We subjected the Google Pixel 7 Pro to our rigorous SBMARK Selfie test suite to measure its performance in photos and videos from an end-user perspective. This article explains how the device performed in a variety of tests and different common use cases and aims to highlight the most important results of our tests with an extract of the acquired data.
Overview
Main specifications of the front camera:
- 10.8MP sensor with 1.22μm pixels
- Lens with f / 2.2 aperture
- 92.8º Field of view
- Fixed focus
- 4K video at 30/60 fps (4K at 30 fps tested)
Pros
- Natural skin tones and beautiful white balance, even in difficult conditions
- Generally accurate target exposure and wide dynamic range
- Effective video stabilization
- Fairly wide depth of field
- Quite low noise in bright light and indoor conditions
versus
- Slight loss of fine detail
- Blurred faces at close range
- Image noise in low light conditions
With a SBMARK Selfie score of 142, the Google Pixel 7 Pro scores a top spot in our front camera ranking. On the Pixel 7 Pro, Google uses the new second generation of its internal Tensor chipset and a Samsung image sensor instead of the Sony units in previous models. However, the new sensor is very close to the old one in terms of size and number of pixels. The rest of the front camera specs, including focal length and AF point, also remain virtually unchanged, but despite the very similar front camera hardware, the new model offers slightly improved overall performance over last year’s Pixel 6 Pro, thanks to better software and tuning.
Like previous Pixel devices, the 7 Pro performs particularly well in terms of skin tone rendering. Google’s “True tone” rendering is capable of producing natural skin tones in still images and videos on all skin types, including dark skin tones, which most other devices struggle with. Pixel 7 Pro photos and video clips also show good exposure and wide dynamic range, capturing good detail from the brightest to darkest parts of the image. The camera also keeps unwanted image artifacts in check very well and is capable of creating a natural looking bokeh effect in portrait mode.
Test summary
About SBMARK selfie tests: For scoring and analysis, SBMARK engineers capture and evaluate more than 1,500 test images in both controlled laboratory environments and natural outdoor, indoor and low-light scenes, using the front camera’s default settings. The photographic protocol is designed to take into account the user’s needs and is based on typical shooting scenarios, such as close-ups and group selfies. Assessment is done by visually inspecting images Cons a natural scene reference and making objective measurements on graphical images captured in the lab under different lighting conditions from 1 to 1,000+ lux and color temperatures from 2,300K to 6,500K. For more SBMARK Selfie Test Protocol information, please click here. More details on how we rate smartphone cameras can be found here. The following section collects the key elements of SBMARK’s comprehensive testing and analysis. Comprehensive performance evaluations are available upon request. Contact us to find out how to receive a full report.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Overall accurate exposure and color
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Ultra-Premium selfie scores
This chart compares the overall scores of SBMARK Selfie photos and videos between tested devices and references. The average and maximum scores of the price segment are also indicated. The average and maximum scores for each price segment are calculated based on the SBMARK device database.
Photo
140
Huawei P50 Pro
Huawei P50 Pro
Google Pixel 7 Pro Photo vs Ultra-Premium scores
Photo tests analyze image quality attributes such as exposure, color, texture, and noise under various lighting conditions. Focus range and presence of artifacts on all images captured under controlled laboratory conditions and in real-life images are also evaluated. All of these attributes have a significant impact on the final quality of the images captured with the tested device and can help in understanding the main strengths and weaknesses of the camera.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s front camera really shines with colors. The skin tone rendition is pleasant on different skin types and the white balance is natural and stable. The Google device also performs very well for exposure. Target exposure tends to be accurate, with a wide dynamic range, but occasionally some instability may be noted. Our testers also noticed a small number of underexposures among our thousands of test shots. The depth of field is quite wide, providing good sharpness on subjects in almost any plane of focus. Only faces that are very close to the lens (30cm or less) may be blurred. Image noise is mostly well under control, but we did observe some loss of fine detail. Image artifacts are also well under control.
