Smartphones

Google Pixel 7 & 7 Pro Rumors: Color, New Processor | What we know about Flagships

From the release date to a few possible specs, here’s what we’ve listened about Google’s another flagship phone ‘Google Pixel 7 & 7 pro.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro (in black) and Google Pixel 6 (in coral) laid next to each other on wooden decking-TopBugz

Even though Google I/O is a month away, Upcoming Google Pixel 7 phone likely won’t get its reveal and launch until this fall, as per the precedent set with Pixel 6 and earlier models. Yet the event could include more details about Android 13, which likely will get its own reveal with that next line of Pixel phones, much like how Android 12 began its rollout first with the Pixel 6 series.

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro won our hearts when Google dropped them back in October. Even though they’re among the best Android phones you can buy, they aren’t without their flaws. By swapping to its new Tensor custom chipset, the company was able to maximize performance for all sorts of AI-related features — seemingly at the cost of a whole slew of bugs and delayed updates.

Google Pixel 7 Name, Release date and price rumors

Google pixel 6 and 7 pro fingerprint sensor touching-Topbugz

Google previously called the larger device an XL model, such as the Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 3 XL. But it stands to reason that the company will follow in the footsteps of last year’s Pixel 6 phones and call the new phones the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Google’s phone release schedule has proven fairly reliable over the past few years. Therefore without any more specific rumors to go off of, we’d bet on Google unveiling the Pixel 7 in October 2022, along with the Google Pixel Watch, at least according to one rumor. It’s possible that it could launch earlier than that too, based on analyst Ross Young saying display parts for the Pixel 7 will ship a month earlier than the Pixel 6’s did in 2021.

As for cost, we really hope Google keeps the pricing low like it has for the Pixel 6 series. With the Pixel 6 at $699/£599 and the Pixel 6 Pro at $899/£849, these two phones undercut their flagship rivals by hundreds of dollars or pounds. Google will tempt a lot of users away from other Android brands if it can offer the next generation of Pixels at a similar level.

Google Pixel 7 series: Hardware

Last year, Google swung big with its design for the Pixel 6, giving the series a complete overhaul. From the controversial under-display fingerprint sensor — a first for the series — to the massive camera bar on the back of the phone, it seems like the company has finally cemented a new design for its in-house smartphones. Perhaps unsurprisingly, early leaks indicate Google isn’t planning on changing much in the looks department, keeping a similar build for another year

We’ve seen renders of both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, and comparing them to their predecessors is like playing a game of spot the difference. It’s possible the smaller device may get a reduction in screen size — down to 6.3″ from 6.4″ — while the larger phone stays exactly the same. The camera bar is receiving a slight makeover, with the edges now flush with the band of the smartphone.

Google pixel 7 pro rumors leaked back camera view-TopBugz
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

Meanwhile, the mmWave window along the tops of both models has been redesigned. On the Pixel 6 Pro — and specific carrier versions of the smaller Pixel 6 — it was a rather unsightly transparent window that clashed with the back of the phone. On the Pixel 7, we’re looking at a much cleaner, smaller window built into the metal rail of each model. It’s unclear if every Pixel model this year will support mmWave, or if the cheaper, smaller device will depend on carrier intervention. Whatever the case, it’s good to see some improvements in its implementation.

Google Pixel 7 series: Software

Google’s annual Pixel launch has often served as the perfect time for a major Android update to roll out to users, but it’s unclear if that’ll happen this year. We’re still early into public previews for Android 13, but the dev timeline appears to suggest an earlier release date than usual this year.

Whether or not Android 13 arrives alongside the Pixel 7 doesn’t really matter to prospective buyers, of course. One way or another, these phones will absolutely come running the latest and greatest OS version when they arrive on store shelves.

Google Pixel 7 rumors

Google is apparently working on a second-generation Tensor chipset; a follow-up to the first-gen Tensor found within the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Updating the chip in the Pixel 7 is an obvious change to make from the Pixel 6, but unfortunately at the moment there’s no sign of what Google would alter, apart from the usual improvements to processing power and energy efficiency that chipsets aim for every year.

This new modem is in turn linked to two devices with the codenames Cheetah and Panther — which 9to5Google believes to be the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro respectively.

A new rumor suggests that Google won’t change the Pixel 7’s cameras from those found on the Pixel 6. This sort of makes sense given the Pixel 6 changed pretty much everything from the Pixel 5, but we hope we’ll still see some updates and improvements all the same.

Google Pixel 7 design

google pixel 7 & 7 pro all colors and camera-TopBugz

When we first saw Google Pixel 7 renders have been leaked by David “xLeaks7” Kowalski, we thought they could actually be for the rumored Google Pixel 6a because the dimensions pointed to a smaller display than the current Pixel 6. However it does look like Google may indeed be shrinking the Pixel 7 down a bit, to 6.3 inches according to Ross Young, from 6.4 inches on the Pixel 6. The Pixel 7 Pro will apparently be the same size as the Pixel 6 Pro though, measuring 6.7 inches.

For colors, the base Pixel 7 has been rumored to come in black, white, coral and blue. No leaks have detailed which colors the Pixel 7 Pro will be offered in, but if these renders are anything to go by, a sky blue option would suit the Pro phone nicely.

Specs and features

We haven’t heard much about the Pixel 7 line’s specs, but 9to5Google previously reported that the phones will be equipped with what could be a second-generation Tensor processor (code-named GS201). The chipset is also said to arrive with an unreleased Samsung Exynos 5300 modem.

