Google Pixel 8 Pro review

Trade in Google Pixel 8 Pro

(Image credit: The Guardian)

Google’s latest flagship, the Pixel 8 Pro, has returned with promises to surpass the competition in photography, intelligence, and longevity with a commitment to seven years of full software support. Priced at £999 (€1,099/$999/A$1,699), the Pixel 8 Pro still offers a more affordable option compared to the £1,200 counterparts from Apple and Samsung. However, the £150 increase from the previous year’s impressive Pixel 7 Pro may raise questions about the justification for the higher cost.

The phone boasts a refined design with an aluminum and glass build. The 6.7-inch OLED screen, now flat instead of curved at the edges, delivers an excellent experience with smooth scrolling. The screen can achieve an exceptional 2,400nit peak brightness, albeit for a limited duration in hot sunshine before adjusting to still very readable levels.

(Image credit: The Guardian)

A notable addition this year is an upgraded 2D face-unlock system, now capable of authenticating payments in addition to unlocking the phone. While not as advanced as some 3D face recognition systems like Apple’s Face ID, it provides utility in testing, although it may not work with sunglasses or in low-light conditions. The face-unlock feature complements the under-display fingerprint sensor.

The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with Google’s new Tensor G3 chip, which, while slightly trailing top rivals from Qualcomm and Apple on paper, demonstrates comparable performance in handling games, apps, and general use. The battery life is similar to the Pixel 7 Pro, lasting just under 37 hours between charges. This should suffice for even heavy daily use, but users might find nightly charging necessary. Charging takes approximately 85 minutes with a 30W charger.

Specifications

• Screen: 6.7in 120Hz QHD+ OLED (489ppi)

• Processor: Google Tensor G3

• RAM: 12GB of RAM

• Storage: 128, 256 or 512GB

• Operating system: Android 14

• Camera: 50MP + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto, 10.5MP selfie

• Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, wifi 7, UWB, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 and GNSS

• Water resistance: IP68 (1.5m for 30 minutes)

• Dimensions: 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm

• Weight: 213g

Android 14 with seven years of updates

(Image credit: The Guardian)

One of the significant upgrades for the Pixel 8 Pro is the extended software support, marking a crucial improvement. The phone comes with the latest Android 14 and a commitment to seven years of both Android and security updates, ensuring its usability until at least October 2030. This places Google on par with Apple’s iPhone and surpasses other mainstream Android manufacturers by at least two years. Fairphone currently offers the longest support with 10 years.

This extended support is noteworthy, not only enhancing the phone’s useful life but also potentially increasing its resale value in the second or third-hand market. This approach aligns with sustainability goals, promoting longer usage and reducing electronic waste. It is hoped that other mainstream manufacturers will follow suit in extending software support for their devices.

Generative AI everywhere

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Google has embraced generative AI and incorporated it into various aspects of the Pixel 8 Pro. The company promises more AI features to come, including integrating its Bard AI into Assistant. Some of these features are currently exclusive to the United States, such as Assistant’s capability to summarize websites and articles. Other features include a wallpaper generator and the ability to have articles read aloud.

The Assistant has undergone improvements in understanding natural speech patterns, accommodating pauses and fillers like “umms” and “errs” during queries. Voice typing has also been enhanced, automatically inserting appropriate punctuation when users pause, marking a significant improvement in user experience.

Google Photos infused with more AI

Generative AI technology has been further integrated into Google Photos, with an enhanced version of the “Magic Eraser” now known as the “Magic Editor.” Users can select people and objects to move or resize them, replace the sky, or adjust the lighting. The AI regenerates parts of the image to create a seamless blend. The feature presents four options at a time for users to choose the best result or regenerate more options. While it is in beta, it can take up to 30 seconds to process, but when successful, it can produce impressive results.

(Image credit: The Guardian)

Another new feature for the Pixel 8 Pro is “Best Take,” designed to create a group shot where everyone looks their best. It combines faces from multiple images into one optimal photo, applicable to most group shots in Google Photos, not just those taken by the 8 Pro.

The new “Audio Magic Eraser” feature can analyze videos, separating sounds into different channels, allowing users to adjust their volume independently. This can be useful for reducing background noise in specific elements of a video.

Google plans to introduce more generative AI features in future updates, including technology to enlarge and sharpen existing images using AI. Additionally, a night sight low-light mode for video is in the works, utilizing a combination of on-device AI and Google’s servers to process the footage.

Camera

(Image credit: The Guardian)

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro continues the tradition of offering one of the best smartphone cameras on the market. The upgraded hardware includes larger and brighter sensors, improving low-light performance and reducing blur in fast-moving scenes. The ultrawide camera has seen the most improvement, while the main and 5x optical zoom telephoto cameras also deliver excellent results.

The camera features additional optical zoom capabilities, with 2x on the main camera and 10x on the telephoto. This is achieved by utilizing only the center pixels of the sensor, delivering good results in favorable lighting conditions. The Pixel 8 Pro introduces full manual controls for the camera, allowing users to shoot full 50MP images in RAW format and adjust settings such as shutter speed, ISO, and focus—a welcome addition for photography enthusiasts.

Overall, the Pixel 8 Pro excels in capturing high-quality images with minimal effort, especially in challenging situations like low-light conditions or fast-paced scenes, making it an exceptional point-and-shoot camera.

Sustainability

Google does not specify the expected lifespan of the Pixel 8 Pro’s battery, but it is designed to last over 500 full charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity. The phone is repairable by Google and third-party repair shops, with genuine replacement parts expected to be available from iFixit soon. Out-of-warranty screen replacements from Google are priced at £116, and battery replacements cost £56.

The Pixel 8 Pro is constructed with at least 18% recycled materials, including recycled aluminum, plastic, and tin. Google provides a breakdown of the phone’s environmental impact in its report. The company also offers free recycling of old devices.

Price

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is priced starting at £999 (€1,099/$999/A$1,699).

For comparison:

• The Pixel 8 is priced at £699.
• The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is priced at £1,249.
• The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is priced at £1,199.
• The Fairphone 5 is priced at £649.

Verdict

The Google Pixel 8 Pro, while not as budget-friendly as its predecessors, still offers good value compared to its high-end rivals. It excels in various aspects, including its display, build quality, performance, and battery life. The distinctive design, coupled with a powerful camera system with advanced AI capabilities, sets it apart. The promise of ongoing updates, especially in terms of Google’s generative AI technology, adds to the device’s appeal. However, the standout feature is the commitment to seven years of software support, aligning it with Apple and surpassing most Android competitors in terms of longevity and sustainability.

Pros: seven years of software updates, great camera with 5 and 10x optical zoom, great screen, decent battery life, recycled aluminium, impressive local and generative AI features, undercuts rivals on price.

Cons: bump in price, face unlock option not as secure as Face ID, battery life and raw performance short of best-in-class, temperature sensor is a gimmick for now.

(Image credit: The Guardian)

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Source: The Guardian