| Display: 6.7-inch LTPO OLED | Chip: Tensor G3 | Software: Android 14 |
| RAM/STORAGE: 12GB/Up to 256GB | Battery: 5,050 mAh | Charging: 30W support |
Google Pixel 8 Pro First Impression: The Pixel 8 Pro is Google's latest flagship and with this one, the company is doubling down on its AI-assisted features. It's also loaded with the new Tensor G3 chip, a versatile 5x zoom camera, and even comes with a nifty temperature sensor.
But with all these features, there's still a part of me that's thinking if they all add up to justify the Pixel 8 Pro’s starting price of ₹1,06,999. Let's take a closer look at how the phone performs in our Google Pixel 8 Review and Unboxing
Usually, I'd start any pixel review by talking about the camera hardware, but this year it's the software that's grabbing all the headlines. With the Pixel 8 Pro, Google has really embraced the potential of generative AI, and it truly shines in Google Photos.
The new Magic Editor feature is especially cool - You can clean up backgrounds, rearrange elements, change the backdrop, or adjust the lighting to your taste. It's like having a simpler version of Photoshop in your pocket and it can completely change the look of your photo.
Now, I know there are other apps out there that do similar stuff, but having it right here on Google Photos is pretty convenient. Anyway, diving deeper into the realm of AI camera enhancements, the Pixel 8 Pro introduces the Audio Magic Eraser. It's designed to automatically filter out background noise from videos while focusing on the main subject, and it works surprisingly well.
But what really caught my attention is the "Best Take" feature, which captures a series of photos and analyses the expressions of everyone in them. With this, you can seamlessly swap someone's face for a more favorable shot. The goal is that you get a photo where everyone looks their best, and it's kind of scary how good some of these face swaps are.
Ok, now let's talk about the camera hardware, and the Google Pixel 8 Pro's setup isn't vastly different from the Pixel 7 Pro, but it's enhanced where it counts. The 50MP main camera now has an f/1.68 aperture, improving light sensitivity by 21%, with 2x optical zoom.
The updated 48MP ultrawide offers an f/1.95 aperture and a significant 105% boost in light sensitivity, alongside a macro mode for close-ups. The 48MP telephoto lens has a 56% light sensitivity increase, an f/2.8 aperture, and retains its 5x optical zoom. The front camera, now 10.5MP comes with an f/2.2 aperture, and finally adds autofocus.
Simply put, the Pixel 8 Pro is built to capture excellent photos. It excels in various lighting conditions, from day to night and everything in between. The ultra-wide shots have notably improved since the Pixel 7 Pro, and the macro mode offered some nice closeup shots as well.
The portrait mode is still top-notch, at times even surpassing the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Pixel 8 Pro's 5x telephoto camera also shines. While it doesn't offer the 10x optical zoom of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, its sensor quality is impressive. It gives detailed shots at 5x with colors consistent with the main camera. Even at 30x digital zoom, the Pixel 8 Pro produces decent results.
Now, despite the nice upgrades in the still photography department, the 8 Pro's video capabilities aren't exactly groundbreaking. It supports 4K at 60 FPS, and although the footage is sharp, it doesn't quite match the iPhone's quality.
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Alright, let's switch gears from cameras to design. The Pixel 8 Pro retains much of its predecessor's look. However, it groups its cameras together and swaps the previous glossy back for a smooth matte finish. It has more rounded edges too, making it a tad comfier to hold.
Personally, I'm all in for this blue shade, and when combined with the brushed aluminium sides, it truly stands out among Android phones. There's also a new temperature sensor on the back, underneath the camera sensor. You can use it through the thermometer app on the phone to measure the temperature of different things like your coffee for example.
It's a nifty feature but one I don't think that people will use that often. It kind of feels somewhat like a feature Google might've intended for the pandemic era but missed the timing. Oh, and a word of caution: don't rely on it for checking body temperatures—it's not medically certified for that.
Moving to the front, the Pixel 8 Pro boasts a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a couple of upgrades, the most prominent being its flat design, so you no longer have to worry about accidental touches. Interestingly, the resolution has been slightly reduced, though it's barely noticeable, so it's not a major concern.
