Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro event: What to expect

In recent years, it has been impossible for Google to keep the details of its Pixel flagships under wraps until the official announcement. This year it’s been different in the sense that Google decided to reveal the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro’s designs back in May during Google I/O. Rather than try to keep secrets, Google instead opted to reveal some of the features itself.

This week, Google will be holding its annual hardware event where it will be unveiling confirming two new Pixel phones, a new Pixel Watch that integrates Wear OS deeper into Google-owned FitBit, and Google has confirmed that it will be announcing “additions to the Nest smart home portfolio”.

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

Google’s first teaser of the Pixel 7 duo was during I/O back in May and it featured images of the new Pixels. In terms of design, they are similar to the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but feature slightly different camera bar, which will now be formed out of metal rather than the Pixel 6’s glass visor approach.

Fast forward to last week, Google released new teasers that highlighted the designs of each of the Pixels 7 and 7 Pro. It features close up shots of the hardware that showed the texture of the different materials. Based on these teasers, we know that the Pixel 7 will have an aluminum build with an anodized finish, and the Pixel 7 Pro’s finish will be shiny and glossy, but it’s not confirmed whether it will be made from stainless steel or aluminum.

For the Pixel 7 Pro, we’re expecting a less dramatic curve of the display’s edges. The Pixel 6 Pro’s curved edges were pronounced enough to make holding and using the phone a bit unconformable for prolonged periods.

Google Pixel 7 in white, mint green and black

Pixel 7 Pro in Obsidian, Hazel and Snow

As per recent leaks, the Pixel 7 will have an almost identical identical spec sheet to the Pixel 6: a flat 6.3-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and up to 90Hz refresh rate, and even the cameras will be unchanged – 50MP (GN1) main and 12MP (IMX381) ultrawide units. The front facing camera may see the update to the 11MP sensor we know from the Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 7 is also expected to have a 4,700 mAh battery (marginally up from the 6’s 4,614 mAh) with support for 30W charging.

We’ll get to the new Tensor chip in a sec, but let’s glance through the Pixel 7 Pro’s rumored specs first.

The Pixel 7 Pro’s rumored spec sheet also includes most of the same stuff as the 6 Pro: a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen with QHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It is also expected the 7 Pro will get a slightly updated selfie camera – the Samsung 3J1 sensor – one that would feature autofocus, though it would remain at 11MP resolution.

In the camera department, the Pixel 7 Pro will use the same 50MP JN1 main and 12MP ultrawide sensors, but the telephoto camera may be replaced to a Samsung GM1 module compared to the Sony IMX586 on the Pixel 6 Pro. A 5,000 mAh battery is expected to remain on the 7 Pro, now with support for 30W charging.

Tensor G2

The most major change on the new Pixels is going to be the Tensor G2 chip. The Pixels 6 and 6 Pro were plagued poor connectivity and battery life was not up to par with comparable flagships.

Given there’s not too much different with the Pixels 7 and 7 Pro, the key upgrade here will be the Tensor G2 chipset. Rumors of the Tensor G2 say it could be built on the 4nm process (last year’s Tensor was 5nm), which enabled higher clock speeds as hinted by early benchmarks of the chipset.

The same leak from last month revealed that the Tensor G2 could feature the same CPU configuration (2+2+4) as the Google Tensor though the two Cortex-X1 cores may see slight bumps in clock speed to 2.85GHz. Meanwhile, the Cortex-A76 cores could see clock speeds bump up to 2.35GHz. This reportedly translates to about a 10% bump in multi-core performance.

There’s evidence that we may see a notable improvement in graphics performance and efficiency thanks to a new Mali-G710 that would replace the Mali-G78 MP20 of the original Tensor chip.

The new chipset may come with a new Samsung modem – the S5300 5G. This new modem may bring better battery life, performance, stability, and efficiency compared to the previous release.

Pixel Watch

Google’s acquisition of FitBit a few years ago is finally going to be deeply integrated into Wear OS in the form of the Google Pixel Watch. Rumored for years, Google surprised us back in May during I/O when it confirmed that the Google’s first-party Wear OS offering was finally coming.

