The Google Pixel 7 will be offered at a tempting price of just Rs 36,499 during the Flipkart Big Billion Day 2023 sale. This represents a significant drop from its original launch price in India, which starts at Rs 59,999. But the question remains: Is the Pixel 7 a worthwhile purchase, especially considering that its successor, the Google Pixel 8, has just been launched? Keep reading to find out.
Table of Contents
What works
Cameras
Google’s Pixel-series smartphones have earned a reputation for their exceptional camera capabilities, and the Pixel 7 continues this tradition. Equipped with a dual rear camera setup comprising 50MP and 12MP sensors, this handset delivers outstanding results in various lighting conditions, be it daylight or low-light scenarios. The photos exhibit an abundance of detail and an impressive dynamic range. Google’s computational image processing can occasionally produce overly vibrant colours, but it also enhances their punchy and vivid appearance.
Now, Google’s processing skills might require a few seconds to process an image, but since it all happens in the background, you can continue to click images with fast focus and shutter speed. Moving on, the handset’s portrait mode works seamlessly on both humans and animals, producing beautiful shots with nearly perfect edge detection and a natural-looking bokeh effect. The Pixel 7’s night mode, known as Night Sight, also impresses with its ability to capture ample light and deliver excellent contrast, resulting in vivid images.
The phone also comes with a bunch of different shooting modes, including astrophotography mode, which can produce some stunning photos of celestial objects such as stars. The Pixel’s videos might not be the best, but they will do the job nicely for the price.
Software and updates
The Pixel 7 also has an edge over other Android smartphones when it comes to software and updates. The handset comes with just a handful of pre-installed Google apps, without any third-party apps or ads to disrupt your experience. Additionally, the Pixel launcher on the phone offers simplicity, customisation options, and several intelligent features, including the ‘At a Glance Widget’ and an advanced search option.
In terms of updates, the handset is guaranteed to receive the latest security updates until 2028. Furthermore, it’s promised to receive at least three major software updates, which may not seem much but serves the purpose of long-term usage.
Battery
The Pixel 7’s battery management is quite impressive. Despite housing a relatively modest 4,355mAh battery, the handset is capable of enduring a full day with moderate usage. While it might not meet the demands of heavy users who indulge in hours of mobile gaming, it delivers a respectable battery life for the majority of regular smartphone users. In my experience, I consistently achieved nearly five hours of screen time while engaging in activities such as browsing, scrolling through social media, and streaming shows for an hour or two.
Performance
The Pixel 7 features Google’s proprietary Tensor G2 chipset. While it may not be the most efficient flagship-grade chipset, as we observed in our review where the handset’s performance showed some throttling during the CPU Throttle test, it performs exceptionally well in managing everyday tasks. I never encountered any instances of the phone stuttering or lagging, even when multitasking or playing resource-intensive games like BGMI. Furthermore, the handset did not exhibit noteworthy heating issues.
Design and form factor
As underrated as it might be, the Pixel 7 form factor is among the best. The handset feels perfect for those who prefer a relatively compact smartphone. Despite sporting a tall 6.4-inch display, the handset remains manageable for one-handed usage. While reaching the corners may still require some finger dexterity, the phone fits comfortably in the hand. This can be credited to its curved corners and slim design. The handset measures a mere 8.7mm in thickness.
Additionally, the phone’s lightweight design (197 grams) ensures it’s comfortable to hold for extended periods. The Pixel 7 also looks quite premium with its aluminium frame and glass back and offers a good in-hand feel. The handset is IP68 water and dust resistance certified and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. That said, the glass both on the front and back is susceptible to scratches. Putting a case and a tempered glass is advisable.
What doesn’t work
Charging speeds
The Pixel 7 charging speed is on the slower side. The handset supports a 20W wired and wireless charging solution, which can easily take over an hour and a half to achieve a full charge from 0 to 100 percent. There are phones within the segment, with bigger battery capacity, that can fully charge within half an hour.
Display
The Pixel 7 boasts a 6.3-inch OLED display that impresses both indoors and outdoors, thanks to its FHD+ resolution, peak brightness of 1,400 nits, and support for HDR10+. However, it does have a couple of shortcomings. The display isn’t entirely bezel-less and features noticeable bezels on all four sides, especially on the chin, which may not give it the same premium aesthetic. Additionally, the phone’s screen refresh rate maxes out at 90Hz, falling behind its competitors.
You can find alternatives that deliver a vastly superior viewing experience, with a screen refresh rate of 120Hz, and in some cases, even 144Hz, in the market.
No charger in the box
Much like most other flagships, Google is also skipping an in-box charger with the Pixel 7. This means you will have to buy a 20W Type-C charger separately, in case you don’t have one, to fully utilise the smartphone’s charging capabilities, which is an added cost.
Verdict
The Pixel 7’s effective price of Rs 36,499, after factoring in bank discounts and offers, is reason enough to buy the smartphone. Its cameras continue to shine in almost every scenario even after a year, and the device maintains commendable performance. Additionally, the smartphone guarantees reliable software updates, a streamlined user interface, and impressive battery life. While there are minor drawbacks in the display and charging speed departments, the Pixel 7 remains an appealing choice for individuals in search of a dependable Android smartphone.
