Don’t Want to Spend $999 on Pixel 9 Pro? Here’s What You Can Do

Supreeth August 26, 2024

A few years ago, $499 could get you the best of what Google made. But today’s Google devices no longer fall under the mid-range bracket. The latest Pixel 9 Pro stands evenly among the giants in the competition, and it isn’t fair to complain about its $999 price tag. But like me, if you’re stuck in the past, expecting to use a great stock Android device made by Google under a budget, what can you possibly get?

It’s hard to get the Pixel 8 Pro under $700, despite being launched a year ago. Then there’s the Pixel 8 – but the small display and the lack of a flagship camera system that includes optical zoom meant that it didn’t make my list. As for the Pixel 8a – the ridiculously slow charging speeds and a display chin that is unacceptable in 2024 made me want to stay away.

So, my best choice was the Pixel 7 Pro; I’ve been using it for the last three weeks – and it offers incredible value for $399. If you plan to buy the latest Pixel 9 Pro but can’t afford to spend $999, consider the Pixel 7 Pro. Despite being a two-year-old flagship, it’s miles ahead of any mid-range phone you can buy for the same price. It isn’t too far off from the Pixel 9 Pro in several aspects either – hear me out!

The Pixel 7 Pro: A Big Display and Design as Good as Any Flagship in 2024

Ever since the Pixel 6, Google’s flagship phones have stood out with a distinct design – for better or worse, that’s up to you to decide. I’ve been a huge fan of the iconic camera visor on the back. I’ve often had people ask me what phone I’m using when I’ve had the Pixel 7 Pro – that speaks for itself for a bold design that stands out from the rest of the crowd. It’s a head-turner even today despite being launched in 2022.

The Display

The display on the Pixel 7 Pro has everything to provide you with a flagship experience in 2024. The large 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display looks incredible whether you’re browsing basic social media apps or binge-watching a show on Netflix, and it even includes HDR support. It sports the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and the back, whereas the 9 Pro XL offers the Victus 2, which offers better drop resistance.

The outdoor peak brightness of 1500 nits may not be up to the mark under the scorching sun, but it fares well in most cases. Note that the 9 Pro XL offers a better peak brightness of 3000 nits – but the nits scale isn’t linear so it wouldn’t be apt to assume the 7 Pro’s display is half as that of the 9 Pro’s. The gist is, that most users would have no complaints using the phone outdoors.

In conclusion, the display on the Pixel 7 Pro isn’t too far off from other flagships in the market today. You’ll still be happy using it in most scenarios.

The Software: Not a Lot of AI Magic on Pixel 7 Pro

Google’s obsession with AI features was at an all-time high at the Pixel 9 event – it was all about Gemini and the new features it adds to the latest flagship phones. This is where the Pixel 9 Pro takes a significant leap ahead of the 7 Pro.

While Pixel 7 Pro offers features like Circle to Search, the Magic Editor on Google Photos, AI voice transcription, and the Gemini assistant – it does not feature an on-device AI. The Pixel 8 and the 9 series run AI algorithms locally, and it helps you use features without connecting to the internet, which is a huge boost to privacy.

If Google’s AI entices you, you’ll miss out on it on the Pixel 7 Pro. Features on the Pixel 9 Pro, such as Pixel Studio, the Screenshots app, and Add Me, are exclusive to it, and you can’t find them on the 7 Pro.

*You still have the terrifyingly good Magic Editor on the Pixel 7 Pro via Google Photos. Image Source: Google*

Do note, that the Pixel 7 Pro also misses out on AI features released on the Pixel 8 Pro exclusively last year – these include the Magic Audio Eraser, Best Take, and an AI-powered face unlock that lets you authenticate payments too.

There’s a ray of hope – historically, some features were gradually made available through software updates on many older Google Pixel devices. It wouldn’t be unfair to expect a few AI features that aren’t heavily dependent on the hardware to land on Pixel 7 Pro in future updates.

The Pixel 7 Pro Will Still Receive Two Major Updates

Google also promises seven years of software updates with the Pixel 9 series. When the Pixel 7 Pro was launched in 2022, Google promised three years of software updates and five years of security updates. Android 15 is expected to arrive in a few weeks on the Pixel 7 Pro. However, Android 16 in 2025 will be the last major OS update, but it will receive security updates until 2027.

This can be a bummer since you’re essentially only getting two years of support, at least in the latest Android versions.

