ThePixel 8 andPixel 8 Pro are a pair ofAndroidsmartphones designed, developed, and marketed byGoogle as part of theGoogle Pixel product line. They serve as the successors to thePixel 7 andPixel 7 Pro, respectively. Visually, the phones resemble their respective predecessors, with incremental upgrades to their displays and performance. Powered by the third-generationGoogle Tensorsystem-on-chip, Google placed heavy emphasis on theirartificial intelligence–powered features, especially in the realm ofgenerative AI andphoto editing.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were officially announced on October 4, 2023, at the annualMade by Google event and were released in the United States on October 12. They received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised both the hardware and software despite their modest upgrades. The phones' AI features, Google's historic promise of seven years ofsoftware updates, and the Pro model's unconventional inclusion of atemperature sensor received significant attention and was heavily scrutinized, drawing mixed reactions. The mid-range variantPixel 8a was released in May 2024.
In May 2023,9to5Google reported that Google intended to launch the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in late 2023.[4] The phones were approved by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) in August of that year.[5] After previewing the phones in September,[6] Google officially announced the phones on October 4, alongside thePixel Watch 2, at the annualMade by Google event.[7] Pre-orders became available the same day,[8] and the phones became available in 21 countries on October 12.[9][10] Google hardware chiefRick Osterloh announced later that month that the company would begin manufacturing its Pixel phones in India beginning in 2024 with the Pixel 8, followingApple's lead with theiPhone 15 series.Bloomberg News reported thatDixon Technologies andFoxconn were among the top contenders for the job.[11][12]
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are visually similar to thePixel 7 andPixel 7 Pro, respectively,[13] with minor refinements such as a flatter screen, more rounded corners, and softer edges. The Pro model also features a matte finish.[8][9][14] They were each available in three colors,[8] with a fourth "Mint" color added in January 2024:[15]
The Pixel 8 has a 6.2 in (157 mm)FHD+1080pOLED display at 428 ppi with a2400 × 1080 pixel resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7 in (170 mm)QHD+1440pLTPO OLED display at 489 ppi with a2992 × 1344 pixel resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio.[16] The Pixel 8 has avariable refresh rate of 60–120 Hz, while the Pixel 8 Pro has variable refresh rate of 1–120 Hz. Both phones contain awide and aultrawide rear camera, with the Pixel 8 Pro featuring an additional 48 MPtelephoto 5×optical zoom rear camera. The front camera on both phones contains a 10.5 MP ultrawide lens.[9] As with the Pixel 7 series, the Face Unlockfacial recognition system is enabled by software and the front camera, but adds support for secure biometric authentication.[17][18]
The phones are powered by the third-generationGoogle Tensorsystem-on-chip (SoC), marketed as "Google Tensor G3", and theTitan M2 securityco-processor.[18][19] The OLED display, marketed as "Actua" and "Super Actua" on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, respectively, boasts "better color accuracy and higher brightness".[8][18] The Pro model also features atemperature sensor on its rear camera bar, an unconventional feature for a smartphone.[18] It was launched with its use on humans pending approval from theFood and Drug Administration.[20] The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were among the first phones on the market to supportWi-Fi 7, the latest wireless standard.[21]
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro shipped withAndroid 14 at launch,[14] coinciding with thestable release of Android 14 on theAndroid Open Source Project (AOSP),[22] along with version 9.1 of the newly renamedPixel Camera app.[23] It will receive seven years of major OS upgrades, with support extending to 2030, a significant extension compared to previous generations that places the Pixel on par with Apple's typical support lifetime foriPhones.[14][18] Google also stated that it would stockspare parts for the devices for seven years.[24]Wired andThe Verge noted that these two commitments were potentially linked to California's impendingright to repair act requiring companies to provide support for devices costing $100 or more for seven years.[18][24]
As with previous Pixel smartphones,artificial intelligence and software advancements took center stage during the Made by Google launch event. New camera features announced include Best Take, an upgraded Magic Eraser, Night Sight Video, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, and Real Tone on video.[8][18] Exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro were Video Boost and manual "Pro" camera controls,[14][25] although the latter was only artificially restricted to the Pro model via software.[26]
