Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel Watch review: ‘Remarkable’ camera and sleek watch are a winning combination
Google Pixel 7 Pro has a “remarkable” camera system. When paired with the Google Watch, it’s the best tech combination this year.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro paired with the Google Pixel Watch might just be the best tech combination this year.
My last experience with the Pixel series was the Google Pixel 3, which I bought in late 2018. The software on the camera blew me away and it was taking better photos with “point and shoot” than I ever had been before.
It set off a trend, with most manufacturers incorporating AI into their camera systems these days.
But the crappy plastic build on the Pixel 3 meant it quickly smashed. I was so disappointed that I stayed away from the brand.
But I heard good things about the Google Pixel 7 Pro so I asked Google if I could test out their new flagship product and they sent me a model along with the new Google Pixel Watch.
Why this is the best phone and watch combo
I’m deeply enmeshed in the Google ecosystem. I use Gmail at work and home, stream to my TV with Chromecast and make voice commands to my Google Home.
Google clearly excels at integrating products and has done so again with the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel Watch.
The watch synched up easily and quickly with the Pixel 7 Pro and incorporates all the key apps — Google Assistant, Maps, Wallet, Calendar and Gmail.
It also worked nicely with my Google Home set-up. You can even use the watch as a sort of remote control in conjunction with Chromecast. While you’re streaming — you can play, pause, rewind and adjust the volume using your watch.
It’s Google’s first attempt at a smartwatch and a pretty good attempt at that. The best part about it is the integration with the Fitbit health-tracking tech. It’s also very pleasing to the eye and can be easily worn as just a standard watch.
‘Remarkable’ camera
There have been great top-tier phones released this year and I’ve had a chance to look at some of them up close: the iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S22, and one of my favourites, the OPPO Reno8.
The Pixel 7 is a real contender for one of the best of the lot, simply on the basis of its camera system. It captures photos and video with remarkable quality.
The main rear camera is a 50MP Octo PD Quad Bayer wide camera. There’s also a 12MP ultrawide and a 48MP telephoto camera, all guided by a laser detect auto focus sensor. On the front is a 10.8 MP camera.
But as usual with Pixel series, the real winner is the software.
One of the cool features is the “Macro Focus” mode, allowing you to take a photo from 3-5cm away from the subject.
Here’s an image I took of an ordinary object around my house. Ten points if you can guess what it is in the comments.
The phone also has “Super Res Zoom”, which allows you to capture an image from far away.
I was amazed by how stable the photo was when I used the 10x zoom mode.
Had I taken a similar photo on a different phone would have been a blurry mess.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro magnifies up to 30x and zoom stabilisation kicks in after 15x.
The camera also has “Cinematic Blur” mode, which brings the subject of a video into sharp relief, blurring out the background. It really gives a video that cinematic feel. You can also take HDR video in 10-bit, for more vibrant colours.
“Photo Unblur” is a cool new feature that helps you rescue a blurry image.
You simple open Google Photos, select a photo that looks blurry and edit to “unblur”.
It works on both new photos and older photos in the library, very cool stuff.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro also makes it much easier to take high-quality selfies with its ‘Guided Frame’ mode.
Audio and vibration feedback helps guide you towards the centre of the viewfinder and after three seconds, a photo will be taken.
What I don’t like
The camera is in housing that resembles Geordi La Forge’s visor from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
That’s not a deal-breaker for me, but I did find the phone to be top heavy. It is liable to fall off an unbalanced desk or table.
Durability issues with the phone were also exposed in a video by JerryRigEverything, a YouTuber who brutally hacked at the Pixel phone with a utility knife.
He revealed that the visor could potentially be damaged by everyday wear and tear (especially if you carry heavy-duty sandpaper in your pockets). Not ideal but I expect Google will deal with this moving forward and as durability technology improves.
Nonetheless, the phone is vasty stronger than its predecessors. The Pixel 7 Pro is encased in Gorilla glass and has an edgeless polished aluminium frame.
The weak plastic materials of the Pixel 3 are ancient history.
Appealing design
Overall the design of the Pixel 7 Pro is marvellous. The smooth glass on the back and aluminium frame are appealing.
The centrally positioned selfie camera is unobtrusive and the designers made the most of the 170mm (6.7 inch) display with gently curving edges. It comes in hazel, snow and obsidian — I grabbed the obsidian.
Also, 19 per cent of the phone is made from recycled materials, which is definitely a positive given how much waste is created by the industry.
Stylish-looking watch
The watch is stylish-looking with an attractive minimalist design.
It is also extremely practical. It synched up easily with the Pixel and once I downloaded the Fitbit app it started monitoring my vital signs.
I especially like the sleep tracker, I need my beauty sleep more than ever these days. The reminder to stand up periodically when I’m in the office is also helpful.
The watch charger is also small and easy to connect. The battery didn’t last forever, which is a definite downside, but it was easy enough to charge overnight.
My overall thoughts
The exceptional camera experience and stylish design make the Google Pixel 7 Pro one of the best Android phones on the market.
Starting from $1299 it’s also relatively cheap for a high-end phone, especially when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The Google Pixel Watch is also competitively priced, starting from $549.
Overall, the high level of software integration between the Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel Watch equates to a winning combination.
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