On the face of it, there is very little about the Pixel 7 Pro that distinguishes it from its 2021 predecessor – the Pixel 6 Pro.
The dimensions are almost identical (the 7 Pro is actually fractionally smaller), while there is a mere 2 grams in the weight-difference.
The only real external giveaway is the fact that the protruding band on the back of the phone – which is home to its camera lenses and flash – is now an entirely metallic affair, replacing the glass-based strip from last year’s model.
Under the hood the differences are slightly bigger – this year’s processor offers more punch, while the display is considerably brighter than before.
But these iterative steps are relatively unremarkable in the grand scheme of things. What is of note, however is how Google puts this extra power to good use.
The phone’s interface is snappy and buttery smooth, with all that processing power allowing you to open and jump between apps without delay.
The sharp screen also makes everything look more vibrant – even if you’re using the phone in direct sunlight.
But more than anything, Google has worked hard to bake its smart assistant technology into every aspect of the device.
That, of course, includes the ability to set the likes of reminders and calendar appointments through voice commands. But the Pixel 7 Pro takes things even further.
The likes of the 'At a Glance’ feature does a remarkable job at pulling out the useful information you may want or need to know through the day.
Users can set up call screening on their device, while they can also have voice messages converted to text (and vice-versa, of course). Google’s voice recording app also offers a remarkable accurate auto-transcription feature, highlighting just how good the company is at knowing what you want.
Of course, the usefulness of these features will depend heavily on how tied in to the Google ecosystem you are – and how willing you are to share your data with the firm.
But Google’s artificial intelligence/machine learning technology continues to far outpace Apple’s Siri – meaning that this device comes closer than any others to offering users a "real" virtual assistant in their pocket.
But the smart tech shows its use in other areas, too.
That includes the camera, which cleverly blends the images coming from its three lenses to create a smooth picture as you shift from ultra-wide mode to 10x zoom (the camera can go to 30x zoom, but the picture gets quite grainy at this stage). The lenses are also cleverly combined with creative algorithms to produce even better pictures in dark and low-light conditions.
The clever camera tricks continue with the resulting picture, too, with Google’s smart tech also allowing users to sharpen up blurry photos after they’ve been taken. That can even include photos taken on other devices.
But for all its smarts, there are some very basic ways in which the Pixel 7 Pro frustrates.
It offers face and fingerprint unlocking – the latter being done through an under-the-screen sensor – however both are prone to failure with an annoying degree of regularity.
The face unlock feature struggles in lower-light conditions – which is only going to get more apparent as the darker winter sets in. Meanwhile the fingerprint reader often simply refuses to accept the authenticity of the user’s digit.
Physically the phone itself is also fairly bulky – and one that’s a bit of a struggle to use with one hand. But it is on a par with the larger screen alternatives from Apple and Samsung, and the trade-off is that significant screen real estate, and some very generous battery life.
The Pixel 7 Pro also takes the edge in terms of price, with Google opting not to pass on the currently inflationary/currency pressures like others have done.
That means that the device starts at €899 here – compared to the €1,029 Apple is charging for its smaller, entry-level iPhone 14.
