The Pixel 7 Pro has sat comfortably in the direction of the highest of our greatest smartphones checklist since we reviewed it. But the cellphone world waits for nobody. The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro duo are being revealed tomorrow. And the leaks have been in overdrive forward of the covers coming off.
The Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 have been a refinement on the earlier era. Will the Pixel 8 be extra of the identical, or will Google go for an all-out redesign? Is home-grown Tensor silicon set to remain, or will Qualcomm or MediaTek be in command of {hardware}?
And can the agency’s computational digital camera tech keep forward of the competitors? We won’t have all of the solutions simply but, however there’s lots we do know (or suppose we all know) already. Here’s every part revealed concerning the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro up to now.
Google Pixel 8 launch and potential release date
Google has despatched out media invitations to an in-person occasion on the 4th of October. In it, the model confirms it’ll “introduce the latest additions to our Pixel portfolio of units”. The New York occasion kicks off at 7am PT, 10am ET and 3pm BST. The date launch neatly traces up with what we’ve come to anticipate from the model.
Take a have a look at Google’s historical past with cellphone launches and you’ll see why:
Pixel 7 / 7 Pro release date: October 6, 2022
Pixel 6 / 6 Pro release date: October 19, 2021
Pixel 5 release date: September 30, 2020
Pixel 4 release date: October 15, 2019
Pixel 3 / 3 XL release date: October 9, 2018
Google Pixel 2 / 2 XL release date: October 4, 2017
Pixel / Pixel XL release date: October 4, 2016
Barring an anomaly in 2020 when the world was mid-pandemic, Google has persistently launched its new telephones in October. Going even additional again, the Nexus 5X additionally noticed an October release. The Pixel 8’s launch occasion even lands on the very same day as the unique Pixel’s reveal. We anticipate it to go up for pre-order that day, with deliveries beginning a couple of weeks later.
Pixel 8 rumored pricing
Pricing was, till just lately, far tougher to nail down. Google managed to ship the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro for precisely the identical quantity because the previous-gen Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. That means the usual cellphone will price $599/£599 and the flagship costing $899/£850. It could be good to suppose the identical will occur once more with Pixel 8. Exchange charges are taking part in havoc on the price of supplies. The Pixel 7a landed at $50/£50 greater than the Pixel 6a.
Twitter leaker Kamila Wojciechowska claims Google will ask $699 for the Pixel 8 within the US, and $899 for the Pixel 8 Pro. That’s a $100 hike for the smaller cellphone, however an unchanged determine for the bigger one.
UK base costs for the brand new Google merchandise:Google Pixel 8: 699 GBPGoogle Pixel 8 Pro: 999 GBP.Google Pixel Watch 2: 349 GBP.— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) September 24, 2023
UK clients look to be even tougher accomplished by, in accordance with common leaker Roland Quandt. The common Pixel 8 will apparently price £699 and the Pixel 8 Pro will retail for £999. That’s a £100 improve for every gadget.
Google Pixel 8 design: flat glass again
While Google confirmed off the current-gen Pixel 7 early, at its I/O convention in May 2022, that was possible in response to a collection of high-profile leaks. By the time I/O 2023 rolled round we solely had a couple of (convincing-looking) renders to go on. So the agency stored the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro out of the highlight.
Aside from more moderen unboxings (learn on for these), the very best appears but have come immediately from the supply, by way of two separate leaks. First there was a picture posted to a Google Store web page. This was noticed by Twitter person Android Setting, reveals the Pixel 8 Pro (and presumably a Pixel Watch 2) in motion.
The cellphone seems in Porcelain, a color choice that first appeared on the Pixel Tablet. The largest distinction may be seen on that rear digital camera shelf. Here it’s in silver. Three digital camera lenses are contained in a big oval, whereas an extra lens or sensor is current below the LED flash on the aspect.
Second, Google posted a 360-degree simulator letting you spin the cellphone round utterly, with indicators highlighting numerous sensors and ports. This confirms the three color choices (Sky, Porcelain and Licorice). It additionally confirms the Pixel 8 Pro will arrive with a temperature sensor.
These ‘leaks’ again up earlier leaks that got here by way of Twitter tipster Onleaks and Smartprix, who shared an in depth render of the cellphone primarily based on inner information. The account additionally labored with Mysmartprice on an analogous render for the Pixel 8.
Pixel 8 show leaks
It’s inconceivable to inform from these pics whether or not the Pixel 8 Pro is certainly getting a smaller display than the outgoing mannequin. Onleaks at the moment predicts 6.52in. It will reportedly lose the curved glass of the Pixel 7 Pro, as an alternative going for a flat panel. Again, anticipate extra rounded corners in comparison with the moderately boxy Pixel 7 Pro.
According to the report, the smaller cellphone will get a 5.8in show. That’s smaller than the Pixel 7’s 6.1in display. It has a extra a rounded form, however will retain the flat glass and steel digital camera shelf of its predecessor. It will nearly definitely follow a twin digital camera setup on the rear, with a punch-hole selfie cam up entrance.
We’ve seen this report echoed once more from Onleaks, with shared CAD renders. These renders give us a close-up have a look at the show, and highlights the variations in comparison with the Pixel 7 Pro. As beforehand reported, we will see a flat panel that ditches the curved edges, and extra rounded corners on the show. We’ve now seen this confirmed in movies (beneath).
In phrases of colors, the Pixel 8 will land in Licorice, Peony, and Haze. Google does like a cool title or two. The Pixel 8 Pro can be supplied in Licorice, Porcelain, and Sky. We’re betting these can be small twists black, white and inexperienced, and black, cream and blue respectively.
