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Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 6 Pro: Which is the best flagship for you?
Google's new Pixel 7 Pro continued the line's tradition of upping its photo and video game with enhanced hardware and new software processing features, while its second-gen Tensor G2 chip makes it the most powerful Pixel yet.
Some power users will take advantage of every bit of that new power and all of the new features. But, with the Pixel 6 Pro already being such an excellent phone, its discounted pricing might make it a much better fit for the more average user.
Let's take a look at the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro's specs, and which buyer would be the best fit for each device.
Also: Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 6: Which generation should you buy?
Specifications
Google Pixel 7 Pro | Google Pixel 6 Pro | |
Display | 6.7-inch 1,440 x 3,120 LTPO OLED with 120Hz refresh rate | 6.71-inch 1,080 x 2,400 AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate |
Weight | 212 g | 210 g |
Processor | Google Tensor G2 | Google Tensor |
| RAM/Storage | 12GB RAM with 128GB/256GB/512GB storage | 12GB RAM with 128GB/256GB/512GB storage |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh with 30W charging | 5,003 mAh with 30W charging |
| Camera | 50MP f/1.85 wide, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 48MP f/3.5 telephoto, 10.8MP f/2.2 front | 50MP f/1.9 wide, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 48MP f/3.5 telephoto (4x), 11.1MP f/2.2 front |
| Connectivity | 5G (mmWave and sub-6GHz) | 5G (mmWave and sub-6GHz) |
Colors | Obsidian, Snow, Hazel | Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black |
IP rating | IP68 water and dust resistance | IP68 water and dust resistance |
| Price | Starting at $799 | Starting at $586 |
You should buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro if...
The Pixel 7 Pro in the Snow colorway.
1. You want all-day (or more) battery life
Google upped its battery game, not on the hardware front, but from an efficiency standpoint. It claims the device is able to last 24 hours or more thanks to its Adaptive Battery feature. This tech works in the background optimizing your power by doing things like learning your favorite apps, and automatically preventing apps you don't frequently use from wasting battery life. If a full day isn't enough, the Pixel 7 Pro also now supports Extreme Battery Saver, which can push the lifespan of the smartphone to 72 hours by limiting connectivity and some other features when the need arises. It's not something you'll want to use all the time, but it could be a literal lifesaver in a pinch.
Also: Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro: How to buy the right one for you
2. You have pro photographer or videographer aspirations
Google's Pixel smartphone line has been at the forefront of smartphone photo and video technology for pretty much its entire existence, and this generation is no exception. Features like enhanced low-light photography, 4K60 video support even for the front-facing selfie camera, and the ability to "unblur" both pictures taken by the Pixel 7 Pro itself and elsewhere all promise to make it one of the best photo and video smartphones ever. Features like Guided Frame even help those with vision impairments take great photos via audio and haptic feedback.
3. Buttery-smooth displays are important to you
Not only does the Pixel 7 Pro support a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, but it also includes updated Smooth Display technology that adapts the refresh rate dynamically. This means that you'll still get smooth, fast-motion refresh rates when you need them, while dropping to much lower refresh rates to save battery life when the onscreen graphics are still or barely moving.
You should buy the Pixel 6 Pro if...
1. You just want to save some cash
Buying last year's flagship can be a bit of a tricky situation. Sometimes, you get a fantastic phone that can very nearly compete with the following year's edition for between 30% and 50% off. Other times, you may be missing out on features that render the discount you received irrelevant. Thankfully, the Pixel 6 Pro definitely falls into the former camp in our opinion. Aside from the photo and video upgrades and the CPU bump, the Pixel 7 Pro doesn't offer anything truly revolutionary. This means its slightly older sibling, the Pixel 6 Pro, at its discounted price, is probably still the smart option for most average Android users.
2. You're not really that into smartphone photography and videography anyway
Expanding on the first reason above, this one goes out to all those folks (like me) who mostly just take pictures of their dogs, cats, and family members when something cute or memorable is happening. Let's be realistic, smartphone cameras have been more than up to this task for many years now. The Pixel 6 Pro especially offers earlier, still-great iterations of both Real Tone and Night Sight, features that earned widespread praise when they launched, for good reason. If you don't have any real plans to use the camera enhancements in the Pixel 7 Pro, that discounted Pixel 6 Pro pricing looks a lot more attractive.
3. You're a casual smartphone user who still wants the latest security updates
One of the best things about Google's Pixel line has always been that it is among the first to be updated with new Android features thanks to Google's first-party ownership. While all of the flashy new toys those features often include may be fun to play with, the security features those updates also ship with are what keep you and your family safe. Since Google has committed to five years of security updates for all of its Pixel devices, this means you still have over three years of guaranteed security updates left on the Pixel 6 Pro. This is far more than most similarly priced, newer devices that originally launched as midrange smartphones are likely to offer you. If you don't tend to upgrade your smartphone often, this is well worth noting.
Review: One year later, the Pixel 6 Pro is still Google's best smartphone
Alternatives to consider
Open to other flagship smartphone prospects? Consider these ZDNET-recommended devices:
In the US, it often seems like the Android smartphone market has become a two-horse race, with Google and Samsung so far ahead of the pack that it's obvious you'll consider both if you're in the market for a flagship-class device. The latest Samsung flagship to be priced near the Pixel 7 Pro's MSRP is the Galaxy S23+, which provides some new photo tricks, upgraded display options, and more.
Also: Every Samsung Galaxy S23 model compared: Which model should you buy?
Want to stand out from the herd I referenced above? OnePlus has been quietly releasing flagship models that can stand up to some of the best Samsung and Google have to offer for the better part of a decade now. The company's latest features cameras developed with pro photo equipment maker Hasselblad, an adaptive 120Hz display, and much more.
It wouldn't be an Android comparison piece without referencing the fact that you could always jump ship and head to iOS. Apple's iPhone 14 Plus is already more phone than most people will need, letting you skip the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro. It still offers the latest in photo and video performance, as well as some of the best battery life ever seen on an iPhone.