Dare I say it’s the “perfect” Google phone?

I don’t want to waste anyone’s time with a 5000 word review. There are plenty of other reviews out there where you can find all that word vomit. With this review I want to get you in and out with the facts you need to know Pixel 7 Pro from Google if you happen to be on the fence.

Fact 1: It’s a stunning device, especially in this Hazel color option. Fact 2: The camera is incredible. Fact 3: You should probably buy it if you’re a Google fan. Now, if you need one a little more convincing and insight into why I feel this way, let’s continue.

This is our Pixel 7 Pro review!

What I like

Show – I thought the Pixel 6 Pro display was a solid panel of pixels to look at last year, but I had a slight issue with the brightness levels. It was not a very bright device. Google directly claimed the issue with the Pixel 7 Pro, claiming that this display gets 25% brighter (even in sunlight). I can confirm that the screen gets much brighter now (1500 nits peak brightness), still with rich colors, a depth of black only seen with OLED panels, and of course support for up to 120Hz refresh rate. Although large compared to smaller devices, the 6.7-inch QHD+ screen is easy to maneuver and the screen’s bezel isn’t as drastic as you’ll find on some other curved glass phones.

Specifications – At $899, the Pixel 7 Pro comes packed with everything a user could need. Well, as long as you don’t mind the lack of a headphone jack and expandable storage. Sorry, but we’ve stopped counting those things. Anyway, here’s an overview of what Google has packed in here. It’s a 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, Tensor G2 chipset, 12GB RAM, 128GB+ storage, 5000mAh battery, stereo speakers, triple rear camera system (50MP wide + 12MP ultrawide + 48MP telephoto), 10.8 MP front camera. , on-screen optical fingerprint reader, face unlock, eSIM support, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, NFC, wireless charging, wireless power sharing, IP68 rating and Android 13. That’s a lot of good stuff.

Software and performance – Pixel phones are always the most Googley of Android software experiences, given that Google wants its hardware to showcase all its Google stuff like Google Assistant, Google apps and Google services. Fortunately, Assistant has only gotten better and more useful over the years, Google apps are some of the most used apps across the planet on both Android and iOS, and Google’s services are also extremely popular around the world. When you have the company that makes the phone running these software and programs, you should expect it to run smoothly. As for the Pixel 7 Pro, powered by a Tensor G2 chip and 12GB of RAM, it runs almost flawlessly. In my day-to-day use, I honestly haven’t encountered a moment Jank, which is a relief considering I can’t stand stuttered performance. The animations on the 7 Pro are smooth, swiping through apps is quick, and the 120Hz screen is very noticeable when you’re performing various tasks on the phone.

On the software side, I’d say things get a little more subjective, simply because it’s perfectly fine if someone prefers the look of Samsung’s One UI versus Google’s Pixel Experience. But what I hope we can all agree on is Android 13 in general. It’s been a lovely iteration of Android so far, with the dynamic themes playing a big part in why I like it so much. It’s so cool to be able to just change a wallpaper and get a whole new vibe for your device. Android 13 also feels so mature, with easy access to smart home controls, smart recommendations for media and a settings menu that’s concise. Years from now, I know I’ll look back on Android 13 the same way I look back on KitKat. It was a big leap forward back then, and while the leaps may not seem as big now, this is a very solid and well-performing step for Google’s Android team.

For those who need the latest and greatest version of Android, Google guarantees 3 years of Android OS upgrades (until October 2025), plus 5 years of security updates (until October 2027).

Camera – This. Camera. Is. Fantastic.

It’s no shock to me, but Google brought the heat (🔥) with the Pixel 7 Pro, offering a new macro mode (powered by the ultra-wide sensor), 48MP telephoto lens with 30X Super Res Zoom and a cinema mode for video taken from the main lens on 50 megapixel wide angle. Now you can not only master images of the cosmos with Night Sight, but you can take amazingly detailed photos of objects sitting right next to you with Macro mode. This was a great introduction to the feature, which automatically turns on when the phone detects an object close enough. And yes, the 30X zoom also works amazingly, something similar (but not as strong) as the Space Zoom function we’ve seen from Samsung in the past.

Most importantly, the triple rear camera system is extremely versatile, which means you’ll be able to take a good photo in almost any condition the average user might find themselves in. Photos get great colors, amazing contrast levels, and Google’s set photos. white balance and exposure levels almost never disappoint. The phone always seems to know exactly what the shot calls for, and if you’re in a rush to snap a shot, that’s all a user could ask for. This phone may easily have my favorite camera system ever to be released on a smartphone, and in the 12 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve tried a lot of phones.

Here are some samples, untouched. However, they are resized and compression occurs.

