Pixel 8 Pro

Google’s 8th generation flagship smartphone, the Pixel 8 Pro, places a strong emphasis on AI, offering advanced photo and video editing features and AI Google Assistant upgrades. Beyond its AI enhancements, the Pixel 8 Pro also offers notable improvements in picture and sound performance, ensuring a quality multimedia experience. Despite not surpassing the AV experiences provided by the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Sony Xperia 1 V, the Google Pixel 8 Pro offers considerable value, boasting strong features at a significantly lower price point.

The experience with the Pixel 8 Pro is considerably better than with its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro, which had several issues and was not enjoyable to use, plagued with bugs and inconsistencies, making it an undesirable device

Google’s latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, are top-tier devices with an price tag of $699 and $999 respectively, reflecting an increase of $100 from the previous models. One of the powerful new software tools introduced in these devices is the Magic Editor. Despite a few peculiarities, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro largely fulfill their expectations.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s design continues to impress with its rounded aesthetic, making it more preferable to use than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, despite the latter’s improvements. The Bay blue color variant of the Pixel 8 Pro remains one of the standout color options in the smartphone market this year.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s design focuses on iterative changes rather than a complete overhaul.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s 5X zoom feature is highly appreciated, but unfortunately, it is not available in Portrait mode.There’s a desire for an upgrade in the Cinematic Blur video feature, as it only supports 1,080p and lacks 4K support, unlike Apple’s similar feature in the iPhone 14.

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro may not top the charts in picture and sound quality, but it displays noticeable enhancements in these areas. The audio quality, despite not being heavily advertised, has improved significantly. The display, getting all the fundamental aspects correct, is bright and satisfying.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera setup is highly impressive, continuing Google’s tradition of delivering excellent camera capabilities in their Pixel phones.

The Pixel 8 Pro shines particularly in taking still photos, delivering high-quality results. The video capabilities of the Pixel 8 Pro are noteworthy, offering buttery smooth stabilization, beautiful color rendition, and sharp details, leading to exceptional video output.

Google’s native apps provide a user-friendly experience that simplifies tasks, setting Pixel phones apart from other Android devices.Google has also introduced software enhancements that revolutionize mobile imaging, enabling users to eliminate unwanted elements from images and videos, or even alter the time of day for the perfect sky. These innovative features improve the overall smartphone experience, but can be somewhat unsettling as they allow manipulation of reality, such as transforming an overcast day.

Users who have been using the camera for days have found the battery life to be inconsistent. However, the camera quality and zoom capabilities have been impressive, with the camera being able to take clear photos even at 30x zoom. The battery life is expected to improve after 1-2 weeks of use.

• Enhanced audio quality through headphones.
• The user interface provides a responsive experience.
• The design has been significantly improved and upgraded.

• The device offers entertaining and useful image editing features, along with an increasing amount of smart software perks.
• The performance is impressive, with bright displays and excellent cameras.
• The secure Face Unlock feature is back, and the device offers seven years of support for both software and parts.

• The images tend to lack detail in the shadows.
• The colors appear to be slightly exaggerated.

• The Face Unlock feature does not perform well in low light conditions.
• There is no DisplayPort support over USB-C.
• The battery life is unremarkable.

The official case that accompanies the phone feels very premium to the touch, enhancing the overall experience.

The buttons on the device are of high quality, providing a satisfying and responsive clicking experience.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro features a USB-C port and sim tray located on the bottom, and power and volume keys on the right side, resulting in a clean and uninterrupted design on the remaining sides.

This model maintains the visor-style camera bar from the Pixel 6 series, now seamlessly blending with the glossy aluminium rails along the phone’s edges.

The rear glass panel of the Pixel 7 Pro has been replaced with a frosted matte glass on the Pixel 8 Pro, enhancing the device’s grip and reducing visible fingerprints, especially noticeable in the Charcoal color variant.

The Pixel 8 Pro features a high-quality aluminum frame for a premium feel.

The Pixel 8 Pro now sports a completely flat 6.7-inch display, replacing the curved screen of its predecessor, making it comfortable and manageable to use despite its large size.

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display, offering a delightful viewing experience.

The phone features a completely flat screen, eliminating the less desirable ‘waterfall’ curved displays. The sides are designed with a gentle curve for a more comfortable feel.

A new design feature of the Pixel 8 Pro is its completely flat 6.7-inch OLED display.