To promote the introduction of the "Mint" color in January 2024, Google partnered with street artist Ricardo Gonzalez to paint over a Pixel 8 billboard in New York City.[39] In February 2024, Google released a commercial titled "Javier in Frame" which advertised the Pixel 8's Guided Frame feature, ahead of its airing duringSuper Bowl LVIII. Directed by Adam Morse and telling the story of a blind man named Javier who uses Guided Frame to "document important moments in his life", the 60-second commercial marked Google's thirdSuper Bowl spot in a row to market the Pixel.[40][41]
In early reactions, three aspects particularly piqued commentators' interest: the Pixel 8 Pro's temperature sensor, Google's promise of seven years of updates, and the heavy emphasis on AI. The temperature sensor drew varied reactions: some found it a potentially useful novelty,[8][25][42] while others were bewildered and dismissed it as a strange gimmick.[9][13][43] The response to Google's seven-year pledge was similarly divided: several journalists welcomed the move, hailing it as astonishing and monumental;[44][45][46] others questioned whether Google would fulfill its promise.[47][48][49]
Sky-swap using the generative AI software (see metadata)
The Washington Post's Chris Velazco opined that the phones reflected "a deepening obsession with AI",[50] withThe Verge's Jon Porter describing the launch event as "a parade of AI", observing that the phrase "AI" had been invoked over fifty times.[51] As the Pixel 8 was "the first mainstream phone to bake generative AI directly into the photo creation process at no extra cost", computer science professorRen Ng at theUniversity of California, Berkeley described it as a pivotal milestone in the area of imagery.[52] Nicole Nguyen ofThe Wall Street Journal raised concerns with the implications of the Pixel 8'sphoto editing features, fearing that it could lead to an influx in "fauxtography", the malicious manipulation of photographs.[53] The AI features themselves received mixed responses. Writing forWired, Julian Chokkattu expressed excitement that these features, hitherto limited to those proficient with image orvideo editing software, were now being made accessible to a wider audience;[54] Ben Sin ofXDA Developers found them "fun and scary".[55] Porter felt that some of the features showcased were unnecessary, concluding that Google was continuing to attempt to reassert its position as a leader in AI after ChatGPT's meteoric rise earlier that year hadcaught Google executives off-guard.[51] Also writing forThe Verge, Allison Johnson described the features as "complicated and messy",[56] while her colleague Jay Peters contemplated the question, "What is a photo?"[57]
Reviews were largely positive, thoughMashable observed a prevalent discontent with the phones' battery life, temperature sensor, and higher prices.[58] Writing forThe Guardian, Samuel Gibbs praised the phones' affordability and build quality,[59][60] whileDigital Spy's Jason Murdock highlighted their cameras, performances, and displays.[61][62] Chokkattu was thoroughly impressed by the phones' AI features, but was less pleased with the battery life and Face Unlock system.[63]PCMag's Iyaz Akhtar echoed these sentiments,[64][65] while June Wan ofZDNET and Daniel Howley ofYahoo! Finance also emphasized the usefulness of AI.[66][67]Marques Brownlee thought the phones were a mixed bag, finding the AI features a hit-or-miss.[68]CNN Underscored reviewer Max Buondonno offered glowing praise of both phones.[69][70]The Verge's Allison Johnson was more skeptical, finding the AI features "useful [but] troubling", lamenting the higher prices, and questioning Google's seven-year-update promise.[71] Mark Knapp ofIGN appreciated the phones' modest hardware and performance upgrades, but felt they were inferior toSamsung's latest Android phones.[72][73] Ron Amadeo ofArs Technica commended Google for abandoning curved screens in favor of a flat one, as well as praising its commitment to Tensor and software updates; however, he lambasted the Pro's temperature sensor as "embracing the worst of junky smartphone gimmicks".[74]Forbes staff writer Rebecca Isaacs deemed the phones "a solid choice for casual users".[75]
Ryan Reith, an analyst at theInternational Data Group, predicted that Google could achieve higher sales numbers "if supported by strong marketing", considering its emphasis on AI.[20] Anopinion piece published in theFinancial Times was headlined: "Price, not AI, will lift [the] Pixel's market share".[76] Multiple publications have labeled the phones Google's latest subdued effort to compete with Apple's dominant iPhone sales.[20][77]
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