Pixel telephones rank among the many most anticipated gadgets with Android lovers yearly for a cause. Google’s personal gadgets have been the tech group’s mainstay for eight generations, and the Pixel 8 is undoubtedly the very best, most polished entry but.
Debuting in new colours with refined designs on the Made By Google 2023 occasion, the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional are beautiful gadgets that really feel unimaginable to carry and use. The brand new Tensor G3 options necessary upgrades over final 12 months’s Tensor G2, together with extra processing energy, higher battery effectivity, and, hopefully, a cooler design.
And it seems to be like Google isn’t messing round relating to AI this 12 months. The Pixel 8 is full of extra AI options than any Pixel earlier than it — lots of that are unique to the brand new {hardware} — and these aren’t foolish gimmicky options, both.
They’ve the potential to fully remodel how individuals take footage and movies and even how we use our telephones every single day. It’s nice to see Google really leveraging its AI prowess in a means no different firm can by itself gadgets.
Actually, I used to be shocked by the variety of options which can be unique to the Professional mannequin. Probably, Google is doing this as a result of the bigger type issue of the Professional permits for higher thermal administration, however I’ve a sense a few of it’s as a result of the Professional is the costlier mannequin.
Google is holding the Professional digital camera mode, improved Magic Eraser with generative AI built-in, enhanced Recorder app that may make summaries of transcriptions, and a handful of different options solely obtainable on the Pixel 8 Professional, not the smaller Pixel 8.
And whereas the Pixel 8 collection is seeing a $100 improve in worth year-over-year, there’s a very good cause for it. Except for basic {hardware} enhancements, Google is promising a whopping seven years of Android updates, function drops, and safety updates. That’s unprecedented on the earth of Android — excluding the Fairphone 5, after all — and needs to be a lesson for different corporations to comply with.
Full of digital camera options
As we’ve come to count on from any good Pixel telephone, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional function cutting-edge cameras that exceed even the lofty expectations we now have for Pixel telephones. All of that begins with new {hardware}, which supplies technique to loads of new software program tips.
Google is straight addressing the problem of video high quality on Pixel telephones in some ways this 12 months by providing higher stabilization, higher colour accuracy and fewer noise in decrease gentle, and wider dynamic vary in all conditions. A few of this comes from the brand new sensors, which embrace a model new 50MP predominant sensor on each telephones that brings in 21% extra gentle than the Pixel 7 collection’ predominant digital camera.
The brand new digital camera sensors herald between 21% and 105% extra gentle than the Pixel 7’s cameras.
The Pixel 8 Professional will get an upgraded 48MP ultrawide digital camera that brings in 105% extra gentle than the one on the Pixel 7 collection. The Pixel 8 retains a 12MP digital camera like final 12 months, but it surely additionally takes in additional gentle. Plus, the ultrawide digital camera now has a 125.5-degree subject of view, autofocus, and doubles as a macro digital camera on each telephones.
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The Pixel 8 Professional additionally has a 48MP telephoto digital camera with 5x optical zoom, and that new digital camera additionally brings in 56% extra gentle than the Pixel 7 Professional’s telephoto digital camera. The Pixel 8 Professional now options autofocus on its selfie digital camera as nicely.
The extra “professional” digital camera {hardware} — a phrase Google used rather a lot in its presentation to explain the Pixel 8 Professional — makes means for a brand new unique Professional mode on the digital camera that permits the handbook controls individuals have needed on Pixel telephones for the reason that inception of the collection. Sure, that even consists of full JPG and RAW picture assist from all cameras.
The Pixel 8 Professional has an unique new handbook “professional” digital camera mode.
Fortunately, that appears to be the one Pixel 8 Professional unique function, so common Pixel 8 customers may take pleasure in new options like Greatest Take, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, Actual Tone for video, Video Enhance, and Night time Sight movies.
Google says the brand new Video Enhance function will ship “the very best smartphone video high quality you’ve ever seen” utilizing a mixture of on-device processing and cloud computing. This function isn’t on by default, so that you’ll want to decide on Video Enhance in a person video after capturing it. It will ship the video to the Google Cloud for processing, which may take “a few hours.”
