Written by
Andrew Lanxon
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Reviews ethics statement
Andrew Lanxon Editor At Large, Lead Photographer, Europe
Andrew is CNET’s go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
Expertise Smartphones, Photography, iOS, Android, gaming, outdoor pursuits Credentials Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022
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Sq. Feet of Lab Space $649 at Google
The best overall Google Pixel phone
Pixel 7 Pro
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$444 at Google
The best Google Pixel phone for most people
Pixel 7A
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$349 at Google
The best Google Pixel if you’re on a tight budget
Pixel 6A
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$1,799 at Google
The Google Pixel phone that folds in half
Pixel Fold
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Pixel phones have always been top performers that rival other flagship phones, like the iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Google Pixel 8 series is just around the corner, but as of now, the Pixel 7 Pro sits at the top of the pile, with the best performance, a slick design and a triple camera system that takes some of the best images you can get from a phone. And it comes at a price that undercuts its rivals by a healthy measure.
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If you’re shopping on a smaller budget, the most recent Pixel 7A still offers a stellar all-round experience, with powerful cameras, a smooth and enjoyable interface and a price that won’t leave quite as big a dent in your bank balance. Then there’s the Pixel Fold. It’s the most expensive of all Google’s phones, but it has a folding display that opens up into a large 7.6-inch screen that’s great for watching YouTube videos or playing games.
The range has grown, and with older models still on sale, it can be a bit confusing to work out which one’s best for you. We’ve pulled together the top Pixels currently on sale to help you decide.
As we touched on earlier, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are set to launch in early October, so it may be worth waiting a while if you’re specifically looking for a Pixel phone.
Read more: Best phone to buy in 2023
What is the best Google Pixel phone right now?
The Pixel 7 Pro remains at the top of Google’s phone lineup, packing the latest Tensor G2 processor and a superb triple camera system into a great-looking body. It’s not the cheapest Google phone, but if you want the best the company has to offer (and you don’t want to splash the cash on its foldable), then the 7 Pro is the one to go for right now.
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The Pixel 7 Pro is the best overall phone Google makes. It packs the latest Tensor G2 processor, which provides more than enough power for gaming and photo editing, its Android software is slick and easy to use and the aluminum and glass design looks great.
But it’s the cameras that particularly stand out on the Pro model, with the standard, ultra wide and zoom lenses all taking superb images. In fact, I prefer the images from the 5x optical zoom lens on the Pixel 7 Pro over the 10x zoom images from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The Pixel 7 Pro is a superb all-round phone and is the one to go for if you want the best Google has to offer.
Pros:
Stellar camera with awesome new features
Design refinements look classy
Android 13 is bliss to use
Cons:
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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While the Pixel 7 Pro might have a better camera system and a larger display, many of the other features are the same, including the processor and software. But the Pixel 7A also comes with a significantly lower price tag, which makes it a much better value for those of you simply not interested in paying for the more advanced camera.
The Pixel 7A improves on the older Pixel 6A with the addition of wireless charging and face unlock, along with the more recent Tensor G2 processor. Those may not be huge upgrades, but they’re probably worth the relatively small additional spend — especially when you consider that, as the more recent model, the Pixel 7A will receive an additional year of support over the older 6A.
Pros:
Excellent camera
Many of the same features as the Pixel 7 at a cheaper price
Attractive design
Gains wireless charging, face unlock and high refresh rate
Cons:
Screen still looks dim outdoors
Higher price compared with Pixel 6A at launch
Only three generations of Android OS updates compared with Samsung’s four-generation pledge
James Martin/CNET
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James Martin/CNET
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Released in July 2022, the Pixel 6A is one of the older models on this list, but Google still officially sells it alongside its more recent handsets — and with a cut-down price. The Pixel 6A packs a solid dual camera, 5G connectivity and a decent display into a relatively compact body. While it doesn’t have the most up-to-date Tensor processor, its older chip will still cope with all your everyday essentials.
Sure, the Pixel 7A makes some welcome updates with face unlock and wireless charging, but it costs about $100 more than the 6A. If you’re looking for a solid Google Pixel experience that leaves you the most change in your wallet, the 6A is well worth considering.
Pros:
Cons:
Somewhat dim display
Not a great value alongside discounted Pixel 6
Not as many years of guaranteed Android updates as Samsung
Video quality isn’t as good as still photos
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
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Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
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The Pixel Fold is the first foldable phone Google has made, and it’s not a bad first effort. The 5.8-inch outer screen unfolds to reveal a 7.6-inch internal screen that provides ample room for watching videos or for using the various split-screen apps available. The phone’s performance and cameras are solid. Plus, the Fold’s overall build quality — including its folding hinge — seems good.
But at $1,799, it’s a hell of a lot of money and means it’s only going to be of interest to those of you looking to stay on the bleeding edge of new technology. That’s a niche market, and it may be several generations before the price of Google’s Fold starts to become approachable.
So while this absolutely isn’t a phone for everyone to consider, it’s a good first foldable effort that’s worth considering if you’re looking to put the latest, greatest tech in your pocket.
Pros:
Large cover screen is great
Thin design for a foldable
There’s no gap when the device is shut
Cons:
Expensive
Thick bezels on the inner screen
Some apps are not optimized for the internal display
Drag and drop functionality can be finicky
Stephen Shankland/CNET
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When you’re watching video at a table, the Pixel Fold is its own stand. Videos are larger spanning the full interior screen, though.
Stephen Shankland/CNET
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Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. And if we find something we don’t like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it.
We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:
DisplayDesign and feelProcessor performanceBattery lifeCamera qualityFeatures
We test all of a phone’s cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and night time scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We have a series of real world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.
We take into account additional phone features like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. And we, of course, weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price so you know whether a phone represents good value or not.
Read more: How we test phones
Deciding which Pixel phone is best for you will likely come down to how much you’re willing to spend. As with anything, the more cash you splash, the better features you’ll get. The Pixel 7 Pro is the most expensive of the range (excluding the foldable) and as a result it comes with the best camera system.
But if photography isn’t important to you, then you can save yourself some money and look instead toward the Pixel 7A. It has the same processor as the 7 Pro, so you can expect similar overall performance, but its dual rear camera is aimed more toward those of you simply wanting to take the odd snap of your kid on the beach, rather than those looking for Instagram stardom.
If you want the most cutting-edge piece of tech in your pocket then the Pixel Fold’s foldable display certainly makes it stand out in the range. But you’ll pay a hefty price for this brand-new technology meaning it’s not a phone for everyone to consider.
While we loved the Pixel 7 when it first launched thanks to its solid all-round performance and lower price, the arrival of the cheaper Pixel 7A means we no longer recommend buying the Pixel 7. The 7A shares many of the Pixel 7’s features, including the processor and excellent dual camera setup. But since the Pixel 7A is newer, buying that now over the Pixel 7 will mean that you’ll get a few extra months of software and security updates.
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When does the next Pixel phone launch?
Google is expected to take the wraps off the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in October. The phones are set to get the latest Google-made processor, the Tensor G3, along with various updates to the cameras and software. If you want the latest, greatest tech from Google, then it’s worth holding onto your money for a little while to see what Google has in store later in the year.
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We’ve consistently given Google’s Pixel phones high scores in our reviews thanks to their decent all-round performance and typically good camera quality. They don’t have the most high-performance processors around, but they offer enough power for almost any of your needs, while the pure Android software makes them smooth and easy to use.
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