Which Google Pixel Phone Should You Buy?

Google's Pixel phones are our favorite Android phones here at WIRED, and they have been for a few years. They have industry-leading cameras, get speedy software and security updates directly from Google (like iPhones do from Apple), and are priced competitively. But choosing the right model can be tricky. Should you get the Pixel 7A? Or save your money and stick with the older Pixel 6A? Or buy the crazy-expensive Pixel Fold? 

Don’t fret—we’re going to break down the differences between the best Pixel phones and sort out the right one for you. We also have Pixel-exclusive tips to help you get the most out of your new phone, and we recommend some cases and accessories we’ve tested if you want protection.

Updated May 2023: We’ve added the Pixel 7A, mentioned the Pixel Fold, and added a Totallee case.

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The Pixel 7A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) sets a new standard for mid-range smartphones. It's a little pricier than last year's Pixel 6A but packed with nearly every top-end feature you could want. This iteration includes wireless charging, which is really uncommon for phones under $500. You also get a 90-Hz screen refresh rate, which makes the onscreen interactions look and feel more fluid as there are more frames per second than before. 

Its design and build quality are similar to its predecessor, though Google claims the aluminum mid-frame is slightly more durable. There's still Gorilla Glass 3 on the front screen, which isn't as scratch-resistant as some of the glass on pricier Pixels, but at least the rear is a plastic composite that feels luxe and won't crack. This model comes in Charcoal, Sea, and Snow, but there's a Google Store–exclusive Coral that has my eye.  

You won't run into any problems with performance. It's powered by Google's Tensor G2 chipset, which is the same one that's inside the Pixel 7 Pro. It's plenty fast for everyday tasks and most mobile gaming, and it also allows for a few new software tricks, like Photo Unblur, which can use machine learning algorithms to unblur people's faces in those late-night pics. (It actually did this really well when I tried to capture a photo of a bride and groom on the dance floor!)

Speaking of the camera system, there's a new 64-megapixel camera leading the pack with a 13-megapixel ultrawide, and while these are not as good as the cameras in the Pixel 7, the results are nearly imperceptible (you have to look really close). It's easily the best camera phone for the money, whether you use it in low light to capture the stars or on a sunny day for a landscape. 

A part of the reason why we recommend Pixel phones so much is because of the many great software features that are genuinely helpful every day. We've collected most of them below this guide, but my favorites are Assistant Voice Typing, for much faster and accurate voice transcriptions using the built-in keyboard; Now Playing, to find out what music is playing around me without having to search for it; and Call Screen, which has pretty much stopped all spam calls coming my way. It'll also get five years of security updates, so it'll be supported for quite a while. Unfortunately, Google is only promising three OS upgrades (Samsung offers four). It’s disappointing that Google isn’t leading on this, especially when Apple’s nearly six-year-old iPhone 8 received the latest iOS 16 version.

The only things that are iffy on the Pixel 7A are the fingerprint sensor, which isn't as snappy or reliable as I'd like, and the battery life. The 4,385-mAh cell, with average use, can take you through a full day, but on busy days, you will most likely need to top up before the sun goes down. There's also no microSD card slot or headphone jack, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you want a phone with those features. 

Works on all three major US carriers

The Pixel 7 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn't quite a no-brainer now that the nearly identical Pixel 7A exists. Yes, the cameras are slightly better on the Pixel 7, as is the glass protecting the screen, and it can charge slightly faster (wired and wirelessly). Consider it if it goes on sale (it has dipped as low as $499), but otherwise, stick with the 7A.

Last year's Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still an excellent buy, especially at its new price of $349 (note: it frequently sells for $299). Like the Pixel 7A, you get a sharp, 6.1-inch OLED screen that gets just bright enough to read in direct sunlight (not as bright as the Pixel 7A). It’s a wonderfully compact phone, unlike most devices on the market right now, and feels well made. The front is Gorilla Glass 3, so you’ll want to use a screen protector to protect it from scratches, but there’s an aluminum frame with clicky buttons and a plastic composite back that is deceptively luxurious. It comes in sage, too. Hooray green phones!

Inside is Google’s first-gen Tensor chip, which is the same that powers the flagships from 2021, the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Even today, it means you’re getting some of the best performance for the money. I rarely noticed any slowdowns, even while playing games like Apex Legends Mobile. This also brings all the top software features that debuted in the Pixel 6 series onto this phone, from Magic Eraser in Google Photos to erase unwanted objects in the background of your images to Assistant Voice Typing for sending messages with just your voice.

The 4,410-mAh battery cell comfortably lasts a full day and there’s IP67-rated water resistance so the Pixel 6A can survive being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. You might be miffed about the in-display fingerprint sensor—like the Pixel 7A, it's fine but not as snappy. It'll also get three OS upgrades and five years of security updates (from the date it was launched). 

