Google Pixel Pixel 7 Pro Obsidian 256GB

The Pixel 7 Pro is a camera beast with a stunning 6.7-inch 120Hz display and all-day battery life, now available for as little as $220. The Tensor G2 chip handles AI tasks brilliantly but isn't a gaming powerhouse, and the 23W charging is slow by modern standards. If photography and clean software are your priorities, this is one of the best values in smartphones right now. Heavy gamers and charging speed junkies should look at the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE instead.

The Tensor G2 chip is an interesting beast. In raw CPU and GPU benchmarks, it's solidly middle of the pack, landing in the 79th percentile overall. That means it handles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. Apps open fast, scrolling through the 120Hz display is buttery smooth, and multitasking with 12GB of RAM is a breeze. You won't notice any lag in day-to-day use. But push it hard with something like Genshin Impact at max settings, and you'll see some frame drops and thermal throttling that you wouldn't get on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 device.

Where the Tensor G2 shines is in the stuff benchmarks don't always measure well. Google built this chip for on-device AI, and it shows. Voice dictation is scary accurate, the live translation features actually work in real time, and photo processing happens almost instantly. The phone can unblur faces in old photos, remove background noise from calls, and transcribe voice memos without an internet connection. For the kind of person who uses their phone as a productivity tool, this chip is a standout. For mobile gamers chasing frame rates, it's just okay.

The Pixel 7 Pro's biggest rival is probably the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. Samsung's offering gives you a more powerful processor and faster charging, but the Pixel's camera still edges it out, especially in low light and zoom shots. The S25 FE also has Samsung's One UI, which some people love and others find cluttered compared to Google's clean Android. If you want raw performance and don't mind a heavier software skin, the Samsung might be the better call. But if camera quality and software experience matter more, the Pixel takes it.

Then there's the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, which brings a unique design and a solid mid-range experience at a competitive price. It's lighter and more distinctive looking, but its camera can't touch the Pixel's, and the performance gap is noticeable. The Xiaomi 17 Pro is another contender with blazing fast charging and a gorgeous display, but Xiaomi's software situation in the US is messy, and the camera processing isn't as consistent as Google's. For iPhone users, the iPhone 16 is the obvious alternative, but you're paying a lot more for a similar camera experience and giving up the 5x optical zoom unless you step up to the Pro Max. The Pixel 7 Pro carves out a nice niche: flagship camera, clean software, and a price that's dropped enough to make it a genuine bargain.

Here's where things get interesting. The Pixel 7 Pro originally launched at $899, but now you can find it anywhere from $220 to $743 depending on the vendor and condition. That's a massive spread, and it changes the value equation completely. At the low end, you're getting a flagship-tier camera and display for less than most mid-range phones cost new. Even at the higher end, you're still undercutting current flagships by hundreds of dollars while getting 90% of the experience. The sweet spot seems to be the refurbished units from Newegg, which offer solid savings if you're okay with some cosmetic wear.

Compared to what else is out there, the value is hard to beat if photography is your priority. The camera scores in our database put it ahead of phones that cost twice as much. Battery life is also a strong point, landing in the 94th percentile. You're not getting the fastest charging or the most powerful processor, but for the things most people actually use their phone for, this is a lot of phone for the money. Just make sure you're buying from a vendor with a good return policy, especially if you're going the refurbished route.

The Pixel 7 Pro is Google's shot at making a phone that does everything well, and honestly, they came pretty close. It's got a massive 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display that can ramp from 1Hz to 120Hz, a camera system that still makes newer phones nervous, and Google's own Tensor G2 chip running the show. This isn't the newest Pixel anymore, but looking at our database, it's still punching way above its weight class in the areas people actually care about. The display and camera both land in the top tier of all phones we've tested, and the 5000mAh battery keeps things running longer than you'd expect from a phone this size.

Who's this for? Someone who wants a flagship camera experience without paying current flagship prices. The 5x optical zoom and Google's computational photography magic mean you're getting shots that rival phones costing twice as much. It's also a solid pick if you value clean software. No bloatware, no duplicate apps, just Android the way Google intended, with guaranteed updates for years. The 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in this config mean you won't be hurting for memory or space anytime soon.

But there are some quirks to know about. The Tensor G2 isn't a benchmark champion. It's built for AI and machine learning tasks, not raw gaming performance, and that shows in our numbers. The in-display fingerprint sensor can be finicky, and the 23W charging is downright slow compared to what OnePlus and Xiaomi are doing. Still, for the right person, these are minor annoyances on an otherwise excellent phone. And with prices ranging from $220 to $743 across vendors, there's a deal to be had if you shop smart.

Mobile gamers should probably look elsewhere. The Tensor G2 just isn't built for sustained high-frame-rate gaming, and you'll feel the limitations in demanding titles. A Samsung Galaxy S25 FE or even a dedicated gaming phone would serve you better. Also, if you're someone who needs to top up quickly throughout the day, the 23W charging will frustrate you. Phones from OnePlus or Xiaomi can fill up in half the time, and once you've experienced that, going back to over an hour for a full charge feels like a step backward.

If you want the absolute smallest phone possible, this isn't it either. At 162.9mm tall and 212g, it's a big, heavy slab. The compact score in our database is a mediocre 68 out of 100, so anyone with smaller hands or a preference for one-handed use should look at the regular Pixel 7 or something like the iPhone 16 instead.

If you're a photography nerd on a budget, just buy this. The camera system is still one of the best on the market, and the 5x optical zoom lets you get shots that most phones under $800 can't touch. The display is gorgeous, the battery lasts all day, and the software experience is clean and fast. At the current prices, especially if you snag one around the $300 mark, it's an absolute steal. You're getting 90% of what a $1,000 phone offers for a fraction of the cost.

But if you're a heavy mobile gamer or someone who needs the absolute fastest charging, look elsewhere. The Tensor G2 is fine for everyday use, but it's not built for sustained gaming sessions. And the 23W charging means you're waiting over an hour for a full charge, which feels ancient when competitors are hitting 80W and above. For everyone else, though, the Pixel 7 Pro is a reminder that you don't need to spend a grand to get a great phone. Just be aware that some of the cheaper listings are for refurbished units with cosmetic wear, so read the fine print before you click buy.