The new flat design of the Pixel 8 Pro’s display makes the phone easier to operate and gives it a more refined look.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is available in a range of colors, including a white-gold finish named Porcelain, and a vibrant two-tone blue finish called Bay.

The back panel is made of a matte material that resists fingerprint smudges, ensuring a consistently smooth feel. The phone’s resilience has been notable even without the use of a case.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera housing on its back comes with the signature Pixel ledge, and contains all lenses in one large oval, resulting in a cleaner aesthetic.

The Pixel 8 Pro has a non-lossy back finish, similar to other big flagship phones.

The Pixel 8 Pro has a more rounded design compared to the boxy, squared-off corners of the Pixel 7 series, making it more visually appealing.

The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with a 5050mAh battery and supports fast charging with up to 30W wired, 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging. It is capable of powering other Qi-compatible devices and maintains a solid performance throughout a full day of intensive use, with battery-saver options available as needed.

With its triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP main lens, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto, the Pixel 8 Pro delivers high-quality photos that are sharp, vibrant, and detailed.

The new Macro Focus mode allows for close-up shots, and finally, autofocus is introduced to the selfie camera on the Pixel 8 Pro.

The feature ‘Best Take’ is a particularly innovative tool that allows users to create the optimal image from a series of photos by picking out faces and allowing the user to select from different shots.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have been enhanced with remarkable camera systems this year, offering impressive dynamic range and low-light photography.

A novel feature exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro is the ‘PR Mode’. This function provides users with a more refined control over their photos, including ISO, color, and focus adjustments. The focus control stands out with its unique focus lines, a feature typically seen on high-end prosumer devices.

The Tensor G3 processor enhances the Pixel 8 Pro’s AI capabilities, providing new features to the camera such as the ability to combine multiple group shots and individually swap faces for optimal Instagram-worthy photos.

Google’s Tensor G3 processor, a homegrown chip designed to compete with Apple’s A-series chips, powers the Pixel 8 Pro.

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a Quad HD LTPO 120Hz OLED display that adjusts the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz based on the content, resulting in an exceptionally smooth scrolling experience.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s HDR-enabled display supports HDR10+, making it suitable for viewing content on Amazon Prime Video. However, it does not support Dolby Vision format, so content from Disney+ and Netflix will playback in standard HDR10.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s display stands out with its vibrant and punchy colors, combined with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The slightly curved edges add to the comfort when swiping and scrolling.

It boasts vibrant, sharp, and smooth displays with a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, now enhanced for better visibility under any lighting conditions.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s display boasts a 120 Hz variable refresh rate, resulting in smooth scrolling and animations, and enhancing the user experience.

The phone’s full HD Plus resolution with 489 PPI, support for HDR content, and excellent color rendering offer a clear, sharp, and immersive viewing experience. Additionally, the display has a peak brightness of 2400 nits, making it easier to use in direct sunlight.

Unlike some Android devices, the Pixel 8 Pro’s fingerprint sensor is located under the screen, not in the lock button.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s in-screen fingerprint sensor is dependable, and the Face Unlock feature is an impressive addition, providing easy access to applications.

The reintroduction of Face Unlock as a secure biometric authentication method, which can be used alongside the in-display fingerprint sensor, is another new feature in the Pixel 8 Pro.

A temperature sensor, exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro, is another new addition. Although its usage might be infrequent, it’s a handy feature to have.

Only the Pixel 8 Pro offers a temperature sensor feature, which measures the temperature of an object.

To use the emperature sensor feature, one has to select a material from a list of options such as water, glass, or wood, then tap the selected object, resulting in a quick temperature measurement.

The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with an embedded optical fingerprint sensor for biometric security, which is effective in performing its task.

The Audio Magic Eraser feature allows users to remove unwanted sounds from videos.

The ‘Best Take’ feature allows the face swap in group photos with a face from another photo taken within a specific timeframe.

Exclusive to the Pixel 8 series is the Magic Editor in Google Photos, a simpler version of Photoshop that requires minimal photo editing experience.

With Magic Editor, subjects and their shadows can be moved around in photos, resized, and enhanced with a portrait effect. Even the lighting in the scene can be altered. The features may not be available for all photos, and there’s a slight learning curve, but it’s more accessible than Photoshop.

The Pixel 8 Pro offers Bluetooth 5.2 with support for the LE and aptX HD codecsThe Pixel 8 Pro offers Bluetooth 5.2 with support for the LE and aptX HD codecs, as well as A2DP. Unfortunately, it lacks support for Dolby Atmos, limiting its capabilities with Atmos music on Tidal or Atmos movies from Netflix and similar platforms.