You’ll find the same main 12-megapixel camera sensor Google has been using on the Pixel 5 and prior Pixels, and it’s joined by a 12-megapixel ultrawide. It’s a good camera system that still manages to beat out much of the midrange competition. However, the camera hardware is starting to show its age. Some newer budget and midrange phone cameras pull more detail, particularly in low light with their larger image sensors, and the Pixel 6A’s images can sometimes come out grainy. I’m mostly being nitpicky here, but only because Pixel cameras are supposed to be the best of the best. This camera will still impress.

My biggest gripes are that there’s no wireless charging, no headphone jack, and no charging adapter in the box, and you’re stuck with 128 GB of storage and no microSD card slot to expand it. The screen is also just 60 Hz, despite many competitors adopting 90- or 120-Hz panels for smoother interaction. Still, it does everything you'd want without costing an arm and a leg.

Works on all three major US carriers

Photograph: Google

Google Pixel 7 Pro

$749 at Amazon

$899 at Target

If you have the cash, the Pixel 7 Pro  (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the luxe Pixel to buy, and at $899, it still undercuts the competition for what you get. The large 6.7-inch screen has a 120-Hz screen refresh rate, making it feel more fluid to interact with, and it gets a tiny bit brighter on the sunniest days for a no-squinting experience. The bigger size also means a bigger 5,000-mAh battery that lasts a full day and a morning with average use. There's wireless charging, slightly better IP68 water resistance, and Face Unlock. Like the Pixel 7A, it's powered by the Tensor G2, and will happily run any app and game you throw at it. 

The Pixel 7 Pro has a 50-MP primary camera joined by a 12-MP ultrawide, and they take some truly stunning shots in a variety of conditions. Real Tone, the company's image algorithms that ensure that the camera preserves accurate colors for people with darker skin, helps make it a cut above the rest. There are improvements to the video camera experience as well, like 10-bit HDR for more colorful and better-exposed clips, but overall, the iPhone is ahead in video quality. The iPhone also tends to deliver sharper selfies, except in low-light scenes. 

The real reason you should go for the Pixel 7 Pro is if you find yourself wishing your smartphone camera could zoom in more and snap better photos at that high zoom level. It has a 5X optical camera, so you'll get crystal-clear shots of objects far away. Better yet, improvements to Google's Super Res Zoom algorithm mean photos you capture from 2X all the way up to 30X look pretty darn good. I found it works best at 10X, where my shots were absurdly close to the quality of the 10X optical camera in Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra. The ultrawide camera now also has autofocus that enables a new Macro Focus mode, so you can snap sharp photos of super close-up subjects. It's not as great value as the Pixel 7A, but the Pixel 7 Pro will still impress. It's often on sale for $749, so try not to pay full price.

You'll get five years of security updates, which is the longest you'll find on Android, and three years of OS upgrades, which isn't as good as what Samsung offers. That's the sad part.

Works on all three major US carriers

The Pixel Fold is the most expensive Pixel ever at $1,799. It's not available yet—preorders start on June 20—but it's Google's first folding smartphone, not unlike Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold4. It's also powered by the Tensor G2 chipset but with 12 GB of RAM for aiding with multitasking. You can use the 5.8-inch front OLED screen for your everyday phone tasks, and then open the whole thing up to unveil a 7.6-inch OLED screen (both 120 Hz) for watching media, reading, or using apps in split-screen mode. We'll be testing the Fold over the coming months and adding our thoughts here. It's absolutely an overpriced smartphone, but there are ways a folding screen can genuinely be helpful, especially if you're on your phone a lot. You can read more about the Fold here.

With the Pixel 6, Google introduced a new way to purchase its phones from the Google Store. For $55 a month for the Pixel 7 Pro, $45 a month for the Pixel 7, and $37 a month for the Pixel 6A, you get the respective phone, and then you have the option to upgrade to a newer Pixel after two years. That comes to $1,320 for the Pro, $1,080 for the Pixel 7, and $888 for the Pixel 6A. Considering they retail for $899, $599, and (originally) $449, what gives? 

Well, you also get Google's Preferred Care, which includes screen repairs, replacements, and accidental damage coverage for the two-year time frame, plus 200 GB of Google One cloud storage, YouTube Premium (no ads), and YouTube Music Premium. You'll also get Google Play Pass, which offers access to apps and games with zero ads or in-app purchases, plus other unspecified offers on the Google Store down the road. 

If you calculate all those individual services with the cost of the Pixel 7 Pro over the course of two years, your total comes out to $1,806. So you are effectively paying less ($486 less, to be exact). But it's only really worth it if you watch a ton of YouTube and use YouTube Music, instead of other options like Spotify. Google says if you already subscribe to one of these services, your current plans will be canceled and you'll get a single bill for Pixel Pass once your Pixel ships (though you will need to manually cancel YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium before subscribing to Pixel Pass). 

