Google’s new flagships have been announced, but there are still some unknowns.
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.
For good reason, there are still a lot of unresolved questions regarding the new phones, which aren’t expected to be released until later this year. As more Pixel 7 rumours surface in the coming months, we’ll have more information about how Google’s phone will compete with other top-tier smartphones such as the Galaxy S22 and the future iPhone 14.
Here’s what we know so far about Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, as well as any upcoming rumours.
Google Pixel 7 possible release date
Only that the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro would be released in the fall has been revealed by Google so far. In our best prediction, Google’s fall flagship release will be unveiled in October, which we have marked on our calendars.
No, the Pixel 7 isn’t the company’s next smartphone release. The Pixel 6a, Google’s new $449 cheap phone, was revealed at the same I/O conference as the Pixel 7 preview, and it shares more similarities with the Pixel 6 than the impending flagships. Pre-orders for the Pixel 6a begin on July 21 and the phone will ship on July 28. For the Pixel 7 launch, the decks will be clear.
Google Pixel 7 price speculation
Google is likely to keep the Pixel 7’s price under wraps until its fall release. For comparison, the Pixel 6 is $599, while the Pixel 6 Pro is $899. The Galaxy S22 starts at $799, which is $200 more than the Pixel 6, for example, making it cheaper than other phone manufactures’ top models.
So, we hope Google can keep the pricing of Pixel 7 and 7 Pro at the same level. There is little doubt that this feature contributed to the Pixel 6’s success as Google’s best-selling smartphone to date.
Google Pixel 7 models
Google has confirmed that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be released in the fall. Until now, most people had assumed that the Pixel 7 portfolio consisted of only those two variants. There are, however, clues that a third Pixel 7 model exists.
Google has discovered a probable third Pixel 7 variant, based on a piece of code. This phone, like the Pixel 6 Pro (and probably the Pixel 7 Pro), has a 120Hz display, although its height and width are mentioned as being slightly larger than Google’s current Pro model. According to rumour, Google’s Pixel 7 Pro will have the same 6.7-inch screen as the present Pixel 6 Pro, making this an upgraded Pixel.
How probable is this so-called Pixel 7 Ultra to actually be released? Since there’s no proof to the contrary, we’d expect that only two models will be released this fall.
Google Pixel 7 design
Because to the on-stage reveal at Google I/O, we have the best idea of what the Pixel 7 will look like. While the horizontal camera bar featured on the Pixel 6 remains, Google has made some changes. Pixel 7 Pro has a separate telephoto lens, which we believe to be its main camera.
Compared to the more modest lens design of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, this has a completely different aesthetic feel. 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.
The new Pixel design hasn’t won me over yet, and I’m not sure it will. For me, the Pixel 6 Pro’s hidden camera lenses are a great feature, and I’m not sure if I will ever be able to get on board with the Pixel 7. As far as I’m concerned, the new aluminium camera bar is a little unappealing at first impression. However, I’ll need to examine the phones in person before drawing any conclusions.
The next-generation Pixel could get a selfie camera hidden beneath the screen, which would be another design modification proposed by Google. In a patent application, Google proposes to use a mirror system to alternately show the front-facing camera or a portion of the display, which would improve upon the current under-display selfie camera technology found on phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the ZTE Axon 30, which both use the same basic design.
Despite the fact that this is simply a patent, it could still be years before it is ready for use, if it ever does. However, that would be a fantastic feature to include in a future Pixel.
The Pixel 7 is expected to be available in a variety of hues, including black, white, coral, and blue. The Pixel 7 Pro hasn’t been leaked in any colours yet, but based on the rendering above, a sky blue colour would look great on the Pro model.
AMC20 (opens in new tab) on Reddit claims to have accidentally purchased a prototype Pixel 7 Pro. For the first three weeks, they said, the phone worked perfectly. Then, it reverted back to factory settings. Supposedly, this was done remotely by Google. When AMC20_ bought their Pixel 6 Pro, the fingerprint sensor was perfectly aligned thanks to a screen cover they got for the device.
That suggests that the Pixel 7 Pro will look and feel like the Pixel 6 Pro. Most of the modifications appear to be centred on the device’s back, where a redesigned camera bar and cutout will be visible.
Google Pixel 7 specs and features
As a follow-up to the first-generation Tensor featured in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google revealed that a second-generation Tensor chipset is in development. 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.
The new Tensor chipset’s Machine Learning core will be the star of the show when it comes to AI applications. For now, we don’t know what they’ll be.
No new cameras are expected for the Pixel 7, according to a rumour about Google’s next-generation smartphone. 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. After all, these are the Pixel 6 camera specs
A camera upgrade was made to Pixel 6 so it makes sense that hardware will remain unchanged for future phones from Google. To see what new camera functions Google adds, we’ll have to wait till the Tensor processor is updated with its new computational photography skills.
