A few weeks ago, Google released the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones in the United States, marketing them as the direct successor to the company’s widely popular Pixel 6 family of devices and giving the 7’s a number of new bells and whistles to brag about.

But while recent Pixel phones have been launched to rave reviews with tech magazine Wired even crowning them as their favorite Android smartphone, the devices have failed to gain widespread traction on their top competitors like Apple and Samsung, whose smartphones collectively capture more than 75% of the American market, data from research firm Statista shows.

With both pros and cons to consider, here is Quick Mobile Repair’s handy guide to help you decide whether a Google Pixel is right for you:

Price

Google’s new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are competitively priced, starting at $599 and $899, respectively. And with many of the phones’ core features including their processing chips, cameras, battery capacities and screen displays being just as good — if not better — than that of a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy (more on that below), Pixel users certainly get a good bang for their buck.

You can shop for Pixel smartphones directly on the Google Store, or visit your nearest Quick Mobile Repair location to browse our wide selection of Certified Devices. And, if you currently have an iPhone or Galaxy device that you want to swap for a Pixel, Google is now offering up to $900 worth of trade-in credit on eligible devices, meaning you can potentially score a brand new Pixel 7 Pro for free.

Core features

Both of Google’s new smartphones are packed with a wide range of cutting-edge tech. The regular Pixel 7, which is the more affordable of the two devices, has features including a 50-megapixel rear camera, 5G connectivity, dual SIM capacity and the ability to unlock with facial recognition software, all bundled up beneath a 6.3” full-screen display.

Impressively, the Google Pixel 7 also boasts over 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, which can be extended to as much as 72 hours when the phone’s Extreme Battery Saver mode is turned on. And under the hood, it’s powered by a top-of-the-line Google Tensor G2 chip to guarantee smooth operation in all but the most demanding settings.

Durability & security

The new Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are surprisingly tough, with a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display and touting improvements to the product line’s water resistance rating, which is now an industry-standard IP68. However, third-party durability tests have shown that the Pixel’s rear metal visor is a potential weak point in its construction, and the phone’s full-screen display is likely to make it more prone to chips and micro-cracks without the use of a case or additional screen protector.

However, data security is where the Pixel truly shines. For each new Pixel smartphone, Google guarantees a minimum of five years’ worth of security updates, meaning it will take more time than average for a Pixel 7 or 7 Pro to become obsolete. Additionally, the devices are backed by end-to-end data encryption and anti-malware tech provided directly by Google, and will soon boast built-in VPNs powered by Google One, the company says on its website.

The bottom line

The Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro both offer a slick, secure, well-engineered smartphone experience, and while their relatively limited use in the U.S. and potentially unfamiliar user experience may be a drawback to some, the devices’ competitive price point and stellar reviews certainly make the Pixel worth considering if you’re in the market for a new smartphone.