Face unlock, improved biometrics – The Pixel 6 Pro, at least in the opinion of a large number of owners, does not have a good fingerprint reader. It has been improved since launch via software updates, but it never performed as well as many had hoped. With the Pixel 7 Pro, Google has solved that problem, and I think this phone’s fingerprint reader performs incredibly well. I hardly, if at all, get the text not recognized by fingerprint on the device after a failed read attempt. This phone? I put my finger down and boom, it unlocks 99% of the time. Yes, thanks, Google.

In addition to an improved fingerprint experience, Google has included Face Unlock, something we’ve been waiting for on these devices for years. Now that it’s here, does it work well? Yes! It works really well, even for someone who always wears a different hat and whose facial hair is at different (but all horribly uneven) levels throughout the week. In the Face Unlock settings, you can select the “Require eyes to be open” option, as well as an option to skip the lock screen when you have a successful unlock. It’s actually pretty handy, but Google warns that with Face Unlock there’s always the risk of accidental unlocking via looking at the phone, someone holding the phone up to your face, and your evil identical twin using their face. So evil.

Hardware – This. Telephone. Is. Gorgeous.

I apologize for all the big and bold statements, but when I feel passionate about something, I have to try to convey it. I’ve seen a lot of great phones, but this phone is really pretty. What helps it, for me, is this Hazel color with the subtle champagne gold finish and camera body. What an elegant look this phone has. Do I wish the back was more matte and possibly a bit textured instead of a somewhat smooth glass? Yes, but I want to live well. For those afraid of size, embrace the big. The larger size means a bigger screen for media consumption and a bigger battery, which is never a bad thing. I’m not a big fan of super-big phones, but the Pixel 7 Pro is a very good size, almost identical to last year’s Pixel 6 Pro. If you’re coming from that device, you probably won’t notice any difference with it in your hand. With all that said, just look at this phone. It’s hot, isn’t it?

What could be better

Battery – If I could ask for something to be a little better, it would be the battery. I spend an average of 3-4 hours with the screen on at a time and always go to bed with less than 20% battery left. My schedule is usually 7am to around 10-11pm. That’s fine by me, but I’m curious how the players and superusers will fare. All I’ve been doing is a lot of Chrome browsing, TikTok watching, YouTube viewing and photography. I hardly played any games on my phone (I use G Cloud for that now), so I’ll look around the web to see how others are doing in the battery department. But again, for my use, the Pixel 7 Pro is quite adequate.

What will also help is a faster charging solution. Google is never very generous in this department, so we’re not shocked. While OnePlus and others offer silly fast charging, the Pixel 7 Pro tops out at 23W, and you’ll need a compatible charger to do that. Google claims you get about 50% battery with 30 minutes of charging, which is fine, but it could still be a little better if they wanted to invest in that area. And as a note, the phone does not comes with a charging adapter, so you’ll need to get your own.

Other notes

• Speaker performance — The stereo speakers on the Pixel 7 Pro sound great. I enabled the Adaptive Sound feature and I really like it. It works well.
• Call performance — Can you believe it, I made a few calls with the Pixel 7 Pro over T-Mobile’s network. Calls sounded good and the people on the other line heard me just fine. Phone works well as a phone. Mission accomplished.
• Wife impression — I don’t have a quote to share, but her main takeaway was that the appearance of the device was very much in the way. She loves Hazel. However, she says it felt a little big in the hand and prefers the feel of the smaller Pixel 7.
• The image is de-blurred — Google launched a new Photo Unblur feature on this device and it works exceptionally well. I’ve used it on photos like my mom took back in the early 90’s and it’s pretty amazing. It can sometimes be subtle, but that’s what I like about it. Definitely try out some of your ugly, blurry photos and see what they can do.

Price and availability

The Pixel 7 Pro is priced at a ridiculously affordable $899. That is if you don’t have a trade-in. With a trade-in, you can look at an even more affordable price. Compared to other top flagship devices, the price of $899 looks perfect. This phone offers almost everything every other high-end device offers, but it has a camera system that puts many of the others to shame. It has a good list of specifications and Google intends to support it for the next few years with Android OS upgrades and security updates. This phone is worth the investment.

Buy Pixel 7 Pro ($899)

Videos

Unboxing

The first 10 things to do

The verdict

I keep getting asked if the Pixel 7 Pro is worth an upgrade from *insert any phone here*. I want to say it super easy for everyone – yes, it is! This will probably be my vote for POTY, which is surprising even to me because I’m a huge, huge fan of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It’s the camera for me, though. This phone makes me want to take more pictures, either by using Night Vision, Macro Mode or the telephoto lens. It all works so well that it’s a real joy to whip out and use. The phone’s software and performance are incredibly smooth, plus this hardware is so easy on the eyes. This is a 9.5/10 unit here. Google crushed it. I recommend it to all Android users, not just Google fanboys.