Among the many many options Google is including to the Pixel 8 collection, Greatest Take could be my favourite. When snapping a number of pictures of the identical group of individuals, Greatest Take will help you swap out faces in a photograph with the identical individual’s face present in subsequent pictures. This could make group pictures rather a lot nicer trying, because it gained’t matter if everyone seems to be smiling (or not blinking) in a single single shot.
Google says the Pixel 8 collection is able to “the very best smartphone video high quality you’ve got ever seen” because of a brand new cloud-based processing choice.
Greatest Take doesn’t work for pets presently however Google says you possibly can at all times select the photograph with the best-looking pet first and swap the human faces as a workaround.
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Sticking with the AI theme, Magic Editor will allow you to use generative AI to shortly and simply reposition and resize topics in pictures. Simply choose a topic and transfer them round as wanted, and Google AI will fill in the remaining, just like how Magic Eraser labored to take away objects from a photograph.
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Audio Magic Eraser is the ultimate new device and can be utilized to take away distracting sounds in movies by robotically sorting recognized sounds into totally different layers. Hit edit on the video, head to the audio tab, and increase or decrease the audio on any layer you need. Google says this works finest for fixed noises like site visitors, crowds, and even wind.
AI on the forefront
The brand new Google Tensor G3 contained in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional is constructed to “push the boundaries of on-device machine studying.” The Tensor G3 features a next-gen TPU, the newest era ARM CPUs, a extra performant GPU, a brand new ISP, and even a brand new DSP.
Plus, Google says it is engaged on getting generative AI operating on Tensor G3 in order that many of those new options can be utilized with out a cloud connection sooner or later. For now, although, Google says most new AI-based options are processed with a mixture of on-device and cloud-based processing.
Google is including new AI tips like Audio Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, Greatest Take, and enhanced accessibility options like Guided Body for doc scanning.
Google Assistant is getting a serious new replace on the Pixel 8 collection, beginning with pure conversations. This offers you the flexibility to naturally pause and assume for a second when speaking to Assistant with out issuing the command early — or issuing the unsuitable command completely.
Google is together with assist for extra voice typing languages, and Assistant can now learn aloud and translate net pages on the fly if you ask it. Plus, Assistant can make the most of the ability of Google Bard and ship net web page summaries full with bullet factors. That function is presently cloud-based however shall be totally processed on-device later this 12 months.
Gboard can now proofread your messages with a single faucet, highlighting any spelling or grammar errors and making ideas. It solely works with U.S. English for now, however Google shall be increasing to different languages sooner or later.
Name Display screen can also be getting an improve that includes a extra pure voice, “higher spam filtering,” and even the flexibility for Google Assistant to ship contextual replies throughout a dialog. That’s just like how contextual responses in Android work, and Assistant will ship urged responses primarily based in your dialog.
People who want imaginative and prescient impairment help will discover the brand new magnifier app and Guided Body updates notably useful. Guided Body now permits Assistant to learn paperwork as an alternative of simply engaged on selfies, letting you employ the Pixel 8’s digital camera to learn paperwork and signage aloud.
{Hardware} enhancements and extra
Along with an upgraded Tensor G3 chipset, Google is making a number of different {hardware} refinements and enhancements which can be surprisingly thrilling. The Pixel 8 actually maintains the general look of the Pixel 6 and seven collection however softens issues up a bit with extra rounded corners.
The Pixel 8 Professional even contains a smooth contact matte again glass, which feels rather a lot nicer than shiny glass. It is truly actually stunning how a lot of a distinction this makes, however the telephone feels considerably increased high quality due to it. The smaller Pixel 8 is, sadly, nonetheless a shiny fingerprint magnet.
The digital camera bar and rails are nonetheless polished, however an enormous shock awaits seasoned Pixel customers across the entrance: a totally flat show.
Goodbye curved show. We cannot miss you.
