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Android Planet: why Google Pixel 7 is the favorite smartphone

Now that 2022 is almost over, Planet Android editors are back on their favorite smartphones of the year. It's Wouter's turn and he chose the Google Pixel 7.

The Google Pixel 7 is my favorite smartphone...I've been a fan of the phones that Google has made for years. Having used a Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P years ago, I bought a Pixel 2 XL in 2017 and then a Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 5 in the years since. I skipped the Pixel 6; I didn't like the design and I was very satisfied with the OnePlus Nord 2.

Google smartphones have never been the best and most complete Android phones. There is always something wrong with every generation. For example, with the Pixel 2 XL it was the mediocre display and the Pixel 3 XL had a horrible and unnecessarily large notch. The regular Pixel 3 looked very old-fashioned due to the thick edges of the screen.

With the Pixel 4, Google completely missed the mark with poor battery life, while advanced 3D facial recognition was removed after a year. The Pixel 5 was better, but it didn't have the fastest hardware and was secretly a little too small (6 inches).

Google retaliated with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which were excellent. However, the Tensor chip the company introduced at the same time wasn't as fast as the competition and Pixel 6 phones are slow to load. And what I still forget is that Google devices were never officially for sale in the Netherlands.

That finally changed with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. As the editor Mike – who will publish his article later this week – I hesitated for a long time between the regular 7 and the more expensive 7 Pro, but in the end my choice fell on the basic model. Now that the smartphone has been in my pocket for a while, I certainly don't regret it.

Very good software and excellent cameras... One of the main reasons to choose a Pixel smartphone is, of course, the software. You get a clean, no-frills Android experience and you're at the front of the queue when it comes to the latest Android updates. That's all well and good, even if newer versions (like Android 13) aren't as exciting anymore.

It's a shame (and also ironic) that Google, the developer of Android, is late in its update policy. The company promises to give the Pixel 7 (Pro) three major Android updates and five years of security patches. Samsung provides its most expensive devices with four Android updates, and OnePlus will also start next year, as will Oppo. Hopefully Google will also adjust its policy in the future.

The Pixel 7 is good and fast, even if the Tensor G2 chip present is not the most powerful on the market. However, normal users won't notice this and that's okay. In my time with the Pixel 7, I've seen almost no stuttering and all apps and games run flawlessly.

The battery life also satisfies me. The Google Pixel 7 is certainly not a battery miracle, but it easily lasts a full day. I usually end the day at 30 to 40 percent and only have to recharge in the meantime with very intensive use. With power saving mode, you can squeeze a little more out of your battery.

Minor irritations...There is still room for improvement. In particular, the Pixel 7's loading speed is disappointing. This is done with a maximum of 21 Watts, which is very little for a phone of more than 600 euros. For comparison: the OnePlus Nord 2T, which is hundreds of euros cheaper than the Pixel, tops out at 80 watts.

Those numbers might not mean much to you, but the bottom line is that you're two hours extra if you put a nearly empty Pixel 7 on the charger. After half an hour the battery percentage is at 50% and in that time some Android phones are already fully charged.

It also strikes me that the fingerprint reader – despite being improved over the Pixel 6 – isn't the fastest. It's not necessarily very distracting, but you simply have to wait a little longer for your Pixel 7 to unlock. Other high-end devices do this better. Facial recognition is a nice addition, but it's not secure enough.

Setback: the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE... It's hard to point out a bad smartphone, because in 2022 there are few devices that do a lot of harm. A disappointing phone appeared right at the beginning of the year: the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE.

In fact, it already went wrong with the ad; logically based on the Galaxy S21, the S21 FE was announced a month before the Galaxy S22 range. Samsung should have delayed the device several times, but the timing remains a bit odd.

While the S21 FE is certainly not a bad Android phone, it managed to impress less than its predecessor, the S20 FE. For example, battery life was a bit of a letdown, something the previous Fan Edition excelled at. The latest hardware was also lacking and 6GB of RAM is a bit scarce. Especially for a high-end device.

Fortunately, the price has dropped considerably: you pay between 500 and 550 euros for the Samsung S21 FE. That price also fits the device better than the original MSRP of 749 euros. But for a few dozen more, you also get the 'regular' Galaxy S21. It's simply a little more complete and still a great choice.

Source: Android Planet