It has flashier features than the regular Pixel 7, should you pay extra for the Pro version? Given that the Pixel 7 Pro has greedily grabbed all the major upgrades, it’s no surprise that Google wants you to buy this phone in 2022.
However, with the market for high-end phones already saturated, especially with Apple’s new iPhone 14 (£849), has Google made enough changes to make the Pixel 7 Pro stand out?
Launched alongside the Pixel Watch (£339) during Google’s annual reveal event, the Pixel 7 Pro packs a number of exclusive features, including a larger (6.7in) screen with higher resolution (QHD+), an extra rear camera (48MP telephoto) and larger (5,000mAh)Google Pixel 7 Pro battery.The headline news this year is the launch of Google’s second-generation Tensor G2 chipset, the successor to the first Google-made CPU in last year’s Pixel 6 Pro (£627). It promises some improvements in performance and efficiency thanks to an increase in maximum clock speed, and if it builds on the success of last year’s version, the G2 should be able to compete with the best in the industry.
The Pixel 7 Pro and its smaller sibling are the first smartphones to ship with Android 13 pre-installed, with Google promising five years of security updates. It’s also IP68 water-resistant and protected by a Gorilla Glass Victus layer on the front and back. Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Price and competition
How does this price compare to the competition? The iPhone 14 Pro proved to be the sweet spot, with prices starting at £1,099, making it £250 more expensive than the Pixel. The regular iPhone 14 costs the same £849 as last year’s iPhone 13, but this phone is completely different, with a smaller 60Hz screen, a smaller iPhone 14 Pro battery, only two cameras and the same chipset as last year’s iPhone 13 .
Size-wise, the Pixel 7 Pro is a bit of a brick, especially compared to the regular Pixel 7. The screen is bigger and the battery is bigger, but it’s quite heavy at 212 grams, which is a lot more on your hands. As a result, it’s a bit bulky to use with one hand, so if you plan on doing a lot of walking and texting, I would recommend a protective case. If you do drop it, the Pixel 7 Pro has some level of impact protection thanks to the multi-layered Gorilla Glass Victus sandwiched between the front and rear. It also has an IP68 rating, which means it can be submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m for up to 30 minutes.Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Display
As expected, the Pixel 7 Pro has a larger screen, with a 6.7-inch OLED display. The panel also has a higher resolution than the regular Pixel 7 — QHD+ (3,120 x 1,440) compared to FHD+ — and a smoother refresh rate at 120Hz One thing to note is that the resolution can be changed in your phone’s settings menu. Switches to FHD+ by default, which may be a Pixel 7 Pro battery-saving measure on the Pixel 7 Pro. More predictably, this is another great screen in terms of color performance Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Performance and Google Pixel 7 Pro battery life
As I mentioned above, Google’s second-generation Tensor chipset, the G2, first appeared in the Pixel 7 Pro. Google has increased the clock speed of the eight-core CPU to 2.85GHz (from 2.8GHz last year), and the on- chip AI and machine learning algorithms are said to be faster, too. The phone is available with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, and whichever model you choose, you’ll get 12GB of RAM – the regular Pixel 7 only gets 8GB.