Pixel 7 Pro’s Hardware: How Does the Tensor G2 Perform in 2024?

Google’s Achilles heel with the Pixel series has been the hardware. The Tensor G2 on the Pixel 7 Pro isn’t a flagship processor. If you’re looking for something that offers good gaming performance with efficient thermal management – you’ve got to stay away.

However, the two-year-old Tensor G2 performs flawlessly for my usage, which mostly includes social media, YouTube, hours of phone calls, and several pictures. It gets slightly warm when I use it outdoors, but nothing out of the ordinary. The 7 Pro also features the same 12GB of RAM as the Pixel 9 Pro and memory management shouldn’t be an issue.

But how does it compare to the Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9 Pro? Simply put – the Tensor G4 is a minor, incremental upgrade over the Tensor G3, a minor and incremental update over the Tensor G2. Perhaps, you won’t experience a night and day difference when it comes to performance for everyday tasks. However, the gaming performance has improved significantly over the Tensor G2.

Here’s a quick comparison of the benchmark scores between the Tensor G4 (Pixel 9 Pro) and the Tensor G2 (Pixel 7 Pro) from Nanoreview.net. While benchmarks aren’t always an indication of real-world performance, they provide a good idea of the gap between the two chipsets.

One That Surprised Me the Most: The Battery

On paper, the Pixel 7 Pro features a 5000mAh battery, which is mostly the same as the 5060mAh battery on the Pixel 9 Pro. What I can confidently say is that the battery on the Pixel 7 Pro easily lasts a day, with around 5-6 hours of screen time with Wi-Fi. My usage includes social media, YouTube, a lot of music via Bluetooth headphones, and clicking many pictures.

For a two-year-old flagship, the Pixel 7 Pro features an impressive battery life. I also haven’t noticed a sudden drop in the battery level while using the camera to capture images under direct sunlight – unlike many other smartphones I’ve used in the past, like the iPhone 15.

The Cameras on the Pixel 7 Pro: It Can’t Any Get Better for $399

This is where the Pixel 7 Pro offers tremendous value – the cameras. It isn’t surprising, that the Pixel’s strongest suit over the last few years has been the cameras. The Pixel 7 Pro features a 50MP main camera, a 48MP telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera.

*Images from the main sensor turned out to be great with HDR; even at 5X zoom, details are strong.*

Numbers don’t tell you the full story – but from my experience, the camera system captures brilliant pictures in daylight, and the HDR is among the best I’ve used. The 5X telephoto lens is a joy to use, with the details being sharp, and the colors being close to real life. It also captures a good amount of light under artificial light and at night conditions. The video camera performs well, with stable videos at 60FPS in 1080p resolution, and I don’t have any complaints with the front-facing camera as well.

*No complaints about the camera performance in low/artificial light* – *I’m beyond satisfied*.

That said – you must be aware of the classic Pixel camera characteristics. Portrait images are sharp with contrast on the higher side, and the night mode sometimes lights up the scene more than it is. However, this is subject to your personal preferences. But note that the 7 Pro has lags when you switch lenses while recording a video. Further, you can’t use the 5X telephoto on the portrait mode – which feels like a missed opportunity.

*While I’m happy with the edge detection in portrait mode, perhaps images could be less sharp.*

All things considered, the Pixel 7 Pro offers a top-tier camera experience despite being a two-year-old flagship device. I can confidently say that no smartphone at $399 offers the same camera performance, and the Pixel 7 Pro is, in fact, up there with the best smartphones – even in 2024.

What’s the Price and Where to Buy the Pixel 7 Pro?

On Amazon, a new, unlocked 128GB variant of the Pixel 7 Pro is available for around $400. You’ll also find similar deals at Walmart or other popular sites. However, I urge you to verify whether you’re purchasing a new or refurbished unit and always double-check the seller.

Don’t Forget: The Pixel 9 Pro Is Still The Latest and the Greatest

The bottom line is that the Pixel 7 Pro offers unbeatable value for $399 – $450. As mentioned earlier, you do miss out on many of the latest AI features, mostly the differentiating factor between current-generation flagships and their predecessors in 2024.

But remember—the Pixel 9 Pro is still the latest and greatest Pixel device. It surely will be better than the Pixel 7 Pro in areas like camera, performance, and battery life. I can assure you, that if you’re looking for a big Android phone with reliable software and great cameras under a budget, look no further than the Pixel 7 Pro. All things considered, it is better than any mid-range phone available for the same price.