Exposure is one of the key attributes for technically good images. The main attribute evaluated is the brightness of the face in various use cases and lighting conditions. Other factors evaluated are contrast and dynamic range, eg. the ability to make details visible in both light and dark areas of the image. Repeatability is also important because it demonstrates the camera’s ability to deliver the same rendering when shooting consecutive images in a row.
Target exposure is generally accurate and the camera offers a wide dynamic range. However, slight instabilities are sometimes noted in the tone mapping.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Precise face exposure, wide dynamic range
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Precise face exposure, wide dynamic range
Huawei P50 Pro: Accurate face exposure but limited dynamic range in the background
In high contrast scenes like this backlit selfie, the target exposure can be slightly low.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Occasionally low exposure of the target in high contrast scenes
Color is one of the key attributes for technically good images. The image quality attributes analyzed are skin tone rendering, white balance, color shading and repeatability.
Color is a selling point for the Google Pixel 7 Pro. It offers good white balance and skin tones under most test conditions, on all skin tone types. Color is stable even in a series of shots.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Accurate skin tones, natural white balance
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Accurate skin tones but white balance
Huawei P50 Pro – acceptable skin tones but slight desaturation
Even in difficult conditions, like the scene below, with an almost monochromatic background, in low light and with high contrasts, the Pixel 7 Pro is capable of delivering accurate colors. The skin tones on the Pixel 7 Pro look natural. The iPhone, on the other hand, exhibits a warm cast that affects the skin tone rendering. The skin tones on the Huawei are acceptable but look lighter and less pleasant than the comparison devices.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Natural skin tones
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Inaccurate skin tone due to strong white balance cast
Huawei P50 Pro: Acceptable skin tones
Focus
89
Huawei P50 Pro
Huawei P50 Pro
Autofocus tests evaluate the accuracy of focusing on the subject’s face, the repeatability of precise focus, and depth of field. While a shallow depth of field can be nice for a single-subject selfie or close-up shot, it can be problematic in specific conditions like group selfies; both situations are tested. The accuracy of the focus is also evaluated in all real images taken, from 30 cm to 150 cm, and in low light conditions up to the outdoors.
Depth of field is similar to previous Google devices, providing decent sharpness in different focus planes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Fairly wide depth of field
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: fairly wide depth of field
Huawei P50 Pro: Slightly wider depth of field than comparison devices
However, in close-up shots (30 cm or less) the subject’s face is not in focus.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: The background is sharper than the face in this close-up selfie
Structure
60
Asus ZenFone 7 Pro
Asus ZenFone 7 Pro
Texture tests analyze the level of detail and texture of subjects in images taken in the laboratory as well as in real-life scenarios. For natural shots, special attention is paid to the level of detail in the facial features, such as the eyes. Objective measurements are performed on map images taken under various lighting conditions from 1 to 1000 lux and different types of dynamic range conditions. The charts used are the proprietary SBMARK (DMC) chart and the Dead Leaves chart.
Pixel 7 Pro produces acceptable textures under most test conditions, both in lab measurements and real-life scenes. However, some details are missing from the iPhone 13 Pro and Huawei P50 Pro.
Evolution of the sharpness of the texture with the level of illuminance
This graph shows the evolution of texture sharpness with the lux level for two sealing conditions. Texture sharpness is measured on the Dead Leaves graph in the Close-up Dead Leaves setting.
Google Pixel 7 Pro, detail
Google Pixel 7 Pro, pretty good details but loss of fine details
Google Pixel 6 Pro, detail
Google Pixel 6 Pro, slightly lower level of detail than the comparison devices
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos), detail
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos), good detail
Noise
81
Huawei P40 Pro
Huawei P40 Pro
Noise tests analyze various noise attributes such as intensity, chromaticity, grain and texture on real life images as well as graphical images taken in the laboratory. For natural images, special attention is paid to noise on faces, but also on dark areas and in conditions of high dynamic range. Objective measurements are performed on graphical images taken under various conditions from 1 to 1000 lux and different types of dynamic range conditions. The graph used is the SBMARK Dead Leaves graph and standardized measurement such as visual noise derived from ISO 15739.
