is not making any progress on this yet and just make sure due to a major Android update and five years of security updates.

The victory that Google plus’s teléfonos inteligentes once had over other companies is beginning to unravel. And surprisingly even more so now that Google plus develops its own processors and has more control over the hardware of its devices.

Google plus worked on it improve other elementos in terms of usuario experience and i to the right Errores that were present in the previous build.

There is a definite improvement, albeit subtle, in the Stereo speaker system of the device, a little Stronger and able to genera a clearer sound than the Pixel 6, and also offers a more cómputo between the two speakers.

The big improvement, however, lies in the network coverage. The Pixel 6 suffers from coverage drops and network range issues comparable to mid-range teléfonos inteligentes. With the Pixel 7 and the New Exynos 5300 módem related to the Tensor G2 processor, These problems seem to be a thing of the pastand according to my tests, the The network reception of the Pixel 7 is significantly better to my Pixel 6 Pro.

battery and charging

Despite the reduction in battery size, the Pixel 7’s autonomy is good / Image: Christian Collado

When it came to the Pixel 7’s battery, Google plus made a somewhat risky decision. disminuye its capacity compared to the Pixel 6.

Therefore we must Capacity 4355miliamperio-hora, almost 10% less than the previous generation. I myself at the time praised the Pixel 6’s autonomy and mentioned this part as one of its strengths.

Happily, The news isn’t as bad as you might expect. The autonomy of the Pixel 7 is good, Comparable to the Pixel 6.

During these test days I was able to Reach the end of each day with 20-30% battery power remaining in most cases you will find them six or even seven hours display before it reaches 0%.

All this gives the device a frequent useconsists, among other things, of using the camera for several hours, running heavy editing applications such as Adobe Lightroom or navigating with Google plus Maps.

With regard to utilization, Google plus continues to confirm one 20W maximum with a coincidente charger (which btw not included in the delivery). Use a charger that conforms to the USB PD estándar and perro deliver more than 20W of power. It takes around 90 minutes to fully charge the Pixel 7 Finally.

Otherwise we have to Fast wireless charging supportalthough maximum performance cánido only be achieved with the basic pixel stand available seperately. Other Qi-coincidente chargers cannot deliver the maximum power that the Pixel 7’s charging system perro handle.

cameras

On the back of the Google plus Pixel 7 there are two cameras with 50 and 12 megapixels / image: Christian Collado

The “pixel experience” cannot be understood without a suitable photo article. While we’re talking about the Pixel 7 cameraslet’s talk about the process again fenezca tuning compared to the previous model. Well, despite the use very afín sensor structureSpecific features that may have been a problem in the past have been improved.

on paper, the cameras used in this model are very afín to those used in the previous edition, and the main differences lie in the use of new front sensor and the recording of Autofocus on an ultra wide camera.

• main room: 50MP Samsung GN1, 1/1.31″ sensor size, pixel width 1.2μm, equivalent focal length 24mm, aperture ƒ/1.85, OIS, PDAF, Laser AF, FOV of 82°
• plus wide: 12 MP, 1/2.86″ sensor size, 1.25 μm pixel width, 13.4 mm equivalent focal length, ƒ/2.2 aperture, PDAF
• front: 10.8 Mpx, 1.22 μm pixel width, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 92.8° field of view, fixed focus

Google plus has spent years betting on a strategy that consists of maintain a certain conservative approach in terms of hardware and dedicate most of their efforts Get the most out of the sensors through computer-aided photography techniques. Last year’s Pixel 6s were the first Introducing a whole range of new sensorsand this new part builds further on those foundations, with Iterative improvements that promises to offer the best photo experience yet seen in a Pixel.

Everything starts with the camera aplicacióna little reformed to share small but important changes.

One of them is possibility “equipo” a specific magnification level. on the third “jump” of the digital zoom slider replacing the default “2x” shortcut. It’s easier this way return to the desired zoom level just a touch.

Yes the “night visión“, thanks to the improvements that Tensor G2 includes and the advances in the models of machine learning now works much faster and allows the usuario too Choose an exposure time required for use in each scene, you perro select a maximum of six seconds.

He is methods of movement which debuted along with the previous edition It perro now be used with the front cameraand the Zoom increased by two Use the central part of the 50 megapixel sensor for pictures 12.5 megapixels which made possible, with the support of the Super Res Zoom system, trained with Google plus artificial intelligence techniques get enlarged, higher-quality images. However, by expanding beyond the two increases, we begin to do so lose data significantlyand the effect becomes “Quarelle” the protagonist.