The Pixel 8 Pro offers superior audio quality with its high-quality speakers.

• The phone features a 6.7-inches LTPO OLED screen with a resolution of 1344 x 2992.
• The phone operates on Android 14.
• It comes with various storage options including 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and an exclusive 1TB option for US customers.
• The phone is equipped with 12GB of RAM.
• It comes in three finish options: Charcoal, Porcelain, and Bay.

The Pixel 8 Pro offers a smooth daily operation with 12GB of RAM, allowing for a slick experience when navigating the Android 14 operating system.

The Android 14 on the Pixel 8 Pro provides a user-friendly experience, complete with a fast and responsive UI, lock screen customization tools, and unique features like the AI wallpaper generator.

The Pixel 8 Pro, with its 5,050-mAh cell, offers more than five and a half hours of screen-on time, which includes some gaming. This could last a full day and a bit more, but not much beyond that.

The battery life is impressive, lasting a full day of heavy use, including navigation, photography, social media use, and more, while still retaining 30-40% of its charge.

The screen-on time of the 8 pro model varies between 5.5 to 7 hours under low to medium usage, without gaming or heavy-duty tasks.

The device provides an impressive battery life, lasting for a day and a half with continuous usage, usually ending with around 20-40% battery remaining in the evening.

Initially, the performance was not up to par. However, the December update greatly improved the device’s functionality.

Both Pixel 8 Pro and its variant can be recharged relatively quickly when plugged in, taking about an hour and a half to go from 10 percent to full. However, the preference was for wireless charging.

The Tensor G3 chip, although not the most potent in the market, offers a significant improvement over its predecessors, resulting in a faster and more responsive Pixel 8 Pro, even during continuous gaming sessions or multitasking.

The Tensor G3 chipset performed well, with no overheating issues during intensive tasks, a common problem in previous Pixels. Additionally, no connectivity issues were encountered, unlike with the Pixel 6.

The Pixel 8 Pro is notably better at maintaining a cooler temperature during heavy use, compared to its predecessors, although it does warm up during extended gaming sessions, which is typical of modern smartphones.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera doesn’t offer as natural photos as the iPhone or as many pro tools as the Sony Xperia 5 V, but it’s an ideal solution for point-and-shoot photography suitable for social media posting.

The ‘Best Take’ feature performs mostly well in tests, though there are times where groups of photos don’t work at all with the feature in its current iteration.

The five times zoom camera captures an impressive amount of detail. Coupled with the software, the overall picture quality surpasses that of its competitors.

The cameras impress with their ability to maintain dynamic range even at a 50mp resolution. The details remain fabulous even at 10x zoom.

The Pixel 8 Pro offers a warmer and richer sound than its predecessor when playing music, with more detailed piano notes and more engaging vocals. It also offers more dynamic sound, especially noticeable in emotionally charged tracks.

The stereo speakers on the Pixel 8 Pro offer clear dialogue and can reach high volumes, providing a semblance of depth to cinematic scores. However, for a more spacious and full-bodied sound, pairing the Pixel 8 Pro with a good set of headphones is recommended.

The software was able to distinguish and reduce background noise from the main audio in a video clip, making users’ voice more prominent despite loud background noises.

The device allows for photo editing, such as combining the best parts of multiple photos into one. This can produce near-perfect results, eliminating unwanted elements like closed eyes or goofy faces.

The software is capable of isolating a subject from the background in an image and replacing the background texture to match the rest of the frame. It also offers flexibility in resizing and moving the subject within the scene.

Unlike the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 8 Pro has shown no signs of app crashes, unusual YouTube UI effects, or formatting issues in Quick Settings, suggesting a more stable user experience. The Pixel 8 Pro’s always-on display feature experienced a single issue where it stopped functioning, but quickly resolved by toggling it off and on in the settings.

Some features may require waiting time, with Magic Editor taking 20 to 30 seconds to generate photos and Audio Magic Eraser possibly taking longer depending on video length. The Pixel 8 Pro is also set to feature a cloud-based Video Boost which enhances video quality but may take several hours to process.

The stock Android on the Pixel 8 Pro operates smoothly and quickly, making navigation on the phone a breeze. It offers an unparalleled level of smoothness among Android smartphones.

When it comes to video performance, the Pixel 8 Pro handles fast motion, such as the descent of a speeding Imperial shuttle, with ease and without noticeable judder or stutter.

