Google just showed off the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, so the next generation of Pixel phones won’t be out for a while. Some people have said what they think the Series 8 models might look like. We’ve put together what we know so far about the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, as well as what we hope and expect from them.
When will Google release the Pixel 8?
There is no word yet on when the Pixel 8 models will be available to the public, but every previous Pixel flagship has been released in October (almost to the day), so it seems safe to assume that the Pixel 8 series will come out in October 2023.
Google Pixel 8 price:
Again, Google hasn’t said anything about how much the series-8 devices could cost. You can estimate how much money you’ll need to put down by looking at how much the most recent models cost. Look at how well they lined up:
- Google Pixel 7: $599/£599
- Google Pixel 7 Pro: $899/£849
- Google Pixel 6: $599/£599
- Google Pixel 6 Pro: $899/£849
The results show that Google has strict rules about pricing. We think the Pixel 8 will cost $599 or £599 in 2023, and the Pixel 8 Pro will cost $849 or £549.
Specs and features of the Pixel 8?
Since the Pixel 8 hasn’t come out yet, there isn’t much information about its new hardware, design, or features. But there are rumors, with the most popular one being about the chipsets that will be used in the next generation of devices.
A report from the Dutch site GalaxyClub says that the third generation of Google’s Tensor chipset is already being made, so it should come out at the same time as the Pixel 8. The site says that Samsung will again make the part and that prototypes of the part’s chip (with the model number S5P9865) are already on the market.
S5P9845 and S5P9855 were the names of the processors from the previous generation of Tensor 1 and 2. The Tensor 2 in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro is already faster and more powerful than its predecessor. This has raised expectations for the third generation, which is coming soon.
WinFuture has found out more about the two phones after looking into what it calls “publicly available code sources.” On the site, both the “Shiba” and “Husky” phone numbers were found. Since Google’s previous Pixel flagships, the Pixel 7 series, was called Cheetah and Panther, it’s likely that these are the Pixel 8 phones.
The code also shows that the two phones will run on a chipset called “Zuma,” which shares a modem with the Tensor 2 and will likely be used to power the next Pixels. It shouldn’t be a surprise that both phones run on Android 14.
Both the Shiba and the Husky have high-resolution screens with impressive numbers: 2268 x 1080 and 2822 x 1344 for the Shiba and the Husky, respectively.
Even if these aren’t the Pixel 8’s final specs, they give us a good idea of what to expect. They may change between now and October when the phone will be officially released.
Pixel phones have always had some of the best cameras on the market, so it’s exciting that developer Kuba Wojciechowski found a juicy rumor about the cameras on the Pixel 8. They gave away the source code for the Pixel camera app, which shows that the next phone might have staggered HDR. Staggering high dynamic range (HDR) photography, in which the same set of pixels is used for multiple exposures, is not yet available on Pixel phones.
Wojciechowski said on Twitter that this method “lets you get the same effect as regular HDR, but without the longer time it takes to take the picture or the chance that the photos will be blurry because the frames aren’t lined up right because you’re moving.”
Anything that can make the Pixel’s camera even better, we’re all for it.
When you need to make a call but aren’t in a 5G area, the new Apple iPhone 14 series can do it through satellite. Google VP Hiroshi Lockheimer hinted in a tweet that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro might have the same feature. Since Google often uses the newest Android features in its phones and is the first to get updates, it seems likely that Google will continue this trend.
Google Pixel 8 wishlist
The class of 2022 has impressed us, but here are some things we’d like Google to improve in future iterations.
All models have a refresh rate of 120Hz.
These days, this is a pretty simple one. With so many mid-range Android phones boasting 120Hz refresh rates to improve scrolling, it makes sense for both the Pixel 8 Pro and the standard model to have this capability. It’s already present in the Pixel Pro 7 and Pixel Pro 6, but we’d like to see the Pixel 7’s 90Hz rate improve when its replacement arrives.
Charge rates that are faster
The main complaint in both our Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro reviews was the slow recharge times. In an age when phones can charge from 0% to 100% in about half an hour, the Pixels appear sluggish. As a result, we believe it is critical that Google address this in the Pixel 8 devices.
Enhanced facial recognition
While the Pixel 7 Pro’s new facial recognition unlock feature impressed us, the Pixel 7 still needs more time in the oven. Hopefully, the year between releases will result in a better showing for the Pixel 8.
Lose the weight
Ok. We’re not shaming the Pixel 7 Pro for its size, but at 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm and 212g, it’s big-boned. We’re not sure if it’s a thyroid issue, but we’d like to see a slimmer Pixel 8 Pro chassis. True, most powerful phones these days are quite bulky, but for the sake of our wrists, we can only hope for lighter and more compact designs in 2023.
Check out our best smartphone and best smartphones coming in 2023 roundups to see what phones the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will have to compete with.
