AI is enveloping us in almost each side of our lives, and Google has taken this additional with the Pixel 8 gadgets. But it’s not all concerning the AI, there are some nice common use options, digital camera development and value of the newest telephones that make them fairly enticing to customers. I’ve had the Pixel 8 Pro in my pocket for a bit over three weeks now; and just like the Pixel Watch 2, there’s heaps to speak about.
With the earlier generations of Pixel gadgets, we’ve seen some attention-grabbing and annoying bugs seem earlier than critiques had been full; however this time round, it’s been fairly clean crusing even throughout the longer term of this review. That’s an indictment of the software program improvement and the {hardware} development.
Design and {hardware}
In the discharge and first week posts, I coated so much concerning the {hardware} and the specs, so I don’t actually wish to go over the outdated floor in element. What I’ll do is canopy the details that contribute closely to the consumer expertise. The standout of the {hardware} design for the Pixel 8 Pro for me, is the polish: every little thing is simply smoother, extra rounded and usually extra aesthetically pleasing to the attention.
Even the fabric decisions are simply that little bit nicer and really feel a bit of bit higher than the earlier technology of system. The matte end on the again of the system is very nice and supplied in some color choices — Bay, Obsidian and Porcelain — I’m fairly keen on. To shield your cellphone, I all the time advocate placing it in a good case that may take a beating, or no less than a drop or two since we’re all human and can often drop our telephones.
The flatter entrance of the system and barely rounder corners resulted in a better to carry, extra snug utilization expertise. Speaking from a private use case, it’s a cushty match into my hand and possibly on the higher restrict of what is going to simply match into pockets.
The internals and interface
The display is the first interface along with your cellphone and, like final yr, Google has chosen to run the system by default at a excessive decision, not its full functionality. Surely this may very well be executed at setup with a consumer alternative moderately than forcing customers to seek out the setting and alter it later. I perceive that almost all customers aren’t going to see the distinction between 1008 x 2244 and 1344 x 2992 so I perceive the default being decrease, however don’t conceal it – give me the choice to decide on!
That actually is my solely gripe with the display…
The dynamic refresh fee makes viewing media extraordinarily straightforward in your eyes and might go all the way down to 1Hz refresh — used for the all the time-on show and low refresh use like internet browsing — which is remarkably battery-pleasant. What isn’t battery-pleasant is the retina destroying peak brightness of two,400 nits. I didn’t really join simply how vivid this was till I realised that I don’t should defend the display in any respect, even in very vivid daylight, with sun shades on to see what’s on-display.
What this boils all the way down to is that Google has delivered a vivid, sharp display with a liquid-clean dynamic refresh fee and vibrant colors. I’ve tried, I’m simply struggling to seek out something fallacious right here…
Something else I actually like is the improved face unlock and prolonged capabilities into different apps. I’m now unlocking my banking app, password supervisor and different common use apps with face unlock which is simply sooner and simpler for me as a consumer. This is sort of nearly as good and dependable as face unlock on the iPhones, which is a number of generations of improvement older.
Battery and Charging
So the Tensor G3 is basically good and sometimes (in case you take Snapdragon because the market benchmark) an up to date processor often means higher battery efficiency. Unfortunately, that’s not the case right here as I get roughly the identical battery life from the 8 Pro as I used to be from the Pixel 7 Pro. That’s not essentially a nasty factor although, as I could be a fairly heavy consumer and sometimes get to 11 pm with single digits left on my battery. So whereas the battery life hasn’t improved in my actual world testing, the overall efficiency of the system has improved, and the battery hasn’t taken a backward step: I really feel like that’s a reasonably stable consequence, most likely a win for Google right here.
Typically, I’ll have my cellphone off cost round 5:50 am and put it again on cost round 11 with someplace round 15% remaining, however it’s usually decrease. During the day — relying on the day — I often have over 5 hours of display time, together with electronic mail, social and streaming media.
I’d prefer to have sooner charging…
It doesn’t should be SUPERVOOC charging speeds, however sooner than what’s at the moment delivered could be nice.
The Tensor G3: Performance and warmth
For essentially the most half, the Tensor G3 has held up like an absolute champion of a chip. If I used to be to check benchmarks, it’s not going to face as much as the highest finish Apple Silicon or Snapdragon chips, however it could be a severe energy consumer who can truly push these chips to their restrict.
The solely draw back I’ve famous is that on just a few events — most persistently when wired to Android Auto — when the cellphone will get fairly sizzling. I haven’t had a thermal shutdown, however I actually observed the warmth after I dropped the cellphone in my pocket afterwards.
Cameras, photographs and picture modifying
Looking on the Pixel 8 Pro in comparison with final yr’s Pixel 7 Pro, you’re going to get some affordable upgrades on the cameras and photographic capabilities. To shortly blaze throughout the specs, it’s a 50 MP fundamental digital camera with f/1.68 aperture and a pair of x optical zoom; so extra mild seize and affordable (for a cellphone digital camera) zoom functionality.
There is an ultrawide 48MP digital camera that has spectacular macro capabilities and an f/1.95 aperture. This is complemented by the general capabilities of the 48MP telephoto digital camera that additionally has first rate zoom at 5 x optical and a f/2.8 aperture.
Having a face for radio, I’m not an enormous fan of the selfies, however the 10.5MP entrance-going through digital camera helps autofocus and an improved aperture at f/2.2 for improved low mild and common efficiency.
