Google has been trying to sell smart devices since its first Pixel phone in 2016. But, even after seven years, the company is still struggling to make an impact. According to Canalys, in the last quarter, Apple and Samsung dominated the North American smartphone market with a combined 78 percent share, while Google only accounted for 4 percent. This raises concerns over how Google, one of the biggest tech names out there, can win over the American phone shopper who is already cynical about the market.

At the recent Google event, the company unveiled some exciting new products, including the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, along with the Pixel Watch. The new phones retain the familiar design language with the visor, but this year, the edges have been rounded off, giving the phones a sleeker and more modern look. The color options for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are Hazel, Rose, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Bay. The Bay color, in particular, stands out with its beautiful blue hue, which is complemented by the new matte finish on the back of all the Pro models. 

The displays on both phones have seen significant improvements, with the bezels now thinner and a consistent look all around. The screens are also much brighter, with up to 2,400 nits of peak brightness on the 8 Pro, making it one of the brightest screens on a phone to date. The smaller Pixel 8 also boasts a 120Hz display, making it perfect for gaming or scrolling through social media.

Under the hood, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro come packed with the latest Tensor G3 chip, which features more TPU and processing power for AI-related tasks. This makes the phones incredibly smart, and they are sure to impress with their cutting-edge technology. Google Assistant has also been given a host of new features, including the ability to summarize webpages in Chrome and an improved speech-to-text feature, which is faster and more accurate than ever before.

The front-facing camera has also seen an upgrade, with improved face unlock and better security features when unlocking apps. The keyboard now has a “fix-it” feature that proofreads messages and checks for grammar errors before sending them, making communication smoother and more professional.

Finally, the call screen voice is a major upgrade, allowing users to screen unknown calls and have a conversation with the caller’s responses displayed on the screen. All in all, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are an impressive pair of phones, packed with features that are sure to delight and impress.

During a call, I let the Google Assistant screen it. The new voice sounds more human-like, and it has context-aware chips that pop up, allowing you to respond instantly. For instance, if someone says they are a UPS driver, you can hit a button that tells them to leave the package at the doorstep. 

The camera app layout is divided into photo and video modes, with all the settings and modes inside each. The new camera app layout is intuitive and makes it easy between photo and video modes to switch and select specific photo modes. The Magic Editor feature is the most impressive, allowing you to move subjects around and alter the entire photo with a few taps. This feature also lets you change the sky, shadows, and other aspects of the photo.

The Google Assistant has recently undergone updates that make it sound more human-like, and it now has a new feature that uses context-aware chips. For example, when a UPS driver says they have a package for Kenny, you can press a button that tells the driver they can leave the package at the doorstep. The new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both feature an upgraded 50-megapixel main camera system, which is a significant improvement from their predecessor. The Pixel 8 also has a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 48-megapixel ultra-wide and a 48-megapixel 5x telephoto camera. 

The camera app has been redesigned with the user in mind. It has been separated into photo and video mode, which makes it easier to navigate, and all settings and modes are now located in each mode. This separation of settings and modes has improved the user experience and made it more intuitive. The app also includes manual controls, which can be useful for more experienced users. 

One of the most exciting new features of the Pixel camera is the Magic Editor. This feature allows users to select subjects and move them around the photo, change the sky, or change shadows. This feature is easy to use and can significantly enhance the overall quality of your photos. Additionally, there is a new Best Take feature that allows you to select the best face from a group of photos. This feature is particularly useful for group photos where not everyone is smiling or looking at the camera.

Finally, the Audio Eraser feature is another exciting addition to the Pixel camera. This feature allows users to remove unwanted audio from a photo. This can be useful when you want to remove background noise or unwanted sounds from your photos. Overall, the new features of the Pixel camera make it a valuable tool for anyone who wants to take high-quality photos with ease.

This is a new feature for video editing that is available on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro phones, but can be used on any video in your library. It allows you to remove background sounds from videos of subjects. The software’s success is attributed to the AI processing of the neural cores of Tensor G3. Other new features of the Pixel 8 Pro include a temperature sensor on the back of the phone and stronger, refined haptics. 

One important thing to note is that the thermometer app cannot measure human temperature until it receives FDA approval. The app prompts you to select a material to measure the surface temperature of an object, and then you place the phone within two inches of the object and tap to measure. While it’s a neat feature, it may not be used often. 

Additionally, the haptics are a significant upgrade from the previous version, with strong and refined vibrations. 

On the Pro phone, there is a feature called Video Boost that improves the quality of videos by processing them overnight or for a few hours on the cloud. This feature is not yet available, but it promises better HDR and color grading. 

The prices for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have increased to $699 and $999, respectively. However, the upgrades to the phone, such as a 120 Hertz display, a much brighter display with thinner bezels, and a new primary camera, justify the price increase. Moreover, both phones will receive seven years of OS security and feature drop updates, which is a significant improvement from previous models.

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro release date and preorders

You can now preorder the Pixel 8 range, which will be launched on October 12. The Pixel 8 starts at $699, while the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999. If you preorder the Pixel 8 through Google, you’ll get a free pair of Pixel Buds Pro. If you preorder the Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll receive the brand new Pixel Watch 2.

FAQs

1. What are the new features of the Google Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro?

The new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones boast a multitude of advanced features, including the latest Google Tensor G3 processor for improved AI and machine learning capabilities. Both the Pixel 8 and the 8 Pro model have larger sensor sizes for better photo quality and offer noteworthy video improvements, such as Real Tone and Face Unblur. The Pixel 8 Pro model goes a step further with a new Zoom feature and a Telephoto lens to enhance camera performance. Also, both phones come preloaded with the new Magic Eraser tool.

2. How does the Pixel Watch 2 compare to other smartwatches on the market?

The Pixel Watch 2 performs significantly better than its predecessor and competes strongly with other leading smartwatches. It’s compatible with the Fitbit app, pushing its fitness tracking capabilities to another level. The interface is well-designed, quick, and the enhanced Google Assistant integration offers helpful insights throughout the day.

3. When was the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel Watch 2 announced?

Both the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel Watch 2 were announced at the most recent Made by Google event, alongside other new devices like the Pixel Buds Pro.

4. How is the Pixel 8’s display quality?

The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is designed with the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for enhanced safety and features a high-refresh-rate panel, which ensures smooth visuals and navigation. With HDR support, viewing experiences on the Pixel 8 are better than ever.

5. How does the Google Pixel 8 compare to last year’s models?

Compared to Last year’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the new Pixel 8 features substantial upgrades. Its internal components, including the use of Google Tensor G3 and