Author: Lisa Davis
Google Pixel 7, Google Pixel 6, and Pixel 5 are recent versions of the famous Google Pixel smartphone. If you purchased Pixel 5 when it first became available in 2020, you might be thinking about changing to the latest version of the Pixel family, the Google Pixel 7.
But do you really need an upgrade? Our Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 5 comparison tries to provide an answer to that question.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 5: Design
The Pixel 5 drew attention for its design at the time because it was a robust phone with a nice matte finish. The upper left corner of the phone included the rear camera array.
However, beginning with the Pixel 6, Google made changes and introduced a unique design that distinguishes the Pixel. These days, the back of Google phones is covered in a horizontal camera bar. For the Pixel 7, Google saved the functionality but made some refinements, changing it to a matte metal material. The Pixel 7 includes face unlocking, something the Pixel 5 did not have.
Camera Features
The Pixel 7 has a 50MP camera and a 12MP lens in terms of hardware. The primary camera beats the Pixel 5’s 12.2MP sensor. Even though the Pixel 5 has a 16MP ultrawide lens, we don’t think the extra megapixels will make a significant difference.
However, the Pixel 7’s SuperResZoom feature benefits from the Tensor processor, which enables it to use the 50MP main lens and crop down to a 12.5MP image when you zoom in.
Battery Life and Charging
The Pixel 5’s battery life was found to be 9 hours and 29 minutes with the screen set at 90Hz. In comparison to the typical smartphone, that is about 30 minutes less. However, that still beats the 7-hour, 21-minute time of the Pixel 7.
Unlike the Pixel 5, the Pixel 7 can charge more quickly. The Pixel 7 supports wired charging at 30W instead of the prior phone’s 18W capability. Of course, you’ll need your adaptor, as Google no longer supplies a charger with its phones, unlike some manufacturers.
Software and features
The Pixel 7 comes with the latest version of Android, while Pixel 5 owners can only access it by downloading. The thing is that the Pixel 5’s guaranteed software upgrades are coming to an end, while those for the Pixel 7 are only now starting.
The Pixel 5 came with several clever features, such as Hold For Me or the excellent Recorder app with built-in transcription. Those functions, however, are improved in Pixel 7. With the Pixel 7, everything is new, regardless of how smart some elements of the Pixel 5 were.
Final Words
So, which one is better? It’s time to decide whether you should upgrade your current phone now when a new Google phone has been released. Well, both the Google Pixel 5 and 7 are amazingly great, but if you want a smarter look and function, you should consider the Google Pixel 7.