Product test

Testing the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro: Macro mode and Zoom, both pretty convincing

12/10/2022

Google is relying on continuity for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. With an almost unaltered design, the biggest changes concern the camera and some software features.

The new macro mode and improved zoom are two important innovations on the Pixel 7 Pro, yet they’re missing on the Pixel 7. However, both smartphones come with the Tensor G2. With this, it seems Google doesn’t want to increase overall performance, but mainly accelerate AI functions, some of which aren’t yet available (in Europe).

Innovations: not immediately visible

Visually, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have hardly changed compared to their predecessors. The camera bar has slid down a bit and the back is no longer divided into two colours. The Pixel 7 Pro display has remained unchanged at 6.7 inches, while the Pixel 7 has become 0.1 inches smaller at 6.3 inches. According to Google, both have become 25 per cent brighter compared to the predecessor. But any such differences stemming from its 1000 nits (up to 1500 maximum) are hardly noticeable to the naked eye.

Inside, Google has restructured quite a bit more, resulting in better cooling for the battery, camera and the new Tensor G2. Google’s second proprietary chipset is said to have become 60 per cent faster in machine learning while consuming 20 per cent less power. You’re most likely to notice this in AI applications such as live translation or image editing. However, there have been no improvements over the first Tensor in a classic Geekbench 5 test, measuring performance for the processor and graphics chips.

Annoyingly, Google has also retained some of the worse aspects of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. These include the slippery back, slow fast charging at a maximum of 25 watts and limited compatibility with charging cables as well as perpetually ugly cases. Google’s fabric cases for the Pixel 4 and 5 were much nicer.

However, I can report one welcome return. Face recognition, which was missing in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, is back and reliably unlocks the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro at a glance. The fingerprint sensor in the display works reliably and doesn’t appear to need a software update to be usable as opposed to the predecessor.

An illuminated ring signals that face recognition is active.

Closer to the action with macro mode and Super Res Zoom

Google has equipped the Pixel 7 Pro with three new features: Cinema mode for videos, improved zoom, and macro mode. The Pixel 7 only gets Cinema mode, Zoom and macro modes use the telephoto camera.

A Pixel 7 Pro with three cameras on the back.

Macro mode: better photos at very short distances

Many smartphones have macro cameras these days, but they’re often unusable. Their main reason for existing appears to be as marketing tools. The Pixel 7 Pro is switching things up. If you get within one to three centimetres of an object with this camera, it automatically switches to macro mode. Pictures are sharp and rich in detail – you’ll have trouble finding a better macro mode in current smartphones.

Macro mode works well on flowers, but not just that.

One small critique: in the dark, the camera is much more likely to think it needs macro mode, taking longer to recognise actual distances. Still, it’s a pity that only the Pro has macro mode.

Super Res Zoom: better photos from further away

Google is using the new telephoto lens on the Pixel 7 Pro for so-called Super Res(olution) Zoom. It isn’t quite as groundbreaking as you might think after watching the phone’s debut, but manages to leave others behind by quite a margin. I’ve ranked the following sample image at 10x zoom alongside the Huawei P50 Pro, OnePlus 10 Pro, Galaxy Fold 4 and Xiaomi 12 T Pro in my personal comparison.

Despite lacking a telephoto lens, the Pixel 7 apparently also features improved zoom. It supposedly beats out the Pixel 6 in 2x zoom. But when looking at pictures from both smartphones, I ask myself: «Is the Pixel 7 really slightly more detailed or am I just imagining it because it’s supposed to be better?»

The changes become more noticeable when using maximum zoom on both smartphones. Whereas the Pixel 6 had sevenfold magnification, the Pixel 7 features eightfold magnification. In a direct comparison, the Pixel 7 looks slightly sharper, but not more detailed. I expected more after all those announcements.

Night mode

When taking pictures in night mode, I noticed no differences in quality compared to the Pixel 6. However, the Pixel 7 (Pro) still offers an advantage: shorter exposure time. You only have to hold still for three seconds instead of about five. If you need more, you can also manually set five seconds. In my case, however, this wasn’t necessary.

Selfies

The front-facing camera of the Pixel 7 has been upgraded and is identical to that of the Pixel 7 Pro. At 10.8 megapixels, it delivers decent selfies, highly detailed and with natural-looking colours. But compared to the Pixel 6 with only eight megapixels of resolution, no significant differences can be seen.

Cinematic Blur: intentionally blurred videos

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are set to become more interesting for videographers. You can enable 10-bit HDR for your footage and use Cinema Blur to add depth of field to your videos and change the focus while recording. However, I instantly found a subject that reveals the weaknesses of blurring by software versus blurring by optics.

On this plant, not all the leaves and flowers are sharp. However, some of the house in the background is, as long as it appears in between the leaves. The software doesn’t cope well with the bollard in the foreground either.

Android remains on top – for at least three years

Software is still a big argument surrounding the Pixel devices. Apart from the Google services preinstalled on almost all Android devices, there’s no preloaded apps or annoying bloatware. Very nice! Plus points are also deserved for the speedy and reliable updates. Google wants to provide the Pixel 7 with security updates for five years. However, major Android updates will only be provided for three years – i.e. until Android 16. After that, new features will only come to the devices via «Pixel Feature Drops».

When it comes to new Pixel 7 features, it isn’t always clear whether they’ll only work exclusively on the new devices or will also come to older Pixels. Among those is the ability to display voice messages as text. However, this will probably only be available in Google’s Messages app – and come on, who uses that thing anyway, given the large selection of messengers these days. But at least emojis in text messages can now also be dictated in German, French and Spanish.

The Recorder app now also distinguishes between people when transcribing. Until now, you had to decide for yourself where in a text speakers changed. «Guided Frame» is hidden in the TalkBack settings. Using voice instructions, it helps people with limited or no vision take selfies.

In «Digital Wellbeing», cough and snore detection is to be added. With it you can check how good your sleep is.

Very good, despite few improvements

The Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 are good to very good smartphones. They convince with their slightly improved and perpetually high tier cameras – OK, maybe just the Pro with its large zoom range and macro mode – as well as their software including fast and reliable updates.

However, changes compared to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are rather minor, so an upgrade isn’t necessary. Especially since two points of criticism from the predecessor models remain in the glossy back and slow battery charging. For now, I’ll stick to my plan to use the Pixel 6 for as long as possible.