Full review and comparison of Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 7 Pro
According to JBQ, With the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, Google has taken two of last year’s best phones and made them even better. Refined designs, better camera performance and some new software tricks help make some of the best Android phones you can buy today. Of course, with such a wide price difference between these models, we’re once again faced with a tough question: Should you buy the Pixel 7 or the Pixel 7 Pro?
Starting at $600 and $900, it’s hard for anyone to decide. Luckily, we’ve covered all the differences between these phones. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution this year, so here’s everything you need to know before you whip out your credit card for any of these devices.
For the past year, Google has stuck to the same basic design for all of its phones, regardless of price. At first glance, you might mistake the Google Pixel 7 or 7 Pro for both sizes of the Pixel 6, albeit with one important change to the camera bar. Google ditched the uncoated glass for an aluminum shell that sits outside the frame. The Pixel 7 uses a matte finish, while the Pixel 7 Pro uses polished aluminum.
Google Pixel 7 pro compare white
Despite trying to make the Pro feel more premium than its sibling, the 7’s regular matte metal has a much cleaner look, serving as a highlight for the glossy glass back. We’ve also noticed some rudimentary scratches on the bottom of the uncoated Google Pixel 7 Pro’s camera strip, which suggests the polished finish may not be scratch-resistant.
Otherwise, the significant design difference is reduced to size. The Pixel 7 uses a 6.3-inch screen compared to the Pixel 7 Pro’s 6.7-inch panel, and it feels much smaller in the hand. While it’s hard to call it a “small” Android phone it’s certainly bigger than, say, the Asus Zenfone 9 the regular Pixel 7 should make those with smaller hands very happy. Meanwhile, the Pixel 7 Pro sits among devices like the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Even those of us with large hands have trouble using one hand.
Oh, and of course, we can’t forget the colors. While both phones come in black and white, Google has given the Pixel 7 an exclusive ‘Lemongrass’ finish, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a Hazelnut finish. Both look great, even if they are rather docile in person.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Display
The Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch display is a 90Hz 1080p panel, and it looks fantastic. At this screen size, there’s no reason to increase the resolution – even for pixels, it’s hard to see every single pixel on the screen. The Google Pixel 7 Pro uses a 6.7-inch 120Hz 1440p LTPO panel, which allows it to scale up to 10Hz under certain conditions. That said, Google ships the phone at 1080p rather than full resolution to help conserve battery life. Text aside, the 1080p and 1440p modes on the Pixel 7 Pro look identical to me.
Google-pixel-7-pro 19
Comparing the phones, despite the difference in resolution and refresh rate, I barely noticed the difference between the two panels. Either way, you get a great screen, equal parts bright and crisp. However, it’s worth noting that the Pixel 7 Pro’s panel seems to have some initial issues, including scrolling issues and high levels of battery drain in direct sunlight. We’ll continue to monitor these issues as Google rolls out updates.
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When comparing the displays, you’ll also see another big design difference between the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. Google continues to use smooth edges for the smaller, cheaper device, while the 7 Pro retains its curved glass. Although the round display is much smaller than its predecessor, it’s still uncomfortable to hold when you’re not sitting up straight. Anyone slapping these phones around in a case is unlikely to notice a huge difference, but if you prefer to go caseless, the Pixel 7 is much easier to hold.
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Camera
JBQ says, By far, the most significant difference between the two phones is the camera array. Both phones share the same primary lens, a 50-megapixel f/1.85 camera that’s capable of taking great photos with a 12.5-megapixel output. It also supports 2x cropped images that look just as stunning. You’ll also get access to all the camera tools you’d expect, like Night Sight – now better than ever – and Photo Unblur, which can bring your older memories to life with some fantastic digital tricks.
Unfortunately, the similarities end there. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have ultra-wide sensors, but they’re not the same. While the Pixel 7 retains the 114-degree FOV seen in its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro offers a much wider field of view, just 126 degrees. As soon as you hold the two phones together, the results are evident. In fact, the Pixel 7 Pro’s ultra-wide output makes its smaller sibling’s photos look like they were taken from a standard sensor.
Pixel 7 Pro vs. Pixel 7 ultra-wide
The improved ultra-wide lens on the Pro also gives it a new macro mode, though to be honest, first impressions are mixed at best. It’s great for shooting flowers and other objects outdoors in bright light, but the output becomes noisy and grainy when it’s no longer in “ideal” conditions.
