Meizu 18 Pro vs Google Pixel 7: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids

The Meizu 18 Pro, released in 2021, represents a peak in compact flagship design, while the Google Pixel 7, launched in 2022, showcases Google’s AI-driven approach to smartphone technology. This comparison examines whether the older, Snapdragon-powered Meizu still holds up against Google’s in-house Tensor G2 chip and software optimizations, particularly for users seeking a balance of performance and camera capabilities.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Google Pixel 7 emerges as the better choice. While the Meizu 18 Pro offers competitive specs and faster charging, the Pixel 7’s superior software support, refined camera experience, and comparable battery life make it a more compelling long-term investment.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 18 Pro Google Pixel 7
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 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 bands1, 3, 41, 77, 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / 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
Announced2021, March 03. Released 2021, March 082022, October 06
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, October 13
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.5 x 73 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.87 x 0.32 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
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 WaterproofIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak)AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 11, Flyme 9Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 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
FeaturesLED flash, 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
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom 32 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 130˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)-
Video8K, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single44 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.65”, 0.7µm10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging40W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 50 min 40W wireless 10W reverse wireless20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 20W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4355 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, White, GrayObsidian, Lemongrass, Snow
Models-GVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5
PriceAbout 640 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 18 Pro

  • Faster 40W wired and wireless charging
  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • Reverse wireless charging capability

  • Potentially limited software support
  • Snapdragon 888 prone to throttling
  • Less advanced camera software

Google Pixel 7

  • Guaranteed software updates and feature drops
  • Superior camera image processing and AI features
  • Brighter and more vibrant display

  • Slower 20W charging speeds
  • Larger form factor compared to Meizu 18 Pro
  • Less focus on raw hardware specifications

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 7 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 974 nits, compared to the Meizu 18 Pro’s unspecified peak brightness. While the Meizu 18 Pro likely offers excellent color accuracy, the Pixel 7’s higher brightness enhances outdoor visibility. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. The Pixel 7’s display technology is likely optimized for Google’s Material You design language, offering a more cohesive visual experience.

Camera Comparison

The Google Pixel 7’s camera system is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging the Tensor G2’s AI capabilities. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, the Pixel 7’s image processing excels in dynamic range, low-light performance, and portrait mode accuracy. The Meizu 18 Pro’s camera system, while capable, relies more on hardware specifications. Both phones offer photo and video recording, but the Pixel 7’s Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur features provide unique post-processing advantages. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Meizu 18 Pro makes a direct sensor comparison difficult, but Google’s software advantage is a significant differentiator.

Performance

Both phones utilize an octa-core CPU configuration with a Cortex-X1 prime core, Cortex-A78 performance cores, and Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. However, the Google Pixel 7’s Tensor G2, fabricated on a 5nm process, features a different architectural approach focused on machine learning tasks. The Pixel 7’s CPU clocks slightly higher at 2.85 GHz versus the Meizu 18 Pro’s 2.84 GHz. While synthetic benchmarks might show marginal differences, the Tensor G2 excels in on-device AI processing, impacting features like voice recognition and image processing. The Meizu 18 Pro’s Snapdragon 888, while powerful, is known to throttle under sustained load, potentially impacting long gaming sessions. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Pixel 7 benefits from Google’s software optimizations for memory management.

Battery Life

Both the Meizu 18 Pro and Google Pixel 7 achieve an endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, charging speeds differ significantly. The Meizu 18 Pro supports 40W wired charging, achieving 40% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 50 minutes, alongside 40W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless. The Pixel 7 offers a slower 20W wired charge (50% in 30 minutes) and 20W wireless charging. The Meizu 18 Pro’s faster charging is a clear advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 18 Pro if you prioritize a truly compact flagship form factor, exceptionally fast 40W wireless charging, and don’t mind potentially limited software updates. Buy the Google Pixel 7 if you value a consistently excellent camera experience, guaranteed software support and feature drops from Google, and a more modern, AI-enhanced user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Meizu 18 Pro overheat during demanding tasks like gaming?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load. While the Meizu 18 Pro likely incorporates cooling solutions, users may experience throttling during extended gaming sessions or video recording, potentially impacting performance. The Google Tensor G2, while not a performance leader, is generally more thermally efficient.
❓ How does Google’s software support for the Pixel 7 compare to Meizu’s support for the 18 Pro?
Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 7. Meizu’s software support for the 18 Pro is less predictable and may be limited, potentially leaving users without access to the latest features and security patches. This is a significant consideration for long-term usability.
❓ Is the 20W charging speed on the Pixel 7 significantly slower in real-world use?
While 20W is slower than the Meizu 18 Pro’s 40W, it still provides a reasonable charging experience. The Pixel 7 can reach 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. For many users, the convenience of Google’s software and camera features outweighs the slower charging speed.