The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have arrived, bringing extra AI smarts and digicam enhancements to Google’s flagship telephones. The new telephones, which launch on Oct. 12, spotlight how synthetic intelligence is changing into a extra prevalent a part of Pixel telephones, from the Google Assistant to screening calls and modifying pictures. But these upgrades come at a better value than final yr, with the Pixel 8 beginning at $699 (£699, AU$1,199) and the Pixel 8 Pro starting at $999 (£999, AU$1,699). That’s $100 greater than the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. Consistent with earlier Pixels, the digicam is a giant space of focus. Macro mode arrives on the Pixel 8, whereas Google guarantees dramatically improved video seize on the Pixel 8 Pro with a function referred to as Video Boost, which processes clips within the cloud as a substitute of on the system. Both telephones may even have a brand new modifying instrument for altering facial expressions in group pictures. Watch this: Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro First Look
04:11 Google can be drawing a much bigger boundary between the common Pixel 8 and 8 Pro by giving its dearer cellphone a temperature sensor for the primary time. And maybe most significantly, each telephones will get seven years of software program updates, beating Apple and Google’s claims by a large margin. Taken collectively, these updates illustrate Google’s effort to additional distinguish itself from its accomplice and rival Samsung, which dominates the Android cellphone market. If these telephones dwell as much as Google’s claims, it might achieve doing simply that.Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro’s new AI options and digicam The Google Pixel 8 digicam bar is now one huge oval “pill” form. Stephen Shankland/CNETWhile AI has at all times been a key a part of the smartphone expertise for duties like voice recognition and picture processing, Google is taking {that a} step additional with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. That manifests in new tips such because the Google Assistant’s potential to summarize internet pages. I noticed this in motion throughout a Google demo forward of the cellphone’s launch. When studying a Wikipedia web page in Google’s Chrome browser, I held the facet button to set off the Google Assistant and tapped the “summarize” button introduced on display. After a couple of moments, the Google Assistant generated a bulleted record of key factors. Call Screen, the function that has the Google Assistant reply calls in your behalf to filter spam, additionally will get an improve. The Assistant’s voice now sounds extra pure, and it could actually perceive extra context from the decision. Google mentioned it made this variation to discourage legit callers — like a physician’s workplace calling to substantiate an appointment — from hanging up as soon as they hear the Assistant’s voice. I heard a pattern of this new voice in Google’s demo, and I can say it sounds virtually uncannily human. It sounds extra lifelike and considerably much less like a robotic. Call Screen may also extract some context throughout a name. If a supply driver is asking to ask the place to drop off a package deal or meals merchandise, for instance, the Assistant ought to perceive. If it really works the way in which it did in Google’s demo, you can faucet an possibility on-screen to inform the driving force to go away the package deal at your door. But one of many largest new options is a photograph modifying instrument referred to as Best Take, which alters the expression on somebody’s face in a gaggle image. It works by searching for the identical face throughout six pictures taken inside seconds of one another utilizing a face-detection algorithm operating on the system. It then offers strategies for various facial expressions based mostly on these six pictures, and solely these six pictures. In different phrases, it would not pull from different pictures in your library that have been taken at a special time. The concept is that will help you seize a picture the place everyone seems to be smiling and searching on the digicam. While which will sound helpful, it comes at a time when the prevalence of AI is elevating questions on authenticity on the web. I snapped a couple of selfies with my video producer throughout my temporary time with the Pixel 8 forward of Google’s announcement. And certain sufficient, the Pixel 8 introduced me with a number of choices to exchange the semi-neutral expression I had within the picture I used to be modifying. Google’s Best Take function in motion. GIF by Richard Peterson/CNETThe cameras on each telephones are additionally getting upgrades in different areas as effectively, maintaining with the photography-centric theme behind Google’s Pixel telephones in recent times. The Pixel 8 has a 50-megapixel predominant digicam much like final yr’s Pixel 7 and a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam. But the principle digicam sensor on each units is extra gentle delicate, in keeping with Google, and there is additionally a brand new macro mode on the Pixel 8 for getting higher close-up photographs. That function was unique to the Pixel 7 Pro final yr.Google saved its extra dramatic digicam upgrades for the Pixel 8 Pro, which has a 48-megapixel ultrawide digicam in contrast with the 7 Pro’s 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam. But one of many Pixel 8 Pro’s most attention-grabbing new capabilities will not be obtainable at launch. Video Boost, which arrives within the coming months, provides you the choice to have the video processed within the cloud relatively than on the system itself.This means Google can put the footage via a extra demanding processing pipeline because it is not restricted to the cellphone’s processing energy. Based on Google’s demo footage, it appears to be like like this may very well be significantly helpful for enhancing high quality in dimly lit environments. Google Pixel 8 Pro has a temperature sensor The Pixel 8 Pro has a