Good question. I’d imagine this will be most beneficial to those in areas with good wireless networking (and unlimited data). Which is certainly a large enough market for them to sell the 2-5 million that they’ll sell?
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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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I hope that you can deal with diminished performance. They're better than the last two generations but I can't imagine again buying anything with a Tensor SoC in it.
Loving the 7 years of OS updates, not sure how many batt replacements would be needed, but if I were buying droid that would be a big draw....
I hope this pushes Apple to extend on the iPhones from the existing 5 years or so.
I hope this pushes Apple to extend on the iPhones from the existing 5 years or so.
Yeah, I got a Pixel phone about 5-ish years ago, had it about 6 hours and the display cracked. Sitting on my desk. In my office. The only place it had been since I got it that morning. Google wouldn't do anything about it. Never again.
7 years of operating system upgrades overtake Apple in their most significant area
Just so anyone isn't misled here, I don't know what he's talking about, but the original Pixel got 3 years of software support. It isn't great, kinda par for Android at the time, and even now in some cases honestly, but nowhere near what he's trying to sell here.
Being as they’ve announced seven years of software support for these phones I don’t think that’s relevant to things now.
There's obviously a good bit of astro-turfing from Droid mfr's that goes on and is tolerated at this site (have no idea why).
My work used to require me to have a phone for them so I chose a Pixel (got to play both sides of the fence that way) and have had them all except the initial Pixel, the 5 (and the new 8) and had no issues the entire time. That said Google is known for not being on top of support things as well over the years... The 8's with 7 years of OS upgrades look like a pretty safe bet at this point and give full OS updates far longer than their main competition in Android or elsewhere (a side effect of their custom CPU/GPU they started using with the 6).
I like the splash of colour [particularly that blue accent] on the Pixel Buds Pro. It looks wicked!
Looks like a nice phone and upgrade. At least they’re doing something fairly original.
But I know one person who has the predecessor who’s using it without a case and the volume button just popped out of the device one day. Less than a year after purchase. That’s some poor quality for a premium phone.
I’ve never had any issue like this with any iPhone and I’ve owned most of them. Nor do I know of any iPhone owner who lost a button 😃
But I know one person who has the predecessor who’s using it without a case and the volume button just popped out of the device one day. Less than a year after purchase. That’s some poor quality for a premium phone.
I’ve never had any issue like this with any iPhone and I’ve owned most of them. Nor do I know of any iPhone owner who lost a button 😃
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Gave a try with Pixel 7Pro, nice phone but mine had battery problems, which the service centre didn’t help for two times. Sending it for service for third time with a lot of observations I made, I got it replaced. By then I lost interest in it and my son inherited it. Now I have a Xperia 1V along with iPhone 15PM. Xperia doesn’t make use of AI like iPhone does. It looks like Pixel 8 is entirely based on AI. Too many gimmicks is a no for me. But OS support for 7 years is a good thing. Sony offers only 2 years.
As always, Google sets the bar. Can't wait until the iPhone 20 gets a temp sensor so everyone can tout it as revolutionary.
MKHB will no doubt be waxing lyrical about it 🤣
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Google never deliver what they promise 😏
But the Pixel 8 Pro is likely to be a very good phone
Cannot see the value of AU$1199 alongside the iPhone range and considering the Nokia XR21 is AU$799 (without the wireless charging of it's predecessor).
Oh Google does, but it only do what they promised and not go above and beyond.
Pixel 4a supports exactly at Aug this year and no more update ever since.
At least you know when you buy Pixel you know how many years of support you will get. With iPhone, you are basically guessing. History can only go so far and who knows if Apple will suddenly obselete bunch of iPhone together in the future.
iPhone with Pixel camera would by our dream device.
Can't Apple just buy camera tech from Google? For point and shoot in real life lighting situations, there is no comparison. My family group has a mix of phones, and everyone always sources the keeper photos from parties from the Pixel people.
iPhone takes better portraits and photos of landscapes. Things I couldn't care less about.
Can't Apple just buy camera tech from Google? For point and shoot in real life lighting situations, there is no comparison. My family group has a mix of phones, and everyone always sources the keeper photos from parties from the Pixel people.
iPhone takes better portraits and photos of landscapes. Things I couldn't care less about.
No, because that's Google's AI software that handles that. The camera hardware that Google uses is inferior to that of Apple and Samsung. It's the AI software that does all the computational stuff in the background like magic eraser, unblur and night photos etc.