Intro
- Same design language, slightly different accents
- Supposedly the same camera setup on both
- Old gen Tensor vs Next gen Tensor
- Same screen size, possibly same 90 Hz refresh rate
- Google should bring the same Android to both
Table of Contents:
Design and Display Quality
Hoping for improvements
We don’t have a whole lot of information on the Pixel 7 right now, but it goes without saying that it will probably have an AMOLED panel, same as the Pixel 6. And, its refresh rate will be at least 90 Hz, however, seeing as even midrange phones nowadays get 120 Hz, Google might upgrade to that. Yes, the non-Pro pixels cost $600, but there are plenty of phones in that range right now that offer 120 Hz.
Personal opinion here — I absolutely don’t mind 90 Hz, if it improves battery life. Though, the Pixel 6 wasn’t phenomenal in that area, so the point is moot.
As for screen quality — we can’t say we were super-impressed with the Pixel 6. It was slightly murky, not very vibrant, and its auto brightness didn’t do it any favors. We do hope the Pixel 7 comes with a slightly improved panel, at least, to battle other budget-friendly OLED phones that do a slightly better job here.
Water- and dust-resistance in modern smartphones is basically a standard. The Pixel 6 has an IP 68 rating and we expect the Pixel 7 to have the same.
When it comes to biometrics, we expect the same optical fingerprint scanner under the display. The one on the Pixel 6 was slightly slow and inaccurate, so there’s some room for improvement by the Pixel 7 there.
Naturally, don’t expect a headphone jack on either of these phones.
What’s in the box: Pixel 7 vs Pixel 6
As minimalistic as it gets — a phone and a cable, plus some booklets that nobody ever reads.
Performance and Software
Can the Tensor improve?
Google’s Pixel 6 line had the very first chips designed by Google — the Tensor. Not much of a performer, but raw performance was never the point. The Tensor SoC is built with cores enhancing the AI and photo processing of the phone, powering the two core features that Pixel phones are known for — excellent computational photography and enhanced Google Assistant capabilities.
A 2022 Pixel will definitely have a new Tensor chip inside — could be called the Tensor 2, we don’t know — and it will most probably have a slight performance upgrade over the old one. Such are the laws of the smartphone jungle.
For software, both of these phones will run pretty much identical versions of Android. Google makes the Pixel, Google makes Android — it stands to reason that Pixels get timely updates to the latest builds with all features that Google intended for them to have.
That said, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility that there will be some new shiny extras thrown in exclusively for the Pixel 7 line. Apple does this with iPhones, Google might do it with its own devices as well. What’s left for us is to… wait and see.
Camera
Awesome on both sides
Last year, Google made a significant upgrade to its main cameras, giving the Pixel 6 phones 50 MP sensors. We absolutely believe Google will stick to that spec, as it makes little sense to upgrade it yet again. As we all know, the Pixel magic all happens after the photo snap, when the image signal processor and the post-processing algorithms take the wheel.
| Pixel 7 | Pixel 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50 MP; f/1.9; pixel size 1.12 μm (speculation) | 50 MP; f/1.9; pixel size 1.12 μm |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP; f/2.2; pixel size 1.25 μm (speculation) | 12 MP; f/2.2; pixel size 1.25 μm |
| Zoom camera | X | X |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP (?) | 8 MP |
The Pixel 7 may improve that 12 MP ultra-wide camera or the 8 MP selfie camera by a bit. As it stands, that selfie camera is lagging a bit behind the competition, and we know Google can fit a better one in there — the Pixel 6 Pro had one.
Plus, one feature that the Pixel like is lacking, and other Androids have, is 8K video recording. We don’t insist we see that feature — there are hardly any consumer devices out there in homes that can flawlessly play or edit 8K footage — but Google might choose to include it just for the sake of staying in the specs race.
Audio Quality and Haptics
The Pixel 6 has OK speakers that didn’t wow us in any way. They are a bit middy, a bit tinny, and not something you will listen music through. Loud and clear enough for talking head videos, though.
It would be nice to see the Pixel 7 improve here a bit. Again, this is not a priority — we’d rather see Google stick to the $600 price tag instead of improving secondary features.
As for headphone jacks — none of these phones have them. Did we need to call it?
Google’s haptic motors have been very much on point for the past few years. And Google knows it, as it always loads up a ton of little haptic vibrations and effects to give you feedback as you navigate through Android. They are satisfying, cool, and accurate. We expect nothing less of the Pixel 7.
Battery Life and Charging
We expect similar results
Last year’s Google Pixel 6 had a 4,614 mAh battery which, with the help of the Tensor chip’s efficiency, allowed the Pixel 6 to keep its screen on for quite a while — 14 hours on our browsing test.
Whatever changes Google introduces this year with the Pixel 7, they will probably even out to produce more or less the same result. A slightly more powerful processor with a few mAh on top of the battery, or a more energy-efficient Tensor with a slightly smaller battery. We’ll see. What we do know is that consumers hate it when they need to adapt to a shorter battery life and Google will probably want to avoid ruffling any feathers.
Of course, both phones support wireless charging, as it’s the industry norm nowadays.
Specs Comparison
The expected specs of the Pixel 7 vs the Pixel 6:
| Specs | Pixel 7 | Pixel 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Unknown | 6.24 x 2.94 x 0.35 inches (158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm) |
| Weight | Unknown | 7.30 oz (207.0 g) |
| Screen | 6.4″ OLED 90 Hz or 120 Hz Camera hole top center 20:9; 1080 x 2400 | 6.4″ OLED 90 Hz or 120 Hz Camera hole top center 20:9; 1080 x 2400 |
| Processor | Tensor 2? | Tensor |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5 | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Rear Cameras | 50 MP Main (1X), 26 mm f/1.9 (?) 12 MP Ultra (0.7X), 18 mm f/2.2 (?) | 50 MP Main (1X), 26 mm f/1.9 12 MP Ultra (0.7X), 18 mm f/2.2 |
| Front Camera | 8 MP (?) | 8 MP |
| Battery size | ~4,600 mAh | 4,614 mAh |
| Charging speed | 30 W wired charging 21 W wireless | 30 W wired charging 21 W wireless |
| Price | from $600 for 128GB (?) | from $600 for 128GB |
Obviously, this early in the game, most of the Pixel 7 specs are subject to speculation or educated guessing. We do think that Google might push the screen up to 120 Hz, but we wouldn’t mind if it sticks to 90 Hz.
The current specs sheet is pretty bare, as info about the Pixel 7 line is still scarce. But, for what we have, it seems it won’t be a huge departure from the Pixel 6.
Summary and Final Verdict
So, should you wait for the Pixel 7 or just go out and buy a Pixel 6 right now? If you are in need of a smartphone right here, right now, I’d say just go out and get the Pixel 6. Especially if it comes with a price reduction. The Pixel 6 is a lot of phone for the $600, though, many users are reporting various bugs in its software since release. Some are fixed, the others — Google is still working on.
But, if we put that aside, and if we assume the Pixel 7 has a flawless launch — it has the potential of being (among) the best value phone in 2022. So, if you are in no hurry, you may want to keep an ear to the ground, see what extra leaks come through in the following months.
