Blog

All About The Google Pixel 7

After being on the market for well over a year, the Pixel 7 has firmly established itself as a top-tier choice. Despite the arrival of several notable 2023 Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Xiaomi 13, the Pixel 7 continues to shine with its compelling set of features. Moreover, it remains enticing due to the continuous stream of attractive deals.

Key Features

The smartphone's look, including the eye-catching metallic camera bar, are bound to capture attention.

It stands among the early adopters, running Google's newest operating system right from the get-go.

The Pixel 7 features a dual-camera configuration similar to the highly-praised Pixel 6.

Sleek Design Enhancing Screen Quality

Elegant Design: The Pixel 7 features a sleek and stylish design with a notable metallic camera bar, a significant departure from its predecessor, the Pixel 6, which had a more plain black bar. The glossy back panel not only looks great but also feels fantastic, and it's available in three captivating colors: Obsidian (deep black), Lemongrass (bright yellow-green), and Snow (pure white). The touch of the phone is incredibly smooth, providing a premium feel.

Camera Bar Quirk: While the design is eye-catching, the camera bar's square edges can be somewhat inconvenient. They make the phone a bit less comfortable to hold, tend to collect dust in the corners, and can even catch on clothing when you retrieve your phone from your pocket. This minor accessible flaw suggests that more consideration could have gone into its design.

Button Placement: The placement of the power and volume buttons is another deviation from the norm. Instead of being near the top and bottom of the phone, they're reversed, which might take some getting used to. This arrangement can result in accidental volume adjustments, making it a small learning curve.

Hardware Features: The Pixel 7 doesn't include some familiar hardware features such as a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card tray, or physical dual SIM capability. However, it does support eSIM, so these omissions are not surprising as Pixels have gradually moved away from these features.

Durability: On the plus side, the Pixel 7 is a sturdy device with an IP68 rating, providing excellent protection against water and dust. It's also built with Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back, making it resistant to scratches and cracks.

AMOLED Display: The Pixel 7 boasts a 6.3-inch AMOLED screen, slightly larger than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S22 and iPhone 14, yet it remains manageable for one-handed use. The 1080x2400 resolution ensures sharp visuals, and the AMOLED technology delivers strong contrast and outdoor visibility.

Refresh Rate: The screen has a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz, which is lower than some competitors like the Pixel 7 Pro that reach 120Hz. While this means slightly less smooth scrolling, it's generally sufficient for most users.

Vibrant Performance: The screen offers vibrant colors, excellent detail, and ample brightness for clear viewing under direct sunlight. While enthusiasts of video and gaming may desire a larger screen and a higher refresh rate, the Pixel 7's screen quality should satisfy the majority of users.

Software and Performance of the Google Pixel 7

The Pixel 7 is powered by Google's latest Tensor G2 processor and is equipped with 8GB of RAM, along with storage options of either 128GB or 256GB. While the chip uses a 5 nm manufacturing process, it's worth noting that it might not be as power-efficient as some of its competitors, like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or MediaTek's Dimensity 9000, which employ a more advanced 4 nm process. Notably, the Pixel 7 runs on Android 13, positioning it as one of the early adopters of Google's latest mobile operating system.

In terms of performance, the Pixel 7 has proven itself to be a reliable, swift, and user-friendly device. Android 13's interface remains familiar, with a design similar to Android 12. The user experience is enhanced by its appealing, large icons and logically structured menus. Moreover, the software provides numerous customization options to suit individual preferences.

Handling notifications from the pull-down shade is straightforward, thanks to the spacious cards and clearly labeled buttons. However, the options available for interacting with notifications from the lock screen are somewhat limited. General usage, including app performance and search functionality, proceeds without any hiccups.

Moreover, it's worth mentioning that after 30 minutes of gaming, the Pixel 7 tends to warm up noticeably, particularly around the camera sensor area. This warmth, coupled with the battery drain observed during gaming, suggests that there may be room for optimization in the gaming performance of the device.

Google's software support is a strong point, as the Pixel 7 is guaranteed to receive the latest Android updates for several years. Additionally, it will continue to receive security updates for a five-year period. Combined with its IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating, the Pixel 7 promises long-term reliability and durability.

Google Pixel 7 Camera Overview

The Pixel 7 showcases a dual-camera setup on its rear. The primary camera is a 50-megapixel with an f/1.9 aperture, which is the same one featured in the Pixel 6. This camera comes equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) and laser autofocus. Additionally, there's a 12MP wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture, offering a 114-degree field of view. The device supports video recording at up to 4K resolution with 60 frames per second (fps) and is compatible with 10-bit HDR. For selfies, there's a 10.8MP front camera with an f/2.2 aperture.

Main Camera Excellence: The Pixel 7's primary camera shines, consistently delivering sharp, vibrant, well-balanced, and visually striking photos in a wide range of shooting scenarios. Its ability to capture and process light and shadow often results in photos that appear even better than real life. The camera's performance remains impressive across various lighting conditions.

Consistent Performance: Notably, the main camera and wide-angle camera offer excellent consistency in photo quality. The device's Night Sight mode excels in preserving details while maintaining a captivating atmosphere, without overly smoothing the images. However, the main camera may struggle when attempting extreme close-ups, often prompting users to step back for better focus. Nonetheless, when the right distance is achieved, the results are excellent. The 2x optical zoom captures decent photos but may lack the same color vibrancy and exposure as the primary camera.