temperature sensor that may measure drinks and different supplies. Richard Peterson/CNETGoogle’s Pixel 8 Pro can be the primary Pixel cellphone with a temperature sensor. Google is positioning this as being helpful for eventualities like seeing how scorching a cup of espresso is earlier than taking a sip, or measuring the temperature of the pavement earlier than strolling your canine. I’ve by no means had the urge to do both of these issues, and I do not know if the Pixel 8 Pro will change my thoughts.But it does appear to work effectively, at the least in Google’s demo. The Pixel 8 Pro measured the temperature of a cup of tea and a glass of water virtually immediately after I opened the cellphone’s thermometer app and hovered it over the mug. The app has a couple of preset choices for measuring totally different supplies, like drinks, plastic, metallic, rubber and meals. Google has additionally submitted for US Food and Drug Administration approval in order that the sensor may very well be used to measure physique temperature, basically turning the cellphone right into a contactless thermometer. And after all, you’d have the ability to save these readings to the Fitbit app.Google is not the primary firm to place a temperature sensor in a smartphone. Remember the Samsung Galaxy S4 from 10 years in the past? That cellphone had a sensor for detecting temperature and humidity in your environment, though it by no means turned a core a part of the smartphone expertise. I do not know whether or not the Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor might be helpful or only a gimmick. But it is yet one more instance of how telephones are persevering with to exchange on a regular basis objects like keys and wallets. Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro: The fundamentals Google’s Pixel 8, left, and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. Stephen Shankland/CNETThe Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro run on Google’s new Tensor G3 processor and are roughly the identical dimension as their predecessors. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch display, similar to the Pixel 7 Pro, whereas the Pixel 8 has a barely smaller 6.2-inch display in contrast with the Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch show.Both telephones have brighter screens this time round, which is a welcome improve contemplating I often discover the screens on Pixel telephones to be too dim. The Pixel 8 can be getting a better 120Hz refresh charge, up from the Pixel 7’s 90Hz most, which ought to allow smoother graphics and scrolling. Other than a couple of design tweaks, such because the Pixel 8 Pro’s matte again glass, the final feel and appear stays the identical because the Pixel 7 household.Overall, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro really feel like they provide a mixture of options that really feel completely new, just like the temperature sensor, and upgrades to current choices like Call Screen. The query is whether or not these upgrades will truly really feel helpful and make the brand new Pixels price their larger costs. Google Pixel 8 Specs vs. Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro Google Pixel 8Google Pixel 8 ProGoogle Pixel 7Google Pixel 7 Pro Display dimension, tech, decision, refresh charge, brightness 6.2-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.7-inch OLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.3-inch OLED show, FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) , 90Hz6.7-inch OLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 120Hz adaptive refresh chargePixel density 428 ppi489 ppi416 ppi512 ppiDimensions (inches) 5.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 in6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 in6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in6.4 x 3.0 x 0.3 inDimensions (millimeters) 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 187 g (6.6 oz)213 g (7.5 oz)197 g (6.9 oz)212 g (7.5 oz)Mobile software program Android 14Android 14Android 13Android 13Digicam 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)50-megapixel (broad), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (telephoto)50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (telephoto)Front-facing digicam 10.5-megapixel10.5-megapixel10.8-megapixel10.8-megapixelVideo seize 4K4K4K4KProcessor Google Tensor G3Google Tensor G3Google Tensor G2Google Tensor G2Storage and RAM 8GB + 128GB, 256GB12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB8GB + 128GB, 256 GB,12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB, 512GBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneNoneBattery 4,575 mAh5,050 mAh4,355 mAh 5,000 mAhFingerprint sensor Under showUnder showUnder showUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneNoneSpecial options 5G (Sub 6, mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, safety and Feature Drop updates; front-facing digicam has autofocus; 13W Qi wi-fi charging; 30W wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds by way of USB-C; IP68 mud and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on entrance and back5G (Sub 6 and mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, safety and Feature Drop updates; front-facing digicam has autofocus; 13W Qi wi-fi charging; 30W wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds by way of USB-C; IP68 mud and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on entrance and back5G, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Long Exposure Mode, Action Pan; Hold For Me, Wait Times, Direct My Call Live Translate5G, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Long Exposure Mode, Action Pan; Hold For Me, Wait Times, Direct My Call, Live TranslateUS value off-contract $699 (128GB)$999 (128GB)$600 (128GB)$899 (128GB)UK value £699 (128GB)£999 (128GB)£599 (128GB)£849 (128GB)Australia value AU$1,199 (128GB)AU$1,699 (128GB)AU$999 (128GB)AU$1,299 (128GB) Editors’ notice: CNET is utilizing an AI engine to assist create some tales. 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