Is It Worth It?
In short, yes. The Pixel 7 Pro offers a lot for its price point, especially in terms of camera capabilities and Google's software features. However, when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, it falls short in several areas, including display quality, performance, and battery life.
For those who prioritize Google's ecosystem, computational photography, and a lower price point, the Pixel 7 Pro is a solid choice. However, if you're looking for top-tier performance, display quality, and longer battery life, you might want to consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Comparison
In this article, we'll compare three of the latest flagship devices: the Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Let's dive in.
Design & Build
- Pixel 7 Pro: An evolution of the Pixel 6 Pro design, it features a camera bar look which can be polarizing. It has metal accents and more prominent camera lenses. Some reports suggest issues with broken glass on the camera bar and parts of the phone falling apart.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: Resembles the Galaxy Notes with a blocky aesthetic, curved display, and a P-shaped camera layout. It's well-built and sturdy. Water and dust-resistant.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Features a sleek design with a ceramic shield front cover, sturdy titanium body, and a textured matte glass back. It's also water and dust-resistant.
Display
- Pixel 7 Pro: 6.7-inch OLED with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 and a refresh rate of 10-120Hz.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: 6.8-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 3088 x 1440 and an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120Hz. It offers better color reproduction and significantly higher brightness than the Pixel 7 Pro.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, offering HDR10 and Dolby Vision support with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.
Performance
- Pixel 7 Pro: Powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip, it's designed more for AI and machine learning rather than raw performance.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: Uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, making it one of the most powerful Android devices on the market.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Equipped with Apple's A17 Pro Bionic chip, it provides top-tier performance, efficient battery usage, and advanced AI capabilities.
Camera
- Pixel 7 Pro: Features a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto (5x optical zoom) cameras. Known for its computational photography and software features like Magic Eraser and Super Res Zoom.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: Boasts a 200MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and two 10MP telephoto lenses. It has outperformed the Pixel in several camera tests, especially in brightness and color saturation.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Comes with a triple-camera system with advanced low-light performance, ProRAW, and ProRes video recording, making it a favorite among professionals.
Battery Life
- Pixel 7 Pro: Has a 5,000 mAh battery but falls short in longevity, lasting significantly less than S23 Ultra in continuous use.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: Also equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, it significantly outperforms the Pixel, lasting over 12 hours.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: While the exact mAh is not specified by Apple, it promises all-day battery life and fast charging capabilities.
Software & Updates
- Pixel 7 Pro: Runs on Android 13 with exclusive Google features. However, it only promises three years of platform updates.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: Operates on Android 13 with One UI 5.1 on top. It offers four years of Android updates and five years of security patches.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Uses iOS 17, known for its smooth user experience, privacy features, and long-term software support.
Price
- Pixel 7 Pro: Goes on discount as low as $649(128GB) & $749(256GB)as of today, which is cheaper than the base model from Samsung and Apple, making it the most affordable among the three. The release of Pixel 8 Pro in October will further lower the price.
- Galaxy S23 Ultra: Starts at $1,199 for the 256GB variant.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199 for the base 256GB model.
Pixel 7 Pro VS 7 VS 7A
Here's a breakdown of who might choose each phone:
Pixel 7 Pro
- Power Users: The Pixel 7 Pro offers the biggest display and the most RAM among the three, ensuring smooth multitasking and gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts: With its versatile camera setup, including a 50 MP main sensor and a 48 MP telephoto lens, the Pixel 7 Pro is ideal for those who prioritize budget photography.
- Media Consumers: The 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a high resolution is perfect for those who consume a lot of media on their phones, be it watching movies, reading, or browsing.
Pixel 7
- General Users: For those who want a balanced performance without the need for the absolute best, the Pixel 7 offers a solid experience at a more affordable price point than the Pro model.
- Good Photography: While it might not have the telephoto lens of the Pro and the 13MP ultrawide of 7a, it still offers a robust camera experience for most users.
- Value Seekers: Those who want a high-quality experience without breaking the bank might lean towards the Pixel 7.
Pixel 7a
- Budget-conscious Users: The Pixel 7a is the most affordable and newest among the three, but at the current discount price, it's only $5 cheaper than the 7.
- Casual Users: For those who use their phones for basic tasks like calling, texting, browsing, and occasional photography.
- Compact Design Lovers: With a 6.1-inch display, it's the most compact among the three, ideal for those who prefer smaller phones.
- First-time Smartphone Buyers: The Pixel 7a can be a great introduction to the Pixel series and Android for those new to smartphones.
The choice between these three phones boils down to individual needs and budget. The Pixel 7 Pro is for those who want the best of everything. The Pixel 7 strikes a balance between performance and price, while the Pixel 7a is not as appealing with the current price differences.
About the Writer
A marketer with a background of electrical engineering and developer. Passion in researching, executing, and evaluating new tech innovations.
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