There’s also been speculation that Google could adopt an AMD GPU. After all, the Google Tensor SoC is essentially a semi-custom version of Samsung’s Exynos silicon, and the latest Exynos chipset comes with AMD graphics. This is only speculation though, and we’re not sure whether the AMD/Samsung deal applies to semi-custom chips for the likes of Google.

Google Pixel 7: what we want to see in this series

Google Pixel 7 Pro 5G-TopBugz

Keep the price

Probably our top wish for the Pixel 7 series is that Google keeps the pricing it used for the Pixel 6 series. The vanilla Pixel 6 started at a very alluring $600, besting the Gal

Galaxy S21 FE by $100, and you still got a lot of phone for the price. The Pixel 6 Pro started at $900, which would actually be a good deal if the Pixel 6 didn’t exist.

So we’d like to see Google offer the same pricing for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro respectively, as there’s no doubt that the company found a sweet spot (particularly for the vanilla model). Even the Pixel 7 Pro wouldn’t be a bad deal at $900.

Pixel under-display camera patent

Another camera on the base Pixel 6

Google has arguably short-changed the Pixel 6 by only giving it two rear cameras. It’s the same amount that the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4 had, and also what the base iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini offer, but it’s still disappointing given some premium phones are now offering up to four cameras plus a depth sensor (such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra).

The obvious choice for a third camera on the base Pixel 7 would be a telephoto lens, even if its magnification wouldn’t match the 4x optical zoom of the Pro model. A depth camera for more accurate portrait shots and improved AR performance, or a dedicated macro camera for super close-up shots, could also make for a good addition.

Speed up the charging times

We discovered late last year that the Pixel 6 series charged much slower than Google actually stated. Google claimed that the phones topped up at 30W in its review guide, but our testing led to the company admitting that the phones topped out at 21W and 23W.

Stop with the buggy software

Needless to say, Google needs to pull its socks up for the Pixel 7 series in this regard. Whether it improves matters by devoting more resources to software releases or hiring more testers, it needs to take concrete steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Google’s Pixels have a pretty shady reputation for bugs, and the Pixel 6 series is no exception. Some of the complaints we’ve seen in recent months include Wi-Fi being broken, drastically reduced signal strength, and the device making calls out of nowhere. Those are some major issues.

Google isn’t the only company to struggle with software polish, as OnePlus has also struggled in recent years. But you don’t really expect many major bugs from the Android platform-holder in the first place.

Fix the fingerprint scanner

The Pixel 6 series also marked the first time that Google used an in-display fingerprint sensor on its phones, after years of using a rear fingerprint scanner. Unfortunately, the in-display scanner turned out to be one of the biggest annoyances.

We thought the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s in-display fingerprint sensors were too slow and unreliable for our liking. Google went so far as to initially claim that the scanners were slower due to “enhanced” security algorithms, subsequently issuing an update to speed things up.

Google Pixel 6 pro screen holding on hand at angle showing screen
image credit: 9TO5Google

Bring more Pro-exclusive features

The Pixel 6 Pro was a good deal on its own at $900, it must be said. But the Pixel 6 definitely made it look bad at $600. This wasn’t helped by the Pro model offering only a few extra features over the standard variant.

An alert slider

For iPhone users (and to a lesser extent OnePlus owners), the alert slider is a critical feature of the phone. It is an effective way to quickly enable or disable notification sounds without needing to unlock the phone or even turn on the screen. 

We’ve never seen an alert slider on a Pixel phone before, and given it’s only really used by Apple and OnePlus phones, it seems unlikely Google’s going to change its mind. However we stand by the idea that this would make a great addition to the Pixel 7.

Better and brighter displays for all models

There are a couple of ways Google could improve the displays of the Pixel 7 series. First off: brightness. Google has fitted the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with surprisingly dim displays, even when set at maximum brightness in direct light. Being unable to see your smartphone’s display properly is inarguably a bad thing, so if Google could crank up the brightness of the Pixel 7’s display a few hundred more nits, that would be one of the Pixel 6 series’ worst areas fixed.

Pixel 7 renders

google pixel 7 render
google pixel 7 render image
google pixel 7 render image

(Image credit: OnLeaks x @Carhpus)

Pixel 7 Pro renders

google pixel 7 pro render image
google pixel 7 pro render image
google pixel 7 pro render image

For what it’s worth, the devices are said to measure in at 155.6 x 73.1 x 8.7mm for the Pixel 7 (making it slightly shorter and a little wider than the Pixel 6) and 163 x 76.6 x 8.7mm for the Pixel 7 Pro.

What we’d like to see in the Google Pixel 7?

The Google Pixel 6 in Sorta Seafoam color showing the G logo

With so little actually known about the Pixel 7, we can take this chance to bring our begging bowls to Google and ask for a little more than we received with the Pixel 6.

One of the main refinements we’d like to see is a reduction in the bulk of the Pixel 6. At 207g it is a hefty beast, so a lowering of the weight would make the whole experience a more pleasant one for the user.

In our Google Pixel 6 review, we found the battery life to be very good, with the only real downside being the slow 30W charging capabilities, which in fact rarely even hits those speeds. This could do with being bumped up to the kind of speeds often found in Chinese devices across the board, which can see a 0 to 100% recharge in less than 30 minutes.

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