Google says the new chipset powering its phone speeds up the Night Sight mode so that pictures are captured in the dark twice as fast. That means less time you have to hold your phone perfectly still, and less of a chance that an inadvertently shake will introduce noise or blur into your low-light shot. That also solves previous issues with its similarities to the budget-focused Pixel 7a, with the phone now available at a similar – or even cheaper – price than Google’s official mid-range option.

Android 13 This is one of the first handsets to run Google’s latest operating system out of the box One slight potential shortcoming is that its maximum refresh rate is capped at 90Hz, while many rivals, including the Pixel 7 Pro and newer Pixel 8, have reached a refresh rate of 120Hz. This means that it is less smooth when you’re scrolling, as the display renews itself significantly fewer times per second. In practice, however, I found that the screen was more than smooth enough. The AMOLED screen measures 6.3 inches and, therefore, is a touch larger than the newer Pixel 8 (at 6.2 inches), Samsung Galaxy S23 (at 6.1 inches and the iPhone 15 (6.1 inches) but it remains very easy to use with one hand, and the display is still plenty big enough to watch videos on and use your apps as usual.

The Pixel returns with minimal hardware differences but the price is low and, as a package, the phone impresses

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You can apply Photo Unblur to images captured with your Pixel 7, but the real value of the feature is that it works on photos shot on entirely different phones (so long as you're accessing them from your Pixel 7, presumably via the Photos app). Photography has always been the name of the game for previous Google phones and the Pixel 7 is no different. However, it’s a little odd that the hardware hasn’t really changed this year, with the 50MP, f/1.9 main camera returning alongside the 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide sensor.

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Plus, with a near-identical design to the Pixel 8, you’re not missing out on that much aside from a tweaked primary sensor, a slightly faster 120Hz refresh rate and boosted Tenser G3 power. The Pixel 7 Camera includes Super Res Zoom, so you can get super sharp close-ups, without an extra telephoto lens.

The Google Pixel 7 is now a year old and has been replaced by the newer, faster Google Pixel 8 – but is the Pixel 7 still worth your consideration? Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 24 hours. Turn on Extreme Battery Saver, and the battery can last up to 72 hours. And your Pixel charges super fast. I found the screen to be detailed and punchy, and while you might want a larger panel if you’re watching a lot of videos or playing a lot of games – and you might particularly want a higher refresh rate if you’re keen on the latter – I think that most users will be more than satisfied with the screen’s good qualities. Camera Images taken with the Pixel’s rear cameras can sometimes be jaw-droppingly good; punchy yet not unnaturally vivid, highly detailed, and versatile enough to give you a few different shooting options. Friends noted the quality of the pictures, even those who are not particularly into photography.The Pixel 7 display is super sharp, with rich, vivid colors. And it’s fast and responsive for smoother gaming, scrolling, and moving between apps. The Pixel 7 Camera takes incredible photos and videos in stunning color and detail. And with Cinematic Blur, you can now bring cinematic quality to your videos.

The Pixel 7 runs on a Tensor G2 chip. This is the sequel to the Tensor, which was Google’s first-ever own-brand mobile processor and debuted on the Pixel 6, though the Tensor G3 of the newer Pixel 8 has since usurped it. That’s not to say that the Pixel 7 is without its faults, of course. The good-looking camera bar can sometimes be a little impractical, the charging speed lags behind many of its Android rivals, and it doesn’t have a telephoto camera. That said, these all amount to pretty minor quibbles that really shouldn’t be dealbreakers for the majority of buyers.The Pixel 7 would be compelling enough if all it had to offer began and ended with its cameras. This is a phone that can go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 14 in photo face-offs, even emerging with some key wins. Given the importance of photography to most people, the Pixel 7 has to be considered a best phone contender.