The low mild efficiency of the Pixel telephones continues to be a market chief, however Google actually wants to remain in their sport as a result of Apple is correct behind. But you don’t should be in low mild to see the effectiveness of this digital camera (and put up-processing) setup on the Pixel 8 Pro, it’s simply easy: You level, you shoot, and — in need of lacking a quick-shifting goal or attempt to use a mode that gained’t work on your present setting — you’ll get a very good picture.
For essentially the most half, I discovered that the digital camera was glorious if you merely level and shoot with good mode choice primarily based in your framing and zoom alternative. The solely actual exception to this was that it gained’t intuitively choose portrait mode, so in case you’re searching for that good bokeh impact, you’ll must manually select portrait.
My solely actual gripe is that there isn’t extra by means of optical zoom, however that’s being fairly choosy and making an attempt to check straight with the S23 providing from Samsung. That being stated, I’d fortunately say that the digital camera performs admirably in opposition to something available on the market proper now. The color copy is vibrant, the picture high quality is superb and — I all the time need extra — the zoom is lots ok to get you a properly framed image, even from far.
Then there’s the picture modifying choices…
Here’s the place the AI capabilities that Google has developed over time, make the Pixel gadgets among the many greatest for pictures. Of the instruments supplied, there’s a few actually helpful ones; some (like magic edit) have carried over from the earlier technology, permitting you to easily take away folks and objects from the background of your photographs, and even change among the options like backgrounds and results.
Others, like the very best take are a terrific addition to the arsenal. Typically, if you take group photographs somebody will likely be blinking and never everybody will likely be smiling. So it’s an actual delight that the AI recognises this and might recommend the very best shot of some which have been taken, or, if mandatory, do a little bit of automated modifying to take the smiling face from picture #3 of your good friend and put it on their physique for picture #1 the place everybody else was smiling and had their eyes open. Keep in thoughts, although, that if somebody has moved, this may appear to be a janky Photoshop (or MS Paint) minimize and edit.
Software, updates and different Google Magic
Out of the field you’ve acquired Android 14 and, I’ve not seen any bugs that I’d take into account a deal breaker at any stage. One of the largest drawcards to the Pixel 8 gadgets is the announcement that Google will likely be providing a whopping 7 years of OS and safety updates. Now, I’ve by no means had a cellphone bodily final that long personally, however I do know people who find themselves nonetheless operating Galaxy S10 gadgets, so it’s not out of the realms of chance. The fundamental situation I’ve with this promise is that we don’t but know, whether or not Google will truly ship it; however it’s properly documented and the market is now at some extent the place shoppers can maintain Google to account in the event that they don’t.
There are just a few little bonuses like having the ability to use your cellphone as a webcam, and AI generated wallpapers, though these are Android 14 characteristic and never particular to the Pixel 8 Pro.
The temperature sensor…
I really feel like I want to the touch on this as a result of Google did, however that’s about all they did. Honestly, I forgot it was there except for the novelty worth throughout review of figuring out how sizzling one thing is as as to whether you’re going to say a naughty phrase, or want a hospital admission for remedy in case you contact it. It appears correct sufficient, however I simply don’t see anybody having an everyday use for a characteristic like this in a cellphone; however I’m completely satisfied to be confirmed fallacious!
Accessibility has come a really long method
There’s a lot of the world, significantly contact display telephones that depends on somebody being totally in a position bodied. If you’ve acquired imaginative and prescient, listening to or motor operate deficits, then there’s a possible that you just’re going to battle in sure areas of speaking or utilizing a tool nowadays. One space I’ve been significantly in is the voice to textual content and skim aloud choices.
Summarise and skim aloud are nice options that can provide you a easy abstract of what’s on display, or a full learn of every little thing which might additionally prolong to messages, notifications and emails too. The aforementioned voice to textual content is, in a phrase, sensible. It’s been good for a few generations on the Pixel gadgets, took a giant step up with the Tensor G2, however now, I truly battle to fault its accuracy. The grammar, punctuation and use of right homophones in context is on level.
When you prolong this to the listening to assist that’s baked into Android, and among the on-display description Google has come a really long method. I’m actually excited to see how a lot additional this may go,
Closing ideas: The Pixel 8 Pro is leaps forward
As a generalised assertion, what I’ve really loved concerning the Pixel 8 Pro is that it simply slid into my life easily and made all issues cell a bit of bit higher. Face unlock is clean, the efficiency is nice, the software program in common is buttery clean and an absolute delight.
There has been a little bit of push again by some potential consumers concerning the worth improve, however I actually consider that the Pixel 8 Pro is well worth the improve from the 7 Pro in case you’re weighing up between the 2. It’s maybe not a big sufficient improve, nevertheless, when you’ve got the 7 Pro and are pleased with it.
The Pixel 8 Pro comes in three storage choices in Australia, and three color (Bay, Obsidian and Porcelain) choices:
- 128GB is $1,699.00
- 256GB is $1,799.00
- 512GB is $1,999.00
You can decide up a Pixel 8 Pro by way of all the standard provider, on-line and retail channels.
I’ve tried to the touch on all the elements that may have an effect on shopping for resolution, with out turning this right into a struggle and peace epic. At the top of all of it, even after two months, I haven’t discovered a deal breaking situation or software program bug. The {hardware} has come alongside properly together with a surprising display, with higher lenses, higher efficiency and acceptable battery life. Yes, the worth might develop into a deterrent for some consumers, however in case you’ve acquired the price range; the offset of seven years of software program updates ought to be sufficient to alleviate that concern.
I’m actually pleased with the Pixel 8 Pro in my pocket and don’t see that altering anytime quickly.
(*8*)
Disclosure Statement
Google has not requested for the system to be returned following review.