Lets set the record straight: I was too harsh on thePixel 8andPixel 8 Proin my initialhands-on.
Theyre not dull in the least bit.
But they are perfect examples of what Google does best.
The special colorway of the Pixel 8 Pro on the right compared to last year’s special colorway for the Pixel 7 Pro. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The algorithm still produces excellent photos, and theyre sharper now.
What is it
Google’s latest flagship smartphones
Price?
Well, that could be said about the Pro variant, anyway.
This time, Googles Pixel 8 Pro feels like a flagship because of its flocked matte back.
The special color for this years 8 Pro is a punched-up royal blue called Bay.
The Pixel 8 didnt get much of that premium upgrade.
Its corners are now rounded like the 8 Pro, but the back is still shiny and slippery.
I hoped the Pixel 8 would match the blue on thePixel 7a.
ThePixel 8andPixel 8 Profeature new OLED screens by Google called Actua displays.
The special colorway of the Pixel 8 Pro on the right compared to last year’s special colorway for the Pixel 7 Pro. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Also, just because the display can get very bright doesnt mean it gets just as dim.
I still prefer Samsungs Super AMOLED for nighttime browsing because of how low it goes.
Theres excellent news for those who choose the Pixel 8 for its compact size.
The Pixel 8 Pro is easy to handle, but I prefer smaller phones. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I hoped Google would do this after it increased the refresh rate on thePixel 7a.
But you wont get that 1Hz for the always-on display, which is limited to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Google made no wild claims about this years chip and its capabilities.
Hanging out at a save point in Grimvalor on the Pixel 8 Pro. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
It even admits in ablog postthat its work with Tensor has never been about speeds or traditional performance metrics.
But paired with 12GB of memory, the Pixel 8 Pro soars with gaming and AI-driven photo processing.
I played it with 8bitdos teeny-tinyMicro Controllerwith the Pixel 8 Pro propped up against a pillow.
The Pixel 8 Pro features a three-camera system, including a primary, secondary, and tertiary camera lens. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The graphics and gameplay were smooth the whole time.
I liked switching between the touch input and the controller without missing a beat.
Its been mired in controversy as folks call it a fake way to capture a moment.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Google promises 24 hours of battery life.
So far, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the only one thats lasted nearly 25 hours.
Id had the phone on standby beforehand and started using it at 51% in the morning.
Ill have more concrete battery results for you soon.
But this feature feels similar to the motion sensor in thePixel 4in that its only for testing purposes.
Well see it once on the Pixel 8 Pro and never again.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The Pixel 8 Pro did warn me of possible burn from the nearly 200 degrees Fahrenheit plate.
I did not touch the plate.
The Pixel 8 Pro gets the actual update.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Now, you might take those dramatic nighttime shots at a wide angle.
Its tertiary telephoto lens also got a bump up to 48-MP and a 21.8-degree field of view.
The zoom has noticeably improved.
However, what you get in sharpness, you give up in deference to the Pixels way of post-processing.
I still think the iPhone skews too yellow.
Regardless, color temp is easily adjustable.
Just look at the sharpness in these shots taken with the Pixel 8 Pro in its 50-MP mode.
I was disappointed with the Pixel 7s selfie camera performance.
I havent had to wait for the phone to take a picture.
Youll also get Googles renewed promise ofseven years of software updates, a first for the Android platform.
This includes seven years of Android version updates, Feature Drops, and security patches.
Its as good an update policy as Apples, inspiringother manufacturersin the ecosystem to attempt to follow suit.
We shall see how this manifests a year from now.
Should you buy the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro?
I want a smaller size.
Googles $1000 Pixel 8 Pro finally feels on par with theiPhone 15 Pro Maxin terms of pro-level offerings.
While thePixel 8/8 Pros machine learning and AI powers are nice to have, remember theyre often backward compatible.
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