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Google Debuts New Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Smartphones, Pixel Watch 2, and Refreshed Pixel Buds Pro

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Google today refreshed its product lineup with new Pixel smartphones, a new Pixel watch, and updated Pixel earbuds, all of which will compete with Apple devices.

google-pixel-announcements.jpg

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google's latest smartphones, and the Pixel 8 Pro is the high-end model that has all of Google's most recent technological advancements. It features a 6.7-inch 1 to 120Hz display, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, while the standard Pixel 8 has a 120Hz 6.2-inch display.

Google has updated the design of its Pixel smartphones, adding a polished aluminum frame and matte glass for the Pro and a satin metal frame and polished back glass for the standard Pixel. Google says the devices have softer silhouettes compared to the prior-generation models, and they come in new colors. Google is using Gorilla Glass Victus for both, but the Pro has Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for better durability.

google-pixel-8-and-8-pro.jpg

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are equipped with Google's Tensor G3 chip with enhanced AI capabilities that can filter out more spam calls, improve image processing, erase background noise from videos, and boost call quality. There's also a Titan M2 security chip, and with this combo, the Pixel phones have facial recognition secure enough to be used to sign in to apps and make payments.

According to Google, the triple-lens rear camera system of the Pixel 8 Pro features better performance in low light and improvements to zoom and video capture Google added a new Video Boost technology for HDR+ and enhanced color grading, and the camera also supports Night Sight Video.

With the updated Tensor chip, Google is promising that the Pixel 8 devices will get operating system and security updates for seven years, which will rival what Apple delivers with iOS.

One of the main selling points of the Pixel 8 Pro is a new thermometer, which can tell you the temperature of an object with just a camera scan. Google is also touting updated Google Assistant functionality, with the Assistant able to translate, read aloud, and summarize web pages, as well as distill key points about what's on the screen.

The Pixel 8 Pro is priced starting at $999, which is the same starting price as Apple's iPhone 15 Pro, and the Pixel 8 is priced starting at $699. Best Buy is currently offering pre-order bonuses for both devices, with Pixel 8 Pro purchases including a free Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel 8 pre-orders including free Pixel Buds Pro, with more details on those devices below. Pre-order customers can also receive up to $800 off with a qualified trade-in.

Google's new smartphones were introduced alongside the Pixel Watch 2 ($349.99 for Wi-Fi and $399.99 for cellular), which incorporates more advanced heart rate tracking and stress detection from Fitbit. There are new body-response and skin temperature sensors that work alongside heart rate and heart rate variability to detect potential signs of stress or reactions from alcohol, caffeine, and other substances.

pixel-watch-2.jpg

The Pixel Watch 2 directly adopts an Apple feature, Safety Check. Google says that with Safety Check, you can let friends and family know where you are, setting a timer for a check in. When that timer expires, Safety Check prompts you to confirm that you are okay, and if there is no response, real-time location information is shared with emergency contacts.

As for battery life, the Pixel Watch 2 is now able to last for up to 24 hours, and it charges to full in 75 minutes. Design wise, it is lighter than the prior model, and it has a thinner domed cover over the circular face.

Google is also updating the $199.99 Pixel Buds Pro with new colors and new AI-powered features such as clearer calling for reduced noise, hearing wellness measurements that keep track of how loud your music is, conversation detection that pauses music when you start speaking, and improved latency through a new low-latency mode. Aside from the new colors, the updated feature set is available to all Pixel Buds Pro through a software update.

pixel-buds-pro.jpg

More information about Google's new products can be found on Google's website.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: Google Debuts New Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Smartphones, Pixel Watch 2, and Refreshed Pixel Buds Pro
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/10/04/google-pixel-8-smartphones/
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Tuck_

macrumors member
Sep 25, 2023
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Lots of AI. If you took a shot every time they said AI, you'd be dead.

Impressive tech, in theory, though I can't say I liked the example of them changing a cloudy day to a sunny one, but they arent alone in that.

May upgrade to the 9 next year but fornow Im good with my Galaxy.
 
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jjMMpp

macrumors newbie
Apr 12, 2022
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princelightskn said:
oh look, the same phone for years just minor refinements... Google has lost innovation. We want more than slightly faster chips and slightly better cameras /s
Click to expand...
Oh please... Apple hasn't done much since the iPhone X, and was only recently been forced by the EU to move from lightning aka USB 2 (from 2001) to USB-C THIS YEAR... let me repeat that... Apple used USB 2.0 from 22 years ago...

Secondly, Google has foldables. As a Canadian I would have jumped on the Pixel fold over the iPhone 15 Pro given the choice.
 
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Lounge vibes 05

macrumors 68040
May 30, 2016
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jjMMpp said:
Oh please... Apple hasn't done much since the iPhone X, and was only recently been forced by the EU to move from lightning aka USB 2 (from 2001) to USB-C THIS YEAR... let me repeat that... Apple used USB 2.0 from 22 years ago...

Secondly, Google has foldables. As a Canadian I would have jumped on the Pixel fold over the iPhone 15 Pro given the choice.
Click to expand...
The original poster you were responding to was being sarcastic.
That’s why there was a “/s” at the end of their post.
 
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Sarcastro

macrumors newbie
Nov 12, 2014
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My one and only Android phone was the very first Google Pixel, it looked really cool and was a great phone. Unfortunately, Google announced end of support and updates for it nine months after release, and from that point on I determined that I would never purchase another Pixel device ever again under any circumstance.
 
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Lounge vibes 05

macrumors 68040
May 30, 2016
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MacRumors said:
With the updated Tensor chip, Google is promising that the Pixel 8 devices will get operating system and security updates for seven years, which will rival what Apple delivers with iOS.
Click to expand...
Huge if true, and I very much wish Apple would make a promise like this.
But, and this goes for all companies including apple, only seven years in 2023?
Even Apple can and has done better.
The 2007 iMac shipped with OS X 10.4 Tiger, and received full updates all the way until version 10.11 El Capitan in 2015, and continued receiving security updates until 2018.
That’s a full 11 years of support.
More recently, the 2014 iPad Air2 received updates from iOS 8 until 15 in 2021, and if I’m not wrong, will still receive security updates for at least another year.

In 2023, seven years should be the minimum from all companies.
There is absolutely no excuse for the A14 and M1 series of chips to not receive at minimum a decade of support.

Edit: and I should add that this absolutely does not excuse Google giving the pixel 3, 4 and 5 only three years.
There’s absolutely no reason that Apple can support their phones from 2018 today, but Google couldn’t support their 2018 phones two years ago.
 
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OddMacFan

macrumors member
Jan 21, 2019
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Tuck_ said:
Impressive tech, in theory, though I can't say I liked the example of them changing a cloudy day to a sunny one, but they arent alone in that.
Click to expand...

Agree. Some of the enhancements create essentially fake photos, rather than capturing the moment as it was which was always the magic of photography. Retouching has been done for years even on film photos, but changing day to night or cloudy to sunny is more of a substantial alteration of reality.
 
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the_flame_imperishable

macrumors newbie
Oct 4, 2023
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I switched to using an iPhone for the first time about a year and a half ago after several inexplicable failures of two subsequent Pixel phones (e.g., the battery would be drained in under an hour for the first device, and the touch screen on the second device simply stopped responding) and absolutely terrible support from Google. While the overall function and experience of using them is great, it will take a long time to ever consider another Pixel phone.
 
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