Meizu 17 Pro vs. Google Pixel 7: A Deep Dive into Performance and Photography

The Meizu 17 Pro, released in 2020, represents a peak in Meizu’s flagship ambitions, while the Google Pixel 7, launched in 2022, showcases Google’s in-house silicon. This comparison examines whether the Pixel 7’s newer Tensor G2 chip and AI-driven features can overcome the Meizu 17 Pro’s established Snapdragon 865 platform and fast charging capabilities, especially considering the price difference now available on the older device.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera quality and software experience, the Google Pixel 7 is the better choice. Its Tensor G2 chip, while not a raw performance leader, excels in computational photography and AI features. However, the Meizu 17 Pro offers a compelling value proposition for those seeking fast charging and a capable, if older, flagship experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 17 Pro Google Pixel 7
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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 bands41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA1, 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
Announced2020, May 08. Released 2020, May 112022, October 06
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, October 13
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions160 x 77.2 x 8.5 mm (6.30 x 3.04 x 0.33 in)155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm (6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight219 g (7.72 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ)AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 10, Flyme 8.1Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 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
Features5-LED dual-tone flash, Auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single-10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF 32 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 129˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.8µm10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired, QC3, 45% in 30 min 27W wireless20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 20W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4355 mAh
Misc
ColorsMint, Black, WhiteObsidian, Lemongrass, Snow
Models-GVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5
PriceAbout 560 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)

Meizu 17 Pro

  • Faster wired and wireless charging speeds
  • Potentially lower price point (due to age)
  • Snapdragon 865 offers strong raw performance

  • Older chipset and software support
  • Less advanced camera processing
  • No reverse wireless charging

Google Pixel 7

  • Superior camera processing and AI features
  • Guaranteed software updates and support
  • More power-efficient chipset (Tensor G2)

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Higher initial price
  • Raw performance slightly behind in some benchmarks

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 7 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 974 nits, compared to the Meizu 17 Pro’s unspecified peak brightness. While the Meizu 17 Pro’s display quality is likely excellent, the Pixel 7’s higher brightness ensures better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. The Pixel 7’s display technology isn’t specified beyond brightness and contrast, but its superior peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed for their camera capabilities, but approach it differently. The Pixel 7 leverages Google’s renowned computational photography, powered by the Tensor G2’s image signal processor. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the Pixel 7’s strength lies in its software processing, delivering consistently excellent photos and videos. The Meizu 17 Pro likely relies more on hardware capabilities, but without detailed sensor information, a direct comparison is difficult. The Pixel 7’s video capabilities are also likely superior due to the Tensor G2’s dedicated processing for video stabilization and dynamic range.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Meizu 17 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Google Pixel 7, however, is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 (5nm). While the Tensor G2’s Cortex-X1 cores (2.85 GHz) offer a slight clock speed advantage, the 5nm process node provides superior power efficiency and thermal management compared to the 7nm+ Snapdragon 865. This translates to potentially less throttling under sustained load for the Pixel 7. The Pixel 7’s focus on AI and machine learning tasks is where the Tensor G2 truly shines, offering features like Magic Eraser and improved voice recognition that the Snapdragon 865 cannot match.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing charging speeds. The Meizu 17 Pro offers faster wired charging at 30W (QC3), reaching 45% in 30 minutes, while the Pixel 7 is limited to 20W (PD3.0), achieving 50% in the same timeframe. The Meizu 17 Pro also supports 27W wireless charging, a significant advantage over the Pixel 7’s 20W wireless charging. The Pixel 7 adds reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the Meizu 17 Pro.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 17 Pro if you need exceptionally fast 30W wired and 27W wireless charging, and are comfortable with a less polished software experience. It’s ideal for users who prioritize power delivery and are willing to accept an older chipset. Buy the Google Pixel 7 if you prefer a seamless software experience, industry-leading computational photography, and the benefits of Google’s AI features, even if it means slightly slower charging speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Meizu 17 Pro struggle with demanding modern games?
While the Snapdragon 865 was a flagship chip in its time, newer games optimized for the Tensor G2 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 may exhibit lower frame rates or require reduced graphics settings on the Meizu 17 Pro. However, it remains capable of playing most games smoothly, especially with optimized settings.
❓ How does Google's Tensor G2 improve the Pixel 7's camera beyond just image processing?
The Tensor G2 includes a dedicated TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) that accelerates machine learning tasks. This enables features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Real Tone, which intelligently enhance photos and videos. It also improves Super Res Zoom and video stabilization, resulting in clearer and more stable footage.
❓ Is the lack of a microSD card slot a significant limitation on either device?
Both the Meizu 17 Pro and Google Pixel 7 lack microSD card slots. This means storage is fixed at the time of purchase. Consider your storage needs carefully before buying, as expanding storage later is not possible.
❓ How long will the Meizu 17 Pro continue to receive software updates?
Meizu's software update support for the 17 Pro is limited. It's unlikely to receive major Android version updates beyond what it already has. This is a key consideration for users who prioritize long-term software support and security patches.