Google Pixel 7 review: Design and Display
The Pixel 7’s design hasn’t seen any significant modifications from Google, but we don’t mind that at all. On the front and back of the device, Gorilla Glass Victus is provided for durability, and the camera module has an aluminium construction. Moreover, it has matte metal frames on the sides. Additionally, the gadget is IP68-rated, which is excellent in this price range as most of the phones in this segment still don’t provide any IP rating. The colour we have for review is Snow but the device is available in two more options — Obsidian and Lemongrass. Since we have the lighter colour option, it does not attract fingerprints.
The Pixel’s camera module, which makes it distinctive and easy to spot, is the one aspect of its design that we really appreciate. In contrast to other places, this camera module is raised, however, it does not wobble when set down on a flat surface. Contrary to most phones, those with elevated camera bumps are very shaky. The camera module’s drawback is that it tends to collect a lot of dust, necessitating periodic cleaning.
The Google Pixel 7 is also somewhat bulky but was comfortable to hold in the hand because of its compact size. It has oddly placed buttons on the side; when unlocking the phone, we accidentally hit the volume button because it is positioned a little higher than where our thumb normally rests.
Regarding the display, the bezels on the sides give it a more mid-range phone appearance because they are rather pronounced. With a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels, the phone has a 6.32-inch full-HD+ OLED display. The device supports HDR 10+, which performs admirably across all streaming services. It is also notable how accurate the colours are.
The display’s overall quality is decent. It’s very bright because the max brightness is at 1,400 nits. Sadly, the screen only refreshes at 90Hz, and the display was not as fluid as we had expected. We had anticipated a 120Hz refresh rate, just like the pro edition, for that extra smoothness. Because of the excellent haptic feedback, we also enjoyed typing on the Pixel 7.
Google Pixel 7 review: Performance and camera
Moving on to performance, this year’s new Tensor G2 chip, which was created in collaboration with Samsung, is more than capable of handling daily chores. The Tensor G2 can play games with higher graphics settings and good stability, but it still has a long way to go before it can match Qualcomm chipset performance. Pixel 7 runs on Android 13 out of the box and Google also guarantees the Pixel 7 with three years of OS updates and five years of security patches. Here you get a clean stock android experience and a couple of Google-exclusive features.
Many of the most notable Google-only AI-related features include reducing background noise while you are still on a call. It also allows you to fix blurry photos and extract texts and messages from photos. Without a doubt, the Pixel 7’s cameras are the best available in their price range. The majority of the photographs will provide you with the best photography experience possible with wonderfully natural colour science. The dynamic range is great, and the white balance is consistently accurate.
The Pixel 7 maintains the high level of colour fidelity that Google Pixel is recognised for. The colours in the images are neutral and kept in their natural state; they can be further improved in editing to the viewer’s preference. The dynamic range is perfect and yields excellent pictures, and the highlights and shadows are equally accurate. However, one thing we would want to emphasise is that because the focus tracking isn’t very excellent, you’ll wind up with blurry pictures of your dogs and flowers.
From the primary sensor, the portrait photos are simply outstanding. In this department, Google excels once more with its stunning portraits. In terms of edge recognition and skin tones, the photographs you receive are superb. This is unquestionably one of the best in this area, with the facial details appearing quite natural. In this setting, Google has also supplied 2x, which in our opinion is not optimised and results in soft photos. Moving on to the close-up photographs, we noticed outstanding details and images with excellent colours that are true to life. The quality of the selfies falls a bit short of what the main camera is capable of. However, the front camera provides crispness and superb details all around. The skin tone is nearly natural, which we found to be appealing. Although the edge detection appears adequate, we wouldn’t describe it as exceptional. The same holds true for photographs taken at ultra wide angles. The field of view seemed a little restricted to us.
Because the ultra wide’s sensor is smaller than the primary lens, it occasionally struggles and requires a little bit of extra processing time, especially in low light. Long-exposure photography can also produce pleasing effects and original pictures. Additionally, there is the Action Pan creative mode, which allows you to capture fantastic panning photography.
Given the cost, we also believe that the Google Pixel 7’s videos are acceptable. They have nice steadiness and good colours, which is great for filming Instagram reels, in our opinion. When it comes to resolution, the front camera delivers both full HD and 4k quality. While 4K and HD films can both reach 60 frames per second, only HD resolution offers the Auto option. The Cinematic Mode allows you to capture videos in HD definition, rather than the adequate 1080p, but not in 4K. In this setting, the focus is extremely accurate and quick. However, we weren’t overly impressed by edge detection. For the cost, the speaker quality is standard. We appreciate the overall sound system despite the fact that it is not particularly loud. Clear vocals, good treble, and a slightly noticeable bass are produced. Regarding battery life, it is fairly average as it comes with a 4,270mAh battery. We always had to charge the phone before going to bed when we used mobile data in our regular usage throughout the day. The smartphone only supports 20-watt power charging, which charges the phone from zero to fifty percent in around 30 minutes and from fifty to one hundred percent in another 45 minutes.
Verdict
The Pixel 7 is a fairly well-built phone in terms of design. The battery life of the Pixel 7 is not particularly impressive. Even with its few drawbacks for us, the Pixel 7 is still a fantastic semi-flagship device. Any person seeking a great camera performance at this price point won’t be let down by the camera because it is so amazing. The Pixel 7 is likely to be a great upgrade for anyone looking to move up from a mid-range device. Also, keep checking back to our website since we’ll shortly be publishing another in-depth analysis of the Pixel 7 Pro.
Google Pixel 7 Pros
Great display Robust Android 13 Pixel exclusive features
Google Pixel 7 Cons
Lacks fast charging Pricey
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