The Pixel 8 Pro is economically priced at £999 / $999 / AU$1699, which is considerably cheaper than other flagship Android devices like the Sony Xperia 1 V and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In terms of display, the OLED panel of Pixel 8 Pro shows impressive black depths and good contrast as evident from the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney+. However, it’s not as impactful as the Sony Xperia 5 V.

Comparing across operating systems, the top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max is more expensive than the Pixel 8 Pro, but the iPhone 15 Pro is similarly priced.

The standard Google Pixel 8, while cheaper, compromises on resolution, screen size, camera lenses, and lacks a temperature sensor on the rear.

The Pixel 8 Pro features a soft-touch matte back glass, with the Bay Blue variant being particularly attractive. The Rose Pixel 8, though glossy, is equally appealing. The 6.2-inch screen size is preferable for its compactness, but unfortunately, the Pro’s features are only available in the 6.7-inch model.

The battery performance of the Pixel 8 Pro is satisfactory, though it doesn’t quite match up to competitors like the Motorola Edge Plus and OnePlus 11, which can last for two days without frequent monitoring.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system holds up well against competitors like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra. While its video performance lags behind, it excels in dynamic range and low light photography. The 48-MP ultrawide camera is especially notable for its performance in low light conditions.

Users who have switched from models like the 15 Pro Max and S23 Ultra have praised the Pixel 8 Pro for its form factor, good battery life, and absence of overheating issues.

The Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8’s cameras are very similar in features and performance to their predecessors.

Despite the new features, the Pixel 8 Pro’s battery life has shown a slight decrease in comparison to last year’s model, as revealed by tests.

In terms of thermals and performance, the Pixel 8 Pro aligns closely with last year’s Pixel 7 Pro, hitting a similar thermal wall when running intense tasks such as gaming.

The camera module on the Pixel 8 Pro is more durable than on previous models, resisting scratches even without a case.

The Pixel 8 showed significant improvement over the 7 Pro, especially in terms of heat management.

For those migrating from Pixel 4, the face unlock feature in Pixel 8 relieves concerns about security and accessibility.

The ‘Best Take’ feature is highly praised by users of Pixel 8 Pro, who primarily purchased the device for its camera capabilities. However, the purpose of the in-built thermometer hardware remains unclear to them.

Some users who traded in a Cloudy White Pixel 6 Pro for a Porcelain Pixel 8 Pro from T-Mobile received a $500 credit over 24 months, effectively halving the monthly payment price for the trade-in. The display quality of the new phone is appreciated as it is easily visible outdoors.

Some users have reported connectivity issues and app lockups, along with delays in notifications compared to previous models. Tweaking modem connection options has been suggested as a workaround for the connectivity problems.

Some users returned their device due to a preference for a non-flat screen and issues with buggy software. They preferred the OnePlus 11 due to its great camera and features, despite acknowledging that the Pixel is not a bad phone.

For some, moving from an iPhone 12 to a Pixel 8 brought some noticeable changes, particularly in terms of app optimization. Certain apps like Snapchat performed better on the iPhone, and issues with screen optimization were noticed in apps like Hulu and Max.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s battery life has been praised as better than the iPhone 12’s, with no overheating or connectivity issues reported. Despite some initial bugs with specific apps, users are satisfied with the phone’s overall performance and particularly enjoy the camera.

Upgrading from a regular Pixel 6 to the 8 Pro turned out to be worthwhile mainly due to the Read Aloud feature in Chrome. The upgrade price of $600 for Google Fi customers was seen as good value.

Some switches from Galaxy S Ultra to Pixel were driven by the superior camera quality of the latter. The Pixel was seen to outperform Samsung phones, whose cameras were described as overhyped due to issues like blurry close-up shots and shutter lag.

While the Pixel’s performance is satisfactory, the expectation is for Google to develop their own System on Chip (SOC), like with iPhones. The current Tensor chip is perceived as a tweaked version of the Exynos chip.

The Pixel 8 Pro has received praise for its impressive build quality, stunning screen, and powerful performance, with users particularly lauding its camera capabilities. However, the phone’s weight and size, as well as its fingerprint scanner, have received mixed reviews. Despite these, users generally agree that it’s a worthwhile upgrade from previous models.

While users agree that the battery life is good, some express that it’s not as great as other phones they’ve used in the past. Upgrading from previous models like Pixel 7 for better battery life has been a common trend among users, who report overall satisfaction despite the battery life not being exceptional.

