At the Keynote event on October 4, 2023, Google announced the centerpiece of their growing Pixel portfolio, the latest and probably the most advanced AI-feature-packed smartphones yet—the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. These devices exemplify Google's vision for AI-centric mobile computing: from mobile-first to AI-first.
Harnessing the formidable power of ARM-based processors and featuring a pre-loaded Android 14, these devices signal a bold leap forward. They come armed with revolutionary camera systems boasting unprecedented functionalities, an augmented security shield, and innovative features such as accident detection and a built-in virtual private network.
The Pixel 8 continues to refine the signature Pixel design, embracing smoother lines and a more compact profile. On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro introduces fresh design elements, sporting a lustrous matte glass finish and a striking, vibrant color palette beautifully accentuated by the highly-polished camera bar.
However, beneath their striking exteriors, both phones reveal remarkable upgrades and enhancements that are set to redefine the mobile computing landscape. The question that now looms large: Are you prepared to embrace the dawn of the next mobile computing era?
Hardware
Tensor G3: Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are powered by Google-tailored Tensor G3 chip, a cutting-edge third-generation Google Silicon designed to directly bring Google's AI breakthroughs to Pixel users. It includes the latest generation of ARM CPUs, an upgraded GPU, a new ISP and imaging DSP, and the TPU.
This aligns perfectly with the overarching software-centric approach of the Pixel story. The new Pixel 8 runs more than twice as many ML models on-device compared to the first generation of Tensor on Pixel 6, enhancing every aspect of the user experience. Moreover, the Pixel 8 comes with 8GB RAM, while the Pro gets an impressive 12GB RAM. This substantial upgrade in processing power promises to deliver a seamless and lightning-fast user experience.
Display: Both the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 8 smartphones have significantly improved displays in terms of bezels, brightness, and refresh rate. They offer a stunning visual experience with their new Actua displays. The Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch screen with an impressive peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, which is 42% brighter than the Pixel 7, which makes everything look crisp and clear.
The Pixel 8 Pro has a larger 6.7-inch screen with a Super Actua display, which is even more immersive. Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Pixel 8 Pro has a variable refresh rate and an astounding peak brightness of 2400 nits. These features make the animations on both devices look smoother than ever.
Camera: With advanced AI and the Tensor G3 chip this year, Google brings its battleship for smartphone photo and video leadership. With fully upgraded camera hardware and breakthrough features, Google opts for delivering enhanced quality and capabilities of your shots. The Pixel 8 boasts a stunning 50-megapixel main camera capable of producing 2X optical quality images that capture every detail in low-light conditions. The 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the Pixel 8 also gets an upgrade with autofocus, enabling you to take incredible macro shots that were only possible on the Pro series before, and with its 12-megapixel selfie camera with autofocus and a wide-angle lens, you can take the best selfies ever.
If you want the ultimate camera experience, the Pixel 8 Pro is there. It has a stunning camera system that has been upgraded in every way to get a picture-perfect Pixel photo in any lighting condition. You can take amazing selfies with autofocus on the front camera and capture stunning details in low light with the 50-megapixel main sensor that uses quad pixel-binning technology to create larger pixels.
The Pixel 8 Pro also has a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens that can take incredible macro shots with beautiful bokeh and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens that can capture 56% more light and take photos with 10X optical quality.
Temperature sensor: Google added a new temperature sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro. It can be useful for measuring a variety of temperatures. However, it cannot measure humans, as Google awaits FDA approval.
Once approved, you can use it to check your body temperature or someone else's. Once it's ready, you will be able to sync it with the Fitbit app and get more insights into your health and wellness.
Software
Video
With the powerful combination of Tensor G3, AI and software, Google raises the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro's video capabilities to unprecedented levels this year. Google expanded its image equity efforts with the Real Tone feature. With the Real Tone feature, you can enjoy realistic and pleasing representations of human skin tones in your videos and photos. Real Tone adjusts to your skin tone and captures it with precision and grace.
Google offers a game-changing new form of post-processing called Video Boost, which significantly improves the colour and detail of every frame. Video Boost is made possible by pairing the camera hardware and Tensor G3 in the Pixel with powerful cloud computing. When you record a video on Pixel 8 Pro with Video Boost enabled, it uploads to the cloud, where Google's computational photography models, like HDR+, are applied to the entire video. Later, the boosted video automatically appears in your Google Photos library.
Image
With the Best Take feature in Google Photos, Pixel 8 lets you create the perfect shot from a series of close-up photos. You can choose the best expression for everyone in the photo by replacing a person's face with a better one from another photo. For example, if someone blinks or looks away in a group photo, Best Take can fix it for you.
Similarly, with Magic Editor in Google Photos, you can use generative AI to transform your photos creatively. It's a simple and powerful tool that lets you edit with ease. You can select and adjust any object in your photo, move it to a different location, change its size, or apply one-tap presets to enhance the background.
Magic Eraser is a go-to tool for effortlessly removing distractions from your photos. Now, with on-device generative AI, you can seamlessly remove large objects and people without compromising photo quality.
To make the camera more inclusive, the Pixel 8 series also offers Guided Frame Technology, which helps people with vision impairments frame their shots perfectly with front and rear cameras.
Assistant with Bard: Google has integrated Bard with the Assistant on Pixel devices to give users personalized and creative assistance. This feature combines the capabilities of the assistant with Bard, allowing it to hear, speak, see, and even take actions that help users like a true assistant.
Call Assist: Pixel Call Assist is a suite of features based on Google Speech models that help you make your phone calls and life easier. Clear Calling technology automatically removes background noise, while Call Screen protects you from unwanted calls. With improved AI, the next generation of Call Screen will act like your first line of defence against spammer, cutting down spam calls by 50% on average, and it's smart enough to separate the calls you really want from those you don't. Contextual Replies let you respond with a tap without taking the call.
Speech-to-text: Google has introduced new speech enhancements, improving its on-device accuracy to rival machine learning in data centres. Now, with your Pixel device, you can type, edit, and send messages with your voice. It also uses the same text-to-speech model Google uses in their data centres. The speech-to-text functionality takes convenience to a new level, letting you compose messages or dictate notes anywhere effortlessly.
Pixel will bring the latest on-device generative AI innovation from Google as they roll out new features. Moreover, Google has expanded Pixel support, offering seven years of OS upgrades, software and security updates, feature drops, and AI innovations. That's right, you will get updates until 2030, enhancing your phone's reliability, durability and sustainability.
In a bid to make life easier for Pixel users, Google has partnered with iFixit, providing a hassle-free solution for addressing common phone maladies. They're offering components, tools, and step-by-step guides to facilitate DIY repairs for issues related to the display, battery, or camera.
Md Zahurul Al Mamun is a writer and a tech enthusiast