Google Pixel 7 vs. each previous Pixel: To improve or to not improve?
Some balanced and considerate recommendation on Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro in comparison with each different Pixel mannequin — from somebody who’s lived with ’em all.
JR Raphael, IDG
So you’ve got bought a Pixel — any ol’ Pixel. Or perhaps even a comparatively new Pixel. And you are fascinated about getting Google’s glowing new Pixel 7 telephone or maybe its Pixel 7 Pro sibling.
It’s tempting, I do know. (We all love shiny stuff!) But is it truly value your whereas to get the Pixel 7, or are you higher off hanging onto your present Pixel for some time longer?
Having lived with each the Google Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro for a full week now — and coming from the attitude of somebody who personally owns a Pixel 6, has owned loads of Pixels earlier than that, and has spent a major period of time with each single Pixel mannequin — lemme inform ya: There is not a easy, one-size-fits-all reply.
But there’s some sensible steering I can provide you based mostly on my experiences with these newest Googley telephones and my intimate data of their assorted Pixel predecessors. And an important variable to think about is which particular Pixel you are packin’ in your suspiciously sticky palm.
So suppose it by means of with me, will not ya? And whether or not you find yourself snagging the most recent and best Pixel or stickin’ along with your present mannequin, make sure to mosey your means over to my free Pixel Academy e-course subsequent. It’ll train you all types of helpful new stuff your telephone can do for you, irrespective of which Pixel you find yourself possessing.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6
We’ll begin with the latest Pixels and particularly the smaller Pixel 6 — the identical luxurious telephone I’ve bought in my outsized man-pocket this second.
And this one’s a considerably two-pronged reply: First, your Pixel 6 continues to be completely peachy and set to get Android updates for one more stable two years. You’ve bought no significantly urgent purpose to make the leap to the Pixel 7, and also you’d actually be positive to stay along with your present telephone for one more yr or two.
That being stated, as somebody with the Pixel 6, there is a respectable likelihood you are a tech addict and the kind of one who merely likes having the most effective accessible product. So if you happen to’re on the lookout for a purpose to improve, I’ll offer you a number of (with advance apologies to your pockets):
- Face Unlock: The Pixel 7 brings it again from the lifeless, and whereas it is undeniably imperfect — the system’s hit or miss in dim lighting, and since it really works by means of the usual digital camera and with none specialised {hardware}, it is not as safe as a fingerprint and cannot be used for any in-app authentication — it is nonetheless a pleasant added comfort, and you will nearly actually respect its presence.
- Fingerprint pace: Speaking of authentication, the Pixel 7 sequence strikes to a brand new fingerprint sensor that is noticeably snappier and extra constant than what the Pixel 6 provides you. It nonetheless is not on the degree of the previous rear-facing sensors of Pixels yore, however so far as these in-display variations go, it is about pretty much as good because it will get.
- Size: If you are somebody who prefers a smaller telephone, the Pixel 7 is a nib smaller than the Pixel 6 — with a barely narrower display screen and a noticeably extra svelte torso.
JR
The Google Pixel 7 (left) subsequent to the Pixel 6 (proper)
Given that shrinkage, the improve I’d truly recommend considering is a step as much as the bigger land of the Pixel 7 Pro — which is what I’m critically chewing over myself. The Pro telephone does not really feel that overwhelmingly massive after a yr with the common Pixel 6, and going Pro provides you the benefit of a bunch of engaging new digital camera capabilities — just like the Pixel 7 Pro’s wildly spectacular long-distance zooming capabilities and its new super-up-close macro pictures prowess.
JR
A macro shot taken with the Pixel 7 Pro digital camera. (Click to enlarge.)
The Pixel 7 Pro additionally has a considerably much less curved display screen than the 6 Pro earlier than it, which largely addresses my complaints with that earlier mannequin. The curve on this yr’s telephone is sort of delicate and extra paying homage to the slight edge sloping we noticed means again with the Nexus 4 than the intense and experience-harming slant in final yr’s mannequin.
