Google Pixel 7 Pro – Unlocked Android 5G smartphone with telephoto lens, wide-angle lens and 24-hour battery – 128GB – Snow

For what it's worth, I was trying to decide between - or at least narrow down my shortlist - the Pixel 8 and the 7 Pro, purely from the perspective of the cameras. I spent a long time looking over comparative pic samples. In a lot of them, it's hard to tell the difference, which I wasn't expecting. In short, I think that makes it a compelling choice at that price but several things gave me pause.

-

Longer version! And tell me if my thought process is off, on this! The obvious strength of the 7 Pro is it has that optical zoom. The standout weaknesses are relatively poor low light performance in terms of noise, where the Pixel 8 is a significant improvement.

The 7 Pro's images are said to be a little darker in the corners, though with the samples I looked at it didn't appear pronounced, to me, and I wondered if the reviewer who mentioned it as a possible thing, simply said so, so as to mind his back; as in, perhaps as other reviewers had been commenting on it, I should mention that. So much to look for in comparisons, that's not something I really look out for!

From the images I saw, I personally prefer the tonal balance of the 7 Pro to the Pixel 8

Some of the images from the auto defaults from the 8 were, for my tastes, marginally but noticeably, to me, overly contrasty and a bit too much saturation. I know many people prefer that, for images that 'pop' on social media, but I prefer a more neutral look with a shade more detail in the shadows. It was noticeable in some of the landscape images, hedges, foliage, but in most situations the differences were subtle-ish. Images were sometimes a tiny bit more sharply resolved with the Pixel 8 but not like it was noticeable most of the time.

So, it would seem almost crazy, just on the cameras metrics, not to go for the 7 Pro, right? I also liked that it is a marginally larger phone/screen.

I'm not sure... Several things gave me pause. Though the extraordinary AI features of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro aren't quite of no interest to me, what does interest me, a lot, is updates. If Google made some miraculous discovery that could be applied in firmware, I'm sure the 8 would get it, I'm much less sure the 7 Pro would.

Also, I'm told the 7 Pro, not being a new model, gets OS update until 2025, where the Pixel 8 will have, what, 7 years of updates?! I do wonder if some of those updates will degrade the picture quality, subtly, to try and convince you to upgrade, though, as that is apparently an unspoken common practice?

On balance, I don't know that I would use the zoom, much, and some of the hardware features upgrades with the 8-series are something to consider, so I reluctantly decided to remove the 7 Pro from my shortlist.

Also on that shortlist are the Honor 90 (again, contrast and saturation in the auto default are too high, for my liking; consequently photographs in dull weather can look stark and gloomy compared to how they looked in real life; sure, some of that can be corrected in post but the off putter for me is, re point and shoot, that I haven't had much luck finding people using Gcam ports to tame that. Anyway, the price is good, the strengths are great screen and 4K video). The Xiaomi 13T Pro (no 4K on the selfie, apparently some condensation problems with the lens, don't know if that was resolved with later samples??). The Nothing Phone 2a - photographs seem to have got better with the regular updates but mainly the 4K video interests me, though I had difficulty finding how it compares with the above?? Motorola Edge 40 (significantly improved cameras when used with Gcam port, 4K resolution of details in video is good, could use my gimbal to tame slight shakiness; if I could find this phone somewhere between £180 and £240, I would be tempted, felt sore to have missed £176 deal!).

Of all of the above, I'll probably go for the Honor 90, unless others have suggestions, thanks - ??? - if only, in terms of limited OS updates it is still significantly less money than the Pixel 7 Pro, which, getting back on topic, Pixel 7 Pro seems like a really good deal if cameras/zoom matter more than noisy images in low light and few remaining OS updates. Its less contrasty/saturated presentation than the Pixel 8 in some photographs came very close to making me click buy.

Seriously hot! (edited)

Are there any standout issues with the Pixel 7 range which would make me avoid them? I keep coming back to them but would it be a mistake?

Non pro pixel 7 from Amazon warehouse possibly just damaged box unopen for £240ish loads in stock

i could live with that, its more the battery life and reviews saying that are not that user friendly?

I got a Pixel 7 Pro from Backmarket used... £330 six months back. Absolutely love my Pixel. I did recently buy an S24 ultra that I sent back... My Pixel does all I want, charging is a bit on the slow side but other than that, it's a stellar performer.

Re the battery you can put it on battery saver modes if you want to increase battery. I don't game on mine so it's fine for me and I usually have it on a saver mode to stretch it's legs. Camera is fantastic... Brilliant phone plus it's clean android and recently got the circle to search feature that the S24 has. 👌

What are the phone calls like for those that have pixels? I've found that some pixel users are nightmares to speak to, especially if they are using headphones.

Terrible Deal
Samsung S9 and freelance folks!

Google used to give pixel owners unlimited photo backup. Have they taken that away?

I've got this in black (bought last Easter for around £560 from Currys) and it's probably my favourite phone out of all the ones I own - even above the technically superior S23u or iPhone 15PM.

It seems I'm not the only fan, even with the 8 Pro being released: digitalspy.com/tec…ew/ (edited)

Thanks OP.
I bit on a 256GB 7 Pro used like new for £380.

Don't buy this phone..camera is rubbish

Got the 8 pro for £100 more via blue light card

I was looking at these as they say the P8 pro a bright screen and responsive touchscreen so assume this would be similar and also a lot cheaper. The P7 pro seem to start at around 250 on ebay for a lower grade one without cracks or other defects beyond fair wear and tear.

Are there any other phones with decent UI, bright screen and responsive fast touchscreen that you don't need a magnifying glass to read ?

The 8 pro was 550 few weeks back, is this a good deal for 450?

@Iss_Shehu You don't really need to state unlocked anymore....network locking of phones in the UK was banned in 2021

I'm still on my old faithful mate 20 pro, it's still Working but thinking that it's coming the time to let this one go, I know tech has come a long way but is this going to be a good upgrade? I'm very attached to this thing

What is better, s23 ultra or pixel 7pro