Google’s new flagships have been confirmed, but more information is still forthcoming.
Google has provided us with a sneak preview of the Google Pixel 7. We are aware of the phone’s appearance thanks to a sneak peek from the Google I/O developer conference in May, which features newly designed camera lenses on the recognizable horizontal bar (which is now made of aluminum).
The Pixel 7 will feature a second-generation Tensor chip, as we had anticipated, which will further open up a wide range of AI and machine learning capabilities in this fall’s smartphones.
The Pixel 7 still has a lot of unanswered questions, though, and for good reason—the new phones won’t be available until later this year. In the coming months, further Pixel 7 rumors will undoubtedly surface to provide a more complete picture of how Google’s phone will compete with gadgets like the Galaxy S22 and the next iPhone 14.
Here are the details we currently know about the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, as well as new information regarding Google’s upcoming flagship.
Google Pixel 7 news and rumors (Updated June 27)
- Google’s premium phone could have a screen that is brighter than the Pixel 6 Pro, making it a more potent rival to the iPhone.
- A pre-production sample appears to have revealed some extra information about the Pixel 7 Pro’s processor and display.
- It’s claimed that someone accidentally purchased a prototype Pixel 7 Pro and used it for three weeks before Google remotely erased it.
Google Pixel 7 possible release date
The only information Google has provided is that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be released in the autumn. If we had to hazard a guess, we would mark October on our calendars because that is when Google usually debuts their autumn flagship product.
The following Google phone to go on sale won’t be the Pixel 7. The Pixel 6a, a new $449 affordable phone from Google that resembles the Pixel 6 more than the future flagships, was also unveiled at the same I/O presentation where we received our Pixel 7 peek. Beginning on July 21, preorders for the Pixel 6a will ship on July 28. Then, everything will be ready for the launch of Pixel 7.
Google Pixel 7 price speculation
Prior to the fall launch of the Pixel 7, Google will likely maintain price control. To put things in perspective, the Pixel 6 is $599, while the Pixel 6 Pro is $899. That is less expensive than what other phone manufacturers charge for their flagship models; for instance, the Galaxy S22 starts at $799, which is $200 more expensive than the Pixel 6.
We therefore anticipate Google being able to maintain its pricing for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It made Google’s phones stand out from the competition and undoubtedly helped the Pixel 6 become the most popular Pixel in the company’s history in terms of sales.
Google Pixel 7 models
Google stated during Google I/O that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be released in the fall. Most people had assumed that the Pixel 7 lineup included only of those two versions. There are indications, nevertheless, that a third Pixel 7 variant exists.
Code referencing a potential third Pixel 7 variant has been discovered by Google. This phone has a 120Hz display like the Pixel 6 Pro (and probably the Pixel 7 Pro), but its height and width are slightly greater than Google’s current Pro model. This would be a Pixel with a little larger screen since it is anticipated that the Pixel 7 Pro will have the same 6.7-inch screen as the present Pixel 6 Pro.
What likelihood does this alleged Pixel 7 Ultra have? We’d continue to believe that only two models are planned for the fall unless we get more proof to the contrary.
Google Pixel 7 design
Thanks to the on-stage presentation at Google I/O, here is the area where we have the clearest idea of what to anticipate from the Pixel 7. As previously mentioned, Google is making some adjustments while preserving the horizontal camera bar that debuted with the Pixel 6. On the Pixel 7 Pro, there is a separate lens, which we presume is the telephoto shooter; the primary camera and ultrawide camera are now grouped together.
Compared to the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which have more modest lens designs, it has a very distinct appearance. The cameras on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have being operated at maximum capacity. The lenses stretched across that aluminum bar will be visible to anyone watching you hold up your phone.
I still don’t think the new Pixel look is appealing, but I’m not convinced either. I appreciate the hidden camera lenses on my Pixel 6 Pro, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever like the new focus on the Pixel 7. In my opinion, the camera bar still has a slightly uncomfortable appearance, and the new, bright aluminum bar isn’t particularly attractive at first glance. However, I need to have the phones in my hands before I can make a final judgment.
