Google Pixel 7 vs LG Velvet 5G UW: A Detailed Comparison of Performance, Camera, and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 7 is the superior choice. Its Tensor G2 chipset delivers significantly better performance and future-proofing, while its camera system offers a more refined and versatile experience. However, the LG Velvet 5G UW remains a viable option for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing a unique aesthetic and 5G connectivity.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG Velvet 5G UW | 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 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 28, 46, 48, 66 | 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 | 260, 261 mmWave | 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 (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2Gbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 | 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 | 2020, August 19. Released 2020, August 21 | 2022, October 06 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, October 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) | 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm (6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | - | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, LG UX | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 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 | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | - |
| 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 | 16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm | 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, QC4 9W wireless | 20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 20W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Ion 4355 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Red | Obsidian, Lemongrass, Snow |
| Models | LM-G900V, LM-G900V | GVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5 |
| Price | About 590 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 179.26 / £ 189.99 / ₹ 28,499 |
| 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) |
LG Velvet 5G UW
- Unique and stylish design
- Affordable price point
- 5G connectivity
- Older chipset with limited performance
- Less advanced camera system
- Potentially limited software support
Google Pixel 7
- Powerful Google Tensor G2 chipset
- Exceptional camera with advanced features
- Guaranteed software updates
- Faster charging and wireless charging
- Higher price tag
- May be larger and heavier than the Velvet
- Design may be less distinctive to some
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 974 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Velvet 5G UW. While the Velvet’s panel specs are unavailable, the Pixel 7’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests a superior viewing experience, particularly with HDR content. The Pixel 7’s display technology likely benefits from Google’s image processing, enhancing color accuracy and vibrancy. The lack of detailed display information for the Velvet makes a precise comparison difficult, but the Pixel 7 clearly holds an advantage in raw display capability.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable camera systems, but the Pixel 7 leverages Google’s renowned computational photography expertise. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the Pixel 7’s image processing algorithms, powered by the Tensor G2, excel in dynamic range, low-light performance, and detail preservation. The Velvet 5G UW’s camera performance is likely good for its price point, but it won’t match the Pixel 7’s consistently high-quality results. The absence of specific sensor details for the Velvet makes a direct hardware comparison difficult, but Google’s software optimizations give the Pixel 7 a significant advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 7’s Tensor G2 (5nm) is a substantial upgrade over the LG Velvet 5G UW’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The Tensor G2’s octa-core configuration, featuring 2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 cores, provides a significant performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks compared to the Velvet’s 1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime core. The 5nm fabrication process of the Tensor G2 also translates to improved thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both utilize octa-core CPUs, the architectural differences and process node give the Pixel 7 a clear edge in overall performance and responsiveness.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Pixel 7’s 20W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% in 30 minutes, is slightly faster than the Velvet 5G UW’s 25W wired charging. The Pixel 7 also adds the convenience of 20W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Velvet. While the battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the Pixel 7’s faster charging and wireless capabilities offer greater flexibility and convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Velvet 5G UW if you prioritize a distinctive design, are on a tight budget, and primarily need reliable 5G connectivity for basic smartphone tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 7 if you demand superior performance for demanding apps and games, a class-leading camera experience with advanced features, and guaranteed software updates for years to come.