Fairphone 4 vs Google Pixel 7: A Clash of Values and Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 7 offers superior performance, a stunning camera, and a vibrant display. However, the Fairphone 4’s commitment to ethical sourcing, repairability, and longevity makes it a compelling choice for environmentally conscious users willing to compromise slightly on raw power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Fairphone 4 | Google Pixel 7 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GQML3 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GQML3 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 2.3 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GVU6C | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 30 | 2022, October 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 25 | Available. Released 2022, October 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162 x 75.5 x 10.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.41 in) | 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm (6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 225 g (7.94 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| IP54, dust and water resistant MIL-STD-810G compliant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~79.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 15 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.78", 0.9µm | 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.78", 0.9µm | 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Standard 5-year warranty | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min | 20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 20W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3905 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 4355 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Green, Speckled Green | Obsidian, Lemongrass, Snow |
| Models | - | GVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 179.26 / £ 189.99 / ₹ 28,499 |
| SAR EU | 0.49 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.2 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 813114 (v9) GeekBench: 3288 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Fairphone 4
- Sustainable and ethical sourcing
- Repairable and upgradeable
- Longer lifespan potential
- Clean Android experience
- Lower performance than Pixel 7
- Less impressive camera
- Shorter battery life
- Less premium design
Google Pixel 7
- Exceptional camera performance
- Powerful Google Tensor G2 chipset
- Vibrant and bright display
- Long battery life
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Less sustainable than Fairphone 4
- Difficult to repair
- Less control over hardware lifespan
- Potential for software bloat (though minimal)
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7’s display shines with a measured peak brightness of 974 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, offering exceptional visibility and vibrant colors. The Fairphone 4’s display is respectable but lacks the same level of brightness and contrast. The Pixel 7 wins here.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 7’s camera is a major selling point, consistently delivering exceptional image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Google’s computational photography is unmatched. While the Fairphone 4’s camera is decent, it doesn’t compete with the Pixel 7’s capabilities. The Pixel 7 is the clear winner.
Performance
The Google Pixel 7’s Google Tensor G2 chipset, built on a 5nm process, significantly outperforms the Fairphone 4’s Snapdragon 750G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Pixel 7. The Pixel 7’s CPU architecture (Cortex-X1, A78, A55) is more powerful than the Fairphone 4’s Kryo 570.
Battery Life
Both phones offer 20W wired charging and reach 50% in 30 minutes. However, the Pixel 7 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting significantly better battery life than the Fairphone 4. The Pixel 7 also includes wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Fairphone 4.
Buying Guide
The Fairphone 4 is ideal for users prioritizing sustainability, repairability, and a longer device lifespan. It's a great choice for those who value ethical sourcing and want to reduce electronic waste. The Google Pixel 7 is perfect for photography enthusiasts, Android purists, and those seeking a high-performance device with a premium feel and Google's latest software features.