Verdict
Bursting with intelligent AI-infused software program, the promise of software program updates for a few years to return and a digital camera and display that completely impress, the Google Pixel 8 Professional does a improbable job at providing potential patrons one thing a bit totally different.
Professionals
- The intense, flat display is beautiful
- Typically unbelievable digital camera efficiency throughout all sensors and lenses
- AI options provide distinctive software program tips
- 7 years of updates
Cons
- Uncomfortable to carry
- Temperature sensor is pointless
- Efficiency not as sturdy as equally priced telephones
- Notable worth improve over 7 Professional
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Tensor G3Google’s chip focusses on sturdy AI efficiency and powers most of the telephone’s most unusual options -
AI-infused software programThe sheer breadth of the AI options discovered within the software program is spectacular -
Three spectacular camerasThree high-resolution cameras seize detailed, splendidly processed photographs
Introduction
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is a high-end Android smartphone that may do belongings you gained’t discover in competitors from Apple or Samsung.
The Pixel 8 Professional turns frowns into smiles in pictures, removes undesirable background audio in your movies and might even utterly change the dimensions of a topic in a picture. Even unhealthy pictures taken with Google’s new flagship may be was one thing significantly better afterwards.
That is the primary telephone to actually concentrate on AI all through, from the digital camera to the software program. Google goes in a distinct course to the competitors, most of that are pushing for higher-end digital camera {hardware} and sooner chipsets. Google doesn’t care about that, as a substitute utilizing the Tensor G3 to realize its targets.
Design
- Three pretty uninteresting color selections
- Will be uncomfortable to carry
- Matte rear is welcome
In an identical transfer to latest telephones from Apple and Samsung, Google has tweaked an current design for the Pixel Professional 8 slightly than utterly reinventing it. Google has been utilizing this look for the reason that Pixel 6, and whereas it felt trendy earlier than it’s beginning to get a bit stale. The Pixel 9 Professional wants a refresh subsequent 12 months.
It’s a well-built telephone although, with a glass and steel physique and the welcome IP68 ranking for cover from mud and splashes of water.
There’s quite a bit to actually like in regards to the Pixel 8 Professional, nonetheless, the final design and ergonomics are the telephone’s weakest factors. Google has additionally failed to deal with a few of the largest points with the general Pixel design it has developed over the previous couple of iterations.
For example, the telephone retains the digital camera visor that has been current for the reason that Pixel 6. It is a bar that runs throughout the rear, housing all of the digital camera sensors in a usually tidy space. Because of a flat high and backside, this bar stays a shelf for mud to stay to every time it’s in a pocket. As we talked about in our Pixel 8 evaluation, the digital camera bar additionally protrudes sufficient to snag on denims consistently when pulled out of a pocket.
This would possibly seem to be a small subject, but it surely’s one which reveals there’s a scarcity of focus relating to the design of the Pixel 8 Professional. These points have been famous for years, with none adjustments being made to enhance usability.
I’ve additionally discovered the telephone uncomfortable to carry for prolonged durations. At 213g it’s not significantly heavy, but it feels very top-heavy with a variety of weight centered across the thick digital camera. Regardless that the iPhone 15 Professional Max weighs not far off 10g extra, I’d say it looks like a lighter telephone. The sides of the Pixel are sharp too, even when the perimeters are rounded off across the again. All of it provides as much as a telephone that takes some time to get used to utilizing.
On a extra optimistic observe, Google has switched the beforehand shiny again to a satin end that does a improbable job of lowering the looks of fingerprints and smudges. Oddly. This design trait is lacking on the smaller Pixel 8 which retains the very shiny end.
Display screen
- LTPO display goes from 1Hz to 120Hz
- Distinctive ranges of brightness
- Improbable HDR efficiency
The Google Pixel 8 Professional’s 6.7-inch 2992 x 1344 OLED is beautiful. It’s the very best show I’ve used on an Android telephone and it’s a notable improve over the Pixel 7 Professional in a number of vital methods.
Google has known as the display a Tremendous Actua show – as a result of every little thing wants a reputation lately. It refers back to the excessive brightness ranges the telephone can attain, upwards of 2000 nits in sure situations making it simply one of many brightest telephone shows in the marketplace.
The added brightness helps most with out of doors visibility, making the display snug to learn in all situations that I’ve been in a position to take a look at it in. The Tremendous Actua show advantages from HDR playback too, placing it on par with the iPhone 15 Professional in my exams and comfortably forward of anything.
The LTPO panel can now scale back the refresh fee all the way in which all the way down to 1Hz, rising to a most of 120Hz to make scrolling and sure video games really feel smoother. You don’t get this adaptive LTPO tech on the smaller, cheaper Pixel 8 which as a substitute makes use of software program to evaluate whether or not to refresh at 60Hz or 120Hz.
