Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone SE (2022)

The Google Pixel 7 Pro (released October 2022) and the iPhone SE 2022 (released March 2022) represent distinct philosophies in smartphone design and functionality. While both offer robust performance within their respective ecosystems, they cater to different user preferences through their form factors, display technologies, and camera capabilities. The Pixel 7 Pro operates on Android, emphasizing a large, immersive display and advanced photography, whereas the iPhone SE 2022 runs on iOS, offering a compact design with a classic home button and streamlined user experience.

When considering the practical lifespan of these devices, several factors come into play, including software support, physical durability, and ease of repair.

• Software Longevity: The Google Pixel 7 Pro launched with Android 13 and is expected to receive five years of OS and security updates from its release date. The iPhone SE 2022, starting with iOS 15, typically benefits from Apple's long-term software support, often extending to five to seven years of major iOS updates. This suggests both devices offer a substantial period of software relevance.
• Physical Durability: The Pixel 7 Pro features an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The iPhone SE 2022 carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and incorporates Ceramic Shield protection on its front glass. Both ratings indicate good protection against environmental elements.
• Repairability: Repairability scores for the Pixel 7 Pro are mixed, with some assessments giving it a 5.5 out of 10, noting challenges with strong adhesives and soldered components. Other reports suggest a 7.0 out of 10, but still highlight difficulties with battery removal and glued back glass. The iPhone SE 2022 also receives varying repairability scores, often around 5.5 or 7 out of 10, with screen and battery replacements being feasible but the home button posing a challenge.

The performance of a smartphone is largely dictated by its internal processing power and how efficiently it manages tasks and applications.

• Processing Power: The Google Pixel 7 Pro is powered by Google's Tensor G2 processor, designed to handle demanding applications and facilitate advanced AI and machine learning features, particularly in photography. The iPhone SE 2022 features the A15 Bionic chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 13 series, which provides substantial power for smooth operation, gaming, and multitasking.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: The Pixel 7 Pro typically comes with 12GB of RAM, allowing for efficient multitasking and smooth transitions between numerous open applications. The iPhone SE 2022 includes 4GB of RAM, which, combined with iOS optimization, ensures a responsive user experience for everyday tasks and most applications.
• Storage Options: The Pixel 7 Pro offers storage configurations up to 512GB, providing ample space for large files, applications, and media. The iPhone SE 2022 is available with up to 256GB of internal storage, which is suitable for many users but may require cloud storage for extensive media libraries.
• Battery Behavior: The Pixel 7 Pro houses a 5000 mAh battery, generally providing good battery life for daily use, though heavy gaming or intensive tasks can lead to quicker drainage and some warming. The iPhone SE 2022 has a 2018 mAh battery, and while optimized by iOS, heavy users might find themselves charging more frequently.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and these two devices offer significantly different visual experiences.

• Display Technology and Size: The Google Pixel 7 Pro features a large 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast. In contrast, the iPhone SE 2022 has a more compact 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display, which provides good color accuracy but does not match the contrast levels of OLED technology.
• Resolution and Clarity: The Pixel 7 Pro boasts a Quad HD+ resolution (3120x1440 pixels) resulting in a high pixel density for sharp and detailed visuals. The iPhone SE 2022 offers a resolution of 1334x750 pixels, which translates to a lower pixel density, though still clear for its size.
• Refresh Rate and Brightness: The Pixel 7 Pro's display features an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smoother scrolling and more fluid animations, and can reach a peak brightness of 1500 nits for good outdoor visibility. The iPhone SE 2022 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 625 nits, which is adequate for most indoor and outdoor conditions but less bright than the Pixel.

The camera systems on both devices offer distinct approaches to photography, catering to different user needs and expectations.

• Rear Camera System: The Google Pixel 7 Pro features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. This system excels in computational photography, producing detailed photos with good dynamic range and color. The iPhone SE 2022 is equipped with a single 12MP wide-angle rear camera. While it captures good images in well-lit conditions, it lacks the versatility of multiple lenses and advanced features like Night Mode.
• Photography Features: The Pixel 7 Pro includes features like Macro Focus, Zoom Stabilization, and advanced AI processing for improved image quality and editing capabilities. The iPhone SE 2022 benefits from the A15 Bionic chip's image signal processor, enabling Smart HDR 4 and Photographic Styles, but its capabilities are more limited compared to the Pixel's comprehensive suite.
• Video Recording: Both phones are capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second. The Pixel 7 Pro offers decent video quality, though some users note it may not fully match the video performance of some other flagship devices. The iPhone SE 2022 is noted for its sharp and smooth video quality, performing well for its category.
• Front Camera: The Pixel 7 Pro has a 10.8MP front camera, while the iPhone SE 2022 features a 7MP front camera. Both are suitable for video calls and selfies in good lighting.