Google processing tries to remove those artifacts, but it is not perfect. The ultra-wide camera is generally good, but you shouldn’t upgrade to the Pro just because it has a macro mode.
In fact, the Google Pixel 7 Pro’s biggest plus is, once again, the telephoto lens, something the Pixel 7 generally lacks. This year, Google is using a 48MP 5x optical zoom lens, and it’s pretty impressive.
Between 2x and 5x, the Pixel 7 Pro combines images from the main and telephoto sensors, while the telephoto uses 5x and above. It’s not as impressive in low light as the 50MP lens – in fact, Google sometimes prefers to use it for aperture, depending on the lighting conditions – but the detail it can capture at 5x is amazing.
Pixel 7 Pro with 5x vs. Pixel 7 with 5x. The difference speaks for itself
Super Res Zoom is available on both phones and uses physical hardware and some impressive processing to create impressive images from far away. That being said, the Google Pixel 7 Pro blows the smaller model out of the water. This camera can capture photos with 30 times the resolution compared to the Pixel 7 with 8 times. And while those 30x images aren’t always as impressive as we’d like, there’s a sweet spot around 10x where images look great, even with a 5x telephoto.
Super Res Mode 30x with 30x success. Details in the building are kept intact, while the sculpture ends up resembling an oil painting.
On the video front, both devices offer 4K60 from all available lenses, along with 10-bit HDR video and a Cinematic Blur mode to make your next video look a little more cinematic. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro also use the same 10.8-megapixel front-facing cameras that can record at 4K60. These lenses also support face unlock, albeit only on the lock screen.
Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro: Performance and battery life
Performance between the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro should be about the same in day-to-day use. Both phones are powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, which offers minor improvements over their predecessors. While these devices can’t stand as much benchmarks as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 on their own, they’re plenty fast for anything you can throw at them.
That being said, both devices get hot not only while gaming. Browsing the web or scrolling through Twitter can also heat up the back of any phone. It’s less noticeable if you shake the case, but these phones run hot nonetheless.
In fact, the only performance difference between the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro comes down to their RAM allocation. The Pixel 7 only has 8GB of RAM, while the more expensive 7 Pro has 12GB. More memory is certainly nice, especially if you plan to keep these devices for three, four, or even five years. That said, I don’t think it’s worth spending the extra $300 on the Pro just because it has more memory. For most buyers, this won’t affect how you use either phone.
As for battery life, both devices are quite good, though neither will see you through a day of regular use. The Pixel 7 has a 4,355 mAh battery ,Charger and Cable, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a much larger 5,000 mAh battery. Either way, we just got to the end of the day without charging either phone.
If you’re going out for a late night, you’ll want to make sure it’s charged before you go. Unfortunately, none of these phones have particularly fast charger. The Pixel 7 Pro can reach up to 23 watts, while the Pixel 7 will only have 20 watts.
Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro: Price
Like last year, there is a $300 difference between these phones. You’re definitely getting more “phone” with the Pixel 7 Pro if that’s not already clear but that doesn’t mean the Pixel 7’s price tag isn’t attractive. $600 is almost unbeatable for this level of performance, and that’s before accounting for the usual round of sales that can hit as soon as Black Friday. That said, $900 isn’t unfair for a phone like the Pixel 7 Pro — it’s just not that shocking.
As for availability, both phones are available for purchase in 17 countries, the largest rollout for a Pixel phone ever. You can buy the Pixel 7 or 7 Pro in the United States, Canada, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. In the US, both phones are available on all three national carriers, as well as some select MVNOs and, of course, as an unlocked device directly from Google.
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Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro: Which should you buy?
The two devices are very similar in almost every way. If you’re considering one over the other, it really comes down to three factors: size, camera performance, and price.
While it’s clear that the Pixel 7 Pro is, without a doubt, the more feature-rich phone, the Pixel 7 is undoubtedly better suited for people with smaller hands. It’s hardly a ‘small’ phone, but with a matte aluminum finish around the frame and a flat screen, it’s arguably a better design than the Pro. However, the Google Pixel 7 Pro’s bigger, sharper display and bigger battery will be hard to ignore for power users. Buy Screen Protector in Our Shop for your device.
