Let’s be honest, phones have become a bit boring in the last couple of years. The only devices daring to take risks in innovation are gaming phones and foldables. The rest of the market has been serving incremental updates, offering minor improvements with each yearly refresh.
Since the dawn of tech, buying a flagship phone from the previous year has always been seen as a savvy move. You often get a highly capable device for the price of a current-gen budget or mid-range phone. While the lines between these tiers have blurred more than ever, flagship phones, in my opinion, still consistently outperform their budget and mid-range counterparts.
Take my current favorite: the Pixel 7 Pro. While the Pixel 9 lineup has been out for a while, the Pixel 7 Pro remains a fantastic deal. You can find it for about RM 1.2k (or SGD 400–500), depending on the condition, and sometimes even with a warranty from online retailers. Compare that to the iPhone 14 from the same year, which still retails for double the price (albeit new), and you can see why the Pixel stands out.
Why the Pixel 7 Pro Shines
First, software support. The Pixel 7 Pro still receives both security patches and OS updates, ensuring it remains relevant. Google even extended OS upgrades for the Pixel 6 and 7 series, meaning the Pixel 7 will receive Android 18 in 20271. For anyone considering this device in 2025, this is incredible value.
Second, the camera. The Pixel 7 Pro excels with its camera setup, and the image processing is downright exceptional, especially for a phone now priced in the “budget” range. While Chinese budget phones have made significant strides in camera hardware, they often intentionally limit camera performance on lower-tier models. The Pixel, however, delivers flagship-level results.
Display
OLED screens are now standard even in budget phones, but the Pixel 7 Pro takes it further with its 1440 x 3120 resolution OLED panel. This isn’t your typical 1080p display found in most devices at this price point. The screen is sharp, vibrant, and worthy of the flagship title. Personally, I prefer it over something like the Flip 5. Text looks crisp, the high refresh rate is consistently smooth, and it’s a joy to use for everyday tasks.
Battery Life
The Pixel 7 Pro’s battery life is solid. It’s not a two-day battery champion, but for such a slim device, it easily lasts through a day of regular use without issues.
Media Consumption
Where the Pixel truly shines is in media consumption. The stereo speakers are excellent, with great bass and overall clarity. Paired with its high-resolution screen, the Pixel 7 Pro is a fantastic device for streaming HDR content or watching YouTube. The experience feels premium, an area where even some newer mid-range phones struggle to compete.
Performance
While the Tensor G2 SoC is a bit dated now, it doesn’t show any struggles in day-to-day use or even gaming (at least my form of gaming). The chipset’s performance is bolstered by the NPU, which handles AI tasks effortlessly. Features like speech-to-text and text extraction from images work remarkably quickly, making the phone feel snappy and modern. While I don’t use advanced features like call screening or Google’s transcribing capabilities often, knowing they’re there adds to the phone’s value.
I used to rely on paper stats and benchmarks to decide on a phone, but the Pixel 7 Pro changed my perspective. Even though it was the lowest-benchmarked flagship of its release year, it performs better in day-to-day use than a next-gen flagship like the Flip 5. In fact, after a year of use, my Pixel 7 Pro feels smoother and more consistent than the Flip 5.
AI Integration and Everyday Tasks
What sets the Pixel apart is how seamlessly AI is integrated into the experience. The NPU ensures tasks like photo processing, live translations, and voice commands are not just fast but intuitive. For example, the ability to quickly extract text from images has been a game-changer for me when organizing my notes or scanning documents. It’s these little touches that make the Pixel 7 Pro feel smarter and more capable than many of its competitors.
Build Quality and Design
The Pixel 7 Pro’s design is understated yet premium. The curved glass and metal frame feel solid in hand, and the device’s weight is balanced. While it doesn’t fold or have the flashy gimmicks of newer phones, its build quality speaks of a device meant to last. The camera bar design is distinctive and gives the Pixel its unique identity, a refreshing change in a sea of identical-looking phones.
The Pixel 7 Pro is like a Lexus, understated luxury. Sharp lines, sleek body, great value, and reliability. Yet no one seems to notice them.
Value Proposition
At its current price, the Pixel 7 Pro offers incredible value. It competes with and often outperforms devices twice its price in key areas like camera performance, software support, and display quality. For anyone considering a phone upgrade in 2025, this device proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a flagship experience.
Final Thoughts
The Pixel 7 Pro is more than just a great deal, it’s a testament to how a well-designed phone can age gracefully. With its strong camera, sharp display, excellent media experience, reliable performance, and long-term software support, it’s a smart buy that punches well above its weight. For those who value quality, consistency, and performance over gimmicks, the Pixel 7 Pro remains a top contender even years after its release.
So if you’re looking for a phone that delivers flagship-level performance at a fraction of the cost, the Pixel 7 Pro deserves your attention. It may not fold or boast the newest chipset, but it excels where it matters most, in everyday use. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what a great phone is all about?
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Source: GSMArena
