The Google Pixel 7 does not have an SD card slot. This is a case of Google following larger industry trends, as other manufacturers like Samsung are also getting rid of SD card support. You’ll have to buy a larger internal drive if you want more storage.
My name is Caleb, and I have five years of experience as a sports photographer. I’m pretty familiar with using SD cards, as they’re an essential part of my camera bag and my go-to for getting pictures from my camera to my computer.
In this article, I’ll discuss the Google Pixel 7 and its lack of support for SD cards. I’ll explain why Google decided against an SD card slot and what you can do if you need more storage.
If you’re thinking about getting a Pixel 7, or if you already have one and are curious about why you can’t use an SD card with it, keep reading for the full breakdown.
Contents
Does Google Pixel 7 Have an SD Card Slot
No, the Google Pixel 7 does not support SD cards. This aligns with the other phones in the Pixel series, but Google isn’t the only company making similar decisions.
SD cards are falling out of favor across the industry, and most users won’t need one, given the storage options available to Pixel 7 users. The Pixel 7 base model starts at 128GB of storage, while the Pixel 7 Pro comes with up to 512 GB.
With storage options like these becoming the new standard, most users won’t have to worry about running out of space, even without expandable storage.
Why Doesn’t the Pixel 7 Have an SD Card Slot?
Aside from large internal drives becoming cheaper and more accessible, there are other reasons for Google’s moving away from SD cards.
One of the more important ones is performance. SD cards just aren’t as fast as internal hard drives, and the SD card slot itself can become a bottleneck on speed when transferring files between the card and the internal drive.
Reliability is another major reason. SD cards are more prone to failure, resulting in lost files.
They also simply take up space inside the phone. When it comes to phones, internal space is limited. If SD card slots aren’t really needed in this day and age, manufacturers would rather remove them and use the space for other things.
Alternative Storage Options
Even without an SD card slot, there are plenty of ways to ensure you have enough storage with the Google Pixel 7. These are the methods that I recommend.
Buying a Larger Storage Size
The easiest way to compensate for not having an SD card slot is to buy a larger internal storage size. In fact, larger internal drives becoming more accessible is one of the reasons companies like Google are moving away from SD card support.
The base model of the Pixel 7 comes with up to 256GB of storage, while the Plus model supports up to 512 GB. This is more than enough for most users.
Using Cloud Services
If you take a lot of photos or videos, cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive can help you back them up while saving space on your phone.
The downside of these is that they often have a subscription cost to get more than a basic level of storage. However, they have the advantage of doubling as a backup for your files. Even if something happens to your phone, your files will stay safe.
Local Storage
The free alternative to cloud storage is moving your files from your phone to your computer through a USB connection. If you have many files you want to save, you can also add an external hard drive to the mix for greater flexibility.
FAQs
Our research points to these as some of the most asked questions about the Google Pixel line and SD card support.
Which Google Pixel Has an SD Card Slot?
There are no Google Pixel models with SD card slots. Google has been an early adopter of the move away from SD cards, offering larger internal storage sizes instead.
How Much Storage Is Available for the Google Pixel 7?
The Pixel 7 base model starts at 128GB and supports up to 256GB, while the Plus model’s largest storage size is 512GB.
Which Pixel Phone Has Unlimited Storage?
The Google Pixel 5 and its predecessors receive unlimited cloud storage for their photos and videos. However, this doesn’t extend to the newer Pixel phones like the 6 and 7.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel 7 doesn’t come with an SD card slot. None of the Pixel phones do, as Google was an early adopter of the move away from SD cards. If you want more storage space, you’ll have to get a larger internal drive or utilize cloud storage.
Do you think the move from SD cards is justified? Let us know in the comments!
Ilarry
I think it’s more about profit then the reasons given in this article. Using 128 or 256 gb of memory is easy to do. So to get 512 the price difference is > $375. The alternatives are not practical if a person needs to use the files. If they are stored else where the user does not have always have access.