Full Reviews of Google Pixel 8 Pro:
Google’s newest flagship smartphone, the Pixel 8 Pro, brings several enticing upgrades but comes up a bit short in key areas. Its superb cameras, AI capabilities, and long-term software support are incredibly appealing. However, its battery life and raw performance leave something to be desired compared to similarly priced rivals. Let’s dive deeper into the Pixel 8 Pro’s pros and cons.
Pros
- Sleek and durable design with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back
- Vibrant 6.7” 120Hz flat OLED display with excellent brightness
- Fast face unlock and under-display fingerprint sensor
- Excellent rear cameras, especially in low light
- Class-leading software support (guaranteed Android OS and security updates for 7 years)
- Helpful AI-based features like live translation and Magic Eraser for editing photos
Cons
- Mediocre battery life
- Lacks expandable storage
- Chipset performance and thermals lag behind rivals
- Charging speeds could be faster
Scorse: Google
Photography Prowess
Google Pixel phones have always had superb cameras, and the Pixel 8 Pro is no exception. Its triple rear camera array comprises:
- 50MP primary camera
- 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom
- 48MP ultrawide camera
Both the main and telephoto cameras benefit from updated sensors and lenses this year, while the ultrawide camera is entirely new. The megapixel bump over last year’s models is minor, but the improved optics with wider apertures let in more light. This is especially impactful in low light scenes.
Scorse: Google
Photography Prowess
Google Pixel phones have always had superb cameras, and the Pixel 8 Pro is no exception. Its triple rear camera array comprises:
- 50MP primary camera
- 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom
- 48MP ultrawide camera
Both the main and telephoto cameras benefit from updated sensors and lenses this year, while the ultrawide camera is entirely new. The megapixel bump over last year’s models is minor, but the improved optics with wider apertures let in more light. This is especially impactful in low light scenes.
Supreme Main Camera Performance
The main 50MP camera captures highly detailed 12.5MP pixel-binned photos by default. The level of fine detail impresses, with excellent crispness maintained even in intricate textures like foliage. Dynamic range is also great, showing off both shadow and highlight detail. The color accuracy makes scenes pop without oversaturating.
Portrait shots showcase pleasing background blur with generally on-point subject detection. The 2x digital zoom produces nice results too.
Low light photography is where the Pixel truly excels though. Its Night Sight mode brings out an astonishing amount of detail from dimly lit scenes, with well-controlled noise. The properly exposed nighttime cityscapes and balanced night portraits set Pixel’s photography prowess apart from the competition.
The 4K video quality holds up equally well. Footage is incredibly detailed, colorful, and perfectly stabilized, even while panning quickly.
5X Telephoto Zoom
The upgraded telephoto camera brings 5x optical zoom, giving the Pixel 8 Pro handy reach over the vanilla Pixel 8’s 2x tele lens. This is a prime advantage for landscape shots or subjects that are far away. The 5x zoom shots remain highly detailed too.
The telephoto camera also assists in generating convincing shallow depth of field portrait shots.
Even at full 5x magnification, low lighat photos turn out shockingly clean and crisp thanks to Night Sight enhancement. The video output is just as stellar as the main camera’s.
All-New Ultrawide Camera
Finally, rounding out the rear triple camera array is an all-new 48MP ultrawide camera. It has autofocus, unlike traditional fixed-focus ultrawide lenses, allowing it to excel at macro photography too. The ultrawide photos contain tons of fine detail from edge to edge.
With Night Sight enabled, the dynamic range and colors remain quite good in low light. Shadows see clear boosting while highlights avoid blowing out.
The ultrawide camera does have one conspicuous shortcoming: its white balance skews too warm in videos. But photos turn out near perfect.
Design and Display
The Pixel 8 Pro sports a modern and durable design, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting both the front and back. The metal frame complements the glass nicely. The back has a soft-touch matte finish that resists fingerprints.
Google opted for a flat 6.7” OLED display this year, unlike the curved displays of the past few Pixel generations. The flat edge-to-edge screen should prove more durable and prevents accidental touches.
