The Google Pixel 7 was finally unveiled at the “Made by Google” event on October 6th, alongside the Google Pixel 7 Pro and the Google Pixel Watch. The new smartphones feature the brand-new Google Tensor G2 chipset, with bright OLED panels, improved internals, and most importantly interesting new software features. Here is everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 7 – the new features, design tweaks and upgraded hardware.
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While the design will be familiar to anyone who saw the previous generation Google Pixel 6 series, but with several refinements. The camera bar is back – which will undoubtedly remain for years as Google’s smartphone’s signature – and has been incorporated into the chassis this time around instead of being bolted onto the back. It lends the device a more premium look and feel, which is great at this price point.
The back of the device is still protected by a glass panel, with the frame and camera bar being made from aluminium. The Google Pixel 7 is actually slightly smaller than last year’s model, which means the battery and OLED panel is also slightly smaller. The front of the device is nearly indistinguishable from the Pixel 6, with the same bezel design and hole-punch cut-out at the top-centre. This time around Google has used the selfie cam for a new Face Unlock feature, which uses machine learning to make sure it isn’t looking at an image or some other fakery.
The Google Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch, 1080 x 2400 (Full HD+), OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 7 keeps the 20:9 aspect ratio, despite becoming slightly smaller than last year’s 6.4-inch display on the Pixel 6. Despite the smaller size, the technology and the display panel have received a lot of updates. The new display should provide excellent colours due to the 24-bit depth for 16 million colours, and it also has an up to 25% brighter display, providing up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness. It is unfortunate that the Pixel 7 didn’t receive the 120Hz panel that’s in the Pro model, but it can be forgiven at this price point.
While there aren’t many hardware changes when it comes to the camera system, the new Tensor G2 chipset enables some interesting new software camera features. The Google Pixel 7 comes with a 50MP, f/1.9 primary camera, capable of Super Res Zoom up to 8x, and a 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera with 114-degree field of view.
One of the new software features is Cinematic Blur. It will apply background blur effects in real-time, providing cinema photography straight from the device. The new Google Tensor G2 processor will provide advanced machine learning processing and deliver better photo and video quality. The new chip also provides more advanced features, such as the new Super High Res Zoom, up to two times faster Night Sight processing, sharper focus with less blur, and the new Cinematic Blur feature for recording videos.
The new Google Pixel 7 costs the same as last year’s model, starting at $599. That’s a lot of bang for your buck, if you ask us. While the Pro model may be more premium, the price difference will probably entice most people to go for the Pixel 7.
