Long-Term Review: How Does the Google Pixel 7 Hold Up?

If you've decided to buy a Google 7th series smartphone, you might be interested in the Pixel 7 battery life and how its efficiency differs from other models in the lineup.

Battery Performance 

This lineup includes three devices. The table provides brief characteristics of the batteries and comparative battery life for all devices.

Pixel 7 battery capacity is the smallest at 4355 mAh, while the capacity of 7a and 7 Pro is 4385 mAh and 5000 mAh, respectively. We see that Pixel 7 Pro battery size is the largest, but will it affect the battery life? Let's find out in our review.

According to the company's statement, all devices are capable of lasting more than a day, and compared to iPhones, they have an advantage here. Although smartphone owners have recently come to terms with the need to charge their devices every day, as high-performance internals require a lot of energy.

However, if the battery is approaching zero, you have a way out. These phones support Extreme Battery Saver technology, which disables most apps and preserves the device's charge for up to 72 hours. This will come in handy in extreme situations when your gadget is running low, but making a call or sending a message is crucial.

The gadgets can be charged quickly. In real conditions, the Pixel 7a battery replenishes by 20% in 36 minutes. The other two devices have a faster fast-charging speed. The Pixel 7 charges to 48% in half an hour, while the Pro model reaches 46%. Fully restoring the Pixel 7 Pro battery capacity takes 1 hour and 49 minutes. For the 7a and 7, the results are 1 hour and 57 minutes, and 1 hour and 40 minutes, respectively.

The 7a does not support reverse charging, but the other two phones allow you to charge other gadgets, such as headphones or watches.

User Experience

At the same time, once again, we see that a larger capacity does not always mean better autonomy. Sometimes, battery power is consumed to support the operation of a bright and large display, power consumption, as well as to provide other functions of the gadget.

As seen from the tests, Pixel 7a battery life is the longest among all the presented models. During web surfing, the smartphone lasted just over 11 hours on a single charge, and during video playback, it managed almost 15.5 hours. Gamers can enjoy their favorite games for just over 5 hours.

In the same conditions, Google Pixel 7 battery life achieves the following results:

• Internet browsing and social media: 10 hours
• Video playback: 16 hours and 16 minutes
• Gaming: 5 hours and 12 minutes.

However, Pixel 7 Pro battery life lags behind its less renowned siblings in almost all aspects:

• Internet surfing and social media: 9 hours and 10 minutes
• Video playback: 14 hours and 51 minutes
• Gaming: 4 hours and 47 minutes.

Comparative Analysis

Pixel 7A was intended to be the most compact mid-range smartphone. Its display is only 6.1 inches, but it doesn't seem so due to the large bezels. Additionally, in terms of width, it is the same as Pixel 7. Google Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch screen, unlike the Pro version with a 6.7-inch diagonal. The screen refresh rate also differs. While Pixel 7 offers a 90Hz refresh rate, Pixel 7 Pro features 120Hz with adaptive frequency adjustment ranging from 10 to 120Hz depending on the content displayed on the screen.

The processor’s in comparison in these devices are of high quality, and there are no issues with them. It features the flagship Tensor G2 chip from 2022. An important change in this chip is the optimization and significant improvement in neural networks that process sound, video, and photos. Now, the 7 and 7 Pro perform these tasks even faster and with higher quality. However, in tests, the results for 7A are worse than Pixel 7.

The Google Pixel 7 comes with 8 GB of RAM paired with either 128 GB or 256 GB of internal storage. The Pixel 7 Pro is available in 128 GB and 256 GB versions, and there is also a version with 512 GB of storage, with 12 GB of RAM. The younger model, Pixel 7a, features 8 GB of RAM and only one storage option, which is 128 GB.

The main camera of the Pixel 7A features a new 64 MP sensor, while the Pixel 7 has a 50 MP sensor. Additionally, improvements are present in the wide-angle camera (13 MP compared to 12 MP, with a viewing angle of 120 degrees versus 114 degrees) and in the front camera (13 MP compared to 10.8 MP).

In the Pro version of the smartphone, there are three cameras instead of two. Namely: a primary wide lens at 50 MP, a wide-angle lens at 12 MP, and a telephoto lens at 48 MP with zoom. The image stabilization feature has been updated, allowing for better sharpness preservation even during zooming. By the way, the cameras are one of the features that contribute to the reduction of Google Pixel 7 Pro battery life.

In addition, there are several useful features that have appeared in the new lineup. For example, a small timer that shows how much time is needed for shooting to get a clear image. This is accompanied by a level in the center of the screen that helps keep hands in a stable position. You can also choose one of three options for night shooting: standard night mode, maximum night mode, and turning off the night mode.

Speaking of video, the smartphones have a Cinema Effect feature with background blur, support for shooting in 4K HDR, and the "Clear Speech" option, which suppresses and removes all unnecessary sounds in the background. The cameras also capture excellent video both during the day and at night.

In the 7 and 7 Pro models, the adaptive Material You design and some thematic icons for the home screen, quick system updates, and useful features of Google Assistant are available. The dynamic color palette now provides 16 accent colors instead of 4, and the notification panel features a large media player with a search function. Face unlock (Face ID) is performed by the front camera and works quickly and clearly. Special attention has been paid to the fingerprint scanner, making it even more convenient to use.

Also, for users, they added the function of detecting coughing and snoring, or "Digital Wellbeing." You can activate it automatically when the phone is connected to the network during a specific time interval, for example, between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It allows tracking sleep interruptions, and the smartphone will also detect when you cough or snore at night, all of which will happen entirely autonomously on the device. Of course, this option is a nice addition and cannot replace professional diagnosis, but it can help draw your attention to certain things.

Conclusions

Battery life is an important factor when choosing a smartphone. As we've seen in the lineup, Pixel 7 battery mah doesn't necessarily mean longer battery life. The Google Pixel 7 Pro battery size is the largest among these options, but it lags behind in almost all practical tests. This is why it's crucial to carefully consider other smartphone specifications to make the right choice.