Google makes its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro official, and makes AI work for you📱

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Three weeks after Apple unveiled its new iPhones (which you can discover by clicking here), it’s now Google’s turn to unveil its latest smartphones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

The Pixel range’s distinctive design 🤩

When you look at these new Pixels, there’s no mistaking that they’re Google Pixels. They retain the visual identity established by the Pixel 6, with a glass back and a rectangular photo block extending across the entire width. However, the aesthetic is more rounded than last year’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro models.

Pixel 8

The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch Oled display in 20:9 format, called Actua display. Offering Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels) and a variable refresh rate from 60 to 120 Hz. This screen ensures optimum visibility in a variety of conditions, with a maximum brightness of 1400 cd/m² in HDR under normal conditions, rising to 2000 cd/m² in full sunlight. Even so, the Pixel 8 remains a relatively compact smartphone, measuring 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm and weighing 187 grams.

As for the battery, the Pixel 8 packs a 4575 mAh unit compatible with a 27 W charge. Thanks to Google’s official 30W charger, it’s possible to recover 50% of the battery in just 30 minutes. Wireless charging is also supported. In terms of connectivity, the Pixel 8 is equipped with 5G, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3.

© Google

© Google

Pixel 8 Pro

The Pixel 8 Pro is larger and heavier than the Pixel 8 (162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm, 213 grams). Its satin-finish coating gives it a premium look. Its 6.7-inch Oled screen in 20:9 format, named Super Actua, offers a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels. The refresh rate varies from 1 to 120 Hz thanks to LTPO technology. The 5050 mAh battery also recovers 50% of its charge in 30 minutes with the official charger, while supporting wireless charging.

© Google

© Google

Camera makes magic 🪄

Photography remains one of the strong points of the Pixel range, and the new Pixel 8s are no exception. The Pixel 8 is equipped with three photo sensors: a 50MP (f/1.68) main sensor, a 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 10.5MP (f/2.2) selfie camera on the front. The Pixel 8 Pro goes even further with four photo sensors, including the same 50 MP (f/1.68) main sensor, a 48 MP (f/1.95) ultra-wide-angle lens, a 48 MP (f/2.8) x5 telephoto lens and a 10.5 MP (f/2.2) front-facing selfie camera.

As with all modern smartphones, photo sensors are just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, our smartphones are equipped with increasingly sophisticated photo-processing algorithms. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are equipped with Google’s new Tensor G3 chip to use thos algotithms.

This chip enables features such as the « Best Take » option. Once you’ve taken a group photo, your Pixel can offer to retouch it by combining the best shots of each person in a single image. Take a look at the demo below.

La fonctionnalité « Meilleure prise »// © Google

Thanks to the « Magic Retouch » feature, you’ll be able to edit any photo quickly and easily. A picture is worth a thousand words, so take a look at the video below.

La fonctionnalité « Retouche magique »// © Google

Google goes all out with video 🎥

Google also innovates on the video side with the Audio Magic Eraser feature, capable of eliminating distracting noises when recording musicians or people talking. The Pixel 8 Pro also features Video Boost mode, improving video quality through adjustments made by AI. Even in low-light conditions, video capture is optimized for greater clarity. A Pro mode is also available for those who prefer to adjust settings manually.

AI also helps you in your day-to-day work🤖

Artificial intelligence is not limited to photography. It is integrated into various aspects of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro system. Looking for inspiration for your wallpaper? Just type in a command specifying what you want, and your smartphone will take care of the rest.

But the biggest winner is Google Assistant. Indeed, Google has announced that conversations will be more natural. The assistant will also be able to summarize and read aloud web pages. It will also be able to translate them if necessary, or briefly present the key points to remember. Voice input has also been improved, and you can now speak twice as fast and in different languages without any problems. The filter function for unwanted calls has also been improved.

Google leads the way in terms of updates 💪🏾

The duration of software support is a point often criticized on Android. While an iPhone receives iOS updates for an average of 6 years, Android’s average is 2 years. Samsung announced earlier this year that it was offering 4 years of updates for its smartphones. Xiaomi recently decided to do the same for its high-end smartphones (click here to find out more). If it’s better than before, it’s still not comparable to what Apple offers.

Google is well aware that the subject of updates is becoming increasingly important for users. Indeed, they change smartphones less often. And knowing that your smartphone won’t be obsolete after 2 years is important. The Mountain View company has therefore decided to make a big move by offering 7 years of software updates. That’s even better than Apple. We can only praise this decision, which will surely have an impact across the entire Android ecosystem. And perhaps other manufacturers will follow suit.

The Google Pixel 8 is priced at 799 euros. That’s a 150-euro increase on the Pixel 7 in its basic 128GB version. With the same storage capacity, the Google Pixel 8 Pro starts at 1099 euros. That’s 200 euros more than the Pixel 7 Pro.

What do you think of these new Pixels and their smart features? Tell us in the comments.