Google has simply unveiled the Google Pixel 7 early. We have now an official take a look at the brand new design, with the deal with the digital camera lenses. The digital camera bar can also be now aluminum, including a pointy accent to the glass again.
We additionally know — and everybody anticipated this — that the Pixel 7 will use the second-generation Tensor chip, additional unlocking all types of AI and machine studying functions. This is hoping that it is also on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and that it sports activities a more recent, extra environment friendly 5G modem.
Let’s deal with the largest factor: the digital camera lenses. whereas the pixels 6 different Pixel 6 Professional Supplied a subtler, extra subdued lens design, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional put the cameras on full blast. Anybody taking a look at you holding up your telephone will see the lenses unfold throughout that aluminum bar.
I am not bought on this, however I nonetheless have not come round on the brand new Pixel design. I like my Pixel 6 Professional’s hidden digital camera lenses, and I do not know if I’ll ever just like the Pixel 7’s new focus. The digital camera bar remains to be a bit awkward trying in my view, and the brand new flashy steel look doesn’t attraction to me. I must get the telephones in hand earlier than I draw closing conclusions, nevertheless.
We anticipate the Pixel 7 to launch in October, identical to the Pixel 6 did. That is nonetheless just a few months off, and we’ll have the brand new Pixel 6a popping out within the meantime. (Google confirmed that the brand new A-series Pixel will launch in late July.)
Teased at Google I/O, the Pixel 7 left us with many questions we wish answered.
Our unique Pixel 7 rumor hub follows. Keep tuned for extra updates…
Google Pixel 7 rumors
Google is outwardly engaged on a second-generation Tensor chipset; a follow-up to the first-gen Tensor discovered throughout the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional. Updating the chip within the Pixel 7 is an apparent change to make from the Pixel 6, however sadly for the time being there is not any signal of what Google would alter, aside from the same old enhancements to processing energy and vitality effectivity that chipsets purpose for yearly.
Constructing on that, 9to5Google has uncovered proof that hyperlinks a brand new second-gen Tensor chipset to 2 new Pixel units, which it believes to be the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional. In response to the location’s supply, the chipset has the mannequin identify ‘GS201’ and is linked to an unreleased Samsung modem with the mannequin quantity ‘g5300b’. This new modem is in flip linked to 2 units with the codenames Cheetah and Panther — which 9to5Google believes to be the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional respectively.
It is the closest we have come to affirmation that work on the units is underway, so anticipate particulars to begin ramping up from right here.
One other potential rumor is that Google might add an under-display selfie digital camera to the next-gen Pixel. That is primarily based on a patent filed by Google which takes the essential under-display selfie digital camera know-how, presently discovered on choose telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 or the ZTE Axon 30and improves it by utilizing a mirror system to indicate both the digital camera or a portion of show as required.
That is solely a patent, and so it might nonetheless be some years away from being prepared to make use of, if it materializes in any respect. Nonetheless it could make for an awesome centerpiece characteristic for a future pixel.
A brand new rumor means that Google will not change the Pixel 7’s cameras from these discovered on the Pixel 6. This kind of is sensible given the Pixel 6 modified just about the whole lot from the Pixel 5, however we hope we’ll nonetheless see some updates and enhancements all the identical.
One other factor Google apparently will not change is the end on the again of the telephone. The Pixel 7 may have a shiny again once more in line with YouTuber Marques Brownleedisappointing everybody hoping for a grippier matte end.
Google Pixel 7 design
Renders for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional from OnLeaks present two acquainted telephones. The design is just like the Pixel 6, however there are some refined variations. These embody an invisible punch gap within the entrance, which might level to an under-display digital camera, and oval cutout for the principle/ultrawide cameras housed throughout the digital camera bar.
After we first noticed Google Pixel 7 rendering have been leaked by David “xLeaks7” Kowalski, we thought they might truly be for the rumored Google Pixel 6a as a result of the scale pointed to a smaller show than the present Pixel 6. Nonetheless it does appear like Google could certainly be shrinking the Pixel 7 down a bit, to six.3 inches in line with Ross Youngerfrom 6.4 inches on the Pixel 6. The Pixel 7 Professional will apparently be the identical dimension because the Pixel 6 Professional although, measuring 6.7 inches.
For colours, the bottom Pixel 7 has been rumored to come back in black, white, coral and blue. No leaks have detailed which colours the Pixel 7 Professional might be supplied in, however if these renders are something to go bya sky blue choice would swimsuit the Professional telephone properly.
A render for what’s supposedly a Google Pixel 7 case has proven off how the next-gen pixel might sport a putting digital camera module.
Whereas the digital camera bar launched within the Pixel 6 appears current, there may very well be a tablet formed cutout for 2 of the three rear cameras, which alongside a standard round digital camera cutout and a flash seems to be a bit odd in an oblong camera-module-meets- bar. We would take this render with a very good dose of skepticism, because the design would not appear in line with Google newest {hardware} design language.
Google Pixel 7: what we wish to see
The shortage of Pixel 7 rumors is not stopping us from developing with our personal want listing. If something, we hope that Google is taking options for its subsequent telephone.
