Google’s Pixel telephones have been a few of our favourite Android telephones, particularly due to the enhancements they’ve seen over the past couple of years. The corporate stepped up its smartphone recreation when it redesigned the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional in an effort to convey its telephones again to aggressive flagship standing, and it continued these successes with the Pixel 7 sequence. As somebody who typically comes again to the Pixel 7 from different flagships, it is secure to say that the telephone I’m most trying ahead to this 12 months is the Pixel 8, assuming that is what Google calls it.
We’re nonetheless a number of good months away from getting a style of the next-generation Pixel telephones, however there have already been leaks and rumors that’ll inform us what’s in retailer.
Google Pixel 8 sequence: Worth and availability
Google has but to formally affirm the Pixel 8 sequence’ arrival, so nothing is ready in stone in terms of pricing. Nonetheless, each the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 launched at $599 within the U.S., making them nice offers within the flagship market. The Pixel 6 Professional and seven Professional additionally supply nice worth at $899. We count on Google to keep up the identical pricing to proceed providing worth flagships. Nonetheless, we would not be shocked to see a small value hike on account of inflation and different exterior elements.
Each the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 sequence made their debut in October, so it is honest to imagine the Pixel 8 will launch in October 2023. Once more, whereas nothing is confirmed we count on Google to tease the Pixel 8 at Google I/O 2023 subsequent month, so keep tuned for extra info.
Google Pixel 8 sequence: Design and specs
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional seemed similar to their predecessors, and it seems like Google is planning to maintain it easy as soon as once more with an iterative design replace. We have already got some leaked renders that present a really acquainted design for these upcoming telephones. Right here, have a look:
The leaked renders present the Pixel 8 in white and the Pixel 8 Professional in black. They each look similar to the present crop of Pixel telephones with its distinctive digicam bar on the again. Nonetheless, there are some attention-grabbing adjustments this time round, particularly on the Pixel 8 Professional. The rear digicam module seems barely totally different from the one on the Pixel 7 Professional. All three cameras seem like encased in a single glass tablet, versus the tablet and circle design on the 7 Professional. There additionally seems to be a further sensor beneath the digicam flash, which wasn’t there on the 7 Professional.
The Pixel 8 Professional additionally seems to have a flat panel on the entrance as an alternative of the curved one presently on the 7 Professional, and we’re to see what this can appear like in the actual world. The leaked dimensions of the Pixel 8 Professional — 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.7mm — inform us that it will likely be a hair thinner than the present mannequin, however do not count on it to be noticeable.
So far as the Pixel 8 render is anxious, it seems similar to the Pixel 7. Nonetheless, its leaked dimensions are smaller than the Pixel 7 — 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm vs. the Pixel 7’s 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm. If this finally ends up being correct, we’ll have a extra compact Pixel flagship this 12 months. It isn’t as quick or skinny because the Galaxy S23, however it might nonetheless make an enormous distinction, particularly if you examine it side-by-side with the Pixel 7.
Google Pixel 8 sequence: Wishlist
That is all the knowledge we now have in regards to the Pixel 8 sequence for now, however we’re hoping to see extra adjustments, like those under.
Sooner charging speeds, please!
Pixel 7 in Obsidian
Each Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional path behind the competitors within the charging division. The Pixel 7, in case you are questioning, helps 20W wired charging, whereas the Pixel 7 Professional tops out at 23W. These charging speeds could look first rate for an iPhone consumer, however they’re painfully sluggish if you examine them with the charging speeds supplied by different Android flagships from the likes of OnePlus. The newly launched OnePlus 11 can absolutely prime up the battery in simply 25 minutes. Anticipating 65W or 80W charging speeds from the next-generation Pixel telephones could be wishful pondering, however I might like them to start out someplace and no less than compete with Samsung’s 45W charging speeds. Having to attend for nearly two hours to your telephone to cost is a little bit of a tough tablet to swallow.
Variable refresh charges for all fashions
I’m assuming most individuals know by now that the Pixel 7 Professional has a 120Hz display screen, whereas the usual Pixel 7 is caught at 90Hz. The latter remains to be an uptick from the 60Hz shows we have seen in older units, and you will possible by no means spot a distinction between 90Hz and 120Hz until you utilize them facet by facet, however do you know that solely the Pixel 7 Professional’s show helps variable refresh charges? That is proper, solely the Professional mannequin advantages from an LTPO show with a variable refresh fee (VRR) assist that throttles right down to solely output the mandatory quantity of frames. That, together with the extra environment friendly Tensor G2 chip, pulls a whole lot of weight to considerably scale back energy consumption.
Whereas the Pixel 7 Professional can crawl right down to 10Hz whereas idling, the Pixel 7’s OLED panel can solely change between 60Hz and 90Hz. It could be good if all fashions within the Pixel 8 lineup wouldn’t solely have a 120Hz show but in addition assist variable refresh charges. It is sensible to order some options for the Professional mannequin, however I might relatively have these limitations solely on the extra inexpensive Pixel 7a and never see them trickle right down to the flagships.
A extra dependable fingerprint scanner?
Each time I change to a unique telephone from the Pixel 7, the one factor I do not miss is its relatively sluggish and unreliable fingerprint scanner. My time with the Pixel 7’s fingerprint scanner has been so difficult that I switched to facial recognition despite the fact that it isn’t as safe. Not all Pixel 7 items seem like stricken by a sluggish fingerprint sensor, however I do know I’m not alone once I say utilizing it’s not an gratifying expertise.
I’ve seen numerous threads on Reddit discussing this difficulty and attempting to determine alternate methods, like registering your fingers twice to make it extra dependable. It could be good to see Google swapping out the optical fingerprint scanners with ultrasonic ones for the Pixel 8 lineup. The ultrasonic sensor on the Galaxy S23, for example, blows the Pixel 7’s scanner out of the water, and I do not see myself getting used to a slower sensor once more after having used a extra dependable one.
Longer assist with extra updates
I discover it mildly unsettling to jot down about wanting higher Android assist on a telephone made by Google, however we’re dwelling in occasions when different producers supply longer assist for his or her telephones with extra updates. Samsung was the primary to win its customers by providing longer software program assist. The corporate, in case you are questioning, has promised 4 main Android OS updates and as much as 5 years of safety updates for its flagship telephones. OnePlus has additionally made a comparable promise to ship extra updates to “some” of its telephones, so it is secure to imagine the OnePlus 11 is first in line for that. This places Google in a troublesome spot because the current-generation Pixel telephones are solely promised three Android OS updates and as much as 4 years’ value of safety updates.
None of those come near the variety of years of assist Apple provides for its units, however it might be good to see Google stepping issues up with extra updates for its telephones. And the truth that it is now utilizing bespoke Tensor chips for its telephone ought to make it that a lot simpler to tailor updates. This is not essentially a deal-breaker for a lot of, however having higher software program updates is nice for the longevity of the system.
We’re nonetheless months away from getting our arms on the brand new Pixel telephones. If you happen to do not wish to wait that lengthy and wish to purchase a brand new telephone proper now, think about choosing up a Pixel 7 or a Pixel 7 Professional. They’re each glorious telephones that’ll serve you nicely for a few years to come back. They’re additionally continuously discounted throughout all of the retailers within the U.S., so that you would possibly discover a whole lot in our Pixel 7 offers submit.
What would you wish to see within the Pixel 8 sequence? Pontificate within the feedback under.