Last however not least, there’s the moolah issue to mull over: The Pixel 7 begins at 600 bucks, whereas the Pixel 7 Pro prices a cool $900. But:
- If your Pixel 6 is in good situation, Google gives you $440 for it as a part of a trade-in. Best Buy will up that quantity to $470 within the US. (It in all probability goes with out saying, however these things is certain to range in different locales.)
- Either retailer may even throw in a $100 retailer credit score if you happen to purchase a Pixel 7 and a $200 credit score if you happen to purchase a Pixel 7 Pro within the US.
- With each of these elements mixed — and assuming you’ve got one thing worthwhile to spend the credit score on within the months forward — you’d successfully be getting $540 to $570 off the price of a Pixel 7 or $640 to $670 off the price of a Pixel 7 Pro.
So with that in thoughts, a brand new Pixel 7 would truly solely price you 30 to 60 bucks if you happen to’re buying and selling in your Pixel 6, whereas a Pixel 7 Pro would run you roughly $230 to $260.
The common Pixel 7 improve nearly looks like a no brainer in that state of affairs — I imply, actually, why not?! — whereas the Pixel 7 Pro ventures into “hell of a deal” and “simple to justify if you happen to’re already feeling the urge, anyway” terrain.
➜ The verdict, briefly: If you are itchin’ for one thing new and you are the form of one who geeks out over the finer factors of cellular know-how (hiya!), you will be thrilled with the Pixel 7 improve coming from a daily Pixel 6. The most important change will include transferring from the common Pixel 6 to the Pixel 7 Pro. That being stated, you actually do not want it, and the purely smart recommendation could be to hold onto your present telephone for some time longer (although the trade-in risk can provide you some additional excuses if you happen to actually wish to discuss your self into it).
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6 Pro
For anybody palming the plus-sized Pixel 6 Pro, the identical actual recommendation we simply went over additionally applies to you — with a number of key exceptions:
- First, the scale issue is not a related issue for you, except you are eager to bump all the way down to one thing smaller with the common Pixel 7 mannequin.
- Second, the digital camera upgrades from the Pixel 6 Pro to the Pixel 7 Pro will not be fairly as substantial, since you’ve got already bought that zesty zooming goodness. The zooming high quality does get a bit higher with the 7 Pro, although, and also you additionally acquire the brand new macro pictures magic — together with a smattering of different attention-grabbing new modes and choices.
- And third, your trade-in worth for an excellent situation Pixel 6 Pro within the US jumps as much as $480 from Google or $500 from Best Buy together with that $100 retailer credit score towards a Pixel 7 or $200 credit score for a Pixel 7 Pro.
That means you’d successfully be paying a mere 20 bucks for a daily Pixel 7 from Google or mainly getting the telephone free from Best Buy, supplied your 6 Pro is in affordable situation. If you go the Pixel 7 Pro route, you’d deliver the telephone’s worth all the way down to $220 from Google or $200 from Best Buy. Not too shabby.
➜ The verdict, briefly: Like our common Pixel 6 friends, you positively needn’t make this improve. But if you wish to, it will be a pleasant little enchancment for you — albeit a way more delicate one than people will see going from the common Pixel 6 to the Pixel 7 Pro. And if you end up craving Google’s newest and best, the trade-in worth and present retailer credit score promotion could make it fairly simple to rationalize.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6a
Got Google’s most up-to-date midrange Pixel mannequin? Moving to the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro would completely be an enchancment for you, however that is largely since you’re transferring from a extra budget-minded proposition into premium flagship terrain.
That means you will get a fancier-feeling telephone physique (for no matter that is value to you), together with plenty of additional bells and whistles and niceties — together with all the brand new digital camera goodies we simply went over.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are additionally in a totally totally different league relating to processing energy, which might make the telephone really feel a good bit snappier. That being stated, the Pixel 6a is actually no slouch with efficiency for many average-mammal wants, and you could or could not discover any apparent distinction in your day-to-day use (particularly if you happen to aren’t doing a ton of multitasking and different high-resource-requiring work).
