Google Pixel 7 Pro Review: A Flagship and Advanced Android Phone
I’m a tech enthusiast and freelance writer who thoroughly enjoys reviewing gadgets and applications. My experience with Android phones spans over a decade, during which I’ve explored various brands and models. I’ve also been the owner of every Pixel phone, starting from the original Pixel, giving me insight into both the strengths and weaknesses of Google’s hardware and software.
Upon the availability of pre-orders, I made the decision to purchase the Google Pixel 7 Pro directly from the Google Store. My choice was the 256GB model, and I opted for the elegant Hazel color, a glossy finish with a brownish hue. Over the course of a month, I’ve integrated it into my daily routine, subjecting it to a range of activities, including capturing photos and videos, web browsing, gaming, music and podcast streaming, texting, calling, and utilizing various apps. Furthermore, I’ve undertaken comprehensive comparisons with other devices at my disposal, such as the Pixel 6 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22+, and iPhone 14 Pro.
Real Use Cases
The Google Pixel 7 Pro shines as a smartphone choice for individuals who appreciate a top-tier and sophisticated design, a straightforward and fluid user interface, and exceptional camera capabilities. Here are some real-world scenarios and resolved concerns I encountered during my time with the Google Pixel 7 Pro:
Premium and Advanced Design
The Google Pixel 7 Pro distinguishes itself as one of the few flagship phones with substantial dimensions and weight. Measuring 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 inches) and weighing 212 grams (7.48 ounces), it imparts a premium, substantial feel when held. Its sleek design features an aluminum frame, a glass front, and a glass back with a glossy finish that effectively repels fingerprints and resists scratches. With an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, this phone can endure accidental water splashes or drops in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Streamlined and Fluid User Interface
Powered by Android 13, the Google Pixel 7 Pro boasts the latest iteration of Google’s operating system. Android 13 delivers a clean and intuitive user interface, equipped with features like adaptive battery management, dark mode, live caption, smart reply, gesture-based navigation, digital well-being tools, and more. The phone consistently receives timely security patches and feature enhancements from Google, ensuring it remains current and secure. With the Google Tensor G2 chipset under the hood, this custom-made processor guarantees swift and seamless performance, enabling smooth multitasking, gaming, and tackling resource-intensive tasks without any performance hiccups.
Outstanding Camera Performance
The Google Pixel 7 Pro’s camera setup includes a triple rear camera system, comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens featuring 5x optical zoom capabilities, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. The primary camera captures remarkable photos in diverse lighting conditions, thanks to Google’s computational photography algorithms enhancing details, colors, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The telephoto lens excels at capturing distant subjects with impressive clarity and detail, leveraging optical zoom and multi-directional phase detection autofocus (PDAF).
The ultrawide lens expands the scene captured in a single shot, perfect for landscapes, group shots, and creative photography. Moreover, the phone boasts a 10.8-megapixel selfie camera, ideal for taking sharp, natural-looking selfies, complete with features like portrait mode, night sight, astrophotography mode, and more. Additionally, the Pixel 7 Pro records high-quality videos in 4K at 30/60fps or 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps, with features such as optical image stabilization (OIS), electronic image stabilization (EIS), autofocus, auto-exposure lock (AE-L), auto-white balance lock (AWB-L), audio zoom, and more.
Target Audience of Google Pixel 7 Pro
The Google Pixel 7 Pro caters to individuals who:
- Seek a high-end, advanced smartphone capable of tackling any task or challenge.
- Favor a straightforward and seamless user interface devoid of unnecessary software or ads.
- Have a penchant for capturing top-quality photos and videos with their phone.
- Value consistent, prompt updates from Google to keep their device secure and current.
- Are willing to invest in a premium-priced phone for a premium experience.
However, the Google Pixel 7 Pro may not align with the preferences and needs of individuals who:
- Require a compact and lightweight phone that can be comfortably held or pocketed.
- Demand peak performance to effortlessly handle resource-intensive games and applications.
- Depends on ample storage capacity or wish to expand it through a microSD card.
- Prefer using wired headphones or accessories in conjunction with their phone.
- Seek a versatile camera system that offers more than just optical zoom or ultrawide lens capabilities.
Recommend Alternative Products
If the Google Pixel 7 Pro is not the right phone for you, you may want to consider some of these alternative products that offer similar or better features at different price points:
Samsung Galaxy S22+
The Samsung Galaxy S22+ is one of the most popular and powerful Android phones in the market. It has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an Exynos 2200 chipset, a quad rear camera with a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a new LiDAR scanner for enhanced depth sensing and augmented reality, and a 10MP selfie camera.
The phone runs on Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 and has a 4500 mAh battery with 25W wired and wireless charging. It also has an under-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, and IP68 water and dust resistance. It comes in four colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Pink, and Phantom Green. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ is a great phone for people who want a premium and powerful Android phone with a versatile camera system and a stunning display. However, it is also more expensive than the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
iPhone 14 Pro
The iPhone 14 Pro is the latest smartphone from Apple, and it is one of the best iOS phones in the market. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a ProMotion adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, an Apple A16 Bionic chipset, a quad rear camera with a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a new LiDAR scanner for enhanced depth sensing and augmented reality, and a 12MP selfie camera with Face ID.
The phone runs on iOS 16 and has a 3500 mAh battery with MagSafe wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. It also has stereo speakers and IP68 water and dust resistance. It comes in six colors: Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, and Graphite. The iPhone 14 Pro is a great phone for people who prefer iOS over Android and want a fast and smooth performance with excellent camera quality and new features. However, it is also more expensive than the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
Highlight Important Purchase Details like Variations
If you are interested in buying the Google Pixel 7 Pro, here are some important purchase details that you should know:
- The Google Pixel 7 Pro comes in three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, or 512 GB. There is no microSD card slot to expand the storage, so you should choose the option that suits your needs best.
- The Google Pixel 7 Pro comes in three color options: Obsidian, Snow, and Hazel. Obsidian is a dark gray shade with a glossy finish, Snow is a white shade with a glossy finish, and Hazel is a brownish shade with a glossy finish. You can see how they look in this image.
- The Google Pixel 7 Pro is available in select countries and regions, such as the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. You can check the availability and pricing of the Google Pixel 7 Pro in your region on the Google Store.
- The Google Pixel 7 Pro comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, a 23W USB-C power adapter, a SIM tool, and a quick start guide in the box. It does not come with a pair of earphones or a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, so you will need to buy them separately if you want to use wired headphones or accessories with your phone.
- The Google Pixel 7 Pro has a one-year limited warranty from Google that covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. You can also purchase additional protection plans from Google or third-party providers that offer extended coverage, accidental damage protection, theft and loss protection, and more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Google Pixel 7 Pro stands as a flagship and advanced Android phone and has an elegant design, exceptional camera capabilities, and enhanced performance. It’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate a clean and seamless user interface, along with outstanding photo and video quality. However, it comes with certain drawbacks like its larger size and weight, the absence of a microSD card slot or headphone jack, and limited availability and color choices. Additionally, it carries a higher price tag compared to some of its rivals. Therefore, it’s prudent to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the Google Pixel 7 Pro before making your purchase decision. Don’t forget to consider the alternative products I mentioned in this review. Thank you for taking the time to read my review, and I hope you found it valuable 😊
