With Google officially introducing its new smartphones, we no longer need to chase rumors about Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. As previously suggested in leaks, the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro feature a new design with rounder corners, improved camera features, and a new processor. Google seems to be getting serious about its competition with Apple, promising higher screen brightness and over 24 hours of battery life on both Pixel 8 models.
Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro: Display features
Pixel 8’s screen is slightly smaller than the previous model, shrinking to 6.2 inches. Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, maintains its 6.7-inch screen. The 8 and 8 Pro will be the first to be released with what Google calls the Actua display. This new display can basically be seen as a rebranding of OLED, but it can reach 2000 nits brightness on the Pixel 8 and 2400 nits on the Pixel 8 Pro.
There are also slight differences in the screen refresh rates of the two devices. The Pixel 8 can achieve different refresh rates between 60Hz and 120Hz, which is a better option than the Pixel 7, which constantly stays at 90Hz. Although the Pixel 8 Pro continues with the standard 120Hz option, it can go down to 1Hz for an always-on display.
Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro: Battery features
The batteries of Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have also been improved. The Pixel 8’s battery increased from 4355 mAh to 4575 mAh, while the 8 Pro has a 5050 mAh battery instead of 5000 mAh a year ago. In addition, the phones still offer battery sharing, fast wireless charging, and up to 50% charging time support in half an hour with a 30W charger.
Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro: RAM and storage features
Unfortunately, the Pixel 8 still only has 8GB of RAM and the Pixel 8 Pro has 12GB of RAM. Both devices start with a 128GB storage option, but the Pixel 8 only goes up to 256GB. If you want more than that, you’ll have to go for the Pro, which also offers 512GB and 1TB.
Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro: Processor features
When we look at the internal hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will launch the Google Tensor G3 processor with the Titan M2 security coprocessor. Google actually offered very little about the internal hardware, but we expect most of the processor’s capabilities to be related to many of the Pixel’s camera features.
Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro: Camera features
Pixel 8 and Pro are still hoping to impress users with their respective camera systems. Pixel 8 continues to carry a dual camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor with f/1.68 aperture and 82° field of view. Just like the iPhone 15, it also has up to 8x Super Resolution Zoom and 2x optical zoom features.
The 8 Pro has a third telephoto lens. The system includes a 50MP primary camera with the same field of view and optical zoom capabilities as the smaller Pixel 8. It has a wider aperture and 48MP ultrawide camera than the Pixel 8’s wide-angle lens, but both offer the same 125-degree field of view. The telephoto lens is a 48 MP sensor with f/2.8 aperture and up to 5x optical zoom, as on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Super Resolution Zoom improves slightly, with 30x digital zoom on the Pixel 8 Pro, up from 20x on the Pixel 7 Pro.
The front cameras of Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have largely the same features. Both have a 10.5 MP camera, but the Pixel 8 has a fixed-focus lens while the 8 Pro has an auto-focus lens.
Along with Face Unlock, the fingerprint unlocking feature under the screen also returned to 8/8 Pro. Although the Pixel 8 Pro has an extra temperature sensor to measure the temperature of objects around you, the phones’ sensors generally remain the same.
Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro: Other features
The rest of the features of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro look relatively standard. The phones feature stereo speakers, USB 3.2 for charging and data transfer, and a standard SIM tray. Additionally, Google has further improved its offering on software updates, and Pixel devices will now receive up to seven years of software updates, including version and feature updates, as well as security updates.
What are the prices of Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro?
The Pixel 8 starts at $700 and will be available in three colors: hazel, rose, and obsidian. The Pixel 8 Pro starts at $1,000 and is available in porcelain, obsidian, as well as a unique blue color called gulf. Both devices will hit the shelves on October 12.