Google’s flagship phones Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are here, and both bring exclusive new features that may appeal to Pixel phone owners who may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade.
Both the $599 (£599, AU$999) Pixel 7 and the $899 (£849, AU$1,299) Pixel 7 Pro feature the Tensor G2 chip, which is the second edition of Google’s in-house processor. They also offer new software features like Photo Unblur to revive blurry images and improvements in call quality, like the upcoming Clear Calling to filter out background noise.
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However, a big plus for previous Pixel owners is that Google offers at least three years of software and security updates, and some older models even include unlimited cloud storage for save-quality images. Google Photos storage. The latter benefit isn’t offered on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, and gives anyone with an older Pixel a lot to consider before upgrading.
To help you decide, let’s compare what the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro include with each previous generation of Pixel phone while taking into account the remaining benefits that could be lost with the upgrade.
Google’s latest flagship phones are now available for purchase. The Pixel 7 starts at $599. Get up to $750 off trade-in and $200 in Google Store credit.
Read our first shot of the Pixel 7.
Google’s high-end Pixel 7 Pro costs $899. Get up to $750 off trade-in and $200 in Google Store credit.
Read our Pixel 7 Pro review.
Pixel 7 and 7 Pro vs Pixel 6A, 6, 6 Pro
The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have a slightly improved design, the new Tensor G2 processor and camera improvements. Finally, a free VPN service will also come to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. Both phones run on Android 13 and also support face unlock. But if you already own a Pixel 6, it’s too early to upgrade.
Pixel 7 updates are welcome, but incremental. Unless you can get a new Pixel for free through a trade-in program, the differences aren’t drastic enough to justify shelling out the money for an annual upgrade.
The Pixel 6 family is powered by the first-generation Tensor processor, which is still fast enough for most everyday tasks. Google also issued software updates to fix certain bugs that some users experienced with the fingerprint sensor and display earlier this year.
The screen sizes of the 7 and 7 Pro are almost exactly the same as last year’s devices, except that the Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch screen is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6’s 6.4-inch Both the Pixel 7 Pro and 6 Pro are 6.7 inches. – inch screens.
The new phones also have very similar camera systems to last year’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have a 50-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, similar to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The high-end Pixel 7 Pro, like last year’s 6 Pro, also has a 48-megapixel telephoto camera.
The Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The biggest camera change you get with the Pixel 7 Pro is an improved zoom that’s longer and has better image quality. Google made some behind-the-scenes improvements to the way the image sensor crops the scene when zoomed. The Pixel 7 Pro also merges data from the main and telephoto lenses when zooming between 2.5x and 5x for better clarity.
Both phones have a longer digital zoom range of 8x for the regular Pixel 7 and 30x for the 7 Pro, allowing you to frame your subject tighter. Compare that to the 7x and 20x magnifications of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro respectively.
Both new phones also have a tool called Photo Unblur to clear up older photos, even photos taken with other phones and cameras. Photo Unblur is exclusive to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, as it requires the new G2 processor and is based on the Face Unblur tool from the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
The Pixel 7 Pro also has a new macro photography mode for taking close-ups, and both new Pixels have a cinematic video mode that blurs the background like Portrait mode for photos.
Google’s Pixel 6A costs $449.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
These are commendable improvements, but not significant enough to warrant an upgrade. This is especially true because Google updates older phones with new features over time. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, for example, will get new features like Clear Calling, Guided Frame (the feature that provides auditory and haptic cues to help those who are blind or have low vision take selfies), and the ability to transcribe messages from audio
The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have larger screens and superior cameras compared to the 6.1-inch Pixel 6A, which has a 12.2-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. But the Pixel 6A just launched in July at $449, which means if you bought one, it’s probably still in good shape. Unless you really need a sharper camera and a bigger screen, the Pixel 6A is worth keeping for another year.
Bottom line: Don’t upgrade just yet if you have a Pixel 6, 6A, or 6 Pro. These phones are still quite new and have a lot to offer.
The Google Pixel 5.
Juan Garzón/CNET
Pixel 7 and 7 Pro vs. Pixel 5 and 5A
There are a lot of different things between the Pixel 5 generation and the Pixel 7 line. Google’s new Pixel phones have bigger screens, bigger batteries, more advanced cameras, Google’s Tensor G2 processor, and a new glass and aluminum design. However, whether these changes warrant an upgrade depends on the condition of the phone and what you value most in a smartphone.
The Pixel 5 falls in a sort of middle ground that makes the question of whether it’s time to upgrade difficult to answer. The changes in the Pixel 7 are dramatic enough to make a noticeable difference, especially in terms of design and camera. But the Pixel 5 is also new enough to feel fast and relevant for at least a year or two.
As is often the case with new smartphones these days, the Pixel 7’s biggest improvements can be found in the camera. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro each have a higher-resolution 50-megapixel main sensor compared to the 12.2-megapixel main sensors found in the Pixel 5 and 5A. But what might be more significant are the new camera modes and tools powered by Google’s Tensor processor, which you can’t get on the Pixel 5 and 5A since those phones are powered by Qualcomm processors.
The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have features like Magic Eraser, which lets you remove unwanted objects from the background of a photo, Face Unblur, or keep faces sharp even when the subject of a photo moves, and Real Tone, which it represents different skin tones and skin more evenly.
The Google Pixel 5A.
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you upgrade from the standard 6.1-inch Pixel 5, you’ll also get a bigger screen whether you choose the 6.3-inch Pixel 7 or the 6.7-inch Pixel 7 Pro. The Pixel 5A, however, is the same size as the Pixel 7.
There are other smaller changes that come together to make the Pixel 7 generation feel new and different. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have an updated design with more durable Gorilla Glass Victus back panels and metal camera bars that extend across the entire device. In general the 7 and 7…