Google has given the Pixel 7 series a new lease of life with extended software support. The device is now a solid purchase option for people on a serious budget.
Google’s 2022 flagship smartphone will now be supported with Android and security updates until 2027. Previously, the company promised that the Pixel 7 series would receive Android updates for three years, ending in 2025. That has now been extended by a further two years.
This is obviously good news for Pixel 7 owners who can keep an already functional phone for longer. But thanks to the fast depreciation speed of Google handsets (although that may be changing for Android phones), the Pixel 7 is now a solid deal.
Right now, you can pick up a brand new Pixel 7 for under $350 at Amazon and Walmart. A refurbished Pixel 7 Pro is even cheaper at $268 on Amazon. If you head over to Swappa and eBay the prices drop further. Oddly, Best Buy is selling the 2022 phone at the full launch price of $899, which I suspect is a mistake. A brand new Pixel 7 for $309.95—that has over two years of software updates left—is a solid deal.
Is the Pixel 7 worth it in 2024?
That depends on if you can pick up a new or refurbished handset. The Pixel 7 had middling battery performance when I tested it out back in 2022. A used handset will only exacerbate that. So a fresh device, or one with a newly installed battery, is the best option if you want the phone to last until 2027.
In addition, the Pixel 7 is still receiving AI updates through Google’s feature drop program. In the December update, the Pixel 7 received new emoji options, easier ways to find pictures to share on Snapchat, and more detailed live captions that reflect the emotion of the speech being transcribed.
In the October update, Pixel 7 users got the AI-powered Pixel Weather app and new astrophotography skills. Google is still investing in the Pixel 7 for the time being and I imagine that will be the case until 2027. But it’s worth noting that more demanding AI features—such as super-resolution zoom and AI-powered video boost—are only available on the Pixel 8 Pro and beyond because only newer Tensor chipsets can support the latest AI features.
