Google has produced a phone so smart it could change the way we record history. I’ll be able to prove it when the Image Matrix Tech review goes live next week. The Pixel 8 Pro will get the best features, including BEST TAKE, where you pick the image then ‘steal’ a face from another shot to make sure everyone in the photo has their eyes open.
This adds to the powerful toolkit Pixel has for photo editing. Removing people from backgrounds is well established but now Pixel can clean up your sound too. Audio Magic Eraser can identify sounds, like people talking in the background, music or wind. By sorting these sounds into clear layers, you can control their output.
On top of that, Pixel’s new Video Boost technology (coming soon) will deliver HDR+ and enhanced colour grading plus Night Sight Video. Video Boost will use Google’s cloud computing power to render a processed version of the video shot on the Pixel. You’ll still have an HD version on your phone while the 4K file is rendered.
Google is taking computational photography, sound and video, to a whole new level.
Both Pixel 8 phones have with the same 50-megapixel main camera. It has 21% more light sensitivity than the Pixel 7 series. The ultrawide camera has been updated on Pixel 8 to include autofocus, allowing Macro Focus on the base model.
All cameras on the Pixel 8 Pro have been upgraded. Autofocus is now included in the selfie camera. Google says the Pixel 8 Pro 48MP ultrawide lens gathers 105% more light than the Pixel 7 Pro. The minimum focus distance has also been improved to just 2cm.
Low light handling is supposed to much better and for the Pixel 8 Pro we get manual shutter and ISO controls.
Here are the side-by-side camera specs.
| CAMERA | PIXEL 8 | PIXEL 8 PRO |
| Main Camera | 50 MP Octa PD wide camera 1.2 μm pixel width ƒ/1.68 aperture 82° field of view 1/1.31″ image sensor size Super Res Zoom up to | 50 MP Octa PD wide camera 1.2 μm pixel width ƒ/1.68 aperture 82° field of view 1/1.31″ image sensor size 2x Optical Quality |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP ultrawide camera with autofocus13 1.25 μm pixel width ƒ/2.2 aperture 125.8° field of view Lens correction | 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus 0.8 μm pixel width ƒ/1.95 aperture 125.5° field of view Lens correction |
| Telephoto | 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera 0.7 μm pixel width ƒ/2.8 aperture 21.8° field of view 5x optical zoom Super Res Zoom up to 30x | |
| Extra | Single-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor Spectral and flicker sensor Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide | Multi-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor Spectral and flicker sensor Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide and telephoto |
Pixel 8 Pro has a vast set of features like a thermometer. You can quickly get the temperature of objects like frying pans or drinks by scanning them like a barcode. Google has also applied for approval to use the thermometer for personal temperature records.
Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch display – known as ‘Actua’ – has an improved refresh rate
of up to 120 Hz for smoother scrolling and gaming. The 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro display has a variable refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz.
| DISPLAY | PIXEL 8 | PIXEL 8 PRO |
| Full-screen 6.2-inch (157 mm)1 display 20:9 aspect ratio Actua display (1080 x 2400) OLED at 428 PPI Smooth Display (60–120 Hz2) Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® cover glass Always-on display with At a Glance and Now Playing Up to 1400 nits (HDR) and up to 2000 nits (peak brightness)3 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio HDR support Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colours | Full-screen 6.7-inch (170 mm)1 display 20:9 aspect ratio Super Actua display (1344 x 2992) LTPO OLED at 489 PPI Smooth Display (1–120 Hz2) Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 cover glass Always-on display with At a Glance and Now Playing Up to 1600 nits (HDR) and up to 2400 nits (peak brightness)3 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio HDR support Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colours |
Google’s Tensor G3 chip is the key to all of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro’s performance upgrades. Since Google Tensor was introduced with Pixel 6, its AI capabilities have increased. The biggest machine learning model on Pixel 8 is 10x more complex compared to Pixel 6.
Google also announced an astounding seven years of software support for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, including Android OS upgrades, security updates and regular Feature Drops. This means if you buy a Pixel 8 model this year you’ll be supported to 2030.
We’ll have more details in our full review of both Pixel 8 models.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Pixel 8 starts at only A$1,199 and will be available for pre-sale from October 5 available at the Google Store, Telstra, JB HI-FI, Optus, Vodafone, Officeworks and Harvey Norman.
It’s available in Hazel, Rose and Obsidian.
Pixel 8 Pro starts at A$1,699 and will be available for presale from October 5 available at the Google Store, Telstra, JB HI-FI, Optus, Vodafone, Officeworks and Harvey Norman.
It’s available in Bay, Porcelain and Obsidian.