Google finally convinced me to buy a Google Pixel 7

Across the launch of the Pixel 6 sequence, I wrote a commentary about how these telephones represented a brand new starting for Google. Now, one 12 months later, you possibly can formally purchase a Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Professional — the second launch in Pixel’s “second age,” because it have been.

We’ve already obtained loads of information on the Pixel 7 sequence, however I’ll spoil it for you for those who haven’t been retaining observe: The 2 telephones are principally a minor iteration of the Pixel 6 sequence. Whether or not that’s an excellent factor or a nasty factor is completely subjective, however the info are proper there on the spec sheet. Objectively, these telephones merely aren’t the enormous step ahead we noticed with the Pixel 6 telephones.

So far as I’m involved, although, that’s precisely what I wished. Whereas the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional telephones have been terrific — and nearer to my imaginative and prescient of what makes an incredible Android telephone than any Pixel earlier than them — they nonetheless had points. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional seem to repair virtually all of those issues.

That’s why, this 12 months, I’ll lastly be taking the plunge: I’ll purchase a Pixel 7. I haven’t made up my thoughts about which mannequin, which colour, or when would be the finest time to purchase, however for the primary time in seven years of Pixel telephones, Google has gained me over.

Palms-on: We take our first take a look at the Pixel 7 sequence

For my wants, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional had three main issues that prevented me from buying: a gradual fingerprint scanner, a too-problematic Tensor, and a design that simply wasn’t fairly there but. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional remedy all these points, at the least on paper.

Of all these issues, the fingerprint scanner was possible probably the most controversial and publicized. We aren’t any exception since Android Authority bashed it fairly arduous when the telephones first launched. Software program updates, although, have helped the Pixel 6’s {hardware} work sooner over the previous 12 months. Then, with the Pixel 6a, the fingerprint scanner {hardware} modified, producing even higher outcomes. Assuming the identical (or higher) {hardware} is within the Pixel 7 sequence, we should always see utterly ample speeds and reliability on the Pixel 7. The brand new addition of Face Unlock can solely assist this, since it would provide a secondary technique to unlock your telephone.

Google addressed the Tensor points as nicely. There’s a brand new modem inside Tensor G2 that ought to, hopefully, deal with a few of the connectivity points we noticed with the Pixel 6. Google’s numerous different upgrades together with a brand new TPU and a brand new GPU ought to assist the processor be extra power-efficient, extra thermal-efficient, and higher in a position to deal with heavier duties.

Lastly, the 2 largest issues I personally had with the designs of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional have been addressed. For the Pixel 6, I assumed it was just too large, however the Pixel 7 is far nearer to what I hoped for from the 2021 mannequin. For the Pixel 6 Professional, I assumed the show sides have been far too curvy, and the Pixel 7 Professional dials again the curve fairly a bit.

Fixing a bunch of earlier issues isn’t sufficient to warrant releasing a brand new telephone. Google is aware of this and can be introducing a slew of helpful options to the Pixel 7 lineup.

Granted, there’s nobody “will need to have it” function right here. As a substitute, Google is providing a smattering of small-but-meaningful options that add as much as an attractive entire.

The selfie digital camera is an efficient place to begin. Not solely is it an upgraded 10.8MP sensor, but it surely additionally has a wider subject of view (FoV) than the 2021 mannequin. It will make group selfies significantly better by permitting you to seize extra in your body with no need to increase your arm to painful lengths.

Your finest self: The perfect selfie digital camera telephones you should purchase

Picture Unblur is a Tensor G2 unique, and it looks like it might be fairly highly effective. Another enjoyable new digital camera methods are right here, too, together with sooner Evening Sight and Actual Tone integration inside Evening Sight and Portrait.

Talking of cameras, the Pixel 7 Professional has two upgraded sensors: the ultrawide and telephoto. Whereas neither improve will drastically change how your photographs come out, collectively they permit for longer, crisper zoom, a real macro mode, a wider FoV, and extra.

Moreover, the shows on each the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional get a lot, a lot brighter than final 12 months.

There are dozens of little tweaks reminiscent of these with the Pixel 7 sequence. One alone most likely gained’t impress you, however while you add all of them up — and mix them with the fixes talked about within the earlier part — you’ve gotten a fairly thrilling pair of telephones.

Over the previous six years, there’s all the time been one thing holding me again from a Pixel. I’ve already talked about my points with the Pixel 6 sequence. The Pixel 5 wasn’t highly effective sufficient and the rear fingerprint scanner was an computerized no-buy for me (I do know it is a controversial assertion). The Pixel 4 sequence was so unhealthy that even Google needed to admit it. The Pixel 3’s bezels have been an enormous turn-off, and don’t even get me began on the tub notch of the Pixel 3 XL.

I don’t need it to sound like Google ought to be making telephones just for me. There are tens of millions of individuals on the market who’ve purchased all of the Pixels I simply talked about, in spite of everything. Nonetheless, there haven’t been that a lot of them, at the least in line with knowledge from IDC. That knowledge exhibits that no Pixel telephone has ever made it previous the ten million gross sales mark and that the Pixel 5 barely broke two million models bought. It’s clear that Google, for a few years, has had issues transferring vital numbers of Pixels. It might be that there are tens of millions of consumers on the market who’re like me and easily stored passing up the Pixel line for a similar causes — or possibly others.

However right here I’m, about to purchase a Google Pixel 7. Google has lastly seen the sunshine and is making the telephones that we, the extra choosy shoppers, really wish to purchase, and never the telephone that Google thinks we wish to purchase. It most likely shouldn’t have taken this lengthy, however higher late than by no means, proper?

Are you going to purchase a Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Professional? Hit up our ballot above to tell us, after which go away a remark saying which one you’re going to get and what made you resolve to do it.