2021 has been a big year for Google’s Pixel smartphones as it has seen chipsets switch from Qualcomm Snapdragon to Google’s own Tensor chips.
So what will 2022 bring to the world of Pixels? We’re rounding up all the news and rumors surrounding the new devices, plus a few things we’d like to see when the Pixel 7 arrives.
What is the Google Pixel 7 release date?
Google has yet to confirm that there will be a Pixel 7, but it seems very likely given the move to new chips, as well as the intensive marketing campaign it is currently promoting the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro.
In recent generations, Google has scheduled an October launch for the main Pixel devices, with cheaper versions such as the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5a 5G appearing the following August. There was also the Pixel 4a 5G, which appeared in November 2020, and that’s sort of an outlier.
So if Google follows this pattern, you should expect the new Pixel 7 phones to debut in October 2022 alongside the new Pixel 7. Software Android 13.
How much will the Google Pixel 7 cost?
To give you an idea of how much money you’ll have to shell out for the latest Google devices when they arrive, here’s the price of the latest generations.
- Google Pixel 6: $599
- Google Pixel 6 Pro: $899
- Google Pixel 5: $699
- Google Pixel 4: $799
- Google Pixel 4XL: $899
As you can see, the price of the standard Pixel seems to have stabilized around the $599/$599 mark, while the Pro tier introduced in 2021 pushes things a little higher.
Hopefully Google will maintain these prices going forward, although global chip shortages and rising manufacturing costs caused by Covid could see them increase when the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro launch.
What features will we see in the Google Pixel 7?
Obviously, with the launch of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro still quite recent, there is little definite news on what to expect from their successors.
Design
With the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, Google introduced a whole new design language for its smartphones. Gone is the plastic chassis and more generic aesthetic of the Pixel 5, replaced by a premium build and bold look that featured a raised strip on the back that served as housing for the cameras.
We don’t expect Google to attempt to reinvent the wheel with the Pixel 7 lineup, as most manufacturers like to maintain a consistent aesthetic across generations, with Apple’s iPhone being the most obvious example.
Unsurprisingly, that’s exactly what we saw in the first renders of the two phones, which are courtesy of OnLeaks. The first is the standard Pixel 7, whose makes have been shared with CarHP’s website, revealing a remarkably similar design, but with a slightly tweaked camera module that now wraps directly into the frame of the phone.
The report adds that the phone will measure 155.6 x 73.1 x 8.7mm – making it slightly smaller in all dimensions, a welcome change from the bulky Pixel 6.
During the same week, OnLeaks also shared renders of the 7 Pro, this time with SmartPrix. The story is similar, with minor tweaks to the camera bar, but no drastic overhaul.
Its approximate dimensions of 163 x 76.6 x 8.7mm make it quite similar in size to the 6 Pro, although slightly slimmer.
screens
The current Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have 6.4-inch and 6.71 LTPO AMOLED displays respectively. Both support HDR10+, but the Pro version comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and higher resolution than its cheaper siblings.
Google must have unique selling points for both tiers, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see those differences carry over to the new models.
The OnLeaks report predicts that the 7 could reduce the screen size to 6.2 inches, while the 7 Pro will remain the same or jump slightly to 6.8 inches. We don’t expect to see many more changes on screen.
Display industry expert Ross Young reports something similar: a drop to a 6.3-inch screen for the 7, while the Pro will retain the same 6.7-inch size. He adds that at least the Pro will use 120Hz LTPO AMOLED technology again, although he doesn’t say whether or not we’ll see it in the normal 7.
We know that Google is working on designing an under-display selfie camera. The company has filed at least two patents to date, the most recent of which we’ve included here.
Unearthed by Lets Go Digital, it describes the same kind of technology we’ve seen used for similar cameras in models like the ZTE Axon 30 5G and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.
We don’t expect Google to use this technology in the Pixel 7 series, and it’s more likely to be seen in the rumored Pixel Fold or future phones like the Pixel 8 and beyond.
Second-generation Google Tensor chips
One of the main talking points with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro was Google’s use of its proprietary Tensor chips. Like Apple and Samsung, which use its A-series and Exynos chips in their flagships (although in some territories Samsung still uses Qualcomm Snapdragon chips), Google has taken the big step by controlling the design and production of the processors installed in your devices. .
Such an investment is definitely long-term, and 9to5Google has already flagged a possible hint of the arrival of second-generation Tensor chips when it discovered the codename “Cloudripper” which is tied to a GS201 model number that could represent the new silicon.
It sounds a bit complicated, but during product development there are different codes that manufacturers use, and 9to5Google’s detective work is a strong sign that new Pixels will ship with the latest versions of Tensor chips.
The same site has since found more details, with more codenames – Cheetah, Panther and Ravenclaw – related to a Samsung modem, likely the Exynos Modem 5300, which will likely be used in conjunction with the new Tensor chip.
9to5Google reports that Cheetah and Panther refer to Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, with new codenames of fat cats – after birds and fish were used for previous generations.
The third codename – Ravenclaw – is believed to be more than just a reference to Harry Potter. It’s potentially a mix of the Pixel 6 Pro’s codename “Raven” with the newer one’s feline claw theme. Equipmentpossibly referring to a test device that uses the new Tensor 2 chip inside the Pixel 6 Pro’s hardware.
No benchmarks have yet been seen for any of these devices, so we don’t know how the second generation will compare to its predecessors, but we do expect Google to work on performance and power efficiency improvements. , as with any iteration of processors.
cameras
The first leaked renders corroborate a report we saw from Mishaal Rahman on the XDA Developers site that the Pixel 7 will remain with just two rear cameras.
Code he analyzed for the Google Camera app, just before the launch of the Pixel 6 devices, shows that a 2022 Pixel phone will most likely have an ultrawide camera, like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but that doesn’t does not indicate the presence of a telephoto lens.
It’s the same as the Pixel 6, with a telephoto lens reserved for the Pro model only, but in 2022 that looks a little underwhelming compared to many potential rivals.
However, there are good reasons to think that Rahman’s code dive might not refer to the Pixel 7. For one thing, while the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro had individual codenames (Oriole and Raven ), this phone only appears with a (Pipit) .
It’s a name that other sources have linked to the Pixel foldable phone instead of the 7, so it may rather be a clue to this phone’s camera specs. Still, we’d be surprised to see a telephoto lens appear on the base Pixel 7 at this point.
What we’d like to see in the Google Pixel 7
With so little knowledge about the Pixel 7, we can take this opportunity to ask Google to charge a little more than what we’re getting 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’s a hefty beast, so a drop in weight would make for a more pleasant experience for the user.
The possible lack of a third camera on the standard Pixel 7 seems a bit sloppy compared to the triple and even quad camera setups of other phones at this price, so we’re hoping Google can up the ante a bit. with the new model.
In our review of the Google Pixel 6, we found battery life to be very good, with the only real downside being the 30W trickle charging capability, which actually rarely hits those speeds.
This could be done with the kind of speeds often found on Chinese devices in general, which can see a 0-100% recharge in less than 30 minutes.
The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were a great reinterpretation of a pure Google smartphone, so we can’t wait to see what happens when the new versions land in 2022.
We will continue to update this article as there is more news, so be sure to check back regularly. Until then, you can read our roundup of the best phone news coming in 2022.
Original article published in English on our sister site TechAdvisor UK.
Table of Contents
