Pixel 8 Series: The Biggest Rumors About Google’s Next Flagship Phones

Google is gearing as much as launch its Pixel 8 telephone lineup, only a month after the debut of Apple’s iPhone 15 collection. The firm’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will likely be revealed in New York on Oct. 4, as a part of an occasion that can even spotlight the Pixel Watch 2.”Big fall launches are stressful, but Pixel helps these Best Phones Forever stay cool as cucumbers. The w8 is almost over.” Google posted on Threads. “Rest up for Made By Google on October 4th.” Google hasn’t been coy in regards to the upcoming units. In a collection of movies, Google offered a “sneak peek” on the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel Watch 2. Google has launched a next-gen Pixel telephone each fall since 2016. Last yr’s Pixel 7 collection was properly acquired, with the Pixel 7 Pro and extra inexpensive Pixel 7A incomes spots on CNET’s greatest telephones listing for 2023.  The Pixel 7 (left) and Pixel 7A. Richard Peterson/CNETGoogle’s hype cycle tends to be full of leaks and rumors forward of its product occasions, and the Pixel 8 lineup isn’t any exception. Until the official launch, this is what we all know up to now in regards to the upcoming Google flagships.Pixel 8 software program: Seven years of updates?Apart from cameras, Google’s subtle software program is likely one of the key points of interest of a Pixel telephone. Google’s upcoming Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones are rumored to offer seven years of software program and safety replace assist, in line with a leaked listing of specs compiled by 91Mobiles. If that is true, it might be a big enchancment over the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro fashions, which Google pledged to assist with 5 years of safety patches and three years of main Android updates.It would additionally put Google’s assist of the Pixel line rather a lot nearer to the extent of assist Apple supplies for the iPhone line. For occasion, 2010’s iPhone X and 2017’s iPhone 8 have each acquired software program updates from their launch yr by way of 2023. They’ll each proceed to obtain safety updates, even when they are going to be excluded from this yr’s iOS 17 software program replace. By comparability, each Samsung’s newest Galaxy S23 telephones and the OnePlus 11 assure 5 years of assist. Fairphone, a sustainable smartphone producer identified for its machine longevity, plans to assist its latest mannequin, the Fairphone 5, with eight years of safety patches.Pixel 8 digital camera {hardware}: Ultrawide digital camera will get a much bigger and higher sensorThe Pixel 7 collection is thought for its images chops, and final yr the digital camera improve included a telephoto lens. This yr, the improve seems to be targeted on the ultrawide digital camera in addition to an upgraded most important digital camera sensor, in line with studies by Android Authority. The article says solely Pixel 8 Pro will get an upgraded ultrawide digital camera, taking the type of a 64-megapixel Sony IMX 787 sensor — a strong improve from the now-dated Sony 12-megapixel IMX 386 sensor. This new sensor, which can be utilized in the primary digital camera of Google’s Pixel 7A, is almost double the dimensions and will translate to a better high quality ultrawide digital camera that’ll enable extra mild into the sensor. Another massive rumored improve is to Samsung’s Isocell GN2 for each Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Samsung guarantees a slew of capabilities together with higher mild processing, capturing fast-moving objects with ease and taking pictures 8K video.Pixel 8: Higher worth tags?Pixel followers within the US might must pony up extra for this yr’s Google lineup, at the least in line with 9to5Google citing a retail supply. The report says the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are every anticipated to obtain a worth improve of $100 from their predecessors. That brings the value of the Pixel 8 to $700, whereas the top-end Pixel 8 Pro ought to begin at $1,000 if that report is correct. Noted leaker Kamila Wojciechowska hinted that the Pixel is due for a worth hike to $699, whereas Google is rumored to remain placed on costs for the Pixel 8 Pro with a $899 beginning worth. There are additionally rumors of a worth hike within the EU. A leaked promotional video confirmed off Magic Editor’s capabilities. In this video, this photograph was edited to indicate all 4 members of the family smiling and searching straight on the digital camera, which wasn’t the case within the unique photograph.  91MobilesPixel 8 digital camera software program: AI-powered upgradesA latest promotional video showcasing the telephone’s AI capabilities was lately leaked by Wojciechowska, courtesy of 91Mobiles. This leak seems to supply a window into how Google plans to include extra AI into its flagship smartphones. Earlier this yr, the corporate introduced that Magic Editor can be obtainable on “select” Pixel telephones. This characteristic is a extra superior model of Magic Eraser, permitting you to edit any image you are taking to your liking. An illustration of this characteristic reveals an individual taking three photos of a household on a carousel and mixing them into one shot the place everyone seems to be smiling and searching on the digital camera concurrently. The video additionally highlighted different digital camera options together with the much-anticipated Night Sight for low-light movies, and Video Boost.Pixel 8 Pro: Thermometer featureOne of the notable modifications that might make its option to the Pixel 8 Pro is a brand new thermometer characteristic in line with a video leak from 91Mobiles, working once more with Wojciechowski. (The video has since been taken offline, however you’ll find copies on the web.) The characteristic is tipped to be a contactless thermometer that displays your pores and skin’s temperature that will help you decide when you could be working a fever. If the leak is correct, it will not be the primary time smartphones have supplied such a well being characteristic. We noticed it on the Honor 4 Play Pro, which has an IR sensor, in addition to in paid apps on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3. This would, nonetheless, be the primary time we have seen one on the Pixel lineup.Pixel 8 design: Display, digital camera bar tweaks expectedAfter Google overhauled the design of its Pixel lineup in 2021, the modifications to the Pixel 8 collection design are anticipated to be extra delicate. According to renders posted on Twitter by outstanding leaker OnLeaks, the Pixel 8 will lose its curved show in favor of a flat one. Remember the horizontal digital camera bar? That’s anticipated to stay, however this yr all cameras on the Pro mannequin might be encased in a single glass capsule, not like the pill-and-circle design of the Pixel 7 Pro. There additionally seems to be an additional sensor, which could be that thermometer characteristic mentioned earlier. Another potential design change, at the least in line with show analyst Ross Young, is a smaller show on the usual Pixel 8. He expects we’ll see a 6.16-inch show on the Pixel 8, down from the 6.32-inch show on the Pixel 7, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro will stay the identical dimension as its predecessor.