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

[SmugMaverick]

How many people would keep a phone for 7 years though? Battery life would degrade, and hardware would be severely outclassed. Look at the iPhone 15 compared to the iPhone 7, and then compared to the 3GS. I know phones have “plateaued” for now, but we always think that with technology and then it still gets better.

People usually upgrade for the hardware first, software secondary.

No one is keeping a phone for 7 years, the point is the resell value will now be higher and second hand sales will be great due to continued support.

Assistant with Bard literally blows the selling point of the 15 pro out of the water, "action button" ffs.

The AI stuff with keyboard, photos and just search was incredible, it really goes to show that even though the iPhone is the most powerful, its dumb as sh*t for a smartphone.

 

[ctklein]

How accurate do we think the temperature is that is taken on the phone? How does that work compared to like an actual thermometer?

 

[v0lume4]

Such a good looking phone. Happy to see that the regular model is a hair smaller than before. And a 120Hz screen to boot! Thinking of jumping back into Android with this one.

 

[Verified Whiskey]

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

This wasn’t a thing before?? 😂 welcome to 2017, Google.

 

[TechRunner]

How many people would keep a phone for 7 years though? Battery life would degrade, and hardware would be severely outclassed. Look at the iPhone 15 compared to the iPhone 7, and then compared to the 3GS. I know phones have “plateaued” for now, but we always think that with technology and then it still gets better.

People usually upgrade for the hardware first, software secondary.

I agree with you. The longest I've had any phone I use regularly is three years for the reasons you mentioned. But some people aren't as tech-aware/concerned, and keep their phones for 5-7 years, suffering poor battery life and a lack of features. For them, an iPhone or Pixel that offers seven years of updates has value.

Edit: I keep my previous phone as an emergency backup, so having it be as "current" as possible at the 4-6 year point is important to me. Forgot to add that on my reply.

 

[MrMojo1]

Google Pixel 8 Pro
128Gb $ 999
256Gb $1,059 +$ 60
512Gb $1,179 +$120

Much more reasonable pricing for storage upgrades as Apple's is $200/each for the upgrades.

 

[callen_v1]

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.

Yeah I had a Pixel 2 XL and i don't see myself ever getting another Pixel. I have an IP11 and S22U and moving to 15PM. I would rather go back to the Pixel than use Samsung though. I just can't anymore.

 

[yustas]

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.

Apple is behind on this. It's about having a choice. You don't have to change faces if you don't want to. I don't think it creates fake photos at all. It's a really great feature that gives people a lot of control without being a Photoshop expert. It just works, which used to be a popular Apple tagline.

 

[callen_v1]

Every time I see a pixel phone it makes me want to switch back to them just for the rounded sides/edges. Oh how I miss the rounded sides.

I said that. Now i have rounded sides and I can't wait to get flat sides again. lol

 

[yustas]

Assistant with Bard literally blows the selling point of the 15 pro out of the water, "action button" ffs.

The AI stuff with keyboard, photos and just search was incredible, it really goes to show that even though the iPhone is the most powerful, its dumb as sh*t for a smartphone.

Facts!

This is what separates a phone from a *smart*phone.

 

[lomodr]

I’ll never understand paying the same amount for an OS ecosystem that is designed to harvest your data for ad targeting vs a competitor that doesn’t.

Shouldn’t the purchase price be reduced given the ad targeting is not something you can opt out of with a Google account? Even if you aren’t creeped out by that, your data has value so why give it away for nothing in return? Feels like double-dipping on Google’s behalf.

How do suppose Apple is going to grow their advertising operation? The only way to grow is to collect your data and sell ads off of that. I hope you are asking Apple for a discount as well.

 

[Black Magic]

Google won this years smart phone awards on bold colors. I suspect spring Apple is gonna introduce some bolder colors to rejuvenate sales in spring.

Easier to paint colors over cheap plastic and marked it up to $1000.

 

[SmugMaverick]

This wasn’t a thing before?? 😂 welcome to 2017, Google.

Because they had fingerprint ID, now they have both.

Try to catch up Apple.

 

[callen_v1]

I’m surprised at how excited people are. Those phones are kinda… ugly.

Thermometer sounds pretty cool though.

Agreed. And that watch. My god. How could they double down on that ugly? IMO of course. I'm sure someone likes it.

 

[SmugMaverick]

Easier to paint colors over cheap plastic and marked it up to $1000.

It's Victus 2 and Aluminium but whatever makes you feel better.

 

[h.gilbert]

But it’s not though? Both start at $999 for 128gb

Edit: Nevermind, I didn’t realize google only has one size.

I'm also not American

 

[h.gilbert]

No one is keeping a phone for 7 years, the point is the resell value will now be higher and second hand sales will be great due to continued support.

Assistant with Bard literally blows the selling point of the 15 pro out of the water, "action button" ffs.

The AI stuff with keyboard, photos and just search was incredible, it really goes to show that even though the iPhone is the most powerful, its dumb as sh*t for a smartphone.

Yep, that level of AI integration and the sheer amount of things it can do makes the iPhone look quite dumb

 

[utazdevl]

In the UK the Google trade in values are really good. My iPhone 13 mini can be traded in for £480 towards a new Pixel phone. Plus they're throwing in free pair of Pixel buds pro, or the Pixel watch 2 depending on phone model.

It's very tempting to switch over.

That is insane (in the good way for you). It is obscene that Google would devalue their own last years flagship to less than Apple's 2 years ago mid level model.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

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

Well, they DID add the “Our hardware can’t handle it locally so please upload the video you take to our cloud and we’ll only do responsible enhancement related stuff, no revenue generating at all!” mode. That’s new

 

[coolfactor]

Impressive hardware, I won't lie. And impressive generative AI features. Definitely leapfrogs Siri, and closely resembles Apple's vision for Knowledge Navigator.

But how much works or fails to work if you go into Airplane Mode?

 

[mclld]

I’m definitely a believe in Pixel cameras. I had a 6a and the screen broke and I bought a 13 pro max and the cheap 6a camera is better in my experience

 

[coolfactor]

The Pixel lineup is heavily, HEAVILY, connected to Google cloud services, just like iPhones connected to iCloud get the most value and capabilities. If you don't sign into a Google account — can you even activate the phone without doing that? — how many of these "smart" features continue to work well?

It's clear that the ecosystem is what is making our devices truly magical. Take that ecosystem away and what are we left with?

 

[Black Magic]

It's Victus 2 and Aluminium but whatever makes you feel better.

You forgot the plastic like I said. Hopefully facts don't incite you going forward.

Link

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Pixel Watch 2's bezel is just as chunky as before. Google is offering $150 trade in credit for the first Pixel Watch, if you want to upgrade for improved sensors and performance.

Ah, I was looking (not very hard) for a shot with that. Those are some hefty bezels.

 

[webkit]

I’ll never understand paying the same amount for an OS ecosystem that is designed to harvest your data for ad targeting vs a competitor that doesn’t.

Shouldn’t the purchase price be reduced given the ad targeting is not something you can opt out of with a Google account? Even if you aren’t creeped out by that, your data has value so why give it away for nothing in return? Feels like double-dipping on Google’s behalf.

These are launch retail prices. Unlike Apple, it is not uncommon for Google to discount prices during the year.

Besides, there are a variety of factors that can go into the cost and pricing of a product. Maybe these are "reduced prices" and without the "data harvesting" they would be 10% higher.