Image noise is generally well under control in outdoor and indoor lighting. In low light, it becomes a little more intrusive. The same goes for shadow areas in high-contrast scenes.
Evolution of visual noise with lighting levels in handheld condition
This graph shows the evolution of the visual noise metric with the lux level under portable conditions. The visual noise metric is the average of the visual noise measurement across all patches of the Dead Leaves chart in the Close-up Dead Leaves setting. SBMARK visual noise measurement is derived from the ISO15739 standard.
Google Pixel 7 Pro, noise
Google Pixel 7 Pro, noise overall well controlled, but some luminance noise in the shade
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, noise
Apple iPhone 13 Pro, noise in all areas of the image
Huawei P50 Pro, noise well under control
Artifact evaluation examines lens shading, chromatic aberrations, distortion measurement on the dot and MTF chart, and ring measurements on the SFR chart in the lab. Particular attention is paid, among other things, to ghosting, quantization, halos and variations of shades on the face. The more severe and frequent the artifact, the greater the point deduction from the score. The main artifacts observed and the corresponding point loss are listed below.
Artifacts are overall well controlled on the Pixel 7 Pro’s front camera. Our testers observed only a few color quantization artifacts, especially in low-light images.
Main penalties for photographic artifacts
Bokeh
70
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Bokeh is tested in a dedicated mode, usually in portrait or aperture mode, and analyzed by visually inspecting all images captured in the lab and under natural conditions. The goal is to reproduce portrait photography comparable to that taken with a DSLR and a wide aperture. The main image quality attributes to look out for are depth estimation, artifacts, blur gradient, and bokeh blur spotlight shape. The attributes of the portrait image quality (exposure, color, texture) are also taken into account.
Compared to the Pixel 6 Pro predecessor, selfie bokeh is a big improvement, thanks to a new blur blur effect that helps make the final result more realistic. As a result, the bokeh score increased from 65 to 70.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Precise blur gradient
However, the Pixel 7 Pro is still not at the level of the iPhone 13 Pro in terms of selfie bokeh mode. There is no difference in the intensity of the blur between elements of the scene near or far from the lens. With objects in the scene at the same distance from the camera as the subject, depth estimation is also less accurate.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Inaccurate depth estimation with objects at the same shooting distance as the subject
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: accurate depth estimate
Huawei P50 Pro – inaccurate depth estimation with objects at the same shooting distance as the subject
video
146
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
About SBMARK Selfie Video Tests
SBMARK engineers capture and evaluate more than 2 hours of video in controlled laboratory environments and natural scenes in low light conditions, indoors and outdoors, using the default settings of the front camera. The assessment consists of visually inspecting natural videos taken under various conditions and carrying out objective measurements on graphical videos recorded in the laboratory under different conditions from 1 to 1000+ lux and color temperatures from 2,300 K to 6,500 K.
Google Pixel 7 Pro Video scores compared to Ultra-Premium
Video tests analyze the same image quality attributes as still images, such as exposure, color, texture, or noise, as well as temporal aspects such as speed, exposure uniformity and stability, white balance, and autofocus transitions.
As with still images, in video mode, the Pixel 7 Pro performs particularly well in terms of exposure and color. Skin tones are rendered well and the camera produces good exposures with a wide dynamic range. We observed high levels of temporal noise, but fine details are well preserved in the Pixel 7 Pro’s video clips. Our testers also noticed some sharpness, resulting in unnatural texture rendering. Video stabilization is effective at countering camera shake, but differences in sharpness between frames are visible when walking while recording video.
Exposure
81
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Exposure tests evaluate facial brightness and dynamic range, eg. the ability to make details visible in both light and dark areas of the image. The stability and temporal adaptation of exposure are also analyzed.
