We subjected the Google Pixel 7 Pro to our rigorous SBMARK Display test suite to measure its performance Cons six criteria. In this test roundup, we’ll break down how it fared across a variety of tests and several common use cases.
Overview
Main display specifications:
- 6.7-inch OLED (~ 89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
- Dimensions: 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm (6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3mm)
- Resolution: 1440 x 3120 pixels, (~ 512 ppi density)
- Aspect Ratio: 19.5: 9
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
Pros
- Well-managed and enjoyable HDR10 video experience
- Good color fidelity in most lighting environments
- Brightness well managed in low light and indoor conditions
versus
- The device sometimes lacks brightness in outdoor conditions
- The device does not have fluency at times when playing video games
- Occasional stuttering visible when playing video games
The Google Pixel 7 Pro achieved excellent performance almost across the board, placing it second overall and in our ultra premium segment at the time of this writing. With well-matched brightness and contrast, the new Google device delivers an outstanding HDR10 video experience. Its color is accurate in every use case and has particularly good readability indoors and in low light conditions.
While overall it works very well, the new phone has some drawbacks. For example, although the Pixel 7 Pro starts with a very good brightness adapted outdoors at 1500 nits, the increase in brightness doesn’t last long and readability plummets. But that doesn’t detract from an otherwise excellent viewing experience for its price.
Test summary
Learn about SBMARK visualization tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone and other display reviews, SBMARK engineers perform a series of objective and perceptual tests in controlled laboratory and under real-life conditions. Please note that we evaluate display attributes using only the device’s built-in display hardware and related still image (gallery) and video apps with default settings. (For in-depth information on how we rate smartphones and other displays, see our articles, “How SBMARK Tests Display Quality” and “A Closer Look at SBMARK Display Tests”.
The following section collects the key elements of our exhaustive tests and analyzes performed in SBMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations in the form of reports are available upon request. Do not hesitate to contact us.
How the screen readability score is composed
Readability evaluates the ease and comfort with which users can read stationary content (photos and web) on the display in various real-life conditions. SBMARK 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 carried out in real-life environments.
Google’s latest flagship has good readability indoors, with smooth adaptation to ambient lighting and exceptional uniformity. Legibility is preserved when viewed at an angle. But while the Pixel 7 Pro’s brightness starts high in tough conditions, it drops rapidly, which severely impairs readability.
Brightness is adjusted to 0 lux, albeit a lower limit for the Google Pixel 7 Pro compared to 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, Apple and Samsung devices are brighter than both Google devices, although the Pixel 7 Pro is significantly brighter than its predecessor.
Readability in an indoor environment (1000 lux).
From left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Readability in an outdoor environment (20,000 lux).
From left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
Photo for illustrative purposes only
Readability in a sunlit environment (> 90 0000 lux).
From left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
The Pixel 7 Pro’s display has very good uniformity, as can be seen in the graph below.
Measurement of luminance uniformity
This graph shows the uniformity of the display for a 20% gray pattern. The more green the color is visible, the smoother the display.
How the Display Color score is composed
The color attribute evaluates the device’s ability to accurately reproduce colors. The measurements made are for fidelity, white point color and gamma coverage. We perform color assessments for different lighting conditions to see how well the device can handle color in its surroundings. Colors are measured using a spectrophotometer in a controlled lighting environment. The perceptual analysis of the color rendering is compared to the reference model displayed on a calibrated professional monitor.
The color measurements for the Google Pixel 7 Pro are close to those of the target audience and, thanks to the color fidelity, the new device offers a realistic and pleasant color rendering. Pixel 7 Pro adapts its color range to the image content and has a uniform color. Unlike the Apple device, however, the Pixel 7 Pro does not adapt its white point to the lighting environment.
White point under illuminant D65 at 1000 lux
Color rendering in sunlight (> 90 0000 lux)
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon), Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Color rendering in sunlight (> 90 0000 lux)
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon), Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
The colors tested on the Pixel 7 Pro are true to target, ensuring correct rendering in most lighting conditions. Below are sample results for the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces at 1000 lux.
