We went hands-on with these powerhouse new phones to check out what’s new and show you a few of our favourite features of Google’s latest.

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Picking up from where last year’s Pixel 6 started, the new Pixel 7 takes all of that and turns it up a notch while still not breaking the bank, starting at $999.

Powered by Google’s second generation Tensor chip, the G2, it’s fast and secure, with a battery life that Google says can last up to 72 hours with their updated Extreme Battery Saver. That new Tensor chip also powers even more helpful features and enables the best photo and video quality on a Pixel yet.

Speaking of photos and videos, the Pixel 7’s camera system looks like to be an absolute cracker. There’s a 50-megapixel main camera on the back with some clever pixel binning technology for sharper photos, especially in low light, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera for when you need to fit more into the frame.

The 50MP main camera also uses another clever software technique called Super Res Zoom that Google claims captures photos with the equivalent sharpness of 2x optical zoom so you can get super sharp close-ups without the extra lens.

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But it’s the video camera that has received the biggest improvements, with a new Cinematic Blur and 10-bit HDR video.

Cinematic Blur keeps your subject in focus and blurs the background while you’re recording for a dramatic effect straight out of Hollywood – think of it almost like Portrait Mode but for video. While with 10-bit HDR recording, videos record with brighter, more vibrant colours and higher contrast.

There’s also a few exciting new software additions to the camera this year, including an even better Real Tone – which captures the nuances of different skin tone – for authentic and accurate photos. And just in case you didn’t quite nail that photo like you thought you did, Google Photos now has a feature called Photo Unblur, which in just a few taps removes blur and visual noise.

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On the outside, it’s sporting a 6.3-inch FHD+ OLED display with a slick 90Hz refresh rate Smooth Display and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus to help with durability against scratches and drops. It’s also IP68 dust and water resistant so you can feel at ease taking snaps with those awesome cameras at your next pool party.

Being a Google Pixel, the software features that really set this device apart, and Google has made some big updates across the board.

Google Assistant keeps getting better across the board too. If you’re someone who receives a few unknown numbers calling their phone, Google Assistant with Call Screen can answer unknown numbers for you and find out who’s calling and why to then let you know if it’s worth picking up.

Similarly, no more hold music. Google Assistant can wait on the line for you when you’re put on hold and let you know when whoever you’re trying to call is ready to talk.

Coming sometime soon after launch, Google will also be adding a built-in VPN powered by Google One to help protect your online activity no matter what app or web browser you use.

If you think the Pixel 7 sounds great, the Pixel 7 Pro takes things one step further. On top of all those innovations such as Cinematic Blur, an updated Google Assistant and the upcoming built-in VPN – the Pixel 7 Pro brings Google’s best of… well, everything.

Like the Pixel 7, it’s also powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip – so we know it’s fast and powers some incredible imagery – with a battery life that Google also claims can last up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver.

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There’s also a new Tensor powered Face Unlock feature to unlock your device fast using your face – adding another option to open your Pixel, alongside the updated under-display fingerprint reader.

It packs an immersive and rich 6.7-inch Smooth Display and works out what you’re doing on screen to automatically adjust the refresh rate up to 120Hz for a smoother experience without draining your battery.

On the back, Google says it features the best Pixel Camera yet.

This means the same sharp and detailed 50-megapixel main camera as the Pixel 7, adding some big upgrades to its 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and there’s a new 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x zoom.

With Super Res Zoom, that 5x telephoto lens can zoom in to 30x to take quality photos from a long distance.

The upgraded ultrawide lens with autofocus now powers Macro Focus which enables you to snap the smallest details for some magnificent shots – think raindrops, snowflakes, petals or a blade of grass.

Like the regular Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro has received the same Pixel software updates across the board.

Live Translate is one of these features that Google has updated – you can now interpret face-to-face conversations in 48 languages, chat in real time or even translate labels on the go with your camera. A perfect travel companion. Check out how easy it is to duck into a local store and find what you need:

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My personal favourite of these features is the At a Glance widget, which works out what you need to know before you do and can show you useful info at the right time, such as an event reminder, a package delivery at the door or your boarding pass at the airport.

The Pixel 7 Pro also supports Telstra’s ultrafast mmWave 5G network, with access to more than 200 sites in selected areas in and around the five major CBDs.

Telstra customers with a Pixel 7 Pro can experience blistering typical download speeds of between 500Mbps–2.5Gbps and between 5Mbps–50Mbps for typical upload speeds in mmWave coverage. Outside of these areas customers will continue to have access to Australia’s best mobile network.

Live Translate: Not available in all languages or countries. Not available on all media or apps. See g.co/pixel/livetranslate for more information. Translation may not be instantaneous.

24 hour battery life: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 31 hours. Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For ‘Up to 72 hours’: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major operator network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the ‘up to 72 hours’ claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

Google One VPN: Coming soon. Restrictions apply. Some data is not transmitted through VPN. Not available in all countries. All other Google One membership benefits sold separately. Pixel VPN offering does not impact price or benefits of Google One Premium plan. Use of VPN may increase data costs depending on your plan. See g.co/pixel/vpn for details.

Read more about our Upfront plans, data inclusions and Ultimate speeds here.

Tags: google, pixel, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro

Harry is a technology writer and editor at Telstra Exchange. Harry joined Telstra at the end of 2020 after a slog in the trenches of the tech and startup space. Previously, he was the Technology Editor at Business Insider, Australian launch editor of telco comparison site Reviews.org and a reporter at News.com.au. He loves breaking down really technical topics and making them digestible and fun to read for everyone. Outside of work, he has an uncanny ability to turn every conversation into something about Formula 1 or the NBA.