Google appears to have listened to suggestions and removed the rounded sides on the Professional’s show, making it simpler to discover a good Pixel 8 Professional display screen protector.
The Pixel 8 Professional’s show is identical 6.7-inch dimension and makes use of LTPO OLED know-how for a 1-120Hz variable refresh price. Plus, it’s rated at 2,400 nits of peak brightness, considerably eclipsing the brightness of any Pixel telephone earlier than it — and even flagships just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely.
The Pixel 8’s show is just a little smaller than final 12 months’s Pixel 7, coming in at 6.2 inches, and it makes use of a 120Hz OLED show. Plus, Google says it’s 42% brighter than the Pixel 7, with a most of two,000 nits of brightness. Google says each shows have been tweaked for max colour accuracy, vibrancy, and readability.
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However Google wouldn’t speak in regards to the PWM charges of the shows or what they plan to do for people delicate to PWM dimming.
Fashionable ultra-bright OLED shows typically flicker to “dim” the show as an alternative of really lowering the voltage, and Google has lengthy used the identical low PWM refresh charges as Samsung, which might make delicate customers really feel sick. Google has been good at catering to many disabilities up to now, and I am hoping they take into account this one quickly.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional’s shows are the brightest on any Android telephone.
Google is launching two new security and well being options with the Pixel 8 collection: object temperature sensing and biometric face unlock.
The brand new temperature sensor is positioned on the again within the digital camera bar, and Google says it’s designed to measure the temperature of objects — a cup of tea or a chilly metallic floor, as an illustration. Whereas it may be used to measure an individual’s temperature, Google hasn’t but acquired FDA approval for this function. Nonetheless, any private temperatures taken will be saved to the Fitbit app.
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And that new biometric face unlock is fascinating if for no different cause than the truth that it nonetheless makes use of a single front-facing digital camera, but, it’s thought of the “highest biometric class” in Android and may now be used for funds. Google says a mixture of machine studying and Tensor’s processing permit for this new stage of safety.
A brand new temperature sensor can be utilized to measure an individual or object’s temperature, and the front-facing digital camera is now able to bank-grade face unlock.
Google has actually solved its fingerprint sensor points over time — and the Pixel 8’s is the very best one but — but it surely’s good to have extra choices if you need them.
Whereas the Pixel 8 initially seemed to be a largely iterative replace within the preliminary leaks, Google has proved that it will probably nonetheless considerably enhance its iconic telephones 12 months over 12 months. That’s notably nice since extra individuals than ever now have a Pixel telephone, and, primarily based on my time with these two new Pixels, I believe that trajectory will solely proceed.
Preorder now
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional can be found for preorder beginning October 4, 2023, with basic availability to comply with on October 12, 2023. For the primary time ever, each Pixel 8 telephone consists of seven years of Android updates, function drops, and safety updates, making the Pixel 8 the longest-supported flagship Android smartphone in the marketplace.
The Pixel 8 retails for $699 and consists of 128GB of storage, however you possibly can improve to 256GB of storage for an additional price. For those who preorder on the Google Retailer, Google is together with a free pair of Pixel Buds Professional with each Pixel 8. The Pixel 8 is available in Black, Hazel, and Rose colorways.
Google is promising a whopping seven years of Android updates with the Pixel 8 collection.
The Pixel 8 Professional retails for $999 and consists of 128GB of storage however you possibly can improve to 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage for an additional price. Google is together with a free Pixel Watch 2 with each Pixel 8 Professional if you preorder from the Google Retailer. The Pixel 8 Professional ships in Black, Porcelain, and Bay (blue) colorways.
In North America, each telephones can be found within the U.S. and Canada. European availability consists of Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Eire, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and the U.Okay. It’ll even be obtainable in Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.
The Pixel 8 Professional is right here with an upgraded chipset that brings enjoyable new AI options and enhanced digital camera capabilities, so you possibly can shoot higher movies and have extra management over your photos, earlier than and after you are taking the shot. Preorder now and you’ll snag a free Pixel Watch 2!