Google’s Pixel phones are usually fantastic, but the Pixel 7 Pro fails to impress against premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.
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Google’s Pixel 7 Pro is a good premium Android option with a large screen if you find it with a deal.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s cameras take great photos overall, but they produce disappointing results more often than Samsung and Apple’s latest phones.
The Pixel 7 Pro falls short when compared to its main competitor, the Galaxy S23 Plus, in performance, longevity, and battery life.
The Pixel 7 Pro is Google’s option for those who like large screens and the top hardware and features available on a phone, but at its core, it’s the same phone as the smaller Pixel 7.
As such, I’ll direct you to my Pixel 7 review to get the low-down on its performance, smart features, and cameras.
In a nutshell, the Pixel 7 Pro runs on Google’s Tensor G2 processor that’s fast and powerful, though not in the league of the super-powerful processors in Apple or Samsung devices. What it lacks in performance the Pixel 7 Pro makes up with smart features that actively improves camera quality and usefulness.
The cameras are overall excellent, but it also delivered occasionally disappointing photos. No phone camera is perfect, but the Pixel 7 series proved more disappointing than Apple and Samsung’s latest premium phones.
Overall, the Pixel 7 Pro is a good phone that almost anyone would be happy with. However, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Plus looms over the Pixel 7 Pro as a stronger competitor for your hands and pockets.
What works
Premium design with a smooth 120Hz displayExcellent triple-lens cameras overallExtensive smart features
What needs work
Camera quality can be inconsistentOnly three generations of Android operating system upgradesPoor battery life compared to competitors
A bigger screen and three cameras for $300 more than the Pixel 7
The Pixel 7 Pro has a large 6.7-inch screen with 120Hz and a triple camera system.
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For $300 more than the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro offers a larger 6.7-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate that’s marginally smoother than the Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch, 90Hz screen.
The camera system also has a third, 5x 48 megapixel zoom lens that gives it significantly more zooming versatility. The Pixel 7 Pro can take some impressively sharp and detailed photos, even at higher magnifications, like 10x. But like the Pixel 7, in certain shots, the Pro delivered more disappointing photos than the latest premium phones from Samsung and Apple.
Both Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 run on Google’s Tensor G2 processor that’s fast and powerful enough for anyone without trying to compete with the super-powerful processors in Apple or Samsung devices. What it lacks in performance the Pixel 7 Pro makes up with smart features that enhance the user experience.
Whether these upgrades are worth $300 more than the Pixel 7 is up to you, but after testing both devices, it seems like a steep premium when the regular Pixel 7 offers so much for such a good price.
As for battery life, it’s technically not as good as the Pixel 7’s. The Pixel 7 Pro completed my battery test with 57% remaining, which can be considered within the margin of error compared to the Pixel 7’s 60% result. Still, I’d expect better battery life from a larger phone compared to a smaller one.
Should you buy the Pixel 7 Pro?
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro is fine, but it’s not as impressive overall as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
At first glance, the Pixel 7 Pro seems to have it all: a large 6.7-inch screen, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a triple-lens camera, and a powerful processor. But upon closer look, it’s actually not that much of an upgrade from the Pixel 7.
In addition to not offering enough of a difference between the base model, I’m struggling to find reasons to recommend the Pixel 7 Pro over the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus. While the smart features are impressive, the phone overall just isn’t, and I’d still recommend the Galaxy S23 Plus first — its cameras deliver more consistent results, it has better battery life, and the S23 Plus has better longevity thanks to its more powerful processor and Samsung’s longer support for the Android operating system upgrades.
The Pixel 7 Pro can be a good option with Google’s $750 deal that will last until April 23, which is $150 off its full $900 price. However, if you’ve set up your budget for a $1,000 phone, I’d still go for the Galaxy S23 Plus.