In video mode, the Pixel 7 Pro produces accurate exposure under most test conditions, and a wide dynamic range ensures good detail in highlights and shadows. Exposure is also very consistent, with little instability.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: precise target exposure and wide dynamic range
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: precise target exposure and wide dynamic range
Huawei P50 Pro: Precise target exposure but slightly more limited dynamic range
Color
87
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Image quality color analysis examines skin tone rendition, white balance, color shading, white balance stability, and its adaptation when the light changes.
Pixel 7 Pro selfie videos show natural skin tones and accurate white balance in most bright light scenes and indoors, even in difficult backlit scenes.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Mostly pleasant skin tones
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: mostly pleasant skin tones
Huawei P50 Pro: Acceptable skin tones, but slightly washed out
Focus
86
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
A large enough depth of field ensures good sharpness on all faces in group photos.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: Fairly wide depth of field
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: wide depth of field
Huawei P50 Pro: wide depth of field
Structure
76
Asus ZenFone 6
Asus ZenFone 6
Consistency tests analyze the level of detail and texture of real-life videos, as well as graph videos recorded in the lab. Natural video recordings are evaluated visually, with particular attention to the level of detail of the facial features. Objective measurements are performed on images of graphs taken under various conditions from 1 to 1000 lux. The chart used is the Dead Leaves chart.
Our lab measurements show high levels of detail for the Pixel 7 Pro in all conditions. However, our testers also occasionally observed unnatural texture rendering.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: high level of detail
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: high level of detail
Huawei P50 Pro – the details are well preserved
Evolution of the sharpness of the texture with the level of illuminance
This graph shows the evolution of texture sharpness with the lux level for two sealing conditions. Texture sharpness is measured on the Dead Leaves graph in the Close-up Dead Leaves setting.
Noise
67
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Noise tests analyze various noise attributes such as intensity, chromaticity, grain, texture, temporal aspects on real-life video recordings and graph videos taken in the laboratory. Natural videos are evaluated visually, with particular attention to noise on faces. Objective measurements are performed on card videos recorded under various conditions from 1 to 1000 lux. The graph used is the SBMARK visual noise graph.
Temporal noise is often noticeable in Pixel 7 Pro selfie clips, but noise levels have dropped from last year’s Pixel 6 Pro, resulting in a better texture / noise trade-off.
Google Pixel 7 Pro – temporal noise
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: temporal and spatial noise
Huawei P50 Pro – noise well under control
Spatial evolution of visual noise with the level of illuminance
This graph shows the evolution of spatial visual noise with the level of lux. Spatial visual noise is measured on the visual noise graph in the video noise setting. SBMARK visual noise measurement is derived from the ISO15739 standard.
Time evolution of visual noise with the level of illuminance
This graph shows the evolution of temporal visual noise with the level of lux. Visual temporal noise is measured on the visual noise graph in the video noise setting.
The stabilization assessment verifies the device’s ability to stabilize footage using software or hardware technologies such as OIS, EIS, or any other means. The assessment examines overall residual motion on the face and background, smoothness and gelatin artifacts, during walking and panning use cases under various lighting conditions. The video below is an excerpt from one of the tested scenes.
In terms of video stabilization, the Google Pixel 7 Pro uses a similar approach to the Pixel 6 Pro. Google’s Steadiface algorithm stabilizes the background of the clip, rather than the subject as on other devices.
Google Pixel 7 Pro – well stabilized background, but differences in sharpness between frames
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: more noticeable movement
Huawei P50 Pro: slightly more noticeable movement
Manufactured goods
88
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Artifacts are evaluated with MTF and ring measurements on the SFR graph in the lab, as well as frame rate measurements using the Universal Timer LED. Natural videos are visually evaluated with special attention to artifacts such as quantization, hue shift, and face rendering artifacts, among others. The more severe and frequent the artifact, the greater the point deduction from the score. The main artifacts and the corresponding point loss are listed below
As with photos, the Pixel 7 Pro controls unwanted artifacts well in video mode. However, some penalty points were applied for frame rate changes, ringtone effects and color quantization.
Main penalties for video artifacts
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