Today, Google unveiled the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, along with the Pixel Watch, in an unexpected move that took many by surprise. Despite the sarcasm, there's genuine excitement for these new releases, especially for someone like me who's been a Pixel fan despite its known flaws, such as subpar performance and average battery life.
Visually, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro maintain the recognizable Pixel design language, with the distinctive visor. However, this year's update brings a more rounded aesthetic, along with new color options like Hazel, Rose, Obsidian, Porcelain, and the intriguing blue shade called Bay, complemented by a matte finish on the Pros.
Improvements to the display are significant, with thinner bezels and dramatically increased brightness of up to 2,000 nits for the Pixel 8 and 2,400 nits for the 8 Pro, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Additionally, both models now feature a 120Hz refresh rate, with LTPO reserved for the Pro variant.
The introduction of the Tensor G3 chip marks a significant hardware upgrade, promising enhanced AI capabilities with more TPU and processing power. While Google didn't heavily emphasize raw performance improvements, the focus remains on clever software integration, a hallmark of Pixel devices.
The software enhancements are indeed impressive, with features like webpage summarization, faster and more accurate speech-to-text, improved security for face unlock, a built-in fix-it feature for proofreading messages, and a more human-sounding call screen voice assistant.
The camera system receives notable upgrades, with both models featuring an upgraded 50-megapixel main camera. The 8 Pro goes further with a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 48-megapixel 5x telephoto lens. The revamped camera app layout streamlines the user experience, making it easier to navigate between photo and video modes, along with manual controls.
Overall, the Pixel 8 series promises to deliver an impressive combination of hardware and software advancements, albeit with a higher price tag. However, the inclusion of seven years of OS and security updates adds long-term value to these devices, positioning them as smart choices for users seeking longevity and innovation in their smartphones.