Google Pixel 7 Pro Review: Closer to Perfect Phone

Google Pixel 7 Pro Review

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is the closest phone to the ecosystem with its excellent camera and a unique design with a complete approach.

Google, in its approach to capturing new buyers and winning back Pixel loyalists, launched the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The former, we have already reviewed it, and now we turn to the Pro variant and try to answer your questions about this premium flagship smartphone. The Google Pixel 7 Pro uses the same basic principles as its smaller sibling, but there are quite a few differences. The Pixel 7 Pro is priced at ₹84,999. Let's be brave.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Review

Google Pixel 7 Pro Design

The Google Pixel 7 Pro retains the same design as the Pixel 7. A rectangular camera bar, with an additional lens. The bar makes the phone bumpy on smooth surfaces but allows air to flow through it. As such, the Pixel's 7 camera bar has also become its distinguishing feature among premium, similar-looking phones.

Google, in its approach to capturing new buyers and winning back Pixel loyalists, launched the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The former, we have already reviewed it, and now we turn to the Pro variant and try to answer your questions about this premium flagship smartphone. The Google Pixel 7 Pro uses the same basic principles as its smaller sibling, but there are quite a few differences. The Pixel 7 Pro is priced at ₹84,999. Let's be brave.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Design

The Google Pixel 7 Pro retains the same design as the Pixel 7. A rectangular camera bar, with an additional lens. The bar makes the phone bumpy on smooth surfaces but allows air to flow through it. As such, the Pixel's 7 camera bar has also become its distinguishing feature among premium, similar-looking phones.

The placement of the volume key and the power button is confusing and forces many accidental clicks. We highlighted this odd issue in our Pixel 6a review, yet Google came up with a similar key placement.

The Snow Pixel 7 Pro, which we received for review, looks fantastic. It's also shiny, glossy, and slippery. The back is prone to fingerprints so be sure to mask it under a good protective case to avoid unfortunate drops, smudges, and scratches. It feels buttery smooth in the hands.

The front of the Pixel 7 Pro takes us back to the curved-edge display phones that Samsung mastered long ago. The punch-hole display offers an unlimited viewing area due to its curved edges. Spots may appear on the display. The phone has a Type-C port for charging but does not include a charger inside the box. The Pixel 7 Pro has eight antenna lines on its chassis.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Face unlock

The face unlocks feature in the tall display has an awkward response. Eight times out of ten, it doesn't recognize you even if you're in the right lighting. Glasses can make you even more anxious. It becomes so annoying that you will disable it.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Display

The Google Pixel 7 Pro has the same screen size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. A large 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED screen greets you in the Pixel 7 Pro. A screen that can hit 1,500 nits of peak brightness is easily visible, even in direct sunlight. The punch-hole display has Corning Gorilla Glass protection for protection. I haven't done a drop test, not even accidentally yet, so can't speak to its longevity. Even the Vectus glass does not prevent the display from smudges and scratches.

The display is curved towards the edges which gives the phone an infinite feel. I watched a segment of HOD and ICC Men's T20 World Cup on it and trust me it feels amazing. The screen has a color range and displays colors according to its original composition. The 120 Hz refresh rate is there to help us while gaming or watching a live feed of a cricket match. The AOD here is simple, does its job perfectly, and without waste much of the battery. Overall, the Google Pixel 7 Pro gives us a stunning, vibrant display with curved edges.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Processor

Google has also used the same Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7 Pro. The second generation processor is being developed on 5nm technology. The octa-core processor is slightly better than its last generation. Tensor G2 is supported by 12GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The same graphics, the Mali-G710 MP7, is used in the Pixel 7 Pro. The phone has been a capable performer in routine tasks. Despite the discussion on thermal performance, the Pixel 7 Pro generates heat and a lot of it. Google needs to work on the heat dissipation issue in the next generation of Pixel phones as it is not expected for a phone that costs so much.

The Pixel 7 Pro has a Titan M2 chip on top of the Tensor G2 that improves the phone's security. The inbuilt VPN doesn't work here either. The Pixel 7 Pro runs on Android 13 out of the box. The features of Android 13 will remain the same as we mentioned in the Pixel 7 review. A pure Android experience is what makes all Pixel phones special and the Pixel 7 Pro is no different.

Overall, the Google Pixel 7 Pro Tensor G2, Android 13, and 12GB of RAM match phones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC in terms of performance but it really needs to work on the heating issue. The unavailability of storage options in India seems unusual.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Camera

The Pixel 7 Pro has triple rear lenses. A 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and an additional 48MP telephoto camera. The combination of all three gives us an amazing camera experience. The main lens maintains a balance between the shades of light. Daylight photography is best with software tuning and post-processing. The ultra-wide sensor captures plenty of space in the frame while maintaining color balance. The 48MP telephoto sensor zooms brilliantly. I've used it extensively in daylight, to bring distant objects closer and it certainly stuns. The Pixel 7 Pro maintains sharpness even at higher zoom levels. Macro shots have also been great but require a steady hand. Beta has two features, long exposure and action pan in the camera preset. These are mainly used when shooting a moving subject with respect to the background and vice versa. Night photography continues to impress with its clarity and noise reduction.

The selfie lens is the same as we saw in the Pixel 7. The 10.8MP front lens offers plenty of opportunities to explore. Selfies were accurate in capturing color and skin tone. Oversaturation was also not observed. Portrait shots are still better than any other phone. The phone does some software touch-ups to make selfies more appealing. Even in low-light conditions, the Pixel 7 Pro outperforms many with its capabilities.

Overall, the Pixel 7 Pro impresses with its super-res zoom and its long-term stability.

Google Pixel 7 Pro Battery

The Pixel 7 Pro has a 5,000mAh battery which is good for at least a day. The phone's battery drains when thrown into long sessions of camera use but remains stable during content consumption. Whatever the usage, the Pixel 7 Pro battery is enough for a whole day. No power adapter here either, so we need to rely on other chargers. Therefore, the charging speed varies. In my case, it took about 3 hours to fill.

Sadly, the phone generates heat while charging. Often, I had to unplug it to get it back to normal. It's not the kind of experience we'd expect in a premium flagship phone.

Conclusion

Google Pixel 7 Pro brings with it many new experiences. A design that is unique, a chipset that is becoming competitive, and an ecosystem that has a holistic approach. The camera capabilities make the Pixel 7 Pro a must-have phone if you can afford it. The display is vibrant while the battery easily handles tasks for a day. The baffling face unlocks feature and heating issues mar an otherwise brilliant phone. I strongly believe the Pixel 7 Pro could be priced ₹10,000 lower, and so is the Pixel 7.

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