A extra dependable fingerprint reader
the under-display fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional is one thing we complained about in our evaluations. That is Google’s first try at placing the fingerprint scanner beneath the display, as the corporate beforehand mounted a fingerprint reader on the again of its telephones. Nonetheless that does not excuse how unreliably the scanner works.
We would be fairly glad if Google simply found out the kinks in its present optical fingerprint reader. Equally, if it determined to borrow Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint reader system (discovered within the Samsung Galaxy S21), which makes use of soundwaves to acknowledge your prints and due to this fact is much less affected by scratches on the display, that may be a very good strategy, too.
One other chance could be for Google to ditch the fingerprint scanner altogether and use facial recognition unlocking, prefer it did with the Google Pixel 4. Nonetheless that system did not work nice both, and would require a good bit of labor earlier than it was as easy and dependable as Apple’s Face ID system. It may also require Google to return to a bigger high bezel to accommodate the required sensors. That mentioned, now we have just lately heard rumors that the Pixel 6 Professional might nonetheless get face unlockand if that occurs then certainly it is a cert for at the very least the Pixel 7 Professional.
Higher and brighter shows for all fashions
There are a few methods Google might enhance the shows of the Pixel 7 sequence. First off: brightness. Google has fitted the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional with surprisingly dim shows, even when set at most brightness in direct gentle. Being unable to see your smartphone’s show correctly is inarguably a nasty factor, so if Google might crank up the brightness of the Pixel 7’s show just a few hundred extra nits, that may be one of many Pixel 6 sequence’ worst areas mounted.
The opposite potential space of enchancment could be the specs of the usual Pixel 7 mannequin’s display. Whereas the Pixel 6 Professional affords 120Hz, the usual Pixel 6 solely affords 90Hz. That is higher than the 60Hz that was once all you’d get from a smartphone, however provided that telephones cheaper than the Pixel 6 can provide 120Hz — take a look at the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G or the Redmi Observe 10 Professional — we would prefer to see Google do it too. Upping the Pixel 6’s FHD decision to QHD just like the Professional would even be useful however is not as huge a deal.
One in every of our TG writers who simply purchased a Pixel 6 Professional additionally mentioned he’d prefer to see Google ditch the curved show for a flat one on the Pixel 7 Professional. Google did not use a curved show previous to the Pixel 6 Professional, so there’s an opportunity of this design selection is not going to be returning if sufficient Pixel 6 Professional customers complain. The one concern then could be ergonomics, as curved edges assist customers work together with the show of the massive 6.8-inch handset.
One other digital camera on the bottom Pixel 6
Google has arguably short-changed the Pixel 6 by solely giving it two rear cameras. It is the identical quantity that the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4 had, and in addition what the bottom iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini provide, but it surely’s nonetheless disappointing given some premium telephones at the moment are providing as much as 4 cameras plus a depth sensor (such because the Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely).
The apparent selection for a 3rd digital camera on the bottom Pixel 7 could be a telephoto lens, even when its magnification would not match the 4x optical zoom of the Professional mannequin. A depth digital camera for extra correct portrait photographs and improved AR efficiency, or a devoted macro digital camera for tremendous close-up photographs, might additionally make for a very good addition.
Longer battery life
That is one thing we would all the time prefer to see with each new technology of a given telephone sequence, but it surely’s extra essential for the Pixel 7 sequence than most.
Regardless of having the most important batteries ever in a Pixel telephone, the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional proved to have disappointing longevity when connecting to the web over 5G. That is going to develop into an more and more huge deal as 5G networks roll out nationwide within the US, UK and past, until you possibly can depend on common and speedy Wi-Fi connections wherever you go.
Given the capability of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional’s batteries (4,614 mAh and 5,000 mAh respectively), it would not seem to be the batteries are too small. As an alternative Google most likely must deal with utilizing the ability it has accessible throughout the cells effectively.
Quicker charging
Speedier charging is once more one thing each telephone ought to purpose to enhance on, and whereas Google did enhance this with the Pixel 6, extra work is required to make it a correct competitor.
After years of utilizing 18W charging, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional can cost at as much as 30W wired and 23W wi-fi. However regardless of having a reasonably excessive charging wattage, in our testing the Pixel 6 solely reached 29% full after half an hour of charging on a third-party 30W charger. (The Pixel 6 would not ship with one within the field). That is not that quick, particularly factoring in telephones just like the OnePlus 9 sequence which costs to nearly full in half an hour.
It is doable that the Pixel 6 costs a lot quicker when you use a plug from Google itself, however because it stands, that is disappointingly gradual. Google might do with rising the wattage of its charger for the Pixel 7, or maybe utilizing a twin-cell battery just like the OnePlus 9 to permit quicker filling on the identical wattage.
An alert slider
For iPhone customers (and to a lesser extent OnePlus homeowners), the alert slider is a vital characteristic of the telephone. It’s an efficient approach to shortly allow or disable notification sounds while not having to unlock the telephone and even activate the display.
We have by no means seen an alert slider on a Pixel telephone earlier than, and given it is solely actually utilized by Apple and OnePlus telephones, it appears unlikely Google’s going to alter its thoughts. Nonetheless we stand by the concept that this might make an awesome addition to the Pixel 7.