Google confirmed that it's working on a second-generation Tensor chipset; a follow-up to the first-gen Tensor found within the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Google hasn't detailed what changes to expect, but we'd anticipate the kind of performance boost and improvements to power efficiency you see when chips get upgraded.
The bigger story will be the AI experiences powered by the Machine Learning core in the new Tensor chipset. Google hasn't revealed what those would be yet.
An early Pixel 7 rumor suggests that Google won't change the Pixel 7's cameras from those found on the Pixel 6, which has subsequently been backed up by another leaker. If so, that will mean the Pixel 7 will sport a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide angle shooter while the Pixel 7 Pro augments those cameras with a 48MP telephoto lens. Those are the Pixel 6 camera specs, after all.
Google overhauled the cameras when it released the Pixel 6, so it makes sense that hardware would remain unchanged with the upcoming phones. We're waiting to see what new camera features Google adds using a combination of its computational photography skills along with the updated Tensor processor.
One possible change could come to the standard Pixel 7's front camera though. Based on code in the Google Camera app that mentions 4K video support, the Pixel 7 could get a higher resolution sensor that supports this video quality. The Pixel 6 Pro already supported this, but having it on the cheaper next-gen model is great for anyone looking to upgrade without spending more for other Pro features.
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It does sound like Google may shrink the Pixel 7 down a bit, to 6.3 inches according to Ross Young, from 6.4 inches on the Pixel 6. The Pixel 7 Pro will apparently be the same size as the Pixel 6 Pro though, measuring 6.7 inches.
Interestingly, a report in 9to5Google(opens in new tab) says that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will use the same displays as the Pixel 6 series with some slight tweaks. But one of those tweaks could be pretty impactful, as the Pixel 7 Pro's display is tipped to upscale from 1080p to 2K(opens in new tab) in order to save battery life.
Subsequent reports have claimed the Pixel 7 Pro will use a different display from its predecessor, though the resolution (3120 x 1440) and adaptive refresh rate range (10Hz to 120Hz) will be unchanged. Instead, it's the display brightness that will improve with the Pixel 7 Pro — at its natural setting, the Pixel 7 Pro would hit 600 nits, compared to 500 nits for the Pixel 6 Pro. With high brightness mode enabled, the Pixel 7 Pro could reach 1,000 nits.
Obviously, it's still early, but we've compiled a look at the Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6 differences — not only what Google's announced, but what changes are rumored.