Google most recently teased the design of its Pixel Watch in a short trailer, more closely showing the round watch design and the curved display cover glass. The Pixel Watch will have a rotating crown and a multi-function button above it. It will also use a proprietary quick-release fastener to switch out the Watch's bands.

More recent renders of the Pixel Watch revealed bezels that may be thicker than initially teased back in May - a result of showing early renders when the hardware hasn't been finalized.

Early rumors of the Pixel Watch suggested it may be powered by an Exynos 9110 with a co-processor for efficient standby power draw. It was rumored to have 1.5 GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. This is for the LTE-variant, by the way. Rumors have pointed to a 300 mAh battery - though it isn't certain whether that applies to a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth variant or an LTE variant, though 300 mAh for the latter does not seem like it would be enough.

Google Pixel Watch: That's it pic.twitter.com/jfeac8FkuJ

— SnoopyTech (@_snoopytech_) October 2, 2022

Whatever the case may be, it is expected Google may advertise the Pixel Watch to last "up to a day".

With Wear OS 3 smartwatches, the need for the Wear OS app will phase away. It will be up to each OEM to have its own companion app for new Wear OS smart watches and the Pixel Watch is expected to do the same. An unlock prompt back in June revealed that there will be a "Google Pixel Watch app".

A more recent Pixel Watch leak showed many elements of the wearable's UI. In addition to native support for Google Maps and Wallet, every Pixel Watch is said to come with a free 6-month Fitbit Premium membership, and renders of the Pixel Watch show deep integration with Fitbit.

Pixel Watch will integrate with Google Photos to use as backgrounds for watch faces, it will have smart home controls, and an emergency SOS calling screen.

Google Pixel Watch

Google Pixel Watch UI

One early hardware leak of the Pixel Watch measured a 40mm body that was 14mm thick with a visible display that's 30mm in diameter (about 1.18 inches). It is still not known whether we'll see the Pixel Watch be available in more than one size.

A Google Pixel Watch was forgotten at a restaurant (photos by u/tagtech414)

Nest Home

Google has confirmed that it will be announcing additions to Nest Home at this event. We initially thought a 1080p version of the Chromecast with Google TV was going to be announced at the event, but the very same Google Chromecast HD with Google TV had a quiet launch last month.

Then, just two days before the launch event, Google announced the 2nd generation Wired Nest Doorbell and the Nest Wi-Fi Pro. It also outlined new changes that are coming to the Google Home app. Google didn't seem concerned about holding onto any of this news for the launch event.

Hello!🚪 In this thread, we’ll announce some new products and updates that will make your connected home even more helpful.

(1/21) pic.twitter.com/D7ZjqsTFcX

— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) October 4, 2022

The last time Google released a new smart speaker was during its 2020 event when it launched the Google Nest Audio. Perhaps we can expect to see a refreshed Nest Home mini (currently on 2nd generation) as the last one launched in late 2019. Otherwise, the Nest Hub smart display was just refreshed last year, but the Nest Hub Max hasn't seen a new version since 2019.

Are the most recent announcements what Google was referring to, or is there something else that Google is holding out to announce on Thursday? We'll find out soon enough.

Pricing and availability

Rumors suggested that the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro may carry the same starting prices as their predecessors in the US. The Pixel 7 could start at $599 while the Pixel 7 Pro may start at $899. European customers may see a €649 starting price for the Pixel 7.

The Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will go on pre-sale on the same day as the launch event this week (October 6), though the time isn’t specified.

As for the Pixel Watch, the most recent rumor sees European pricing for the Wi-Fi + Bluetooth model to be set to £339 in the UK and €379 in the EU. There’s word of an LTE-enabled model as well, said to cost €419.

Although there’s no word on US pricing just yet, previous leaks and recent leaks of the EU’s pricing lets us speculate we may see a $299 starting price on the Pixel Watch. This is also considering the leak about a $399 LTE-enabled Pixel Watch.