Otherwise there is a possibility Zoom in with two quick taps above the viewfinder of the camera and Focus is equipo with a long press (the shortcut to Google plus LEns is therefore in the Modes menu)

In general, each change provides a better flexibility for the camera system this despite the fact that he only has two rear sensors and is missing tele like the Pixel 7 Pro that perro offer a complete experience in almost everyone respect.

He is Vídeo has also improvedincluding arrest assistance 4K@60FPS with one of the device’s three cameras, a choice of Recorded in 10-bit HDR format (coincidente with third-party aplicaciones like TikTok, Snapchat or Fb, by the way) and a new one kinematic method With it, you perro apply background blur effect to vídeos. Image quality is another aspect that Google plus has taken care of to ensure that the Generation of pixel teléfonos inteligentes with the best vídeo section to date.

Within the vídeo section there is a interesting change which I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere else before. It’s one of those features that only google plus cánido verify it thanks in part to the massive amount of data the company has collected over the years.

It is associated with the role of “Improved Sound”This allows you to disminuye unwanted noise when recording vídeos to focus only on them the voice of the person speaking. And it’s in this new generation, models of it machine learning trained to do so interpret the captured image in real time for Analyze the speaker’s mouth movementsFocus the sound recording on him and disminuye the intensity of the rest of the sounds up Get clearer sound.

One feature deserves special mention “Focus”, integrated with Google plus Photos and currently only coincidente with Pixel 7. With this tool you perro fix shaky or blurry photos that espectáculo people, even if they were taken years ago and with a completely different camera than the one you are using. the pixels. And I have to say that the results are great.

On the left, the image has been corrected using Face Focus mode. That’s right, the original image.

Leaving aside the new tricks this camera system hides and focusing on the pure experience, basically no surprises. The photos are exactly what we would expect from a Pixel camera: Images with a very strong personality based on already known techniques like y también.g a significant increase in contrast and sharpness (perhaps more than depending on the situation) and a Color profile that focuses on naturalness at the expense of creating photos that are less conspicuous than those of other teams.

He is main camera It offers us the best results and additional flexibility thanks to the new technology that allows you to capture Images zoomed up to 2x with a higher estándar. The ultra-wide-angle sensor has changed little from the previous generation and remains unchanged be able to adjust the level of detail from the main room. Luckily, Google plus is able to do this consistent color profile between the two sensors.

On the left, the JPG generated by the Google plus Camera aplicación. On the right the processed RAW. The JPG contains more artificial detail as well as less sharpness in the shadows and less depth in the scene.

When the light hits, the Pixel 7 stretches its arms out in shape night visión And allowed Increase the exposure time sent to improve the lighting of the scenes. In some cases the results are excellent, in others they are happens when it’s time to act and get done avoid attractions more than necessary. I also found some Inconsistencies in the calculation of the white cómputo between the main cameras and ultra-wide cameras:

On the left, the main camera is able to perfectly capture the color of the lighting in the room. The camera, on the other hand, chose an ultra wide angle, tried unsuccessfully to correct the white cómputo and produced a completely artificial image that has nothing to do with the real scene.

This, added Abuse of contrast and artificial sharpness I mentioned it before, I remember what I already said last year about the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro cameras: Google plus’s image processing caused a stir at the time to be able to get the most out of low-end sensors (literally: the camera used by Google plus in the Pixels through 5, including the Pixel 6a, is the same that featured the Redmi 8A, mobile phone just above). 100 euros). But now that Google plus teléfonos inteligentes are equipped hardware near the first level, the programa be a burden in some cases and it doesn’t make the sensors “glow” like they should.

Although like I said last year Is there a way to overcome these limitations?and it’s as “fácil” as shooting RAW and processing the resulting archivo for sharing Color and lighting settings. It’s not the most suitable solution, especially for the average usuario who just wants to take care of it Take photos and they come out fenezca in coche modebut the only way there is today too take full advantage of it that the cameras of the Pixel 7 perro offer.

He is autofoto camerawith its restored sensor, not only improved image qualitybut it now enables what until recently was one of the exclusive features of the “Pro” version: Group autofotos thanks to the ultra wide-angle lens. In general, the experience with this camera is very positive, and it is grateful that Google plus has chosen Activate movement modes be able to use them with this sensor.

He is the quality of vídeos recorded with the Pixel 7 It’s also excellent, at the level of the main representatives in that sense. Although there is an option to record 4K vídeo at 60 FPS with any sensor I think the perfect cómputo takes place in 4K recording at 30 FPS as it is the highest resolution mode supported by 10-bit HDR recording and Enhanced Sound mode.

Photo gallery and vídeos with Google plus Pixel 7

This device has been thoroughly tested Independently thanks to a move of the brand. The article contains purchase backlinks for which Andro4all may receive a commission. take part to the market channel Andro4all to find out about the best deals before anyone else.