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Google has announced its newest Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The smartphones include the second-generation Tensor chipset – Google’s custom in-house chipset. The new Pixel 7 phones, complete with a bespoke SoC, include improved features found in the Pixel 6 alongside a few brand-new ones.
While there are some hardware improvements with the new phones, much of the noteworthy changes are due to improved software resulting from the more powerful Tensor G2. Before diving into those though, let’s look at hardware and design.
The Pixel 7 includes a 6.3″ 1080p display, which is slightly smaller than Pixel 6’s 6.4″ display. Along with the slightly smaller display, the bezels also shrunk, resulting in a smaller overall smartphone. The Pixel 7’s display tops out at 90Hz, like the Pixel 6. The Pixel 7 Pro sports a larger 6.7″ 1440p LTPO display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, the same as the Pixel 6 Pro. The low end of the refresh rate is just 10Hz. Google says both smartphones are up to 25% brighter in peak brightness mode, which should help with outdoor use. In precise figures, the 7’s screen is 1,400 nits, and the 7 Pro’s is 1,500 nits.
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| Google Pixel 7 Pro in hazel color |
The Tensor G2 is paired with 8GB of RAM for the Pixel 7 and 12GB of RAM inside the Pixel 7 Pro. As for storage, the Pixel 7 comes in 128GB and 256GB variants. The 7 Pro adds a 512GB option. Battery life is rated at over 24 hours under normal use and up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver enabled. Both phones can charge to about 50% within 30 minutes with a 30W USB-C fast charger, which isn’t included in the box. Both phones support Qi wireless charging and offer Battery Share to charge other devices.
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While the Pixel 7 series smartphones thus far look a lot like the Pixel 6 series, the Tensor G2 delivers significant improvements for the camera system, even if it’s using last year’s hardware. The Pixel 7 includes the same two rear cameras found in the Pixel 6: a 50MP Type 1/1.31 (9.8 x 7.4mm) main camera with a 25mm equiv. F1.9 lens and a 12MP ultra-wide camera (114-degree field of view) with a Type 1/2.9 (5 x 3.75mm) sensor. Google says software improvements promise better Night Sight color processing, 10-bit HDR video, a new Cinematic Blur mode for video, improved stabilization and better noise reduction.
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| Google Pixel 7 Pro |
The Pixel 7 Pro includes the same 50MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide camera (125-degree instead of 114-degree), but also sports a 48MP telephoto camera with a Type 1/2.55 (5.6 x 4.2mm) sensor. The 6 Pro’s telephoto zoom topped out at 4x, whereas the 7 Pro’s extends to 5x. By using only the central portion of the 48MP sensor, it offers a 10x digital zoom. The Pixel 7 Pro also offers an exclusive Macro Focus feature.
Ok, #TeamPixel. Get settled because we’re going to talk about zoom for a while.
With #GoogleTensor G2, #Pixel7 Pro combines state-of-the-art hardware, software, and machine learning to reach new heights in computational photography with pro-level zoom. #MadeByGoogle
🧵1/8 pic.twitter.com/5FIJ8KPQvo
— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) October 6, 2022
Both smartphones include 10.8MP self-facing cameras. The Google Pixel 6 Pro had this same front camera, but it’s a new addition to the standard Pixel 7.
Both devices include a new feature called Photo Unblur, which joins an improved Face Unblur feature. Photo Unblur uses machine learning to remove blur resulting from camera or subject movement. This processing is performed on-device and can even work on images on Google Photos that you access from the latest smartphones. This means you can potentially improve old photos shot on other cameras and smartphones.
Unblur photos—even ones not taken on #Pixel 🤯
With just a few taps, #Pixel7 and Pixel 7 Pro bring new life to your memories with #PhotoUnblur, a new @GooglePhotos feature only on Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro¹ 📸#MadeByGoogle
¹See video for info pic.twitter.com/vxHgsYMsT4
— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) October 6, 2022
Beyond improvements to camera capabilities and features, the Tensor G2 also promises improved overall usability and performance, especially with faster Direct My Call performance. Further, the Recorder app can now automatically label different people’s voices. There is a new automatic transcription feature for audio recordings. Call quality is also better, especially when speaking in noisy, loud environments.
The Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are available for preorder starting today. The Pixel 7 starts at $599 and is available in three colorways: lemongrass, snow and obsidian. The Pixel 7 Pro starts at $899 and comes in hazel, snow and obsidian.
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This article comes from DP Review and can be read on the original site.