Selfie Camera Considerations: Unfortunately, the selfie camera is a bit of a letdown. It tends to struggle with skin tone accuracy and may lack in capturing fine details. While it's not terrible, it appears inconsistent when compared to the superb selfie camera of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the consistently reliable front camera of the iPhone 14 Pro. It's important to note that the Pixel 7 lacks the Pixel 7 Pro's Super Res Zoom feature and can only digitally zoom up to 8x, where digital enhancement becomes apparent.

Smart Editing Features: The Pixel 7 offers an array of editing options in its suite, many of which leverage Google's A.I. technology. These include tools for adjusting the tone and appearance of the sky. Prominently, there's a new Unblur tool that, at times, delivers impressive results, but on occasion, it may over-smooth images or produce somewhat unsettling facial distortions. Additionally, features like Long Exposure and Action Pan, introduced with the Pixel 6 series, make a return, enhancing the device's photography capabilities.

The Contents of the Pixel 7 Box

The Pixel 7's packaging embraces minimalism to the fullest. Inside the compact box, you'll find only the essentials: the phone itself, a charging cable, a USB-A to C adapter, the familiar SIM ejector tool, and a concise manual. 

What's worth commending is Google's commitment to using environmentally friendly materials. The packaging comprises paper and cardboard exclusively, completely devoid of plastic components – a practice continued from the Pixel 6's packaging. Even the screen protector, applied for protection during transportation, is paper-based, with a slim non-paper film that makes contact with the screen. While this may appear to be a small step, in the larger context of the smartphone industry, such eco-conscious choices can collectively reduce the use of plastics significantly, contributing to a more sustainable approach.

Enhanced Biometric Features

With the Pixel 7, Google has reintroduced face unlock support, a feature that was last seen on the Pixel 4, where it relied on an integrated infrared scanner. However, this time, Google has taken a more straightforward approach. The Pixel 7 forgoes any intricate infrared or dot matrix scanning components and relies solely on its new 10.8MP front-facing camera.

Historically, facial recognition using only the front-facing camera has been considered less secure, but Google has implemented measures to address this concern making evident that the company has made improvements. However, the phone now only unlocks when you look directly at it. If you look away or close your eyes, the feature won't activate. This enhancement signifies Google's commitment to strengthen the security of this biometric method.

Battery Performance and Charging Experience of the Google Pixel 7

The Pixel 7 has opted for a slightly smaller 4,355mAh battery compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 6, which featured a 4,614mAh unit. This reduction in battery size aligns with the phone's overall smaller dimensions, as the battery is a significant contributor to its overall volume. Surprisingly, the Pixel 7 manages to impress with its battery life. Google seems to have enhanced the efficiency of the Tensor G2 processor when compared to the previous generation chip. The slight reduction in display size could also be contributing to this positive outcome.

Furthermore, the Pixel 7 supports 21W fast charging, with Google noting that these speeds are achievable with its separately sold 30W adapter. While the charging rate may be noticeably slower compared to some competitors, the Pixel 7 still delivers a practical charging experience. Google's claims that the device can reach a 50% charge in just 30 minutes hold true, making it suitable for a quick top-up before heading out in the evening. A complete charge, from 1% to 100%, takes a little over one and a half hours on the Pixel 7 when using a third-party 30W charger, specifically 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Connectivity Features of the Google Pixel 7

The Google Pixel 7 offers a range of connectivity options, including:

Cellular Connectivity: It supports 5G NR (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), 4G LTE, 3G WCDMA, and 2G GSM, ensuring users have access to high-speed data connections for various online activities.

Wi-Fi Support: The Pixel 7 is equipped with 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E) for connections across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, delivering improved Wi-Fi performance with HE160 and MIMO capabilities.

Enhanced Bluetooth: With Bluetooth 5.2 and dual antennas, the Pixel 7 establishes robust and high-quality connections with a variety of Bluetooth devices, including headphones, speakers, and smartwatches.

NFC Capabilities: NFC technology allows the Pixel 7 to facilitate contactless payments and data sharing with other NFC-enabled devices.

Google Cast Compatibility: The device supports Google Cast, enabling easy streaming and casting of content to compatible devices.

Dual Band GNSS: The Pixel 7 leverages Dual Band GNSS, combining GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), and QZSS (L1+L5) satellite systems for more precise and reliable location information, particularly beneficial in regions with challenging GPS reception.

In summary, the Google Pixel 7 offers a comprehensive array of connectivity features, ensuring it's well-prepared for a wide range of applications and user needs.

Google Pixel 7's Verdict

It should come as no surprise that the highly recommended Google Pixel 7 – is a fantastic smartphone.

If you're seeking a high-tech sensation from Google, the refined Google Pixel 7 won't disappoint. It outshines the Pixel 6 with its sleeker design, innovative features, enhanced photography capabilities, and an improved high-resolution front camera. Furthermore, it takes the lead in terms of battery life, faster charging, and a larger display.

The Google Pixel 7 made its global debut on October 6, 2022. However, it has yet to be officially released in Pakistan, with no confirmed release date available. If you're eager to get your hands on the Google Pixel 7 in Pakistan, you have a few avenues to explore:

International Retailers: Consider ordering from international retailers that offer shipping to Pakistan. Keep in mind that you may need to account for import duties and taxes when making your purchase.

Local Retailers Importing the Pixel 7: Some Pakistani retailers may import the Pixel 7. However, exercise caution and research the retailer's reputation to ensure you're receiving an authentic product.

Used Pixel 7 from Private Sellers: You can explore online platforms, where used Pixel 7 devices are available for sale. Be vigilant when buying pre-owned phones, as there is a risk of potential issues, such as theft or defects.