On October 4, 2023, Google unveiled its highly anticipated devices, including the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8, and Pixel Watch 2. Among these, the Pixel 8 Pro emerges as the flagship smartphone, boasting a range of enhancements over its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro. Key upgrades include the introduction of the new Tensor G3 chipset, the incorporation of a thermometer sensor, enhanced camera capabilities, and innovative AI features. In this overview, we delve into the essential particulars of the Pixel 8 Pro, encompassing its design, noteworthy features, and technical specifications, ensuring you stay informed about this latest offering from Google.
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Design
The Google Pixel 8 Pro presents a refined design compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro. While maintaining its size, the phone introduces rounded corners for enhanced grip and comfort. The addition of a matte-finish glass on the back provides improved grip, further safeguarded by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and rear. Additionally, the Pixel 8 Pro boasts an IP68 rating, certifying its dust and water resistance.
The overall design remains consistent, characterized by a glass-metal construction and a distinctive camera visor spanning the rear. A notable alteration is the transition to a flat display, a departure from the curved screens of the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro. Despite this change, the Pixel 8 Pro maintains its substantial 6.7-inch display size, featuring an LTPO OLED screen with QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The impressive peak brightness now reaches 2,400 nits, ensuring exceptional visibility even in bright sunlight.
Internals
Under the hood, the Pixel 8 Pro is powered by Google’s third-generation Tensor G3 chipset, marking a significant leap in processing capabilities. This Tensor chip integrates a multitude of AI and ML features into the Pixel 8 Pro, showcasing a tenfold improvement in AI capabilities compared to its predecessor. Moreover, the machine learning model on the Pixel 8 is ten times more complex than that of the Pixel 6, resulting in a host of innovative features. These include enhanced image processing and functionalities like Clear Calling and Audio Magic Eraser, allowing users to eliminate background noise from videos.
In the memory department, the Pixel 8 Pro pairs the Tensor G3 with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, offering storage options ranging from 128GB to a substantial 1TB. The device also incorporates a Titan M2 security coprocessor for comprehensive smartphone protection and enhanced privacy.
The software experience on the Pixel 8 Pro is marked by the inclusion of Android 14 out of the box. Remarkably, Google commits to providing seven years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates for the Pixel 8 series, aligning its support standards with, and potentially surpassing, those of Apple.
Battery
Regarding the battery, the Pixel 8 Pro retains the same 5,000 mAh capacity as its predecessor, with expectations of improved performance in battery life compared to the Pixel 7 Pro.
In terms of charging, wired charging sees a modest speed increase, transitioning from 23W to 30W. While falling short of the Samsung S23 Ultra’s 45W fast charging, it represents an improvement over the Pixel 7 Pro. Wireless charging remains unchanged at 23W when using a Google Pixel Stand 2nd Gen.
Camera
Google Pixel phones have long been acclaimed for their camera capabilities, and the Pixel 8 Pro continues this legacy. The device boasts a 50 MP primary camera sensor with an impressive ƒ/1.68 aperture and 2x optical zoom. Complementing this is a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera featuring a ƒ/1.95 aperture and an expansive 125-degree field of view. Completing the trio is a 48 MP telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture, providing 5x optical zoom and an impressive 30x digital Super Res zoom.
Google asserts that this upgraded camera setup excels in low-light photography, captures sharper selfies, and delivers the finest zoom and video quality within the Pixel lineup. Notable features include Night Sight for video and Video Boost technology, enhancing HDR+ and color grading for professional-grade videos. Users can also expect Pro Controls, Ultra HDR, Portrait Mode, and Astrophotography mode.
Underpinning these camera capabilities are numerous AI-driven features. “Best Take” combines similar photos to ensure everyone looks their best, while the “Audio Magic Eraser” for video allows background noise removal. The “Magic Editor” returns, now with enhanced capabilities.