The greatest query to ask your self is why you went with the Pixel 6a within the first place. If it is due to the value and worth, then transferring as much as the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro in all probability is not an advisable transfer. Your 6a nonetheless has a stable few years of lively software program help underneath its belt, and nothing in regards to the improve is gonna dramatically revolutionize your core consumer expertise or what your telephone’s able to doing — exterior of pictures, at the very least, however even there, we’re speaking extra niceties and added talents versus core competency.
➜ The verdict, briefly: If you are jonesing for a extra premium Pixel expertise, you will be delighted by the transfer to a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro — however that is largely since you’re hopping from one product tier to a different. For most individuals who purchased the 6a within the first place, sticking with that telephone for one more yr or two will make extra sense.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 5
The Pixel 5 is an uncommon Pixel in that it is the one flagship-level Google telephone that was extra of a worth play than a high-end, premium-feeling product.
With that in thoughts, the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro could be a considerable improve for you, throughout, and a significant leap ahead.
But your present telephone can be nonetheless completely positive. It’ll get Android updates by means of October 2023.
So this one actually comes all the way down to a matter of need over want. If you need it, it is effectively worthwhile, and you will actually see sufficient of a distinction to justify the change. But you positively do not want it, and if you happen to aren’t feeling the urge to get one thing new, there’s actually no purpose to not persist with what you’ve got bought.
➜ The verdict, briefly: The Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro could be a pleasant improve for you however certainly not a mandatory one. Ask your self how a lot you actually need one of many gadgets and the way a lot you possibly can abdomen the fee for what’s indubitably an inessential buy.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 5a
The story with the Pixel 5a is actually fairly just like what we simply stated with the Pixel 5 — particularly for the reason that Pixel 5 was extra of a midrange mannequin.
The Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro could be a major improve from the 5a in each attainable measure, and also you’d completely discover the distinction. But your present telephone continues to be positive, and the 5a is ready to be supported with Android software program updates during August 2024.
Just like with the Pixel 6a, the true query right here is how badly you wish to transfer to a extra premium, high-end telephone expertise and the way a lot you are keen to spend to get it.
➜ The verdict, briefly: For most 5a house owners, there is no urgent purpose to improve — although going from that telephone to the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro would completely be an enormous and instantly noticeable enchancment, if you happen to merely wished to present your self the added niceties of the extra premium Pixel path.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 4
As a former Pixel 4 proprietor myself, I’ve bought a tender spot in my coronary heart for Google’s extra experimental Pixel mannequin. Despite the unhealthy rap it bought early on, the Pixel 4’s Soli radar system genuinely did make the Pixel 4 extra helpful — even when it solely reached a tiny fraction of its potential earlier than Google annoyingly gave up on the idea.
Soli was additionally one a part of what made the Pixel 4’s Face Unlock system so efficient in follow: The radar would detect whenever you had been selecting up your telephone and transferring it nearer to your face, then the Pixel 4’s particular infrared digital camera would kick in and shortly acknowledge your face to allow you to in — it doesn’t matter what form of lighting was concerned. The end result was near-instant activation and authentication everytime you grabbed your gadget, which was a reasonably unimaginable benefit to have.
That form of comfort was powerful to depart behind with the next Pixel fashions, however the Pixel 7 sequence brings Face Unlock again into the equation — albeit in a much less superior method, given the lack of Soli and the infrared digital camera. Still, it softens the blow significantly and makes the transfer away from the Pixel 4 way more palatable to anybody nonetheless hanging onto that telephone. Just know that that particular a part of the expertise will not be fairly pretty much as good as what you’ve got bought now.
Even so, the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro are in all probability value your whereas to purchase. For all its positives, the Pixel 4 is getting fairly lengthy within the tooth at this level. And it is now not actively receiving working system updates or safety patches as of this month (although Google could find yourself being gracious and supplying you with a pair extra patches earlier than formally pulling the plug).
Hanging onto a telephone that is not rockin’ present software program is rarely a completely advisable transfer. If you actually wish to hold your Pixel 4 some time longer, you can get away it for one more handful of months. But the Pixel 7 or 7 Pro will likely be a significant leap ahead for you, and from nearly each attainable perspective, it is an improve value making.