I’ve talked about the swap to a flat display beforehand, nonetheless, I’ve to commend Google once more for making the change. Ditching the curves makes the display simpler to make use of when gaming and it reduces annoying reflections on the perimeters. It’s additionally simply way more immersive when watching Netflix or YouTube, as not one of the picture is relegated to the perimeters.
Digital camera
- Three spectacular rear cameras
- A great deal of AI options included
- Improved video
Google has set its Pixel telephones out from the gang with their cameras for the reason that very starting and nothing has modified with the Pixel 8. Because of some welcome sensor upgrades, a bevy of software program tweaks and a a lot smarter app, the digital camera expertise right here is improbable. It’s up there with the very best digital camera telephones in the marketplace in late 2023.
The trio of cameras on the again comprise a principal 50MP octa-PD digital camera with a large f/1.68 aperture and a big 1/1.31-inch sensor, alongside a 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom and a 48MP ultrawide, full with autofocus. Google hasn’t skimped on any of those cameras and so they all take spectacular pictures.
Pictures from the Pixel 8 have that attribute Pixel look, which I completely love. Highlights are pushed to create putting photographs, with colors which are restrained but nonetheless correct and vibrant. Pictures aren’t fairly as cool as these from the 7 Professional, with hotter hints all through.
The best way the digital camera produces pores and skin tones is unmatched within the smartphone house and regardless that it’s nonetheless capturing 12MP photographs there’s an enormous quantity of particulars retained, particularly in fur.
Lots of people love the way in which Samsung flagships and up to date iPhones pump up the colors, and there’s nothing mistaken with this – nonetheless the extra delicate nature of photographs from the Pixel 8 Professional give them a extra skilled look. A whole lot of that is down to private choice although.
The Google Pixel 8 Professional works impressively when the sunshine diminishes, although photographs are higher when there’s some mild. There’s no wild evening mode right here that makes taking photos in pitch black doable, however most pictures I’ve taken at evening are usable, with good colors and loads of element.
When switching to the zoom and the ultrawide digital camera, there’s typically a noticeable shift in colors that the software program then tries to revert. This may be jarring, particularly while you’re leaping in 5x, because the picture you’re seeing jumps round earlier than it settles.Â
Photos from each secondary cameras are nice and it’s welcome to see the ultrawide handled with a high-resolution sensor, slightly than being an afterthought. The zoom abilities may not match the Galaxy S23 Extremely for vary, however the 5x zoom will get you shut sufficient to a topic and loads of element is retained. I’ve been utilizing this digital camera quite a bit over the previous few weeks.
Video seize on the Pixel 8 Professional is an enchancment over the Pixel 7 Professional. Colors are higher matched throughout the pictures and movies now, which means you get these fantastic colors and pores and skin tones. Issues take a flip at evening, when the stabilisation provides odd panning results and noise turns into quite common.Â
The precise digital camera {hardware} is arguably the least attention-grabbing a part of this digital camera with Google focusing quite a bit on updates and extra options added to Google Photographs and the Digital camera app itself.
The Digital camera app, as an illustration, is specified by a a lot smarter means now. Now you can simply swap between Picture and Video, with every having devoted settings and choices in a separate space. A small change, but it surely makes a lot sense to have these two choices separated out.
There are additionally a bunch of additional digital camera controls on the Pixel 8 Professional. none of which make their means all the way down to the Pixel 8. As soon as opened, these guide choices embrace management over the shutter pace, ISO and white steadiness. Delve deeper and there’s an choice to pressure the telephone into Night time Sight mode and to solely use the telephoto digital camera when zooming at evening. All that is very welcome and permits those that wish to take extra guide management the chance to take action.
What actually units the Pixel 8 Professional’s digital camera aside from the opposite telephones in the marketplace are the AI abilities in each the Digital camera app and inside Google Photographs. A few of these aren’t fairly prepared but – the Video Enhance characteristic which can brighten up nighttime video footage – however there’s lots to mess around with.
Magic Editor makes use of generative AI to switch big elements of a picture you’ve taken. Snapped a shot of blue sky? Magic Editor can flip that into a gray one. Captured a road filled with vehicles? Magic Editor could make it look utterly empty. I turned my small canine right into a a lot bigger one who took over a whole room, dwarfing the furnishings, in just some faucets. It may be hit and miss, and generally it doesn’t work in any respect, however when it really works it requires a double take.