Both HDR and peak brightness have been enhanced, making it exceptionally bright. However, the screen is a bit reflective, which can affect outdoor viewing to some extent. The 120Hz refresh rate is also back, providing smooth scrolling and animations. What's new is its ability to drop to 1Hz, improving energy efficiency for tasks like the always-on display and browsing on Chrome.
Apart from that, Google sticks with an optical in-display fingerprint scanner over the often-favored ultrasonic version. To its credit, the scanner performs adequately well, though those with dry skin might find occasional hiccups.
The headline feature, however, is the new secure face unlock, enabled by machine learning, making it compatible with banking and other sensitive apps. Google managed to pull this off solely with the selfie camera, bypassing the need for extra sensors typically seen on iPhones, which is quite an accomplishment.
Now, on the inside, the Pixel 8 Pro is powered by the Tensor G3 chip, Google's latest custom silicon. This is the driving force behind all the cool AI camera features I mentioned earlier. But when you stack it up against rivals in pure benchmark metrics, it might not always grab the top spot.
Yet, when it comes to real-world usage, it's been nothing but smooth sailing for me. I've also been able to play high graphic games like Call of Duty mobile without any problems. The Pixel 8 Pro has also improved in terms of thermal management compared to the Pixel 7 Pro.
While there are occasional moments when it feels warm, especially during extended gaming or streaming sessions, it never reaches the discomforting temperatures that were sometimes evident in its predecessor. Along with the Tensor G3 chip, the phone comes with a solid 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
Additionally, my review unit has 128GB of storage, and honestly, for a flagship that's all about photos and videos, that doesn't quite hit the mark for me. Fortunately, Google has rolled out a 256GB storage version in the Indian market. It's only available in the Obsidian color, though, and it's priced at ₹1,13,999, which puts it at the top of the pricing tree for the Pixel range in India.
As for the battery, the Pixel 8 Pro leaves a bit to be desired. While it doesn't fare poorly, it doesn't match up to the stamina of several other Android phones released this year. In my testing, the phone hovered between 10% to 15% battery life by the end of the day, following approximately five hours of screen-on time.
Granted, individual usage patterns may vary, but with its sizable 5,050mAh battery, I was hoping for a more enduring performance from the Pixel 8 Pro. At least, the charging speed has been upgraded to 30W from the Pixel 7 Pro's 23W. You can get from 0% to 50% in just half an hour, and a full charge takes roughly 90 minutes.
When it comes to fast charging, Pixel phones still have some catching up to do compared to other top-tier smartphones. This remains an avenue where Google can push the envelope further.
On the plus side, Google still remains the king of software. The Pixel 8 ships with Android 14, so if you've been using a Pixel recently, the Pixel 8 Pro will feel super familiar. It's got that clean, uncluttered Android experience that Google is known for, but with some nice touches for personalizing your phone, like those AI-generated wallpapers that are pretty cool.
And here's the best part– Google's promising seven years of software support for the Pixel 8 series. That includes updates to the Android OS, security patches, and those Feature Drops that keep things fresh. So, the Pixel 8 Pro is set to stay up-to-date until 2030, which is a great thing in terms of software longevity.
Yet, even with all it's got going for it, there's still some potential for the hardware to step it up, given the hefty price. The Google Pixel 8 Pro price in India starts at Rs 1,06,999 You have to wonder if these features are compelling enough to draw people away from their iPhones or Galaxies.
But then again, if you're in the market for a phone that really stands out, the Pixel 8 Pro's superb cameras and clever AI features might be exactly what you're looking for.
While the Pixel 8 Pro excels in various lighting conditions and has improved camera features, its video capabilities aren't groundbreaking. Google says that the upcoming "video boost" feature that's coming later this year could elevate the Pixel's video performance but only time will tell how well that really pans out.
I also didn't love the front camera all that much. It captures decent selfies, though occasionally the processing leans towards excessive contrast and over-sharpening.
Major changes include the enhanced camera hardware, improved design, and the introduction of the Tensor G3 chip, setting a new benchmark for Google's flagship series and generative AI capabilities.
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