Smartphones have had a decade in the spotlight, but let’s face it – they haven’t always been as “smart” as we’d like. Google aims to change that with its latest releases – the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. They’ve succeeded in creating the smartest smartphones of 2023.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro feature enhanced designs and house Google’s latest Tensor G3 chip. This powerful chip boosts overall performance and takes on-board AI functions to new heights with an improved neural engine. Priced at $1,199 for the Pixel 8 and $1,699 for the Pixel 8 Pro, they compete directly with Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 flagship phones.
After spending weeks with the Pixel 8 Pro, it’s evident that there’s much to appreciate and very little to criticize. Google has seamlessly integrated a plethora of AI features, proving that these smartphones go beyond mere gimmicks.
Google Pixel 8 Pro Review
Let’s dive into the design. The Pixel 8 Pro maintains the distinctive “robot visor” design, now in its third generation and a nice refinement of the Pixel 7 Pro. The look has been refined for a smoother and more seamless appearance. The visor, while still protruding from the back, spans the entire width, ensuring a balanced feel. Combined with polished aluminum side rails and a matte glass back, the phone exudes a premium look and feel. While it might not quite match the S23 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro, it comes impressively close.
Available in three colors—Baby Blue, Ash Black, and Chalk White—the Pixel 8 Pro also offers matching silicon cases or more unique options like the Salmon case which I have. These cases not only protect the phone but also address the potential discomfort caused by the camera visor at the back. The placement of the volume buttons on the right side, below the power button, occasionally led to accidental screen turn-offs instead of volume adjustments. An adjustment in button placement could enhance the user experience.
Display
Turning our attention to the front, the Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch Super Actua display with scratch-resistant glass, touted as the brightest ever on a Pixel phone, reaching an impressive 2400 nits of peak brightness. In practical terms, the screen remains easily visible even in the harsh Queensland summer sun. The LTPO panel allows for automatic refresh rate adjustments from 1 to 120Hz, contributing to improved battery life.
While the display performs exceptionally well in various scenarios, it’s not without its quirks. Despite scratch-resistant glass, I’ve got some smudgy stains that are resistant to cleaning, emphasizing the need for a screen protector.
The inclusion of an under-display fingerprint reader, although slower than competitors, remains a reliable unlocking method. Google has also improved facial recognition, infusing it with AI for added security. An interesting but puzzling addition is the temperature sensor on the back, offering accurate readings but lacking a clear use case for everyday users.
Performance
The driving force behind the Pixel 8 Pro’s performance is the new Google Tensor G3 chip. Tailored for enhanced on-device AI functions related to photography, videography, and Google Assistant, this 4nm ARM chip features four power cores for demanding tasks, four efficiency cores for lighter loads, a Mali-G715 GPU for graphics performance, and a G5300i modem supporting 5G and Wi-Fi 7.
While benchmark scores may place the G3 lower than competitors like the Snapdragon Gen 2 and A17 Pro, real-world usage paints a different picture. The Pixel 8 Pro delivers a fast, fluid, and responsive experience, thanks to effective software optimization and 12GB of memory. The 120Hz display complements this, providing a smooth and enjoyable user interface.
Despite its overall prowess, the G3 does exhibit occasional hiccups, notably in rapid photo shooting and when switching to the 5X lens, resulting in noticeable lag. However, these minor issues do not significantly detract from the overall user experience.
For those who crave the latest in technology, the Pixel 8 Pro runs on Android 14, promising an unprecedented 7 years of software support. This commitment not only ensures early access to updates but also sets a new standard in the Android market.
Camera
Throughout its history, Pixel phones have earned legendary status for their photography prowess, thanks to Google’s machine learning. While past models achieved spectacular results with modest glass, the Pixel 8 Pro takes it up a notch by combining top-notch hardware with cutting-edge AI.
The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a quad-camera setup – three on the back and one for selfies. The primary lens is a 50MP sensor with a 25mm equivalent focal length and an F1.68 aperture. The Ultra-wide Camera features a 48MP sensor, an 11mm equivalent focal length, and an F1.95 aperture, supporting ultrawide astrophotography. The Telephoto lens, with a 48MP sensor, offers a 112mm equivalent focal length, an F2.8 aperture, and an impressive 10x optical zoom with 30x Super Zoom. The Selfie Camera is a 10.5MP sensor with a 20mm equivalent focal length and an F2.2 aperture.
Photos captured with the Pixel 8 Pro consistently exhibit rich dynamic range, excellent contrast, and fine details. The telephoto lens, in particular, shines with remarkable clarity even at extreme zoom levels, revealing details like text on distant signs or buildings. Macro shots are a delight, showcasing incredible detail and vibrant colors of the miniature world.
While Google’s Night Sight may not be as groundbreaking as before, the Pixel 8 Pro still excels in both day and night photography. The AI photo features, such as Magic Eraser and Best Take, set the Pixel apart, enhancing the overall photography experience. For those on the Pixel 8 Pro, you get some additional pro controls in the camera to manually control focus, exposure, warmth and more.
