Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: main differences
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The Pixel 7 Pro is the latest flagship kid on Google's phone block and, since it's rather affordable for a high-end Android phone, just like its predecessor, it's only fair to compare it to the Pixel 6 Pro. Not only does the 7 Pro come with Google's second Tensor G2 processor, but it has also gotten a thorough camera area redesign and new photography chops.
The early Pixel announcement indicates a certain hubris on part of Google which seemed certain that the Pixels are worthy competitors to flagship Android phones from Samsung and others. Google did the same with the 2022 Pixel 7 series but has it placed enough new features to warrant an upgrade?
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Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro design and display quality
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro, new feature differences
- New Google Tensor G2 processor
- 25% brighter, 1500 nits display
- 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Res Zoom
- 126-degree ultrawide camera with Macro Focus
- Face Unlock
- Photo Unblur
- New camera strip design
- Gorilla Glass Victus back with shiny frame
- Built-in VPN powered by Google One
- Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro design and display quality
- Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro camera
- Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro performance and software
- Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro battery life and charging speeds
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro design and display quality
- 6.7" Pixel 6 Pro comes in Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, and Stormy Black two-tone body colors.
- Pixel 7 Pro comes in Snow, Obsidian, and Hazel colors.
Google is shaking it up with the camera strip design of the Pixel 7 Pro by making the distinction between the camera kits and the background more visible. On the Pixel 6 Pro one can hardly tell where the camera strip begins and the lenses end unless you are looking closely.
On the Pixel 7 Pro, however, the shiny strip contrasts with the black oval of the main and ultrawide, as well as with the circle of the periscope zoom unit much better, bringing a clear separation of power. The 7 Pro offers polished aluminum frame and finishes, too.
Google also waxed poetic over how the edges blend more seamlessly with the frame or some such, meaning that we see some refinements in the design, but no drastic changes compared to the 6 Pro besides the camera strip across the phone's rear, and the new colors.
At the front, the Pixel 7 Pro stays largely the same in terms of display - 6.7" punch-hole panel with 1440p resolution and 120Hz dynamic refresh - as the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 7 Pro uses Samsung's S6E3HC4 display panel, which is an OLED technology generation newer than the display used in the Pixel 6 Pro, hence it offers 25% higher, 1500 nits peak bightness.
We expected nothing short of display calibration greatness from Google, if the Pixel 6 and Pixel 5 series are any indication. Google's phone screens consistently score the top places in our best phone displays roundup as they seem to undergo per-unit calibration in the factory for the ultimate in color credibility.
Not this time, though, as the Pixel 7 Pro sits right smack in the middle of the display quality pack when it comes to its color presentation. In fact, the 6 Pro exhibits much better hue credibility in both the grey and color spaces. The newer Pixel does come with a tad higher typical brightness, though, as per our screen benchmark measurements below.
The other design difference is that one of the Pixel 6 Pro colors - Sorta Sunny - has given way to a classier Hazel (sort of sage green) color on the Pixel 7 Pro.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro camera
Besides the new contrasting camera strip design, there aren't drastic changes in that area as far as the hardware is concerned. The phones feature a 50MP main and 12MP ultra-wide, as well as a third 48MP telephoto unit, The devil is in the sensor and lens specs details, though.
The main camera sensor is Samsung's 50MP ISOCELL GN1, while the ultra-wide is the 12MP IMX381 sensor. Both of those are on the former Google flagships, too. The 7 Pro has a new 10.8 MP selfie camera (the sensor is reportedly Samsung 3J1), with a slightly narrower, 92.8-degree FOV.
Where the field of view opens, however, is the ultrawide camera which now has autofocus and 126-degree FOV. This has allowed Google to introduce a new, Macro Focus mode for closeups at up to 3cm from the subject - something that the Pixel 6 Pro can't do.
The Pixel 7 Pro also replaces the 48MP Sony IMX586 telephoto sensor (the one that's on the Pixel 6 Pro) with a Samsung GM1 sensor and adds 5x periscope zoom lens instead of the 4x zoom on the 6 Pro. These brought clean and electronically stabilized SuperRes Zoom at up to 30x!
Thus, whatever picture quality improvements from the Google Pixel 6 Pro to the Pixel 7 Pro come from both new camera kits, as well as the software and the new image processing abilities that Google's second generation Tensor G2 chipset brings to the table.
This shows in the camera samples of the two phones pitted against each other below as well. The image quality is pretty similar when it comes to dynamic range coverage, details, or focus, while the Pixel 7 Pro runs slightly warmer colors and a tad less contrast than its predecessor, generally producing a bit more eye-pleasing photos.
