We put the Google Pixel 7 Pro through our rigorous DXOMARK Display test suite to measure its performance across six criteria. In this test summary, we will break down how it fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases.
Overview
Key display specifications:
- 6.7 inches OLED (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
- Dimensions: 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches)
- Resolution: 1440 x 3120 pixels, (~512 ppi density)
- Aspect ratio: 19.5:9
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Scoring
Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.
Pros
- Well-managed and pleasant HDR10 video experience
- Good color fidelity in most lighting environments
- Well-managed brightness in low light and indoor conditions
Cons
- Device sometimes lacks brightness in outdoor conditions
- Device lacks smoothness at times when playing video games
- Occasional visible stuttering when playing video games
The Google Pixel 7 Pro achieved an excellent performance nearly across the board, putting it into second place overall as well as in our ultra-premium segment as of this writing. With well-adapted brightness and contrast, the new Google device provides a great HDR10 video experience. Its color is accurate in every use case, and it has especially good readability indoors and in low light.
Though it performs very well overall, the new phone comes with a few drawbacks. For example, although the Pixel 7 Pro starts out with very good adapted brightness outdoors at 1500 nits, that boost in brightness does not last long and readability plummets. But this issue does not detract from an otherwise excellent display experience for its price.
Test summary
About DXOMARK Display tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone and other display reviews, DXOMARK engineers perform a variety of objective and perceptual tests under controlled lab and real-life conditions. Note that we evaluate display attributes using only the device’s built-in display hardware and its still image (gallery) and video apps at their default settings. (For in-depth information about how we evaluate smartphone and other displays, check out our articles, “How DXOMARK tests display quality” and “A closer look at DXOMARK Display testing.”
The following section gathers key elements of our exhaustive tests and analyses performed in DXOMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations under the form of reports are available upon request. Do not hesitate to contact us.
Readability
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Readability evaluates how easily and comfortably users can read still content (photos & web) on the display under different real-life conditions. DXOMARK uses its Display Bench to recreate ambient light conditions ranging from total darkness to bright sunlight. In addition to laboratory tests, perceptual analysis is also made in real-life environments.
Google’s latest flagship has good indoor readability, with smooth adaptation to ambient lighting and outstanding uniformity. Readability is preserved when viewed on angle. But while the Pixel 7 Pro’s brightness starts out high under challenging conditions, it quickly drops, which strongly impairs readability.
Brightness is adapted at 0 lux, though at a lower limit for the Google Pixel 7 Pro than for the Pixel 6 Pro; the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is too dark and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon) is too bright. At 30 000 lux, the Apple and Samsung devices are brighter than both Google devices, although the Pixel 7 Pro is significantly brighter than its predecessor.
The Pixel 7 Pro display has very good uniformity, as can be seen in the graph below.
Color
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The color attribute evaluates the capacity of the device to accurately reproduce colors. The measurements taken are for fidelity, white point color, and gamut coverage. We perform color evaluations for different lighting conditions to see how well the device can manage color in the surrounding environment. Colors are measured using a spectrophotometer in a controlled lighting environment. Perceptual analysis of color rendering is against the reference pattern displayed on a calibrated professional monitor.
Color measurements for the Google Pixel 7 Pro are close to those of the reference target, and thanks to its color fidelity, the new device provides realistic and pleasant color rendering. The Pixel 7 Pro adapts its color gamut to image content and is uniform in color. Unlike the Apple device, however, the Pixel 7 Pro does not adapt its white point to the lighting environment.
Tested colors on the Pixel 7 Pro are faithful to the target, ensuring a proper rendering in most lighting conditions. Below are sample results for both the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces at 1000 lux.
Pixel 7 Pro shows low color shift on angle, with deviations only becoming really noticeable above 40°.
Blue light proportion is drastically reduced when the blue light filter is on, as shown by the blue spike at 460 nm.
Video
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Our video attribute evaluates the Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR10) video handling of each device in indoor and low-light conditions. We measure tone mapping, color gamut, brightness and contrast of the display. We perform perceptual analysis against our professional reference monitor (Sony BVM-HX310) to ensure that the rendering respects the artistic intent.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a high score in the Video section, thanks to an HDR10 performance characterized by finely tuned tone mapping, adapted brightness, and accurate colors. With respect to SDR content, however, users might want to boost the brightness to better enjoy their viewing experience.
On some specific content, such as this sunset shot in an HDR10 video, quantization — seen as a clearly demarcated halo around the sun — is visible on both Google phones.
With its gamut adapted to the content color space, the Pixel 7 Pro’s HDR10 colors are accurate, although skin tones can be slightly green.
Motion
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The motion attribute evaluates the handling of dynamic contents. Frame drops, motion blur, and playback artifacts are scrutinized using games and videos.
The new Google device manages frame drops very well for FHD and UHD videos, although stutters are sometimes visible when playing video games. In particular, stuttering was noticed when playing the Alto’s Odyssey game that we use in testing. Further, our engineers often noticed long pauses when resuming play of videos downloaded on the Pixel 7 Pro.
Touch
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To evaluate touch, DXOMARK uses a touch robot and a high-speed camera to play and record a set of scenarios for smoothness, accuracy and response-time evaluation.
Touch is accurate on the Pixel 7 Pro, with good accuracy even on edges and corners; it is reactive, but slightly less so than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon). The new Google phone feels smooth when browsing the web and when scrolling through photos, but it lacks smoothness compared to the Pixel 6 series when playing video games. In particular, the Pixel 7 Pro is not as smooth as its predecessor, the Pixel 6 Pro, when playing the Asphalt 9 Legends video game, which we use in our testing.
Google Pixel 7 Pro 149Artifacts
Evaluating artifacts means checking for the performance, image rendering and motion flaws that can affect the end-user experience. DXOMARK measures precisely the device’s reflectance and the presence of flicker, and assesses the impact of residual aliasing when playing video games, among other characteristics.
The average reflectance on the Pixel 7 Pro is slightly better than on the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung S22 Ultra, although it is far from the 4.3% reflectance of the best device in this category.
The device’s flicker frequency is lower and thus is more noticeable on the Pixel 7 Pro compared to the Pixel 6 Pro.
The Pixel 7 Pro manages judder well, although it is noticeable at 24 fps. The device has very good control of accidental touches, but aliasing is very visible.
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