➜ The verdict, briefly: You ought to consider carefully about getting the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro. It’s time — and the return of Face Unlock in some type will make this the primary Pixel improve that will not require a complete compromise in that division.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 4a
The Pixel 4a is barely newer than its commonplace 4 cousin, which implies it is scheduled to obtain software program help by means of August 2023.
With that in thoughts, you can simply get away with protecting it for one more yr but after which fascinated about an improve subsequent fall. And because you’re on the midrange path now, you could effectively wish to persist with that very same route and take into consideration the subsequent Pixel “a” telephone as an alternative of taking the full-price, flagship-phone street.
Now, that being stated, if you happen to’re merely tempted to get the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, both gadget would symbolize a monumental enchancment for you in virtually each measure. You will discover the distinction in your day-to-day use, and it will be a really good improve.
But there’s additionally no purpose you possibly can’t profit from your present telephone and wait one other yr to make a change — whether or not you find yourself shifting over to the premium Pixel path or sticking with the still-perfectly-pleasant and arguably extra smart Pixel “a”-line choice.
➜ The verdict, briefly: The Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro could be fairly the improve, however your 4a’s bought a bit extra life in it but. Unless you are simply prepared for one thing new and wanting to maneuver to a extra premium Pixel expertise, there’s actually no purpose to not wait a bit longer.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 3
This one’s simple: If you’ve got bought the Pixel 3, get the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro. Your telephone’s been old-fashioned since early this yr, which implies you did not get Android 13, have not gotten safety patches in a number of months, and will not get some other main software program updates transferring ahead.
That apart, Google’s Pixel {hardware} has come an insanely great distance over the previous 4 years. You’ll be blown away by what the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro will likely be like to make use of and the way spectacular of an expertise both gadget gives you.
Plain and easy, it is time. (And the identical recommendation applies to the Pixel 3XL, by the best way, which is mainly only a larger model of the identical third-generation gadget.)
➜ The verdict, briefly: The Pixel 3 is previous its prime and previous the purpose of advisable possession. If the brand new Pixels are too dear to your desire, you can actually avoid wasting cash and get the Pixel 6a as an alternative. But a technique or one other, you want a brand new telephone.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 3a
Same deal as above: Coming from the midrange “a” path, you would possibly choose the Pixel 6a, if price is a priority otherwise you simply do not significantly care in regards to the premium telephone perks (bodily type, digital camera extras, additional under-the-hood oomph, and all that enjoyable stuff).
But getting a brand new Pixel of some kind is 100% the advisable factor to do.
➜ The verdict, briefly: Get the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro if you would like the absolute best Pixel expertise, or think about the Pixel 6a if you wish to keep on the still-exceptional midrange Pixel path.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 2 and Pixel 1
This final mixed class is perhaps the best reply of all: If you are still clinging to the Pixel 2 or the first-gen Pixel 1 mannequin, for Goog’s sake, get your self a brand new telephone.
The Pixel 2 and its XL companion are nonetheless on 2020’s Android 11 software program and have not obtained a safety replace in practically two years. That apart, the telephones themselves are actually 5 years previous. And lemme inform ya: We’ve come a loooong means since their launch.
I’ve nonetheless bought my Pixel 2 in my desk drawer. It’s bordering on painful to make use of at this level in comparison with the present Pixel commonplace.
And that is much more true for the first-gen Pixel I’ve bought close by as effectively. Much as I am keen on it, that telephone is now six years previous, caught on 2019’s Android 10 model of the working system, and three years old-fashioned on safety patches.
In any of those eventualities, transferring to a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro will utterly blow your thoughts when it comes to how far Google’s {hardware} and software program have come and the way nice and superior of an expertise you will encounter. But past that, they will additionally offer you an optimally safe and privacy-protecting setup with a degree of efficiency that is in a completely totally different league from what you’ve got bought now.
➜ The verdict, briefly: It’s effectively previous time so that you can improve to a extra present gadget, and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are the proper alternatives to make that transfer occur.
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