Google unveiled its next series of flagship smartphones, the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro, at the Google IO developer conference event back in May 2022 along with the much-awaited Google Pixel 6a. Now, that the Google Pixel 6a is finally available for consumers to purchase, all eyes are on the Android maker’s next flagship smartphone, Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The handsets are all set to make their debut in October and will use the upgraded 2nd generation Tensor SoC. While we await the official launch, here’s everything we know so far about the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro including their launch date, price in India, specifications, and more.
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Google Pixel 7 series launch date
Google has officially announced the Pixel 7 series launch date to be October 6th at 10 AM EST (07:30 pm IST). The company has also confirmed that users can start pre-registering the next-gen Google flagships on the same day. Unlike its predecessor the Pixel 6 series, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will be launched in India as well. “nbd just our heart skipping a beat cuz the wait is almost over! Pixel 7 Pro and 7, coming soon to India,” Google India tweeted. Further, the Flipkart landing page also confirms that the next-gen flagship series are all set to hit the Indian shores soon.
Apart from the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, the Google hardware event will see the launch of the Google Pixel Watch and the Nest portfolios of devices. Users can attend the Pixel 7 launch event either in person in the U.S., Great Britain, and Australia or watch the live stream on YouTube.
Pixel 7 and 7 Pro availability (expected)
Coming to the shipping dates, the previous reports suggest Google will start shipping the handsets from October 13th, in line with previous tips from Jon Prosser. Something that is recently confirmed once again by another tipster Brandon Lee, who obtained an early Amazon listing page for the Pixel 7, which was later quickly taken down by Amazon, further confirming the shipping dates might be October 13th after all.
Google Pixel 7 series price (expected)
Recent reports suggest of the Google Pixel 7 series is expected to be $599 (~Rs 49,000) for the Pixel 7 and $899 (~ Rs 74,000) for the Pixel 7 Pro. While there is no word on Pixel 7 and 7 Pro prices in India yet, we expect Google to launch these devices with much higher pricing than its dollar counterparts. Considering Google Pixel 6a is priced in the US at $449 (~ Rs 37,000), but the handset retails in India at Rs 43,999 due to several factors including import taxes and GST.
Google Pixel 7 models
Google officially announced two flagship Pixel models: Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro, at the Google IO 2022 developer conference. But according to a report from 9to5Google, the brand seems to be testing another device, which is codenamed G10 in the Android Open Source Project. The handset is expected to get a high-end display. Tom’s guide further speculates that this new device could be called Google Pixel 7 Ultra. Apart from this, we expect Google to announce a Google Pixel 7a, which is named Project Neila internally according to reports, sometime in 2023. Google also seems to be working on a Pixel Mini if the recent developments are to be believed. But for the time being, Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro are the only officially confirmed devices set to launch on October 6th.
Google Pixel 7 specifications
Display
Google hasn’t revealed the official specifications of the upcoming Pixel flagships. But according to reports Google Pixel 7 will come with a 90Hz 6.3-inch OLED display with 1,080 x 2,400p resolution, whereas the Pixel 7 Pro is expected to come with a 120Hz 6.7-inch OLED display (LTPO) with a 1,440 x 3,120p resolution. To recall, Google used a similar display configuration on the last year’s Pixel 6 series, barring the somewhat downsized 6.3-inch display on the Pixel 7. Both smartphones are expected to retain the HDR10+ certification. Another report claims that Pixel 7 Pro’s display would be brighter than its predecessor, and is using a Samsung S6E3HC4 panel with a maximum 1000nits brightness.
Processor
Google confirmed that both smartphones will use the upgraded second generation Tensor SoC (first spotted by 9to5Google), which is named Tensor G2, and will be a successor to the last year’s original first generation Tensor SoC. To recall the first-gen Tensor chip was previously used on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and the recently launched Pixel 6a smartphone. The Pixel 7 landing page confirms this further (via Android Authority).
The new chip has the model number GS201 with the codename “Cloudripper” and is also said to use the Samsung 5300 Exynos Modem for connectivity and Titan chip for Security. The recent Geekbench listing has also revealed the Pixel 7 Pro will include the motherboard named “Cheetah”.
Further, recent findings from Kuba Wojciechowski reveal the insides of the new chip in its entirety. The Tensor SoC will use a Mali-G710 GPU, which is expected to offer up to a 20 percent increase in graphics performance, according to Arm. The report further points out Tensor G2’s CPU will offer minimal performance gains over its predecessor, with negligible gains when it comes to single-core performance and around a 10 percent improvement in multi-core performance. As for the particulars of the CPU setup, the SoC is using the same layout as the original Tensor chip, with 2x Arm Cortex X1 + 2x Arm Cortex A76 + 4x Arm Cortex A55 configuration. However, the chip is now based on a 4nm process instead of the 5nm on the previous Tensor chip. This and combined with slight bumps in CPU frequencies across the board in the new Tensor SoC is what enables Google to offer the performance gains we are seeing, says Kuba Wojciechowski.
