Pixel 8

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are visually similar to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, respectively,[10] with minor refinements such as a flatter screen, more rounded corners, and softer edges. The Pro model also features a matte finish.[8][9][11] They are each available in three colors:[8]

Color options for the Pixel 8 series

Pixel 8				Pixel 8 Pro
Hazel	Obsidian	Rose		Bay	Obsidian	Porcelain

The Pixel 8 has a 6.2 in (157 mm) FHD+ 1080p OLED display at 428 ppi with a 2400 × 1080 pixel resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7 in (170 mm) QHD+ 1440p LTPO OLED curved-edge display at 489 ppi with a 2992 × 1344 pixel resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio.[12] The Pixel 8 has a variable refresh rate of 60–120 Hz, while The Pixel 8 Pro has variable refresh rate of 1–120 Hz. Both phones contain a wide and a ultrawide rear camera, with the Pixel 8 Pro featuring an additional 48 megapixel telephoto 5× optical zoom rear camera. The front camera on both phones contains a 10.5 megapixel ultrawide lens.[9] As with the Pixel 7 series, the Face Unlock facial recognition system is enabled by software and the front camera, but adds support for secure biometric authentication.[13][14]

The phones are powered by the third-generation Google Tensor system-on-chip (SoC), marketed as "Google Tensor G3".[14] The OLED display, marketed as "Actua" and "Super Actua" on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, respectively, boasts "better color accuracy and higher brightness".[8][14] The Pro model also features a temperature sensor on its rear camera bar, an unconventional feature for a smartphone.[14] That feature is pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration.[15] The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are among the first phones on the market to support Wi-Fi 7, the latest wireless standard.[16]

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will ship with Android 14 at launch,[11] coinciding with the stable release of Android 14 on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP),[17] along with version 9.1 of the newly renamed Pixel Camera app.[18] It will receive at least seven years of major OS upgrades with support extending to 2030, a significant extension compared to previous generations that places the Pixel on par with Apple's typical support lifetime for iPhones.[11][14] Google also stated that it would stock spare parts for the devices for seven years.[19] Wired and The Verge noted that these two commitments were potentially linked to California's impending right to repair act requiring companies to provide support for devices costing $100 or more for seven years.[14][19]

As with previous Pixel smartphones, artificial intelligence and software advancements took center stage during the Made by Google launch event. New camera features announced include Best Take, an upgraded Magic Eraser, Night Sight Video, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, and Real Tone on video.[8][14] Exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro are Video Boost and manual "Pro" camera controls,[11][20] although the latter was only artificially restricted to the Pro model via software.[21]

As part of Google's ongoing response to OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google also announced Assistant with Bard, a new version of the Google Assistant virtual assistant that integrates the company's recently introduced Bard chatbot.[22] Other generative AI features included improved call screening, faster voice typing, grammar suggestions on Gboard, upgrades to the Recorder app, and a new magnifier app.[23] The Pixel 8 Pro was touted as the first piece of hardware to run Google's generative AI large language models fully on-device.[24]

In early reactions, three aspects particularly piqued commentators' interest: the Pixel 8 Pro's temperature sensor, Google's promise of seven years of updates, and the heavy emphasis on AI. The temperature sensor drew varied reactions: some found it a potentially useful novelty,[8][26][20] while others were bewildered and dismissed it as a strange gimmick.[27][9][10] The response to Google's seven-year pledge was similarly divided: several journalists welcomed the move, hailing it as astonishing and monumental;[28][29][30] others questioned whether Google would fulfill its promise.[31][32][33]

The Washington Post's Chris Velazco opined that the phones reflected "a deepening obsession with AI",[34] with The Verge's Jon Porter describing the launch event as "a parade of AI", observing that the phrase "AI" had been invoked over fifty times.[35] The AI features themselves receiving mixed responses. Writing for Wired, Julian Chokkattu expressed excitement that these features, hitherto limited to those proficient with image or video editing software, were now being made accessible to a wider audience;[36] Ben Sin of XDA Developers found them "fun and scary".[37] Porter felt that some of the features showcased were unnecessary, concluding that Google was continuing to attempt to reassert its position as a leader in AI after ChatGPT's meteoric rise earlier that year had caught Google executives off-guard.[35] Also writing for The Verge, Allison Johnson described the features as "complicated and messy",[38] while Jay Peters contemplated the question, "What is a photo?"[39]

Reviewers noticed Google AI first claim, noting that Google Tensor G3 is mostly useless as most generative AI features need to run online in Google Cloud.[40]

Ryan Reith, an analyst at the International Data Group, predicted that Google could achieve higher sales numbers "if supported by strong marketing", considering its emphasis on AI.[15] Multiple publications have labeled the phones Google's latest subdued effort to compete with Apple's dominant iPhone sales.[15][41]