The increased zoom range doesn't really capture more detail at a closer distance to the subject, for some reason. The closeup macro shots are undeniably better on the newer model, though, just for the fact that it now has the hardware for it.
Google already announced an improvement to the Magic Eraser option that allows you to change the color of undesired objects in the frame rather than just deleting them and that was for the Pixel 6a, so the 7 series aren't an exception. Besides the Macro Focus, the new camera feature on the Pixel 7 Pro is Photo Unblur that lets you sharpen your new and old photos alike.
The Pixel 7 Pro records 4K60 FPS on all of its cameras, and can use the new Speech Enhancement feature to isolate the person speaking. Not only that, but Tensor 2 powers the new Cinematic Blur mode, as well as the 10-bit HDR video recording, top-end features for a $899 phone.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro performance and software
The Pixel 6 Pro's Tensor chipset is a 5nm affair based on Samsung's EUV production method that Qualcomm uses for its 2021 flagship Snapdragon 888 processor that is found in phones like the S21 Ultra.
We benchmarked Google's first homebrew Tensor chipset, and while it couldn't beat the Galaxy's processor in terms of raw power scores, the graphics subsystem managed to outrun Snapdragon 888, with a lot more artificial intelligence and image co-processing tacked on for a good measure.
As for the Pixel 7 Pro, Google didn't go into Tensor 2 specs details other than mentioning it is built on the 5nm processor node and is improved in the AI and image processing algorithm departments, allowing for exclusive 7 Pro features like the new Cinematic Blur in video recording, for instance. The new Tensor silicon does beat the previous edition in the multi-core processor benchmarks indeed, and is more stable under pressure in the stress test, just as Google promised.
When it comes to interface, the phones are on Android 13 with the fastest updates out there and the flat, colorful Material You design, There is no denying Google's stock Android speed and simplicity, not to mention the guaranteed updates range. The stock Android with flat interface needs much less operating memory to run then other Android overlays, so the Pixel 7 Pro memory tops out at 12GB RAM and a 512GB storage option, just like the 6 Pro.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro battery life and charging speeds
Both phones will share the same 5000 mAh battery capacity, but Google cites longer battery life on the 7 Pro compared to its predecessor, thanks to the AI optimizing of the stock Android software and the frugal second edition of the Tensor in-house processor.
The team from Mountain View has all the pieces of the iPhone puzzle when it comes to a perfect possibility for a software/hardware synchronicity that delivers battery life wonders commensurate with the best out there. Still, the Pixel 7 Pro delivers battery life that is only slightly better than what we clocked on the 6 Pro and in the Wi-fi browsing test at that, the rest of the results, like gaming or video streaming, are pretty average.
Google uses a 30W charger for the Pixel 6 Pro, though not in the box, and offers about an hour and change of charging time for the big 5000mAh battery. That's an area where Google can certainly upgrade and bring the Pixel 7 Pro to the era of 30-minute full charges as it offers the same 30W speeds on its newer flagship as well.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro specs comparison
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | Google Pixel 6 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz LTPO OLED, 1500 nits | 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz LTPO OLED, 1200 nits |
| Processor | Google Tensor 2 | Google Tensor |
| Main Camera | 50 MP Octa PD Quad Bayer wide camera 1.2 μm pixel width ƒ/1.85 aperture | 50 MP Octa PD Quad Bayer wide camera 1.2 μm pixel width ƒ/1.85 aperture |
| Ultrawide camera | 12MP with Macro Focus | 12MP |
| Telephoto camera | 48MP, 5x optical zoom | 48MP, 4x optical zoom |
| Front camera | 11MP | 11MP |
| RAM/Storage | 12GB/128GB/256GB/512GB | 12GB/128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
Google Pixel 7 Pro or Google Pixel 6 Pro, which one to buy?
Whenever a new phone edition comes out, there is the urge to get the new guy with the new goods which works in favor of the 7 Pro. At first blush, it keeps the same camera set from its predecessor, and only offers the new Tensor G2 processor and an updated camera strip design.
There is much more under the camera hood this time around, though, such as a wider zoom range between the new Macro Focus camera and the increased 5x optical zoom level, as well as the exclusive Cinematic Blur video mode. The display is brighter (but not as color-credible) and battery life a bit longer, plus Google no longer sells the Pixel 6 Pro, so upgrading for pennies with the Pixel 7 Pro preorder deals is definitely in order.
With Google, however, there is another reason to upgrade than hardware and software prowess. The early Pixel 6 Pro was rather buggy in both departments and Google usually irons out the kinks in the second edition of a new design, so that's another reason to pick the Pixel 7 Pro before its predecessor, too.
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