According to Ross Young, Google may reduce the Pixel 7’s screen size from 6.4 inches to 6.3 inches. According to reports, the Pixel 7 Pro is expected to measure 6.7 inches, making it the same size as the Pixel 6 Pro.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, according to a report from 9to5Google(opens in new tab), will feature the same displays as the Pixel 6 series, with some minor adjustments. Nevertheless, one of those modifications could be quite important because the Pixel 7 Pro’s display is believed to upscale from 1080p to 2K in order to conserve battery life.
Even though it’s still early, we’ve put together a comparison of the Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6 based on both Google’s official announcements and rumours.
Google Pixel 7: What we want to see
We haven’t let the absence of reliable Pixel 7 rumours stop us from putting together our own wish list. We’d like to think that Google is considering ideas for its next phone that aren’t currently on the table.
A more reliable fingerprint reader
In our assessments of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, we criticised the under-display fingerprint scanner. Since Google has previously used a fingerprint reader on their phones, this is Google’s first attempt at placing the scanner beneath the screen. However, this does not justify the scanner’s inconsistency.
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 so is less affected by scratches on the screen, is used, it would be a decent method, 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 system, however, was the only one that worked well and reliably without a lot of effort. For this reason, a larger top bezel may be required by Google in the future. The Pixel 6 Pro may still feature face unlock, according to recent speculations, and if that’s true, it’ll be a given for the Pixel 7 Pro as well.
Better and brighter displays for all models
For the Pixel 7 series, there are a few ways that Google may improve the displays. To begin, let me say how brilliant it is. Even at maximum brightness in direct sunlight, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s displays are dull. If Google could increase the brightness of the Pixel 7’s display by a few hundred nits, it would be a significant improvement over the Pixel 6 series’ display issues.
In addition, the screen specifications of the regular Pixel 7 model could be enhanced in the future. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the normal Pixel 6 has a 90Hz refresh rate. 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. The Pixel 6’s FHD resolution could benefit from being bumped up to QHD, but it’s not as big of an issue as it is for the Pixel 6 Pro.
According to one of our TG writers, who recently purchased a Pixel 6 Pro, the flat display on the Pixel 7 Pro would be preferable to Google’s current curved display. Considering that Google didn’t employ a curved display before the Pixel 6 Pro, there’s a chance this design choice won’t make an appearance in the future. Ergonomics would be the main concern, as the enormous 6.8-inch touchscreen phone’s curved edges make it easier for consumers to engage with.
Another camera on the base Pixel 6
The Pixel 6 only has two rear cameras, which may be considered a gimmick by some. However, given that some luxury phones now provide up to four cameras plus a depth sensor, it’s still disappointing given the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4, as well as the base iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini (such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra).
In terms of third-camera options, a telephoto lens would be the most obvious, even if it wouldn’t have the same 4x optical zoom as the Pro model’s third camera. Adding a depth camera or a dedicated macro camera for extremely close-up images could also be beneficial for improving AR functionality and improving portrait shots.
Longer battery life
Every new generation of a particular phone’s series should include this feature, but the Pixel 7 series is more critical than others.
The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro had unsatisfactory battery life when connected to 5G, despite having the biggest batteries ever in a Pixel phone. As 5G networks spread across the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond, it’s going to become an increasingly huge concern unless you can rely on frequent and fast Wi-Fi connections wherever you go.
There’s no reason to believe that the batteries in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro (4,614 mAh and 5,000 mAh, respectively) are overly small. Instead, it’s likely that Google should focus on making the most of the power that’s already in the cells.
Faster charging
While Google has improved the Pixel 6’s charging speed, more work is needed to make it a true rival.
Pixel 6 and 6 Pro can charge at 30W cable and 23W wireless after years of using 18W charging. We found that the Pixel 6’s battery only achieved 29 percent capacity after half an hour of charging with a 30W third-party charger. In the box, the Pixel 6 does not come with a charger. That’s a little slow, especially when compared to phones like the OnePlus 9 series, which can charge to almost full in less than 30 minutes.
The Pixel 6 may charge more quickly if you use a Google-branded charger, but even so, the current charging speed is underwhelming. In order to allow faster charging at the same wattage, Google may use a twin-cell battery like the OnePlus 9 or increase the charger’s wattage.
An alert slider
Users of the iPhone (and, to a lesser extent, OnePlus users) rely heavily on the alert slider. Without unlocking the phone and even turning on the screen, you may rapidly enable and mute notification noises.
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. As for the Pixel 7, we still believe that this would be a fantastic addition.