Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro: Worth the Upgrade? | digital trends

Have you been waiting for new hardware releases from Google all year? Great news – the Pixel 7 series is finally here! While the base Pixel 7 is still a solid choice, with its powerful specs, sleek design, and upgraded processor, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is the device everyone wants to pre-order.

But with so many smartphones coming out, how do you know which new device to invest your hard-earned cash in? If you’re considering an upgrade from the Pixel 6 Pro, keep in mind that this is more of an iterative update and there’s not much to separate these two phones. We’re here to help you decide whether to upgrade or invest in Google’s latest flagship by comparing the Pixel 7 Pro to the Pixel 6 Pro in several core categories. So, before you make the decision to upgrade or buy the new Pixel 7 Pro, read on.

specifications

Design, display and durability

At first glance, the Pixel 7 Pro looks quite similar to the Pixel 6 Pro, retaining the same polished aluminum frame, smooth glass back, and prominent camera bar. This time, however, the bar is aluminum and varies in color depending on the model color you choose, which we think looks pretty sleek. Both devices have the same 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display and an adaptive refresh rate. It’s worth noting that the Pixel 7 Pro is a hair heavier at 212 grams than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 210 grams, but that difference is so small it’s imperceptible.

Both phones also have an IP68 rating, so you can safely submerge them in fresh water to a depth of 10ft for 30 minutes – although we don’t recommend taking your Pixel in the pool. Both are also resistant to dust and foreign bodies. The Pixel 7 Pro comes in Obsidian (black), Snow (white), and Hazel (a sophisticated green/gold), while the Pixel 6 Pro comes in Stormy Black, Cloudy White, and Sorta Sunny (peach).

Though the camera bar adds a pleasing pop of color to the Pixel 7 Pro, this round is too close to call, so it’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Performance, battery life and charging

Here’s the number one reason to upgrade to the Pixel 7 Pro: that powerful processor. The Pixel 7 Pro packs Google’s latest Tensor G2 SoC, while the Pixel 6 Pro features the older Google Tensor chip. According to Google, the Tensor G2 is faster and more efficient than the base Tensor chip, although in reality both devices are unlikely to struggle with everything you throw at them, from multitasking to playing the most demanding Android games. Both the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro have 12GB of RAM with up to 512GB of onboard storage – and as you’d expect, that’s not expandable.

When it comes to battery life, things are pretty similar, with the Pixel 7 Pro’s 5,000mAh battery and the Pixel 6 Pro’s 5,003mAh battery being virtually identical. Both batteries should easily get you through 24 hours of normal use, and the Extreme Battery Saver mode lets you extend battery life to 72 hours. During testing, we were impressed with the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life, so we expect to be equally positive about the Pixel 7 Pro, although for our full review, we’ll need to spend more time with the phone before drawing any conclusions.

You’ll be up and running again quickly, as both phones support 30W fast charging, getting the battery to 50% in about half an hour – although there’s no charger included. Both devices also support 21W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for your earbuds and accessories.

That round is close again, but we’ll give it to the Pixel 7 Pro thanks to Google’s powerful Tensor G2 chip.

Winner: Google Pixel 7 Pro

cameras

On paper, the camera hardware is identical between these two phones – Google’s camera experience has been outstanding for a while, so the company is sticking with what it knows. That means the same rear camera setup: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto lenses on the back. This time, however, the lenses get a boost from the Tensor G2, meaning the Pixel 7 Pro is likely to offer improved image processing.

On the front, the 11-megapixel selfie camera remains unchanged and supports 4K video capture just like the Pixel 6 Pro. In particular, the Pixel 7 Pro’s front camera now supports Face Unlock on the lock screen. Although this feature was planned for the Pixel 6 Pro, it reportedly never happened due to battery issues.

There are some notable new features on the Pixel 7 Pro. Google has increased the ultrawide camera’s sensor size by 25% to enable macro mode, plus there’s improved zoom up to 30x and Cinematic Blur, the equivalent of the iPhone’s Cinematic mode that adds a shallow depth of field effect to your videos. There’s also Photo Unblur which, as the name suggests, can blur your photos using AI and machine learning.

We haven’t spent enough time with the Pixel 7 Pro to make a decision based on actual usage, so judgment here may change once our full review is released. However, based on the spec sheet, we’re happy to give that round to the Pixel 7 Pro for now.

Winner: Google Pixel 7 Pro

software and updates

Both the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro run Android 13, although the Pixel 7 Pro is the first device to feature Google’s latest operating system out-of-the-box. Google promises up to five years of security updates and three years of major Android updates, making both phones excellent, future-proof choices. That being said, the Pixel 6 Pro has been out for a year, so it stops receiving updates about a year ahead of the Pixel 7 Pro.

We could call this round a tie, but since you get an extra year of updates for the Pixel 7 Pro, we’re giving it the crown.

Winner: Google Pixel 7 Pro

Special features

Since the Pixel 7 Pro is more of an iterative update of the Pixel 6 Pro, there aren’t that many distinctive features that set the two devices apart. Google Assistant is smarter in the Pixel 7 Pro, and the phone will suggest relevant emojis when you send voice messages. This is great if you forgot the exact name of the emoji you want. This time there are also some new software tricks, like clear calling. Although not yet available, this feature promises to use the Tensor G2 chip to amplify the caller’s voice and reduce background noise

The Pixel 7 Pro’s front camera now supports Face Unlock, a feature the Pixel 6 Pro never made it so you don’t have to scan your fingerprint or enter a passcode to unlock your phone. It’s worth noting that you can’t use Face Unlock instead of fingerprint scanning to approve purchases or authenticate in banking apps.

It was a close round, but ultimately the Pixel 7 Pro wins thanks to smarter Google Assistant, neat new software tricks, and support for Face Unlock.

Winner: Google Pixel 7 Pro

price and availability

The Pixel 7 Pro is , starting at $899 for the 128GB variant. Trade in any qualifying phone and receive up to $750 off. The phone goes on general sale on October 13 and will support all major carriers.

You can from third parties like Amazon or Best Buy starting at $640 for the 128GB variant. The Pixel 6 Pro is also available from all major carriers.

Overall winner: Google Pixel 7 Pro

Although updates to the Pixel 7 Pro are iterative, Google has still done enough to make its latest flagship a clear winner compared to the Pixel 6 Pro. With the powerful Tensor G2 processor, Face Unlock and plenty of tweaks and new features – plus the gorgeous new Hazel colorway – it’s the better choice of the two phones. That said, the Pixel 6 Pro is still a solid choice, and if you’re already the proud owner of a Pixel 6 Pro, you really don’t need to spend your hard-earned cash on an upgrade.

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