The Pixel 6 series from 2021 is not available at the Google Store anymore. You can find these phones at retailers like Amazon, though the stock is dwindling. Make sure you're paying the right price. The Pixel 6 has gone on sale for as low as $399 and the Pixel 6 Pro has dipped to $499. They're still great phones and the former is a solid deal at that price, but you're probably better off with a Pixel 7A or a discounted Pixel 7. 

The Pixel 5 isn't worth it anymore, especially since its software support window ends soon (October 2023), and it's really tough to find a brand-new Pixel 5A for less than $200. Amazon currently sells the Pixel 4A 5G for the same price as the Pixel 7A, and while it's a good phone, it should be way cheaper. You're better off sticking with the Pixel 6A or 7A. Anything else isn't worth it anymore. They're just too old (and the Pixel 4 suffers from poor battery performance). Many of those devices will stop getting software updates soon if they haven't already. Buy one of the newer models.

The revamped case for the Pixel 7 series feels more durable than ever before, and you can match them with your Pixel's color. The thermoplastic elastomer feels nice to touch, and there are raised edges on the front to protect the screen. The Pixel 7's case is made with more than 30 percent recycled plastics, and the polycarbonate shell uses 77 percent recycled plastics. There are metal buttons for power and volume and they're 100 percent recycled aluminum. 

This is hands-down the best case if you frequently attach your Pixel to the handlebar of a bike or electric scooter. Peak Design's mounting system lets you magnetically affix the phone to its Universal Bike Mount ($50) and it stays put—after nearly a year of testing, I've yet to have a phone fall off my ride using this mounting system. It doesn't interrupt the Pixel's wireless charging either. The company has several other magnetic accessories you can use, like a car vent mount. The case itself is nice; I just wish the edges were raised a bit more for better screen protection.

This is one of the best clear cases you'll find for the Pixel, especially at this price. The buttons are clicky, the Pixel's color comes through clearly, and the rear doesn't feel too sticky, which can be a problem with some clear cases. Alternatively, I also really like Totallee's clear cases, though they're slightly more expensive. Still, they're available for the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 7A.

Pixel phones don't have a great track record with screen durability—they scratch easily. We tested this protector originally for the Pixel 5A, but it's not available anymore. Caseology does sell it now for the Pixel 7, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6A. Installation is easy, and it includes a squeegee to get rid of air bubbles. You get two screen protectors for the price, including a microfiber cloth, a wipe, and dust removal stickers.

This is another easy-to-apply tempered glass screen protector. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A version comes with two protectors, but Spigen only includes one for the Pixel 6A. Boo. You get a whole cleaning kit to wipe down your phone, an alignment tool that helps you get the application right, and a squeegee to get rid of the air bubbles. 

This screen protector was really simple to apply and barely gave me any air bubbles. You only get one protector, but there's an alcohol wipe to clean the screen before, a microfiber cloth, an application tool, and a squeegee. The problem? It's not tempered glass, but a mix of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It's a cheaper material that's typically not as impact-resistant. 

You get only one screen protector here and it's very expensive. That's because Zagg claims that the protector is five times as strong as traditional screen protectors. I haven't seen too many scuffs on my Pixel 6A yet, but take this with a grain of salt. It's easy to apply with the included application tool, but Zagg doesn't include a squeegee at this price so you'll have to use your fingers to push the air bubbles out. It comes with a dust sticker, a wet wipe, and a microfiber cloth.

Of the Pixels we recommend in this guide, wireless charging is available only on the Pixel 7A, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. Google's very own Pixel Stand is one of the best wireless chargers around because it's simple. The base doesn't slide around, the phone stays put, and it enables some fun features, like turning the screen into a digital photo frame and quick access to Google Assistant. It's made of 39 percent recycled materials, with mostly eco-friendly packaging too. Our Best Wireless Chargers guide has more options, including the original and cheaper Pixel Stand. 

This charging adapter is all you need to recharge your Pixel, whichever model you have. The newest high-end Pixel phones don't come with chargers in the box, so if you don't have any spare USB-C chargers, it's worth picking one up. This one's prongs fold up, so it's great for travel too. 

These cases are pricey, but they have raised lips and offer decent protection around the edges. The buttons are clicky, and you get a few designs to choose from for the rear, including walnut, leather, bamboo, silver pearl, and aramid fiber. (I love the walnut.) What makes this case special is that it supports MagSafe—yes, Apple's magnetic system for accessories. I've used the Mous Limitless 5.0 successfully with a few MagSafe accessories, like a Belkin wireless charger, to recharge the Pixel 7 Pro.