Google might modify the next-generation Pixel’s design by including a selfie camera below the display. That is based on a Google patent that advances the under-display selfie camera technology that is presently found on some smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the ZTE Axon 30, by employing a mirror system to reveal the camera or a section of the display depending on the situation.
Since this is simply a patent, if it ever becomes a reality it may take a while before it is ready for usage. But it would be a fantastic focal point for a future Pixel.
The base Pixel 7 is expected to be available in black, white, coral, and blue. The Pixel 7 Pro won’t be available in any specific colors, but if the rendering above is any indication, the Pro phone would look great in sky blue.
AMC20 (opens in new tab), a Reddit user, is said to have unintentionally purchased a Pixel 7 Pro prototype. They claimed the phone operated without issue for roughly three weeks before performing a factory reset. The idea is that Google did it from a distance. The fingerprint sensor even lined up correctly, according to AMC20_, who claims that a screen protector for the Pixel 6 Pro worked on the model they bought.
This suggests that the Pixel 7 Pro will share a physical design with the Pixel 6 Pro. The redesigned camera bar and camera cutout design on the device’s rear appear to be the greatest alterations, based on everything from the dimensions to the screen’s curve.
Google Pixel 7 specs and features
A successor to the first-generation Tensor chipset featured inside the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google announced that it is working on a second-generation Tensor chipset. Google hasn’t specified what changes to anticipate, but we’d assume they’ll be of the same caliber as the performance and power efficiency increases you often experience when CPUs are replaced.
The AI applications made possible by the new Tensor chipset’s machine learning core will be the bigger story. What those would be has not yet been disclosed by Google.
According to a Pixel 7 rumor, Google won’t upgrade the Pixel 6’s cameras for the Pixel 7. If true, the Pixel 7 will have a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide angle sensor, while the Pixel 7 Pro will add a 48MP telephoto lens to those cameras. After all, those are the features of the Pixel 6 camera.
When Google debuted the Pixel 6, it completely redesigned the cameras, so it makes reasonable that the forthcoming phones’ hardware would follow suit. We’re interested to see what new camera features Google will implement given its expertise in computational photography and the upgraded Tensor processor.
According to Ross Young, Google may reduce the Pixel 7’s screen size from 6.4 inches on the Pixel 6 to 6.3 inches on the Pixel 7. However, it appears that the Pixel 7 Pro will be the same size as the Pixel 6 Pro, at 6.7 inches.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will reportedly employ the same displays as the Pixel 6 series, with a few minor changes, according to an interesting rumor on 9to5Google(opens in new tab). One of those changes, though, may have a significant impact because the Pixel 7 Pro’s display is predicted to upscale from 1080p to 2K in order to conserve battery life.
The Pixel 7 Pro, according to later sources, will have a different display than its predecessor, despite maintaining the same adaptive refresh rate range (10Hz to 120Hz) and resolution (3120 x 1440). The Pixel 7 Pro’s display brightness, which would reach 600 nits at its default setting as opposed to 500 nits for the Pixel 6 Pro, will instead see an improvement. The Pixel 7 Pro’s maximum brightness setting was 1,000 nits.
Even though it’s still early, we’ve put up a comparison of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 differences, including both official Google announcements and rumors of upcoming revisions.
What we hope to see from the Google Pixel 7
Although there haven’t been any more concrete Pixel 7 rumors, it hasn’t prevented us from making our own wish list. We merely hope that Google is considering ideas for its upcoming phone in addition to what it has previously revealed.
a more trustworthy fingerprint scanner
In our reviews, we bemoaned the under-display fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. As the business previously mounted a fingerprint reader on the back of its phones, this is Google’s first attempt to embed the scanner beneath the screen. That doesn’t excuse the scanner’s unreliable operation, though.
If Google could only work out the flaws in its present optical fingerprint scanner, we’d be pretty satisfied. A viable strategy would also be to use Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner system, which uses soundwaves to identify your prints and is therefore less impacted by screen scratches (found in the Samsung Galaxy S21).
