However, more information is expected to be released in the near future.
The Google Pixel 7 has been unveiled by Google. We now have a better idea of what the phone will look like with revised camera lenses on the horizontal bar of the device (which is now made of aluminum).
That Tensor processor is also expected to be used in the Pixel 7, allowing for even more AI and machine learning capabilities in this fall’s smartphones.
It’s understandable that there are still a lot of unresolved questions about the Pixel 7 – the new phones won’t be released until later this year. There are bound to be additional Pixel 7 speculations in the coming months that will create a clearer image of how Google’s phone will compete with the likes of the Galaxy S22 and the future iPhone 14.
If you’d want to see what else we know about Google’s upcoming flagships, here’s what we have so far.
When will Google’s Pixel 7 launch?
We’ve only heard that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be available in the fall, and that’s about it. According to Google’s custom, the company typically unveils its fall flagship product in October.
In the future, Google will not release a new Pixel phone. As part of Google’s I/O event, the company also unveiled its new $449 affordable Pixel 6a, which shares more in common with last year’s Pixel 6 than its impending premium devices. Preorders for the Pixel 6a will begin on July 21, and the phone will ship on July 28. It’ll be ready for Pixel 7 launch after that.
The cost of the Google Pixel 7
The price of the Pixel 7 is likely to be kept under wraps until the fall launch. In order to put things in perspective, the Pixel 6 costs $599, while the Pixel 6 Pro is priced at $899. For comparison, the Galaxy S22 starts at $799, $200 more expensive than the Pixel 6’s starting price of $599.
So, we hope Google can keep the pricing of Pixel 7 and 7 Pro at the same level. It’s helped Google’s phones stand out from the competition, and the Pixel 6 is undoubtedly the best-selling Pixel in Google’s history for this reason.
Design of the Google Pixel 7
Because to the on-stage reveal at Google I/O, we have the best idea of what the Pixel 7 will look like. As previously mentioned, Google is preserving the horizontal camera bar introduced with the Pixel 6, but it is also making some adjustments to its functionality. The Pixel 7 Pro has a single lens, which we think is the telephoto lens, instead of the two cameras being grouped together.
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, with their more muted lens designs, have a very distinct appearance. The cameras on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have been put to the test. It is impossible to miss the lenses stretched across that aluminium bar while you are holding up your phone.
I’m still not sold on the new Pixel design, but I’m not the only one who isn’t. Despite my fondness for the Pixel 6 Pro’s hidden camera lenses, I don’t know whether I’ll ever be a fan of the Pixel 7. My initial impressions of the new aluminium camera bar aren’t very positive. However, I’ll need to examine the phones in person before drawing any conclusions.
Adding an under-display selfie camera to the next-generation Pixel is another possible design modification. Based on Google’s recent patent application, the company has developed a system that uses a mirror system to display either the camera or a section of the phone’s display, depending on what the user needs.
Despite the fact that this is simply a patent, it could still be years before it is ready for use, if it ever does. In any case, it’d be a fantastic feature to have on a future Pixel.
The base Pixel 7 is expected to be available in black, white, coral, and blue colours. If the render above is any indication, a sky blue option for the Pixel 7 Pro would be a good fit for the high-end phone.
Features of the Google Pixel 7
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s first-generation Tensor chipset will be replaced by a second-generation Tensor, according to Google. In the absence of specifics, we’d expect to see the kind of speed gain and power efficiency improvements that are seen when CPUs are replaced.
It will be the new Tensor chipset’s Machine Learning core that powers AI experiences that will be the big story in the industry. Google hasn’t said anything about these yet.
According to a Pixel 7 rumour, the cameras on the Pixel 7 will be the same as those on the Pixel 6. A 48MP telephoto lens would be added to the Pixel 7 Pro’s 50MP primary camera and the Pixel 7’s 12MP ultrawide angle sensor. Those are, after all, the Pixel 6 camera specifications.
The cameras in the Pixel 6 were completely redesigned by Google, so it stands to reason that the hardware on the next phones will be the same. To find out what additional camera features Google plans to implement with the improved Tensor processor, we’ll have to wait.
The Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch screen, but it sounds like Google may reduce the Pixel 7’s screen to 6.3 inches, according to Ross Young. According to reports, the Pixel 7 Pro is expected to measure 6.7 inches, making it the same size as the Pixel 6 Pro.
We’ve taken a look at the Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6 differences, including what Google has stated and what changes are said to be coming.
What we want to see in the Google Pixel 7
We’re not going to let the dearth of concrete Pixel 7 rumours stop us from making our own wish list. Even if it doesn’t, we hope that Google is listening to our proposals for its next phone.
