Google Unveils the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: Cutting-Edge Devices for Tech Enthusiasts

Introducing the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Google’s latest smartphone offerings that bring AI to the forefront for a more personalized and helpful experience. These devices are equipped with groundbreaking features, all powered by the impressive Google Tensor G3. Not only that, but they also come with a promise of seven years of software updates, ensuring that you stay up-to-date with the latest Android OS upgrades, security patches, and regular Feature Drops. Let’s dive deeper into these new phones and explore everything from their stunning design to the enhanced camera capabilities.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro boast a sleek and elegant design, featuring softer contours, exquisite metal finishes, and even incorporating recycled materials. The Pixel 8, with its contoured edges and compact size compared to its predecessor, feels incredibly comfortable in your hand. Its 6.2-inch Actua display offers real-world clarity that is 42% brighter than the display on the Pixel 7. Additionally, the Pixel 8 comes in three captivating colors: Rose, Hazel, and Obsidian, and features satin metal finishes and a polished glass back.

On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro takes things up a notch with its remarkable 6.7-inch Super Actua display, which is the brightest display ever seen on a Pixel device. Even under direct sunlight, you’ll be amazed by the true-to-life visuals and ultra HDR images it delivers. The Pixel 8 Pro sports a matte glass back with a polished aluminum frame and comes in three stunning colors: Porcelain, Bay, and Obsidian. What sets the Pixel 8 Pro apart is the addition of a temperature sensor on its back, allowing you to quickly scan objects for their temperature. This feature comes in handy when checking if your pan is hot enough for cooking or if your baby’s milk is at the perfect temperature. Furthermore, Google has even submitted an application to the FDA to enable the Pixel’s Thermometer App to measure your body temperature and sync it with Fitbit.

When it comes to camera improvements, both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer upgraded camera systems that deliver stunning photo and video quality. The Pixel 8 Pro takes things a step further with its enhanced camera setup. The main camera captures exceptional photos and videos even in low-light conditions. The larger ultrawide lens provides improved Macro Focus capabilities, while the telephoto lens captures 56% more light and delivers optical-quality 10x photos. The front-facing camera on the Pixel 8 Pro now features autofocus, ensuring you capture the best selfies possible on a Pixel device. As for the Pixel 8, it shares the same updated main camera as the Pro version but adds a new ultrawide lens for Macro Focus.

The camera app has also received a redesign, offering a more intuitive interface that allows you to quickly switch between different photo and video modes. For Pixel 8 Pro users, there’s an added bonus of Pro Controls, granting you more creative control over the Pixel Camera with settings like shutter speed, ISO, and 50 MP photos throughout the zoom range.

Google understands the frustration of capturing a group photo only to find that someone wasn’t looking at the camera. That’s where Best Take comes in. This feature utilizes the photos you did manage to capture to create a blended image that ensures everyone looks their best. An on-device algorithm works its magic to bring together the best elements from a series of photos.

For those who love editing their photos, Google Photos now offers the Magic Editor feature. This experimental editing experience leverages generative AI to help you enhance your photos based on the essence of the moment you were trying to capture. You can reposition and resize subjects or use presets to make the background pop, all with just a few taps.

When it comes to videos, the Pixel 8 Pro introduces Audio Magic Eraser, a groundbreaking feature that allows you to easily reduce distracting sounds in your videos, such as howling winds or noisy crowds. This computational audio capability uses advanced machine learning models to separate sounds into distinct layers, giving you control over their levels.

Later this year, Pixel 8 Pro users will also receive Video Boost, a feature that combines the power of Tensor G3 with Google’s robust data centers to apply cutting-edge processing to your videos. Video Boost adjusts color, lighting, stabilization, and graininess, resulting in stunning videos that look incredibly lifelike. Additionally, Video Boost enables Night Sight Video on Pixel devices, enhancing the quality of low-light smartphone videos.

Moving on to features that save you time and help you get things done, Pixel now offers Summarize, a tool that generates a summary of webpages for quick understanding of key points. Moreover, your Pixel device can read aloud and translate webpages, allowing you to listen to articles on the go.

Google has also improved the AI capabilities for speech recognition on Pixel devices, making it easier to interact with your phone naturally. Now, you can speak to your Pixel device with pauses and “ums,” and it will wait until you’re done before responding. You can use your voice to quickly type, edit, and send messages, even if you speak multiple languages.

Call Screen has also received an upgrade, helping you receive 50% fewer spam calls on average. The feature now silently answers calls from unknown numbers with a more natural-sounding voice, engaging the caller. Call Screen is intelligent enough to distinguish between calls you want and those you don’t. In the near future, Call Screen will even suggest contextual replies for simple calls like appointment confirmations, allowing you to respond quickly without having to answer the phone.

When it comes to security, Google Tensor G3 works hand in hand with the Titan M2 security chip to protect your personal information and make your Pixel device more resilient against sophisticated attacks. Face Unlock on the Pixel 8 now meets the highest Android biometric class, enabling access to compatible banking and payment apps like Google Wallet.

What truly sets the Pixel devices apart is the promise of seven years of software support. Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive OS upgrades, security updates, and regular Feature Drops for a total of seven years. This ensures that your phone stays up to date and continues to improve over time.

You can pre-order the Pixel 8 starting at $699 and the Pixel 8 Pro starting at $999. As an added bonus, pre-ordering the Pixel 8 Pro will also get you a Pixel Watch 2 for free. These new devices are available for pre-order on Google Fi Wireless, where you can enjoy their best deals yet. Additionally, Google Fi Wireless offers flexible and secure phone plans that include full connectivity for the Pixel Watch 2 at no additional cost.

Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, along with a range of cases from Google and its partners, will be available for purchase on October 12th at the Google Store and various retail partners. Get ready to experience the future of smartphones with the Pixel 8 series from Google.

Background Information

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About Google: Google, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998, is a multinational technology company known for its internet-related services and products. Initially renowned for its search engine, Google has since expanded into various domains including online advertising, cloud computing, software development, and hardware devices. With its innovative approach, Google has introduced influential products such as Google Search, Android OS, Google Maps, and Google Drive. The company's commitment to research and development has led to advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

  

Technology Explained

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HDR: High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a technology used to create images and videos with a greater range of luminance levels than what is possible with standard digital imaging. It allows for a greater range of colors and details to be captured in an image, resulting in a more realistic and vibrant look.