Why the Pixel 7 Pro is the best Google phone ever
Google has been making Pixel phones for six years now, and each year they bring something new and exciting to the table. The Pixel 6 Pro was a huge leap forward for Google, as it introduced a custom-made Tensor chip, a stunning 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display, and a versatile camera system with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom.
But Google didn’t stop there. The Google Pixel 7 Pro is the latest and greatest flagship from the search giant, and it offers some significant improvements over its predecessor. In this blog post, we will compare the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 6 Pro, highlighting the key features and enhancements that make the Pixel 7 Pro a superior smartphone. We will discuss the differences in design, camera capabilities, performance, software enhancements, and any other relevant factors that contribute to the superiority of the Pixel 7 Pro. By the end of this post, you will have a clear idea of why you should consider upgrading to the Pixel 7 Pro over the Pixel 6 Pro.
Design
The Pixel 7 Pro features a similar - but refined - design compared to the Pixel 6 Pro. Both of these Pixel phones are defined by a width-spanning camera visor, but whereas the Pixel 6 Pro module presents as black glass, the Pixel 7 Pro’s is a more premium and aesthetically consistent aluminum, that appears completely of a piece with the frame.
Google has dropped the two-tone color scheme for the Pixel 7 Pro, which some will be disappointed by. While the Pixel 6 Pro design had its detractors, we admired its boldness. Also gone is the Pixel 6 Pro’s bold Sorta Sunny colorway, but in its place is the decidedly classy Hazel. This greeny-grey color is complemented by a goldish metal frame and camera module, and the effect is gorgeous. Snow (white) and Obsidian Black options track more closely with the Pixel 6 Pro’s Cloudy White and Stormy Black.
At 162.9 x 76.55 x 8.9mm and 212g, there’s really very little between the Pixel 7 Pro and its predecessor when it comes to size. The Pixel 6 Pro clocks in at 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm and 210g, so we’re only talking about fractional differences and a couple of grams.
Both phones have IP68 water and dust resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on both sides, and an under-display fingerprint scanner. The Pixel 7 Pro also retains the stereo speakers, USB-C port, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging of the Pixel 6 Pro.
Overall, the design of the Pixel 7 Pro is not radically different from the Pixel 6 Pro, but it does offer some subtle refinements that make it look more elegant and premium.
Camera
The camera is one of the most important aspects of any smartphone, and Google has always been at the forefront of computational photography with its Pixel phones. The Pixel 6 Pro was already an impressive performer in this regard, but the Pixel 7 Pro takes it to another level.
The main camera on both phones is a 50MP sensor with an f/1.85 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and laser autofocus (LAF). This camera can capture stunning photos in various lighting conditions, with excellent dynamic range, sharpness, color accuracy, and detail. The Tensor chip also enables some advanced features like Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted objects from your photos, Face Unblur, which can fix blurry faces in motion shots, and Motion Mode, which can create artistic blur effects for action shots.
The ultra-wide camera on both phones is a 12MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 114-degree field of view. This camera can capture more of your surroundings in one shot, with minimal distortion and good exposure.
The telephoto camera is where things get interesting. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 48MP sensor with an f/3.5 aperture, OIS, PDAF, LAF, and 4x optical zoom. This camera can zoom in on distant subjects without losing much quality or detail.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a 64MP sensor with an f/3.0 aperture, OIS, PDAF, LAF, and 5x optical zoom. This camera can zoom in even further than the Pixel 6 Pro, with better clarity and brightness.
But that’s not all. The Pixel 7 Pro also has a 30x high resolution zoom feature, which uses a combination of optical and digital zoom to produce clear and detailed images at long range. The Pixel 6 Pro only has a 20x high resolution zoom feature, which is not as impressive or consistent.
The Pixel 7 Pro also has a new feature called Super Res Zoom, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance the quality of zoomed-in photos by reducing noise and increasing sharpness. This feature works on all three cameras, and can make a noticeable difference in some scenarios.
The front-facing camera on both phones is an 11.1MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 94-degree field of view. This camera can take great selfies, with natural skin tones, accurate exposure, and good detail. It also supports Night Sight, Portrait Mode, and HDR+.
Both phones can record video at up to 4K resolution at 60fps, or 1080p at 240fps. The video quality is good, with smooth stabilization, accurate colors, and decent audio. The Pixel 7 Pro also has a new feature called Cinematic Pan, which can create smooth and cinematic panning shots by slowing down the video to half speed.
Overall, the camera system of the Pixel 7 Pro is better than the Pixel 6 Pro, especially when it comes to zooming capabilities. The Pixel 7 Pro offers better performance over longer range zoom, with more optical zoom, higher resolution zoom, and Super Res Zoom. It also has some new features like Cinematic Pan that can enhance your video recording experience.
Performance
The performance of a smartphone depends largely on the processor that powers it. The Pixel 6 Pro was the first Google phone to use the Tensor chip, a custom-made system-on-chip (SoC) that was designed by Google specifically for its Pixel phones. The Tensor chip is based on a 5nm process and has an octa-core CPU, a Mali-G78 MP20 GPU, and a Titan M2 security chip. It also has a powerful neural engine that can handle complex tasks like speech recognition, natural language processing, image processing, and machine learning.
The Pixel 7 Pro uses the same Tensor chip as the Pixel 6 Pro, so there is no difference in terms of raw performance. Both phones are fast and smooth in everyday use, with no lag or stuttering. They can handle multitasking, gaming, web browsing, and other demanding tasks with ease.
Both phones also have the same amount of RAM and storage options. They come with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. There is no microSD card slot on either phone, so you will have to choose your storage wisely.
Both phones also support 5G connectivity, as well as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS. They have dual-SIM support via eSIM and nano-SIM, but they lack a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Overall, the performance of the Pixel 7 Pro is identical to the Pixel 6 Pro, as they use the same Tensor chip. Both phones are powerful and capable devices that can handle any task you throw at them.
Software
The software is another area where Google excels with its Pixel phones. The Pixel 6 Pro was the first Google pixel phone to run on Android 12 out of the box, which is the latest version of Google’s operating system. Android 12 brings a lot of new features and improvements to the Pixel phones, such as:
Material You: A new design language that adapts to your wallpaper and personal preferences, creating a unique and personalized look for your phone.
Privacy Dashboard: A new tool that shows you how often apps access your location, camera, microphone, and other permissions, and lets you revoke them easily.
Quick Tap: A new gesture that lets you double-tap the back of your phone to perform various actions, such as taking a screenshot, launching Google Assistant, or playing/pausing music.
Hold for Me: A new feature that lets Google Assistant wait on hold for you when you call a toll-free number, and notify you when someone is ready to talk.
In conclusion, the Pixel 7 Pro builds upon the strengths of its predecessor, the Pixel 6 Pro, to deliver an even more compelling smartphone experience. With refinements in design, camera capabilities, and software enhancements, it represents Google's continued commitment to innovation in the world of smartphones. Whether you're a photography enthusiast, a performance-driven user, or someone who values a sleek and functional design, the Pixel 7 Pro is a standout choice in the Android smartphone landscape."