Color fidelity measurements
Google Pixel 7 Pro, 1000 lux color fidelity in the sRGB color space
Google Pixel 7 Pro, 1000 lux color fidelity in the DCI-P3 color space
Each arrow represents the color difference between a target color model (arrow base) and its actual measurement (arrowhead). The longer the arrow, the more visible the color difference. If the arrow stays inside the circle, the color difference will only be visible to trained eyes.
Pixel 7 Pro exhibits a low color shift on the corner, with deviations only becoming noticeable above 40 °.
Behavior of the color on the corner
This graph shows the shift of color when the screen is tilted. Each point represents a measurement with a particular angle. The points inside the inner circle show no color change in the corner; those between the inner and outer circle have shifts that only trained experts will see; but those who fall outside the outer circle are noted.
The proportion of blue light is drastically reduced when the blue light filter is active, as shown by the blue peak at 460 nm.
How the Display Video score is composed
Our video attribute evaluates the Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR10) video handling of each device indoors and in low light conditions. We measure the tone mapping, color gamut, brightness and contrast of the display. We perform perceptual analysis Cons our professional reference monitor (Sony BVM-HX310) to ensure that the rendering respects the artistic intent.
Pixel 7 Pro scores highly in the Video section, thanks to HDR10 performance characterized by finely tuned tone mapping, adapted brightness and accurate colors. As for SDR content, however, users may want to increase the brightness to better enjoy their viewing experience.
Video rendering in a low light environment (0 lux).
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
On some specific content, like this sunset shot in HDR10 video, quantization, seen as a clearly delimited halo around the sun, is visible on both Google phones.
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
With its gamut adapted to the color space of the content, the Pixel 7 Pro’s HDR10 colors are accurate, although skin tones can be slightly green.
Range coverage for video content
Primary colors are measured in both HDR10 and SDR. The extracted color gamut shows the extent of the color area that the device can render. To respect the artistic intent, the measured gamut should match the main color space of each video.
How the score of Display Motion is composed
The motion attribute evaluates the handling of dynamic content. Frame drops, motion blur, and playback artifacts are investigated using games and videos.
The new Google device handles frame drops for FHD and UHD video very well, although stuttering is sometimes visible when playing video games. In particular, stuttering was noticed when playing the Alto’s Odyssey game we use in testing. Furthermore, our engineers have often noticed long pauses when resuming the playback of downloaded videos on the Pixel 7 Pro.
The video frame drops
These long exposure photos present the number of frame irregularities in a 30 second video. A good performance shows a regular pattern (a flat gray image or a drop-down pattern).
How the Display Touch score is composed
To evaluate touch, SBMARK uses a touch robot and a high-speed camera to reproduce and record a series of scenarios for the evaluation of fluidity, accuracy and response time.
Touch is precise on the Pixel 7 Pro, with good precision even on edges and corners; it is responsive, but slightly less than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon). The new Google phone runs smoothly when browsing the web and scrolling through photos, but lacks fluidity 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 we play the video game Asphalt 9 Legends, which we use in our tests.
This response time test accurately evaluates the time elapsed between a single tap of the robot on the screen and the action displayed. This test is applied to activities that require high responsiveness, such as play.
How the Display Artifacts score is composed
Evaluating artifacts means checking performance, image rendering, and motion defects that can affect the end-user experience. SBMARK accurately measures device reflectance and the presence of flickering and evaluates the impact of residual aliasing when playing video games, among other characteristics.
The average reflectance of the Pixel 7 Pro is slightly better than that of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung S22 Ultra, although it is far from the 4.3% reflectance of the best device in this category.
The device’s flicker rate is lower and therefore more noticeable on the Pixel 7 Pro than on the Pixel 6 Pro.
The Pixel 7 Pro handles shake well, although it’s noticeable at 24 fps. The device has great control of accidental touches, but aliasing is very visible.
Alias (foreground)
Google Pixel 7 Pro
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Google Pixel 7 Pro – Crop 1
Google Pixel 7 Pro – Crop 2
Google Pixel 7 Pro – Crop3
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