A fingerprint reader that is more dependable
We had several issues with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s under-display fingerprint scanners in our reviews. In prior phones, the fingerprint scanner was installed on the back, but this is the first time Google has tried to put one under-the-screen. However, this does not justify the scanner’s unreliability.
As long as Google can fix the problems with its present optical fingerprint reader, we’ll be satisfied. If Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner system (found in the Samsung Galaxy S21), which uses soundwaves to recognise your prints and is therefore less affected by scratches on the screen, was used, that would be a nice solution, too.
A third option is the use of facial recognition unlocking, as Google did with the Google Pixel 4’s fingerprint scanner. Apple’s Face ID technology, however, was the only one that worked well and reliably without requiring a lot of effort on the part of the user. As a result, Google may have to go back in time to a larger top bezel. However, we’ve lately heard speculations that the Pixel 6 Pro may still be able to use face unlock, and if so, it’s a safe bet that the Pixel 7 Pro will also be able to use it.
Better and brighter displays for all models
This year’s Pixel 7 series displays might use some improvement. To begin, let me mention the brightness. At full brightness in direct sunlight, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro’s displays are unexpectedly dull. For one of the Pixel 6 series flaws, if Google could make the Pixel 7’s screen a little brighter, that’d be a huge improvement over the previous model.
The screen specifications of the regular Pixel 7 variant could also be improved. Compared to the standard Pixel 6, which only supports 90Hz, the Pixel 6 Pro has a refresh rate of 120Hz. The 120Hz offered by phones less expensive than the Pixel 6 — such as Samsung’s Galaxy A52 5G or Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 10 Pro — is an improvement over the 60Hz previously available, but we’d prefer to see Google adopt it as well. Also advantageous, but not as big a deal, is raising the Pixel 6 to a QHD resolution like the Pixel Pro.
Another one of our TG writers, who recently purchased a Pixel 6 Pro, similarly mentioned he would prefer a flat display on the Pixel 7 Pro if it were available. There is a risk that Google will not employ a curved display again if enough Pixel 6 Pro owners express their displeasure. The main problem would be ergonomics, since the 6.8-inch phone has curved edges that make it easier for users to interact with the display.
Another camera on the base Pixel 6
The Pixel 6’s two rear-facing cameras may be seen as a snub by some. Since some high-end phones are now delivering up to four cameras plus a depth sensor, this isn’t a bad number, but it’s a disappointment since some other high-end phones are now offering up to four cameras and a depth sensor (such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra).
Even if the 4x optical zoom of the Pro model isn’t available on the regular Pixel 7, a telephoto lens would be the natural choice for a third camera. A specialised macro camera for super close-up images, or a depth camera for more accurate portrait shots and greater AR performance, could also be a desirable addition.
Batteries that last longer
For the Pixel 7 series, it’s more critical than most other phone series to have this feature available for the first time.
Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, although having the biggest batteries ever in a Pixel phone, had unsatisfactory battery life when connecting to the internet through 5G. Without reliable and fast Wi-Fi connections everywhere, the rollout of 5G networks across the United States, the United Kingdom, and abroad will become increasingly problematic.
A battery capacity of 4,614 milliamp hours and 5,000 milliamp hours is not excessive for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, respectively. As a result, Google probably needs to focus on maximising the amount of power it can draw from the cells.
Improved battery life
Another area that any phone should strive to improve on is the speed of charging, and while Google has improved this with the Pixel 6, there is still room for improvement.
Pixel 6 and 6 Pro can charge at 30W cable and 23W wireless after years of using 18W charging. A third-party 30W charger charged the Pixel 6 to barely 29% capacity in our testing, despite the fact that it had a pretty high charge wattage. In the box, the Pixel 6 does not come with a charger. In comparison to phones like the OnePlus 9 series, which can charge to almost full in less than half an hour, that’s a lot slower
It’s possible that if you use a Google-approved charger, the Pixel 6 may charge significantly faster, but as it stands, this is a disappointment. There is room for improvement in Google’s charger for the Pixel 7, and a twin-cell battery option like the OnePlus 9 might help speed up the process at the same wattage.
An alert slider
In the case of iPhone and OnePlus owners, the alert slider is an essential part of the device. To fast set or stop notification sounds without unlocking the phone or even turning on the screen is an excellent method.
As far as we know, Google has never included an alert slider on a Pixel phone, and given that it’s only found on Apple and OnePlus models, it’s unlikely that it will. It’s true, however, that we think this would be a fantastic addition to the Pixel 7.