I did simply as many double takes utilizing the Greatest Take characteristic. This works while you take a bunch of pictures of both a single individual or a bunch and their facial expressions aren’t fairly what you need. Greatest Take appears to be like in any respect the pictures you’ve shot and gives up another facial features that it’ll impose over the unique picture. In well-lit conditions, it really works very properly – virtually too properly, though it may typically battle to get the place of the neck fairly proper.
I can think about this characteristic shall be used quite a bit by mother and father, who battle to get a number of youngsters all grinning directly. Nonetheless, it does really feel odd to me, particularly while you’re swapping out complete expressions – turning somebody who was unhappy throughout a dialog, as an illustration, into one who’s pleased and grinning. It makes me uneasy, and that is simply the beginning.
Efficiency
- Tensor G3 chipset
- 12GB RAM, as much as 1TB storage in some areas
- The temperature sensor looks like an odd addition
Whereas Apple has made the change in recent times to distinguish the chipset used between its Professional and customary gadgets, Google has continued to make use of the identical in each. Meaning whether or not you go for the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Professional you’re getting the identical Tensor G3 chip.
The Professional mannequin does profit from extra RAM: 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM slightly than 8GB, and a most inside storage capability of 1TB. This 1TB mannequin appears very region-specific although, with the UK fashions maxing out at 512GB.
In step with the earlier Tensor chips, the G3 continues Google’s concentrate on AI abilities slightly than pushing efficiency and normal pace as key options. Many of the intelligent generative AI digital camera options are made out there by this chip, as are the enhancements to the interpretation and name screening abilities.
The Pixel 8 Professional’s lack of pure energy is most evident in our suite of benchmarking exams, which put Google’s £999/$999 machine on par with gadgets operating the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 slightly than these operating Qualcomm’s newest 2023 chip.
After utilizing the telephone for every week, I used to be initially very fearful in regards to the efficiency. I don’t normally put a lot sway into benchmarks, however I used to be getting horrible lag in all places for the primary few days, with even primary apps struggling to maintain up. After the primary week, there was a noticeable change and every little thing grew to become a lot smoother – an extra week on the Pixel 8 Professional and it feels quick in on a regular basis use.
Gaming efficiency nonetheless falls behind similar-priced telephones. I seen a number of dropped frames in intensive titles (Genshin Impression and COD Cellular) and there’s slowdown in top-down titles like Survivor.io. All the things stays playable, simply to not the degrees discovered on high-end choices operating the Qualcomm 8 Gen 2 just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 collection, OnePlus 11 and Xiaomi 13 Professional.
My colleague Lewis had the identical subject with the Pixel 8, so I might suggest anybody choosing up both of Google’s new telephones to maintain this in thoughts for the primary few days and keep it up even when efficiency appears disappointing.
Google has added some welcome additions, like Wi-Fi 7 help, Bluetooth 5.3 and there’s an ultra-wideband chip for spatial orientation. There’s additionally a wonderful speaker onboard, simply the very best I’ve heard on any Pixel telephone.
Essentially the most distinctive of all of the sensors on the Pixel 8 Professional is the temperature sensor, located beneath the flash and subsequent to the cameras. Open up the Thermometer app on the telephone, level the telephone at both a stable object or a liquid and it’ll learn the temperature. I’m not likely certain who that is for, as anybody who must measure the precise temperature of one thing doubtless already has a device they know is correct. This simply looks like a gimmicky addition we’ve seen earlier than on Pixel telephones that’ll disappear subsequent 12 months, by no means to be seen once more.
Software program
- Updates for years to return
- AI-infused every little thing
- Clear construct of Android 14
Whereas the efficiency of the Pixel 8 Professional isn’t something standout, Google has tuned the Tensor G3 to focus extra on AI efficiency and that’s very noticeable all through the software program.
Google has been including quite a few AI-fuelled options to its Pixel telephones for years now and lots of of them have turn out to be a few of my favorite Android additions. The helpful Now Enjoying ability, for instance, retains monitor of any tune taking part in within the background, highlighting them in your lockscreen and including them to an ever-updating listing.Â
The Recorder app is the very best it has ever been too, precisely transcribing voices on the machine whereas separating out totally different voices and letting you search via the recordings. Then there’s the decision screening characteristic that filters out and, in some areas, solutions spam calls with out you having to. It’s these options that actually make the Pixel such a enjoyable telephone to make use of and personal.
After all, it’s additionally the primary telephone to be launched with the Android 14 replace. There’s a smattering of recent options right here, together with some added lock display customisations, and a generative AI wallpaper device that builds distinctive selections relying on what prompts you feed it.
Simply the standout software program characteristic for the Pixel 8 Professional is the seven years of help Google is promising. This isn’t simply safety updates, however correct system updates and Pixel Function Drops too. This implies if you happen to choose the telephone up in the present day, you’ll get updates till Android 21.