However, the standout improvement this year lies in video capabilities. Historically, Pixels were known for stellar photos but just passable video. The Pixel 8 Pro changes the game with vastly improved video quality, making it my go-to for shooting YouTube and TikTok shorts.
Supporting 4K and FHD video up to 60fps in 10-bit HDR, along with enhanced stabilization modes, the Pixel 8 Pro delivers an impressive video experience. The Blur mode, Google’s take on Cinematic Video, rivals the iPhone’s capabilities.
A recent feature drop introduced Video Boost, a cloud-based service enhancing video clarity, brightness, and colors. While the processing occurs on Google’s servers, it proves useful for rescuing and enhancing footage after the fact.
AI Features
As previously highlighted, the Pixel 8 Pro is brimming with AI features, significantly enhancing the photography and video experience. The powerhouse behind these capabilities is the Tensor Processing Unit on the G3, enabling a remarkable 10x increase in the complexity of AI and machine learning tasks compared to the previous G2 model. This substantial enhancement is the key to the Pixel 8 Pro’s extensive capabilities. Let’s delve into some standout features:
Magic Eraser on Steroids: The well-known Magic Eraser takes a giant leap forward this year, integrated into the Magic Editor suite. It goes beyond simply removing unwanted elements from your photos – now, it offers a comprehensive array of AI tricks. From relocating people within the frame to altering the background, sky, and even the time of day, the Magic Editor provides a versatile toolset for creative photo manipulation.
Best Take for Group Photos: For those familiar with the challenges of capturing perfectly focused and posed group photos, the new Best Take feature comes to the rescue. Press the button, and the Pixel 8 Pro captures a series of stills, using this information to help you compose the ideal facial expressions individually. This proves particularly handy when dealing with the unpredictability of photographing children.
Magic Audio Eraser: Among the favorites is the Magic Audio Eraser, showcasing the AI’s prowess in removing unwanted sounds from recorded videos. With a simple slider to adjust levels, it isolates your voice from background noise – a genuinely magical experience. This feature holds immense value for content creators recording in public spaces, such as vloggers or reporters.
Enhanced Assistant Tricks: Building on last year’s voice dictation with real-time transcription, the Pixel 8 Pro introduces the ability to identify multiple speakers and provide a summary of the recording. Additionally, call screening by the Google Assistant answers calls and provides real-time transcripts, offering a practical tool to handle unwanted telemarketers.
AI-Generated Wallpapers: The Pixel 8 takes personalization to the next level with generative AI for creating custom wallpapers. Using a preset selection of prompts that you can mix and match, the generative AI allows you to fulfill your unique vision. Although each request takes a few seconds, the result is a collection of wild and imaginative wallpapers. These diverse AI features seamlessly integrated throughout the Pixel 8 experience truly elevate this phone to a level of uniqueness and innovation that sets it apart.
Battery Life
The Pixel 8 Pro’s robust 5,050 mAh battery consistently carried me through a full day of usage, leaving about 40% remaining by day’s end. This reserve proved sufficient to extend into the next day before reaching the battery’s limits. On more demanding days, involving extensive 4K video recording, abundant photo captures, and prolonged sessions scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, the phone would typically have around 10% battery left by 9 pm.
For the first time, using a Pixel phone, I experienced zero battery anxiety. Additionally, the handy Extreme Battery Saver mode becomes a lifesaver in tight situations, providing a couple more hours of operation by aggressively optimizing the operating system. Notably, the phone learns your usage patterns over time, enhancing its ability to manage battery life intelligently.
Charging the Pixel 8 Pro remains a relatively slow process, peaking at 30W and taking approximately 80 minutes to charge from zero to full. While this falls short of the S23 Ultra’s 100W charger, which accomplishes a full charge in just 57 minutes, the Pixel 8 Pro supports wireless Qi charging.
To achieve the fastest 23W speed, opting for Google’s Pixel Stand charger is recommended, though I encountered no issues using my iPhone MagSafe charger, albeit with careful positioning due to the Pixel 8 Pro lacking the magnetic ring for optimal alignment.
Verdict
In no uncertain terms, the Pixel 8 Pro stands as Google’s pinnacle achievement, possibly earning the title of the best Android phone of 2023. The device impresses with refined hardware design, robust build quality, and a legendary reputation for photography, now extending to exceptional video performance. Bolstered by a suite of impressive AI features, the Pixel 8 Pro asserts itself as one of the most intelligent phones available. It instills a unique confidence, knowing that, regardless of the situation, the Pixel 8 Pro likely possesses a smart feature to correct a hasty picture, restore audio in a video, or even generate a new wallpaper to match your mood.
Beneath the surface, the Pixel 8 Pro boasts improved software and security features, coupled with all-day battery life and outstanding photo and video capabilities. While delving into every detail would require a substantial article, it’s worth noting that, as an iPhone 15 Pro Max user, my transition to the Pixel 8 Pro left me pleasantly surprised – missing far less than anticipated. Without a doubt, the Pixel 8 Pro lives up to its acclaim, and I believe anyone investing in this device will find it exceptionally satisfying.
