Google’s latest set of smartphones are upon us with all sorts of additional goodies, upgraded features, and the promise of seven year’s worth of software support. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro also boast a refined design, a new chip, and use more recycled materials in their construction. Priced from $699 and $999 respectively, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro sport a slight boost in wired charging speeds and brighter displays. Possibly the biggest news is just how much Google is leveraging AI on the Pixel 8 series, from photography to the Google Assistant and the search giant also announced 7 years of software updates for the new phones.
Powered by Google’s Tensor G3 chipset, the Pixel 8 series also features 8/12GB of LPDDR5X memory and 128/256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with the 8 Pro also available in a 512GB variant.
As you might expect, the Pixel 8 is the smaller of the two devices, wielding a 6.2-inch OLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio, FHD+ resolution, and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Google says that the panel is also 42% brighter than the Pixel 7’s display, which should aid improved outdoor visibility.
The Pixel 8 Pro on the other hand, packs in a 6.7-inch OLED panel with 2,400 nits peak brightness, 1344 x 2992 resolution, and a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Pixel 8 is given a 4,575mAh battery with support for 27W wired charging while the Pixel 8 Pro sports a 5,050mAh battery and 30W wired charging. Wireless charging is limited to 18W on the base model while the 8 Pro is capable of 23W speeds, which should make it a bit more useful.
Launched running Android 14, the Pixel 8 series will benefit from 7 years of OS upgrades, security patches, and feature drops, more than matching Samsung’s commitment which were the gold standard previously.
On the camera side of things, both models feature the same 50MP Octa PD wide camera with OIS and EIS in tow, but while the Pixel 8 has an ultra-wide lens with 12-megapixels the 8 Pro sports a couple of 48MP sensors on ultra-wide and telephoto (Super Rez Zoom up to 30x) duty. Both phones have the same 10.5MP front-facing camera housed in a punch-hole on the display.
And if you were wondering, the Pixel 8 series does indeed have a temperature sensor located in the rear camera housing although we still aren’t exactly sure as to its purpose other than checking to see if your coffee is still hot enough to drink.
Ok, we all know that Pixel smartphones are often greater than the sum of their components thanks to Google’s reliance on software optimization and, more recently, by leveraging its AI capabilies. While the camera sensors on the Pixel 8 Pro have been upgraded, with the 48MP ultra-wide lens not delivering improved Macro Focus, the 48MP telephoto lens captures 56% more light and is capable of 5x optical zoom.
Thanks to a range of AI enhancements, you can remove or resize objects in your images, tone down the noise from the galing wind, and even take the best bits out of a batch of images to produce that perfect group photo.
Finally, the Pixel 8 is already available to pre-order from the Google Store in Hazel, Obsidian (Black), and Rose colorways with pricing starting from $699. The Pixel 8 Pro can be pre-ordered in Obsidian (Black), Porcelain (Beige), and Bay (Sky Blue) from $999.
Let us know in the comments section below if you are planning on splashing the cash on Google’s latest flagship smartphones.