Complete Pixel 8 unboxings
As we’ve come to anticipate over current years, any person often manages to unbox the Pixel cellphone earlier than it seems at a Google occasion. And this time round is not any exception. A Vietnamese Facebook web page known as Vật Vờ Studio has shared a video of the Pixel 8 Pro being taken out of its packaging.
It doesn’t appear that the web page itself is claiming it has unboxed the cellphone, as an alternative suggesting the photographs have come from a manufacturing line. As suspected and seen in different pictures, rounder edges are clearly current with a matte glass again and the marginally totally different digital camera association with a bigger oval.
Some unboxings have additionally been shared by PBKreviews who’ve unpackaged each the Pixel 8 in Hazel and the Pixel 8 Pro in Obsidian. Here they’re:
Google Pixel 8 rumored tech specs
Early studies recommend the brand new Pixel duo makes use of an all-ew CPU identified internally at Google as ‘Zuma’. It makes use of the identical modem because the one present in Tensor G2, so we’re betting Google calls it Tensor G3. Expect a 1+4+4 core setup, with the high-performance core capable of peak at 3.09GHz. The underlying silicon can be borrowed from Samsung’s Exynos 2300. This was initially anticipated to make an look on the Galaxy S23 collection however was ditched in favour of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
A hearsay from business insider Tech_Reve suggests Samsung will use Fan-out Wafer-level Packaging (FO-WPL) when producing the chips. That’s tech converse for “runs cooler and extra environment friendly” – one thing earlier Tensor-powered Pixels have usually struggled with. A transfer to 3mm manufacturing will enhance energy effectivity.
According to WinFuture, Google has been engaged on two new smartphones codenamed ‘Shiba’ and ‘Husky’ – a change to canine breeds from the massive cats used earlier than (Pixel 7 was ‘Cheetah’ and Pixel 7 Pro was ‘Panther’). Both telephones ought to ship with 12GB of RAM, which might be a step up for the smaller of the 2. The Pixel 7 has 8GB, whereas the Pro is already packing 12GB.
Storage choices will keep at 128GB and 256GB for the Pixel 8, and 128, 256 and 512GB for the Pixel 7 Pro. This means there ought to nonetheless be comparatively inexpensive variations of every, not like rivals together with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24, which is rumoured to ditch the entry-level 128GB choice. Seemingly an iPhone-baiting 1TB mannequin is off the playing cards, although.
The different information out there proper now’s potential display decision. (*8*) the Pixel 8 will get a 2268×1080 panel, and the Pixel 8 Pro can have a 2822×1344 one – a drop in comparison with the Pixel 7 Pro’s 3120×1440. That would make sense if rumours a couple of smaller panel are to be believed.
Pixel 8 and 8 Pro cameras
When it involves digital camera, there’s probability Google will persist with the identical 50MP fundamental sensor used within the Pixel 7 collection. The agency tends to stay with one sensor for a number of generations, preferring to let its algorithms do the heavy lifting moderately than chasing ever-higher pixel counts. Whether the Pro will proceed to be the one cellphone supplied with a devoted zoom lens additionally stays to be seen. While the Pixel 7a has the next pixel depend, its sensor is bodily smaller, so could be a step down if it made an look within the Pixel 8 collection. Google is reportedly additionally engaged on a video unblur function for Google Photos, which might repair any out-of-focus footage utilizing the machine studying smarts baked into the Pixel’s Tensor CPU.
In December, we acquired an extra perception into the potential digital camera energy of the Pixel 8. Serial leaker Kuba Wojciechowski was capable of entry a clear model of Google Camera Go, and in its code recognized one thing known as ‘staggered HDR’. This isn’t a function the Google Pixel digital camera at the moment makes use of. Staggered HDR refers to digital camera know-how that captures an extended and brief publicity picture on the similar time, then combines them into one particular person picture. Simply put, this produces higher pictures, quicker. If the Pixel 8 does certainly include staggered HDR, then the cellphone may even embrace a brand new sensor.
Magic Eraser for video
Another improve seems to be approaching the video entrance. A video posted to Twitter reveals an “audio magic eraser”, which strips out background sounds however preserves issues like speech. The clip contains a skateboarder, with the magic eraser perform muting the sound of the board’s wheels however nonetheless letting you hear the rider’s cheers. It’ll nearly definitely use the Tensor G2’s machine studying smarts, so will possible be unique to the Pixel 8 collection – not less than at launch.
The largest software program improve, exterior of the shift to Android 14, might be the introduction of Samsung Dex-style help for exterior shows. According to Android Authority, references to USB DisplayPort alternate mode may be present in current Android 14 betas, suggesting the function will debut on the Pixel 8 collection.
Pixel 8a debuting after?
As first reported by Android Authority, an ‘nameless however reliable supply’ gifted the publication a roadmap for the Pixel from 2023-2025. As nicely as confirming the Pixel 8 launch date, a supply additional instructed Android Authority that there can be few modifications for these fashions in comparison with the Pixel 7 collection. The doc claims ‘shiba’ (Pixel 8) can have a smaller show and ‘husky’ (Pixel 8 Pro) can have the identical show and measurements because the Pixel 7 Pro. That’s one thing which has since been countered by subsequent leaks.
Google additionally has a plan to release a Pixel 8a, codenamed ‘akita’, however apparently the cellphone might be shelved, relying on how nicely the Pixel 7a has accomplished. Interestingly, Google can be allegedly pondering of transferring away from yearly A collection launches, in favour of biyearly launches. That wouldn’t be an enormous shock, given how carefully matched the 7a is to the costlier Pixel 7.
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