When it launched final 12 months, I known as Google’s Pixel 6 Professional “the perfect Android cellphone you should buy” in my overview. I even gave it a coveted CNET Editors’ Selection award. Why? As a result of its mixture of slick interface, respectable efficiency and very good cameras — to not point out its extra reasonably priced worth in comparison with different flagship Android telephones — made it an outstanding all-round decide.
Very quickly Google will launch the follow-up. The Pixel 7 and seven Professional are anticipated to seem on the Made by Google occasion set for Thursday in New York.
However Google has a struggle on its arms, with Apple’s new iPhone 14 and 14 Professional packing very good efficiency and glorious cameras. And, in fact, Samsung’s Galaxy S22 lineup presents high tech all spherical. And whereas I am not anticipating a complete transformation to the Pixel line, there are some parts I am already excited to know extra about.
So let’s dive in.
Second technology Google Tensor chip
Google geared up the Pixel 6 and 6 Professional with its personal home-made processor, named Tensor. It was an enormous transfer to create that type of tech in-house, fairly than merely utilizing a chip from a producer like Qualcomm. Google wished to make a chip that is notably adept at AI and machine studying — software program options that it is more and more making use of in Android, just like the Magic Eraser object removing instrument within the digital camera.
That is all nicely and good, however the precise efficiency on paper was solely OK, with it falling behind opponents like Samsung on Apple on benchmark exams. And positive, benchmarks are basically meaningless in the true world, but it surely did give the impression that the Pixel 6 sequence wasn’t fairly up to the mark towards its rivals, and that is a disgrace for a serious flagship cellphone.
The Pixel 6 Professional was an outstanding Android cellphone.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Google hasn’t stated a lot about what we might anticipate from a second-generation Tensor chip, however a pace enhance is prone to be a part of the story. However it’s not nearly uncooked efficiency. Google has had time to refine its processors, and we might even see further advantages to machine studying, making current duties like real-time language translation even higher and even permitting for brand spanking new functions that we’re but to see.
Upgrades to an already glorious digital camera
I cherished the digital camera on the Pixel 6 Professional. Its foremost lens might take fantastically uncovered, vibrant pictures whereas its 4x optical zoom was nice for getting nearer into the motion. It is probably the greatest cellphone cameras on the market, and which means the Pixel 7 Professional ought to already off to a flying begin.

Google’s early pictures of the Pixel 7 Professional present an analogous triple digital camera setup on the again.
The photographs we have seen of the telephones present an nearly equivalent rear digital camera setup, with two cameras on the bottom Pixel 7 and three on the 7 Professional. So I am, in fact, anticipating the same old lineup of ultra-wide, normal zoom and telephoto zoom on the cellphone. However I am hoping that there was some tinkering — and even new {hardware} — to make these cameras even higher. I would like to see a bigger picture sensor on the primary digital camera, for instance, for higher dynamic vary, and I would even be eager to see an extended telephoto zoom vary — even perhaps one which rivals the very good 10x optical zoom of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus.
Even when the {hardware} stays mainly the identical, I am anticipating there will probably be continued dialogue about how Google’s computational images and AI in its cameras — helped by the brand new Tensor 2 chip — will enable for extra pure pores and skin tones, higher low mild efficiency and probably improved stabilization for video.

The Pixel 7’s aluminum digital camera bar blends neatly with the body of the cellphone.
A recent, slick design
I appreciated the look of the Pixel 6 sequence. The digital camera bar throughout the again gave the telephones a novel look that set them aside properly from the swathes of plain-looking handsets we are inclined to see lately. I even loved the delicate orange tones of the “sorta sunny” shade scheme. So I used to be happy after I noticed the early pictures from Google that it hasn’t messed with an excellent factor an excessive amount of.
The digital camera bar is there, but it surely’s been reworked from a black glassy slab right into a sleek-looking recycled aluminum strip that merges seamlessly with the aluminum encompass.
We’re anticipating related sizes as earlier than too; 6.4 inches for the Pixel 7 and 6.7 inches for the 7 Professional. It isn’t an enormous design shift, positive, however the Pixel 6 was already an enormous departure from the Pixel 5 that went earlier than it. And Google actually would not must overhaul the design simply but. Based mostly on the photographs, the delicate tweaks and use of aluminum has resulted in a great-looking little bit of package that I am wanting ahead to getting in my hand.