It's slim, has a nice texture, retains clicky buttons, and has accurate cutouts for the ports and speakers. What's not to love? Well, it's a bit dull, but I still think this case is one of the more attractive cases in Spigen's lineup. The edges aren't raised drastically, so don't expect much screen protection. 

Want a kickstand to prop your Pixel up? This Spigen case has one built in and it does the trick, though unfortunately, you can keep your device up only in landscape mode—not great for hands-free TikTok. It has a thick bumper offering nice protection around the edges, though there's not much of a lip sticking out, so you'll still want to pair it with a screen protector. 

I like the soft-touch material on this case, and it fits the Pixel really well with accurate cutouts and clicky buttons. It's a bit dull, but it's slim and the edges are raised a decent amount to protect the screen. It's just a bit pricey for what you get.  

This is another nice clear case for the Pixel series. I like the textured power button, which makes it easy to find when you're not looking, and there are spots on the case to attach a lanyard (not included). It's not as smudge-resistant as Ringke claims, but it's easy to clean. 

It takes some effort to install this case on the Pixel, but once you do, it's arguably the most protection you'll find. There's an inner two-piece polycarbonate shell that snaps over and under the Pixel, and then a thick synthetic rubber slipcover goes over for extreme durability. The buttons are surprisingly clicky, though the whole phone will be thicker, wider, and heavier. It's made of more than 50 percent recycled plastic, and there's a holster you can pop it in to carry your Pixel with pride on your belt. (The holster can double as a kickstand.) 

There are some key features exclusive to Pixels that you won't find on any other Android phone. Some of these are only available on select Pixels—the ones powered by Google's Tensor chips are more capable since it's the company's own silicon. Here's a quick breakdown:

Spam and Call Screen: When you get a call from an unknown number, Google Assistant will scan and flag it if it's suspected spam or a robocall. If it's neither and simply a number you don't recognize, you can have Assistant take the call. You'll see a real-time transcription of what's happening, so you can end the call right away if it's a telemarketer or answer if it turns out to be a long-lost high school friend. Tweak these settings by opening up the dialer app and heading to Settings (three dots on the top right) > Spam and Call Screen.

Wait Times and Direct My Call: When you enter a 1-800 number in the phone app, you'll now see an estimated wait time until someone real picks up (it doesn't work with every business). Google's Direct My Call feature also transcribes the entire call and separates out menu options so you can clearly see them without having to listen intently to the call. More recently, for some numbers, Direct My Call will cache responses so you'll immediately see menu options without needing to wait for the automated response to go through every number. You can turn this on by going to the phone app's Settings > Direct My Call. It's available for Pixel 4A and newer.

Hold for Me: If you've been placed on hold with a 1-800 number, you can ask Google Assistant to take over. It will play a loud chime when the person on the other end is back. No need to listen to hold music! Toggle it on in the phone app's Settings > Hold for Me. This feature is available on Pixel 3 and newer devices, but it only works in the US, Australia, Japan, and Canada.

Clear Calling: If you have a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, you can turn on this feature to enhance the other caller's voice and reduce their background noise. Head to Settings > Sound & vibration > Clear Calling to toggle it on. 

Live Translate (Tensor only): In select messaging apps, the Pixel 6 will automatically know when someone sends a message in a language other than your default. It'll translate it (if you wish), and you'll be able to respond in that same language. More than 50 languages are supported, though you'll need to download the languages you want to see translated by heading to Settings > System > Live Translate. 

Live Caption: Pixels can automatically transcribe any video playing on the screen. You can quickly toggle this on by tapping one of the volume buttons and tapping on the square button below the volume slider (or head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Live Caption). If the video is in a different language, you can even see it translated (only on Tensor-powered Pixels), though you'll need to download one of the supported languages. It can even caption phone calls. 

Now Playing: Ever hear a song at the coffee shop and wonder who it's by? Now Playing uses on-device machine learning to figure out what the music is in your background, and it will display the artist and title on the lock screen (or in your notifications). It doesn't require an internet connection, so there's no data shared between you and Google. This isn't turned on by default, so head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Now Playing and toggle it on. You can even turn on Now Playing History in case you forgot to write down an artist's name when you saw it earlier. Google added a button you can press in case Now Playing doesn't automatically identify a song, sorta like Shazam. 

Assistant Voice Typing (Tensor only): Tap the mic button on Google's Gboard keyboard and you'll be privy to the much-improved voice typing experience enabled by the Tensor and Tensor G2 chip. It's really fast, pretty accurate, and knows to automatically add punctuation. It understands when to send a message if you say “send,” and commands like “next” will move the cursor to the next paragraph. You can make sure this is enabled by heading to Settings > System > Language & Input > On-screen Keyboard > Gboard > Voice typing > Assistant Voice Typing.