The 4 + 2 + 2 triple-tier CPU layout means the low-end A55 cores will handle less demanding tasks, and the remaining two mid-cores and high-cores will take care of the CPU-intensive tasks.
Camera
Since Google confirmed that it’ll use the upgraded second-generation Tensor SoC in the upcoming Pixel flagships, we expect Google to make use of its latest chipset to its full strength. Something that Google already seems to be doing, since, according to a series of leaks from Twitter user Kuba Wojciechowski suggest that Google is using the same GN1 primary sensor and IMX381 ultra-wide sensor, the same as last year’s flagships. This is not the first time that Google would be using its computational photography tricks to achieve gains in camera performance while keeping the camera hardware specs upgrades to minimal.
The front camera is now said to use an 11MP Samsung 3J1 sensor, both on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The tipster further suggests the Pixel 7 Pro will have a new Samsung GM1 telephoto sensor on the back. To recall, Google previously used Sony’s IMX586 on the Pixel 7 Pro. The tipster says the decision to change the telephoto sensor is a bit unusual as both sensors perform almost similarly. Further, another report from 9to5Google suggests that both Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be capable of shooting 4K from the front camera.
The recent reports from Yogesh Brar further confirm these camera changes to some extent. The tipster suggests that the Pixel 7 uses a 50MP + 12MP (UltraWide) dual rear camera layout, whereas the Pixel 7 packs a triple camera setup with 50MP + 12MP (UltraWide) + 48MP (Telephoto). Both phones sport 11MP front selfie cameras.
RAM and storage
Coming to the RAM and storage configurations. The Pixel 7, according to a recent report from Yogesh Brar, will come with 8GB RAM and in 128GB and 256GB storage variants. And the Pixel 7 Pro will pack up to 12GB of RAM and will be offered in 128GB and 256GB models.
Battery
The tipster Yogesh Brar has further confirmed that Google Pixel 7 will pack a 4,700mAh battery and will have 30W fast charging and will support wireless charging as well. The Google Pixel 7 Pro, on the other hand, will use a bigger 5,000mAh battery and a similar 30W fast charging speed as the standard Pixel and will also feature wireless charging support.
Software
Google Pixel 7 series is officially confirmed to run Android 13 out of the box. Android 13 will include changes to Material Desing 2.0, a new photo and video picker, more private Nearby Device permission, new Project Mainline modules, Bluetooth LE Audio, support for MIDI 2.0, and more control over the app notifications as well as support for DNS over HTTPS.
Android 13 is also expected to include an app drawer button in Taskbar UI, HDR video support in Camera2 API, resolution settings to save battery, a new unified Security & Privacy section to easily control what data you share with apps, 3D wallpapers with ‘cinematic effects’, dark mode for bedtime, revamped screen savers for tablets, QR code shortcuts in Settings, and new media controls. Dynamic System Updates will also get faster. The OS will also get a bandwidth throttling feature in Developer options to let you control the internet speeds, and the Clipboard data will be automatically cleared after 1 hour to preserve users’ privacy.
Google Pixel 7 series design
The Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro sport an upgraded design language and will see an aluminium camera visor at the rear. The camera visor of the Pixel 7 Pro now features two cutouts for the cameras. One housing the primary sensor and an ultra-wide camera and the other cutout probably housing a telephoto sensor. This design is quite a departure from the Pixel 6 series’ more subdued camera visor design. The full official design reveal can be seen here for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro here. Moving on, another report from Tom’s guide also suggests that the Pixel 7 series could also use an under-screen selfie camera based on a Google patent.
In terms of design dimensions, CAD-based readers from CarHP suggest that the Pixel 7 will get 155.6mm x 73.1mm x 8.7mm (11.44 mm with the rear camera bump), suggesting the device will be smaller and will sport a slimmer build than the Google Pixel 6. To recall, Pixel 6 featured 158.6mm x 74.8mm x 8.9mm dimensions. Whereas, since the Pixel 7 Pro has expected to retain the same display size we expect the dimensions for the device will be similar to the Pixel 6 Pro, but it may get a slimmer build.
As For the colours, Google has officially revealed Pixel 7 will come in Obsidian, Snow, and Lemongrass. Whereas, Pixel 7 Pro will come in Obsidian, Snow, and Hazel.
Pixel 7 news
Google Pixel 7 series India launch confirmed (September 21st)
Google has officially confirmed that it’ll bring the Google Pixel 7 series to India ‘soon’. The e-commerce giant Flipkart’s recent Pixel 7 landing page further confirms this, which reads Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro “are on deck” and “coming soon.”
Google will officially unveil the Pixel 7 series on October 6th (September 7th)
Google will officially reveal the Pixel 7 series on October 6th, at 10 am EST along with other hardware such as the Google Pixel Watch and the Nest portfolios of devices. Google also confirmed that users can start buying the next-gen Google flagships on the same day. Users can attend the Pixel 7 launch event either in person in the U.S., Great Britain, and Australia or watch the live stream on YouTube.