Some users have raised concerns about the battery life and camera processing, comparing it unfavorably to previous Pixel models.

There are mentions of missing the superior battery endurance of other models like the S23 Ultra, despite appreciating the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera speed.

Users who have switched from models like the S23 U have praised the Pixel 8 Pro for its mature feel, despite the S23 U having superior specifications on paper. They appreciate the Pixel 8 Pro’s lighter weight and more vibrant user interface.

Users switching from other models like the iPhone 13 Pro have expressed satisfaction with the Pixel 8 Pro, highlighting its superior spam call screening feature, impressive screen, and decent battery life.

The Pixel 8 Pro is available for $959.70 on Amazon.

The Pixel 8 Pro is priced at $999 and can be purchased from retailers like Amazon and Target.

The stainless steel frame of the Pixel 8 Pro, particularly around the camera sensors, is prone to small scratches. These are only visible under certain light conditions and are purely cosmetic, but it suggests a need for a more durable material, such as titanium.

The buttons on the phone, including the lock button and volume rocker, feel like they are made from cheap plastic, detracting from the overall tactile experience.

Despite being fitted with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the Pixel 8 Pro is prone to scratches and the glass color may appear to flake off. The frame and camera bar also show micro scratches easily.

In low light conditions, users will need to depend on fingerprint authentication as the Face Unlock feature struggles to perform in dark rooms, unlike Apple’s Face ID.

Compared to the Samsung S23+ and S23 Ultra smartphones which offer 256 GB of storage, the Pixel 8 Pro falls short with only 128 GB.

The Pixel’s display has a tendency to over-saturate colors, resulting in unnatural hues, such as neon-green foliage. In comparison, the Sony Xperia 5 V provides a more balanced color output, producing vibrant yet natural-looking visuals.

The Pixel’s display struggles with shadow handling, often lacking subtlety in dark scenes and failing to provide sufficient detail in shadows. This results in characters appearing either too brightly lit or shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

The Pixel’s audio performance could be improved, particularly in terms of timing. Compared to the Sony Xperia 5 V, the Pixel’s timing is less precise, leading to a lack of rhythmic drive and making the Sony device more engaging.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s battery can comfortably last a full day without requiring a charge before bedtime. However, extending its life to a day and a half is only possible with minimal usage.

The charging speed of the Pixel 8 Pro is somewhat slow, taking about an hour and a half to reach full charge from zero. This may not be an issue for overnight charging, but it can be inconvenient when needing a quick recharge in a short amount of time.

Google’s software capabilities with the Pixel series are impressive, but the performance of the Tensor chips, particularly regarding thermals and battery life, is seen as disappointing.

The functionality of the Pixel series devices tends to falter in low-light scenarios, forcing users to rely on the fingerprint sensor.

Users report experiencing lags with certain apps and wish for better battery life. However, they anticipate that future updates might rectify the app performance issues. Despite these minor issues, users generally agree that the Pixel 8 Pro is a decent phone, especially for first-time Pixel users.

The Portrait mode of the Pixel 8 Pro, once known for producing some of the best results, now appears to struggle with capturing details such as hair. Users might find themselves relying more on the natural bokeh effect from its cameras.

The display brightness levels are not as high as expected, making it difficult to take photos or see the display in bright conditions.

The in-display fingerprint scanner and face unlock feature do not perform consistently, with frequent misses in recognition.

The volume output on the phone’s speakers is notably low, which can be a hindrance when attempting to play audio content from social media platforms.

The Pixel Tensor combination is associated with a faulty modem.

The Pixel sometimes displays a decent cell signal but fails to provide data flow. A temporary solution to this connectivity issue is resetting the device by toggling the airplane mode on and off, which restores functionality for a while.

There are concerns about the longevity of the Pixel series devices given the uninspiring performance numbers of the Tensor G3. The decision to not opt for UFS 4.0 storage, which could improve app load times, is also seen as a disappointment.

Some users expressed disappointment with the Pixel 6-8 line, criticizing features like unimproved biometrics, poor processor performance, inconvenient button placement, and average battery life. The Tensor chip was particularly criticized for subpar stability and overheating issues, which led to a decision to switch.

Despite mocking Apple for its late adoption of USB-C support, the Pixel models surprisingly do not support DisplayPort Over USB-C, preventing them from connecting to an external display.

One limitation of the temperature sensor is that it cannot be used for measuring body temperature, a feature that could have proven useful in a number of practical scenarios, such as checking for fever.