Another option is for Google to completely do away with the fingerprint reader and go to facial recognition unlocking, like it did with the Google Pixel 4. However, the method wasn’t very effective either, and it would take some time for it to become as seamless and dependable as Apple’s Face ID system. In order to fit the required sensors, Google might also need to go back to a larger top bezel. Despite this, there have been new reports that the Pixel 6 Pro may still receive face unlock; if this is the case, face unlock will undoubtedly be available for at least the Pixel 7 Pro.
For all models, better and brighter screens
There are a few ways Google could enhance the Pixel 7 series’ displays. Starting with brightness. Even when set to maximum brightness in full sunlight, Google’s displays on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are surprisingly dull. Undoubtedly, it’s horrible to not be able to see your smartphone’s display clearly, so if Google could boost the brightness of the Pixel 7’s display by a few hundred more nits, it would be one of the worst problems with the Pixel 6 series rectified.
The specifications of the screen on the base Pixel 7 model may also use some enhancement. The basic Pixel 6 only supports 90Hz, however the Pixel 6 Pro offers 120Hz. That’s an improvement over the 60Hz that smartphones used to only offer, but given that devices less expensive than the Pixel 6 can offer 120Hz (for examples, see the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G or the Redmi Note 10 Pro), we’d like to see Google implement it as well. Although not as significant, increasing the Pixel 6’s FHD resolution to QHD like the Pro would be advantageous.
One of our TG writers, who recently purchased a Pixel 6 Pro, also expressed his desire for Google to replace the Pixel 7 Pro’s curved display with a flat one. Prior to the Pixel 6 Pro, Google didn’t utilize curved displays, so if enough Pixel 6 Pro owners voice their dissatisfaction, this design decision may not be used again. The main problem would then be ergonomics, as the enormous 6.8-inch handset’s curved edges make it easier for people to engage with the screen.
Added camera to the Pixel 6’s base model.
The Pixel 6 may have been treated unfairly by Google by receiving only two back cameras. Even while it’s the same number of cameras as the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4, as well as what the base iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini offer, it’s disappointing given that some high-end smartphones now offer up to four cameras plus a depth sensor (such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra).
Even while its magnification wouldn’t match the 4x optical zoom of the Pixel 7 Pro model, a telephoto lens would be the obvious choice for the third camera on the base model. A specialized macro camera for incredibly close-up images or a depth camera for more accurate portrait shots and greater AR functionality may also be useful additions.
increased battery life
We usually want to see this with each new iteration of a certain phone series, but it’s especially crucial for the Pixel 7 series.
The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro showed poor longevity when connected to the internet over 5G despite having the biggest battery ever in a Pixel phone. If you can’t count on consistent and fast Wi-Fi connections everywhere you go, that will become an increasingly significant issue as 5G networks spread across the U.S., the U.K., and beyond.
It doesn’t appear like the batteries in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are overly little given their capacities of 4,614 mAh and 5,000 mAh, respectively. Google should likely instead concentrate on making the best use of the electricity that it has access to within the cells.
faster charging
Again, faster charging is something that every phone should strive to achieve, and while Google did made improvements with the Pixel 6, more effort is still required to make it a true rival.
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can now charge at up to 30W cable and 23W wireless after years of using 18W charging. Nevertheless, despite having a pretty high charging wattage, the Pixel 6 in our testing only charged to 29 percent of its capacity after 30 minutes of use on a third-party 30W charger. (One is not included in the box with the Pixel 6). That’s not very quick, especially when you consider that phones like the OnePlus 9 series charge almost completely in 30 minutes.
If you use a plug made by Google, the Pixel 6 might charge much more quickly, but as it stands, this is unacceptably slow. To enable faster filling at the same wattage, Google may use a twin-cell battery similar to the OnePlus 9 or a higher-wattage charger for the Pixel 7.
An alert slider
The alert slider is a vital component of the phone for iPhone users (and to a lesser extent OnePlus customers). Without having to unlock the phone or even turn on the screen, it is a quick and efficient way to enable or disable notification noises.
Since an alert slider has never been included on a Pixel phone and is now only present on Apple and OnePlus models, it seems doubtful that Google will change its stance. However, we continue to believe that the Pixel 7 would benefit greatly from having this.