Whereas I’m certain not each characteristic of all these upcoming software program updates shall be suitable with the Pixel 8, it’s spectacular to see Google promise to help it for thus lengthy.
Battery Life
- No charger included
- USB-C port
- Wi-fi charging
Pixel telephones have been hit and miss with battery life a variety of the time. Some fashions have impressed, nonetheless normally it’s the poor performers – notably the Pixel 4 – that stick within the reminiscence.
I’ve had no such hassle with the Pixel 8 Professional – phrases that can doubtless come as a aid to many. The 5050mAh battery is the usual I’ve come to count on from high-end, massive Android telephones and the Pixel 8 Professional competes properly.
I’ve been averaging 5 to 6 hours of display time on busy, heavy-use days – taking me comfortably from an 8:00 alarm to bedtime at midnight. Sometimes I’ve discovered myself with 20-25% left on the finish of the day, sufficient to get me to the workplace the subsequent day if I forgot to cost.
Lighter customers ought to get previous lunchtime on day two, and there are a few battery-saver modes to push issues ahead.
There’s no charger included within the field, only a USB-C to USB-C cable, and I might suggest choosing up a plug able to outputting at 30w. Utilizing a charger with these specs, it took me 87 minutes to get a full 0-100% cost and 39 minutes to go from 0-50%.
These outcomes are virtually precisely on par with the iPhone 15 Professional and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, nonetheless it’s noticeably slower than a few of the latest releases from manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo and OnePlus. The Xiaomi 13T Professional, as an illustration, will get a full 100% cost earlier than the 8 Professional reaches 50%.
Wi-fi charging stays at 18w and there’s reverse wi-fi charging too, which is helpful for topping up the juice on a pair of Qi-enabled earbuds.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
You should purchase if you’d like full management over pictures
The Pixel 8 Professional has three very succesful cameras and the flexibility to tweak and, at instances, utterly alter your pictures after they’ve been taken.
You shouldn’t purchase if efficiency is vital
The Pixel 8 Professional isn’t sluggish, but it surely does lag behind a few of the finest Android telephones at this excessive worth. If gaming prowess and a speedy CPU is vital, look elsewhere.
Closing Ideas
The very best reward I may give the Pixel 8 Professional is that it does a formidable job of standing out from the swathes of Android telephones in the marketplace.
Shifting the main target from pace and efficiency to constructing a chip designed to enhance AI efficiency provides the Pixel 8 Professional a singular promoting level, even when a few of the options made me a bit uneasy at instances.
The most important cause to choose up a Pixel stays the images abilities and the three cameras on the again all take nice snaps in various situations. There’s no dramatic enchancment this time, and in sure conditions, the Xiaomi 13 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely take higher photos. But, I nonetheless love taking pictures with a Pixel, because of the beautiful colors and putting photographs every sensor produces.
There are a number of misses right here that cease this from being the easiest telephone you’ll discover. The design is uninteresting and desires a refresh subsequent 12 months, with extra of a concentrate on consolation and weight distribution.
Gimmick options just like the temperature sensor don’t add a lot both, and the hefty worth improve, particularly within the UK, is tough to swallow.
How we take a look at
We take a look at each cell phone we evaluation completely. We use trade customary exams to check options correctly and we use the telephone as our principal machine over the evaluation interval. We’ll at all times let you know what we discover and we by no means, ever, settle for cash to evaluation a product.
Used as principal telephone for greater than every week
Taken a whole bunch of pictures in varied situations
In contrast in opposition to the competitors
FAQs
There’s a cable included, simply no charging plug.
There are three colors: Obsidian (black), Bay (blue) and Porcelain (white).
Trusted Opinions take a look at information
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming on-line)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming offline)
30 minute gaming (intensive)
30 minute gaming (mild)
Time from 0-100% cost
Time from 0-50% cost
30-min recharge (no charger included)
15-min recharge (no charger included)
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Automobile Chase
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Producer
Display screen Measurement
Storage Capability
Rear Digital camera
Entrance Digital camera
Video Recording
IP ranking
Battery
Wi-fi charging
Quick Charging
Measurement (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Working System
Launch Date
First Reviewed Date
Mannequin Quantity
Decision
HDR
Refresh Fee
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colors
Bin capability
Acknowledged Energy
Jargon buster
mAh
An abbreviation for milliampere-hour and a strategy to specific the capability of batteries, particularly smaller ones in telephones. Normally the upper the mAh, the longer the battery will final however this isn’t at all times the case.
5G
Providing sooner obtain and add speeds when in comparison with 4G. Nice for sport streaming and HDR video playback. Not supported in all places but and speeds differ wildly.
