Google’s newest flagship smartphones introduce a new Google Tensor G3 processor, improved cameras, brighter displays, and a new design that features rounded edges and a matte finish for the camera bar, and new color options.
But Google says the main selling points for its new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones aren’t reflected in the specs, but rather what the phones can do, thanks to the company’s continued focus on AI, plus a few other new hardware features. Oh, and the company has confirmed an emphasis on longevity too: the Pixel 8 series will get 7 years of software updates.
The Pixel 8 is up for pre-order now for $699 and up, while the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999. Both are available with freebies during pre-order: you can get a free pair of Google Pixel Buds Pro true wireless earbuds with either phone, or a free Pixel Watch 2 with a Pixel 8 Pro (or save $200 on a Pixel Watch 2 with a Pixel 8).
Here are some of the things that are new with this year’s phones:
Displays
The new Pixel 8 has a 6.2 inch “Actua” display, which Google says is up to 42% brighter than the Pixel 7 screen, with up to 2,000 nits peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. And the Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7 inch “Super Actua” display with up to 2,400 nits peak brightness.
The Pixel 8 Pro is also the first Pixel smartphone with a temperature sensor in the camera bar, which Google says can let you measure the temperature of things like frying pans while you’re cooking, or milk in a baby’s bottle.
Tensor G3 chips and AI features
And while Google’s Pixel smartphone processors aren’t known for having the fastest CPU or GPU features, but the company’s Tensor chips also have integrated AI accelerators that allow for on-device processing for things like speech recognition and camera effects.
Google says that the Pixel 8’s Tensor chip allows the phone to use the same text-to-speech model that Google uses in its data sensors, and allows users to switch between languages on the fly while composing or sending messages by voice, among other things.
Google Assistant is also picking up new features, including the ability to provide a summary of text from a website in bullet-point form, or translate text and then read it out loud to you.
Call screening is also better – if somebody places a call to your number, a more natural sounding Google Assistant Voice will answer the phone for you and try to gauge whether it’s a call you actually want to take or not, hopefully without putting off legit callers.
The Google Recorder app is incorporating on-device Generative AI for summaries of voice recordings, as well.
Cameras
The Pixel 8 Pro has a new 10.5 MP front-facing camera with dual phase detection autofocus, and three rear cameras:
- 50MP primary (with 51% better light sensitivity than the Pixel 7 Pro)
- 48MP ultra-wide (with 105% better light sensitivity and better macro mode)
- 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom (56% better light sensitivity and up to 10x “optical quality” zoom)
Meanwhile the Pixel 8 (non-pro) cameras include a 10.5 MP fixed-focus selfie camera and the same 50MP primary camera as the Pixel 8 Pro, but a 12MP ultra-wide camera and no telephoto camera.
Both phones get a whole bunch of new AI-enhanced photography (and/or photo editing) features like:
- Best Take: Using the same tech as face swapping, you can take multiple shots of a group of people and combine the best facial expressions into one photo (so you don’t have one person with their eyes closed, for example).
- Magic Editor: Circle an object in Google Photos and drag it to move it.
- Audio Magic Eraser: identify different sounds in a video recording and let you remove unwanted background noise.
- Pro Controls: Pixel 8 Pro allows for 50MP high-res JPG or RAW images, and more controls over things like shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, lens selection, and focus.
- Video Boost: brings advanced HDR video processing.
Longevity
In addition to promising to deliver security updates for the Pixel 8 series through 2030, Google notes that it’s continuing to partner with iFixit to offer spare parts, tools, and repair guides for its phones, which should make out-of-warranty repairs easier.
Specs
| Pixel 8 | Pixel 8 Pro | |
| Display | 6.2 inches 2400 x 1080 pixels 428 ppi 60 – 120 Hz AMOLED Up to 1400 nits HDR Up to 2000 nits peak brightness Gorilla Glass Victus | 6.7 inches 2992 x 1344 pixels 489 PPI 1 – 120 Hz AMOLED Up to 1600 nits HDR Up to 2400 nits peak brightness Gorill Glass Victus 2 |
| Processor | Google Tensor G3 | |
| RAMÂ | 8GB LPDDR5x | 12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 3.1 |
| Battery | 4,575 mAh | 5,050 mAh |
| Charging | 27W (USB-C) 18W (wireless w/Pixel Stand 2) 12W (wireless w/Qi chargers) | 30W (USB-C) 23W (wireless w/Pixel Stand 2) 12W (wireless w/Qi chargers) |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor Face Unlock VPN by Google One Titan M2 security chip | |
| Cameras (rear) | 50MP primary 12MP ultra-wide (125.8°) | 50MP primary 48MP ultra-wide (125.5°) 48MP telephoto (5x optical) |
| Camera (front) | 10.5MP (fixed-focus) | 10.5MP (auto-focus) |
| Camera features | Best Take Audio Magic Eraser Photo Unblur Macro Focus Night Sight Top Shot Portrait Mode Super Res Zoom Motion autofocus Live HDR+ Frequent Faces Dual exposure controls Cinematic Pan Portrait Light Magic Eraser Motion Mode Real Tone Face Unblur Panorama Manual white balancing Locked Folder Magic Editor Ultra HDR Astrophotography | Pro Controls High-resolution photography Best Take Audio Magic Eraser Video Boost Night Sight Video Photo Unblur Macro Focus Night Sight Top Shot Portrait Mode Super Res Zoom Motion autofocus Live HDR+ Frequent Faces Dual exposure controls Cinematic Pan Portrait Light Magic Eraser Motion Mode Real Tone Face Unblur Panorama Manual white balancing Locked Folder Magic Editor Ultra HDR Astrophotography |
| Wireless | WiFi 7 BT 5.3 NFC GPS 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) 4G LTE | |
| Audio | Stereo speakers 3 microphones Noise suppression Spatial Audio | |
| Water resistance | IP68 | |
| Accessories | S-Pen (included) Book Cover Keyboard (sold separately) Book Cover Keyboard Slim (sold separately) Smart Book Cover (sold separately) Outdoor Cover (sold separately) | |
| OS | Android 14 7 years of OS, feature, and security updates | |
| Dimensions | 5.9″ x 2.8″ x 0.4″ | 6.4″ x 3″ x 0.3″ |
| Weight | 187 grams | 213 grams |
| Starting price | $699 | $999 |
For me, the 7 years of software updates is the standout feature. Hopefully the rest of the industry follows along.
I’m pretty sure these phones don’t come with s-pens.
That’s a tad bit too much AI with too broad access to my data to my liking. In fact while I watched the keynote for the first time in 10 years I started to consider an iPhone.
I’ve been using Nexus/Pixel phones for years… and regularly just disable Google Assistant upon setup. If I can do that on these new models, while still taking advantage of computational photography features, I might get one.
Google Fi is knocking $300 – $400 off the starting price right now and I’m tempted to upgrade my Pixel 4a 5G before it gets its last security update next month.
The 30W USB C charging for Pro looks goofy. Normally 3A @9V is the maximum a wall adapter can deliver. I guess you could do 2.5A @12V, but you gets you lower DCDC efficiency.
Bummmer, no 10x Optical zoom and only 48 MP sensor, but as a consolation, you can get the earbuds for free on preorder of the phone. Well….no. I’ll stick with a 10x optical zoom and a 200 MP sensor on the Samsung s23 Ultra.