The lack of more definitive Pixel 7 rumors hasn't stopped us from coming up with our own wish list. If anything, we hope that Google is taking suggestions for its next phone beyond what it's already announced.
A more reliable fingerprint reader
The under-display fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is something we complained about in our reviews. This is Google's first attempt at putting the fingerprint scanner beneath the screen, as the company previously mounted a fingerprint reader on the back of its phones. However that doesn't excuse how unreliably the scanner works.
We'd be quite happy if Google just figured out the kinks in its current optical fingerprint reader. Equally, if it decided to borrow Qualcomm's ultrasonic fingerprint reader system (found in the Samsung Galaxy S21), which uses soundwaves to recognize your prints and therefore is less affected by scratches on the screen, that would be a good approach, too.
Another possibility would be for Google to ditch the fingerprint scanner altogether and use facial recognition unlocking, like it did with the Google Pixel 4. However that system didn't work great either, and would require a fair bit of work before it was as smooth and reliable as Apple's Face ID system. It might also require Google to return to a larger top bezel to accommodate the necessary sensors. That said, we have recently heard rumors that the Pixel 6 Pro could still get face unlock, and if that happens then surely it's a cert for at least the Pixel 7 Pro.
Better and brighter displays for all models
There are a couple of ways Google could improve the displays of the Pixel 7 series. First off: brightness. Google has fitted the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with surprisingly dim displays, even when set at maximum brightness in direct light. Being unable to see your smartphone's display properly is inarguably a bad thing, so if Google could crank up the brightness of the Pixel 7's display a few hundred more nits, that would be one of the Pixel 6 series' worst areas fixed.
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The other potential area of improvement would be the specs of the standard Pixel 7 model's screen. While the Pixel 6 Pro offers 120Hz, the standard Pixel 6 only offers 90Hz. That's better than the 60Hz that used to be all you'd get from a smartphone, but given that phones cheaper than the Pixel 6 can offer 120Hz — look at the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G or the Redmi Note 10 Pro — we'd like to see Google do it too. Upping the Pixel 6's FHD resolution to QHD like the Pro would also be beneficial but isn't as big a deal.
One of our TG writers who just bought a Pixel 6 Pro also said he'd like to see Google ditch the curved display for a flat one on the Pixel 7 Pro. Google didn't use a curved display prior to the Pixel 6 Pro, so there's a chance this design choice will not be returning if enough Pixel 6 Pro users complain. The only issue then would be ergonomics, as curved edges help users interact with the display of the large 6.8-inch handset.
Another camera on the base Pixel 7
Google has arguably short-changed the Pixel 6 by only giving it two rear cameras. It's the same amount that the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4 had, and also what the base iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini offer, but it's still disappointing given some premium phones are now offering up to four cameras plus a depth sensor (such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra).
The obvious choice for a third camera on the base Pixel 7 would be a telephoto lens, even if its magnification wouldn't match the 4x optical zoom of the Pro model. A depth camera for more accurate portrait shots and improved AR performance, or a dedicated macro camera for super close-up shots, could also make for a good addition.
Given rumors that the camera setup on the Pixel 7 is unlikely to change from the Pixel 6, this is one wish list item that probably goes unanswered.
Longer battery life
This is something we'd always like to see with every new generation of a given phone series, but it's more important for the Pixel 7 series than most.
Despite having the largest batteries ever in a Pixel phone, the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro proved to have disappointing longevity when connecting to the internet over 5G. That's going to become an increasingly big deal as 5G networks roll out nationwide in the U.S., U.K. and beyond, unless you can rely on regular and speedy Wi-Fi connections wherever you go.
Given the capacity of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro's' batteries (4,614 mAh and 5,000 mAh respectively), it doesn't seem like the batteries are too small. Instead Google probably needs to focus on using the power it has available within the cells efficiently.
Faster charging
Speedier charging is again something every phone should aim to improve on, and while Google did improve this with the Pixel 6, more work is needed to make it a proper competitor.
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After years of using 18W charging, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can charge at up to 30W wired and 23W wireless. But despite having a fairly high charging wattage, in our testing the Pixel 6 only reached 29% full after half an hour of charging on a third-party 30W charger. (The Pixel 6 doesn't ship with one in the box). That's not that fast, especially factoring in phones like the OnePlus 9 series which charges to almost full in half an hour.
It's possible that the Pixel 6 charges much faster if you use a plug from Google itself, but as it stands, this is disappointingly slow. Google could do with increasing the wattage of its charger for the Pixel 7, or perhaps using a twin-cell battery like the OnePlus 9 to allow faster filling at the same wattage.
An alert slider
For iPhone users (and to a lesser extent OnePlus owners), the alert slider is a critical feature of the phone. It is an effective way to quickly enable or disable notification sounds without needing to unlock the phone or even turn on the screen.
We've never seen an alert slider on a Pixel phone before, and given it's only really used by Apple and OnePlus phones, it seems unlikely Google's going to change its mind. However we stand by the idea that this would make a great addition to the Pixel 7.
