Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7 Pro: How to buy the right one for you

It’s here: Google’s flagship line of smartphones, the $599 Pixel 7 and $899 Pixel 7 Pro. Like last year’s Pixel phones, the two feature Google’s latest Tensor processor, a top-of-the-line camera system (with a handful of quirky software tricks), and a modernized design – highlighted by perhaps the widest camera bump on the market. In general, we don’t see any major changes to the pixel design language this time around, suggesting that Google is still going strong with this generation of smartphones.

If you have your eye on a new handset this fall, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are definitely worth a look. To help you better understand the scope of the latest phones and make your purchasing decision as pixel-perfect as possible, I’ve broken down the top reasons for buying one model over the other below.

More: Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro: All announced and the best pre-order deals

specifications

	Google Pixel 7	Google Pixel 7 Pro
advertisement	6.3-inch, 1080 x 2400 AMOLED with 90 Hz refresh rate	6.7-inch, 1440 x 3120 LTPO AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate
weight	197 g	212 g
processor	Google Tensor G2	Google Tensor G2
Memory/Storage	8GB RAM with 128GB/256GB storage	12GB RAM with 128GB/256GB/512GB storage
battery	4,355 mAh at 30W charge	5,000 mAh at 30W charge
camera	50MP f/1.85 wide, 12MP f/1.25 ultra wide, 10.8MP f/2.2 front	50 MP f/1.85 wide angle, 12 MP f/1.25 ultra wide angle, 48 MP f/3.5 telephoto, 10.8 MP f/2.2 front
connectivity	5G (below 6 GHz and mmWave)	5G (below 6 GHz and mmWave)
durability	IP68 water and dust resistance	IP68 water and dust resistance
Colours	Obsidian, Snow, Lemongrass	Obsidian, Snow, Hazel
Price	Starting at $599	Starting at $899

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You should buy the Google Pixel 7 if…

1. Price comes before anything else

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is great; It has the best camera system of any pixel and is treated with a mix of premium materials. It is also $899which makes the similar-looking, similarly-functioning Pixel 7 seem too good to be true at $599. There’s nothing wrong with paying less for a smartphone, but you’ll certainly feel guilty knowing that the Pixel 7 offers all the Android benefits of the Pro model – while costing $300 less.

2. You want a mid-range phone with big ambitions

The Pixel 7 is by no means a small phone. But compared to the larger 6.5- to 6.8-inch phones on the market, including the Pixel 7 Pro, it’s significantly more compact. Even then, Google doesn’t settle for mid-range specs on this mid-range phone. The Pixel 7 is just as powerful as the Pro sibling with an IP68 rating, the same main and ultrawide cameras, and is also powered by the latest Tensor G2 chipset for high performance and efficiency. Google is also promising at least five years of software updates for the cheaper Pixel.

3. You are #TeamLemongrass

No, I’m not talking about the flavors used in cooking. Like last year’s Pixel 6 series, the 2022 series of phones offers exclusive colors. If you’re a fan of bright and vibrant yellows, then Lemongrass – limited to the standard Pixel 7 – has your name.

More: The best phones you can buy right now

You should buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro if…

1. You want the best pixel money can buy

To be fair, $899 isn’t the most expensive price for a flagship smartphone. Google is still undercutting Samsung and Apple here while offering what is arguably the best Pixel phone to date. For the money, you get the full Pixel Camera experience (5x telephoto lens included), the new macro focus feature for detailed close-ups, polished aluminum that shines down the corners of the phone, and more. Oh, and the Pixel 7 series supports Face Unlock again.

2. You want a bigger display with a bigger battery

The Pro model has a larger 6.7-inch LTPO display than the Pixel 7, which can refresh between 1Hz and 120Hz, and a 5,000mAh battery (vs. 4,355mAh). Both aspects should result in significantly better endurance for the Pixel 7 Pro, making it ideal for power users and frequent travelers.

3. A telephoto camera is a must

While the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have the same main and ultrawide lenses, the latter has a third 48MP telephoto shooter for those dreamy portrait shots of people, pets and even food. A physical telephoto lens allows the photographer to preserve a natural depth of field in photos by adding a layer of blur that is so far superior to the digital processing that non-telephoto lenses try to achieve. If that sounds like a handy tool to you, then the Pixel 7 Pro is the better of the two Pixels.

to examine alternatives

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