Well, the Pixel 7 Pro rom Google is finally here – and we have to say, it's pretty awesome. But the question you might be toying with is whether it's worth it – is it worth the cost, the faff of switching over all your stuff, and is it even the best phone to go for?
It's true that the Pixel 7 Pro has been selling like hotcakes across the board. And its success got us wondering… how does it hold up head-to-head against our bestselling device, the Samsung Galaxy S22? They're both tough cookies in the smartphone market, with a whole lot of power hidden behind their oh-so-glorious displays. And since the S22 has been around for a while, it's a little cheaper, too.
So, which one wins the battle? Which is the better option? We've tried to find an answer to that very question, with a little comparison to see which holds up better: the Google Pixel 7 Pro, or the ever-popular Samsung Galaxy S22.
Design
Starting with the Galaxy S22, it's hard not to see the appeal of this device, from its thin and light design to its IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Yes, it's not revolutionary – in fact, it's very similar to the S21 model – but it has an undeniably premium feel.
Weighing in at 167g and 7.6mm in depth, it feels like a great quality phone in your hand and is protected all around with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and an aluminium frame. However, the 6.1-inch display is decidedly smaller than the Pixel 7 Pro's 6.7-inches, so it's likely down to size preference here.
In comparison, the Pixel 7 Pro has many of the same features, albeit a little bigger. The high-end design uses an aluminium frame that has been beautifully built to feature a sleek camera bar across the back – a design feature you won't find on any other smartphone. The 7 Pro also has the same IP68 rating and feels just as premium to hold (though it's heavier at 212g, and 8.9mm deep.) It also uses the same scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, so there's no real difference between the two here.
Both devices are available in a choice of colours, including Phantom Black, Pink Gold, Green and Bora Purple for the S22, and Obsidian Black, Snow White and Hazel for the Pixel 7 Pro. However, the 7 Pro also features a gently curving screen that makes the phone a delight to hold.
All in all, it's not possible to choose a winner here – much of the durability and design features are surprisingly similar, both to each other and to the previous models of each device (the S21 and the Pixel 6 Pro). The main difference you'll spot is size, so the real decider is whether size matters to you.
Display
Next up, let's compare displays.
We've already mentioned that the Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch display, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch display. But what's under the hood?
Well, the 7 Pro's display is QHD+ OLED, it features a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels and 513 ppi (pixels per inch), and it offers an adaptable refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
The Galaxy S22 sports the same 120Hz refresh rate, and instead packs a Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display, 2340 x 1080 resolution and 425 ppi.
All in all, the specs seem to speak for themselves here, with the Pixel 7 Pro as the clear winner with the better tech on board. But that makes perfect sense – it's a newly released model, after all. However, it's worth keeping in mind that Samsung is known for their top-notch displays, and the S22 really does look fantastic.
The truth is a gorgeous screen is a gorgeous screen – our eyes can only perceive so much. So, though the Pixel 7 Pro looks phenomenal, the S22 more than holds its own, too.
Camera
Now onto the juicy stuff! We've all come to rely on the cameras on our phones, and for good reason – so the camera specs are absolutely crucial when it comes to making a decision.
It has to be said that both the Pixel 7 Pro and the Galaxy S22 have excellent cameras, but we think one of them edges ahead – see if you agree.
The Galaxy S22 features a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP telephoto sensor. Since there's been a little longer for people to get to grips with this camera, we can safely say that it's great for photos taken in daylight. It also has a 0.6x zoom to make the most of its 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a further 3x zoom on the 10MP – which makes for great shots no matter the distance.
There's no macro mode, but the zooms compensate for this pretty well, and it has to be said that the 10MP camera around the front is decent too. However, the S22 falls down when it comes to low light, as both the front and back can come out pretty blurry and grainy unless you have the world's steadiest hands.
In comparison, the Pixel 7 Pro also features a 50MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide lens, but it also adds a whopping 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Res Zoom. All in all, that's the S22 but better – and here it's backed up with Google's renowned (and exclusive) photography software, which includes Magic Eraser, True Tone and Face Unblur.
The Google handset also packs a 10.8MP front-facing camera, which is only a little step up from the S22's, but again, makes great use of fantastic software additions.
As for video recording capabilities, both shoot at 4K and are about equally impressive.
Performance
This is the one area where these phones differ quite a bit. Since the Pixel 7 Pro hasn't been around long enough for testing over days, weeks, and months, it's hard to say whether the all-new Tensor G2 chip is up to the job – however, based on the performance of the first generation in 2021's range of devices, we're expecting great things.
The S22, on the other hand, uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform which has consistently performed well both in testing and real life. Under particularly heavy testing, it can get a little hot and bothered as it lacks the clever cooling systems of its more expensive counterpart, the S22 Ultra. But for day-to-day usage, it's smooth sailing without lagging of any sort.
In terms of RAM, the Pixel 7 Pro comes out on top with 12BG versus the S22's 8GB – but it's too soon to say how well this works with Google's new silicon.
Both devices include Wi-Fi 6E and support 5G, so there's no contest there. However, battery life has been found to be less than ideal from the S22 and its 3700mAh built-in battery, offering barely a day's power with medium usage. Some users have found it performs better when the refresh rate is reduced to 60Hz, which is both handy and a little disappointing.
The Pixel 7 Pro packs a slightly bigger 5000mAh battery, which will exceed 24 hours of normal usage according to Google. However, it can also achieve up to 72 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode – not that many of us like to use that, as… well, it often means cutting back on the very things we like to use our phones for the most. Plus, Samsung have their own version of this, so it's not exactly a nifty new thing.
Both phones support fast charging, the S22 up to 25W and the Pixel 7 Pro up to 30W. Though neither of them comes with a charger, of course.
Cost
If cost is a factor in the battle of the Androids, then the S22 is the winner – it's currently available to buy outright for £699. The Pixel 7 Pro is quite a bit more as a newly released device and is available for £849, but there are plenty of great deals that make it's slightly better and newer specs worth the extra pennies.
You can get your hands on the Galaxy S22 on Three for £34 a month with 100GB of data, which is pretty decent for a phone that still holds its own against the newest release from Google.
The Pixel 7 Pro is cheaper on Vodafone, at £41 a month for 250GB of data, with the excellent addition of a free Google Pixel Watch for those who pre-order within a given timeframe.
The Winner
We know it's not what you want to hear, but it's almost a tie! As far as we're concerned, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is still at the top of its game. The Google Pixel 7 Pro takes the lead a little since it has slightly better specs when it comes to camera and display, but it's too early to say how well the performance and battery hold up.
Design-wise, both of these phones are gorgeous – you can't argue with that. But as with anything, it's really a matter of preference. Which one will you choose?