This is no ordinary display – Google dubs it a “Super Actual Display”. It’s exceptionally bright, hitting nearly 1600 nits peak brightness in Auto mode. This translates to excellent legibility even in direct sunlight. The vibrant colors remain accurate too.
A silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate enhances the visual experience and touch response. The panel also has LTPO technology, allowing the refresh rate to scale down automatically to as low as 1Hz to save power when displaying static content.
In summary, the Pixel 8 Pro’s display checks all the boxes: ample size, Quad HD+ resolution, excellent brightness, accurate colors, fluid responsiveness, and modern immersive style.
Scorse: Google
Chipset Performance and Battery Life
The Pixel 8 Pro runs on Google’s newest Tensor G3 chipset. In benchmarks, its scores land between 2022’s flagships and 2023’s best-in-class Snapdragon chips. So while not slow, it fails to claim the raw performance crown.
Real-world speed is still quite snappy though, easily handling demanding games and apps. But prolonged intensive usage reveals the Tensor G3’s thermal limitations, with noticeable throttling after several minutes. So while fine for shorter gaming sessions, power users may want a phone with superior cooling.
The battery capacity got a nice bump up to 5500mAh. However, the actual battery life only rates as average. While easily lasting through a full day of moderate use, its 90 hour endurance rating falls well short of the competition.
On the charging side, the Pixel 8 Pro hits 55% charge in 30 minutes using the bundled 30W fast charger. Replenishing its full battery takes 92 minutes. Qi wireless charging is supported too. But again, rivals are progressing quicker here – some 2023 flagships already boast 80W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds.
Incredible Software and New Features
Being first to get Android 14 out of the box, the Pixel showcases Google’s pure vision for Android like no other phone. The UI stays clean, intuitive, and free from duplicate apps or clutter. You get unique Pixel-exclusive features too:
Live Translate can now translate entire real-time conversations. It detects who is talking and provides shockingly accurate translations.
Magic Eraser simplifies object removal from photos. It can also replace entire backgrounds very convincingly, opening creative possibilities.
The updated Call Screening feature uses Google Assistant to screen unknown callers, transcribe spam calls, and filter robocalls on your behalf.
Custom wallpapers powered by AI let you tailor backgrounds with custom text and styles. Regional themes auto-adapt the lock screen too.
A neat hidden addition this year is the integrated thermometer. It utilizes a dedicated temperature sensor to produce readings. Accuracy seems questionable for now, but future updates could enable helpful functionality.
Extending to 7 years of Android OS and security updates solidifies Pixels as the most future-proof Androids on the market. That unmatched long-term reliability gives the Pixel 8 Pro excellent value.
Who Should Buy the Pixel 8 Pro?
If you want one of the very best camera phones available, especially for low light photography, the Pixel 8 Pro absolutely delivers. Its unique AI-powered software features also add real benefit to the user experience.
Owners will be rewarded with up to 7 years of the latest Android OS and security patches too – unmatched support no Android brand aside from Google itself provides.
But the Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t claim the all-around flagship crown it aspires to.Its battery life proves underwhelming, as does the raw performance from Google’s Tensor chipset compared to top-shelf Snapdragons.
Still, if you prioritize superb photography and tricks enabled by AI over benchmarks and battery benchmarks, the Pixel 8 Pro will satisfy. Its cameras and software have no equal. For that reason alone, it deserves strong consideration alongside premium rivals like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Galaxy S23 Ultra, and OnePlus 11.
FAQs about the Google Pixel 8 Pro
How good is the Pixel 8 Pro’s battery life?
Its 90 hour endurance rating proves lower than expected and trails top flagships. It should still reliably last a full day unless you are a very heavy user.
Does the Pixel 8 Pro have good build quality?
Yes, its polished metal and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 enclosure looks and feels premium. The IP68 dust/water resistance further boosts its durability.
How does the Pixel 8 Pro compare to iPhone or Galaxy cameras?
Its photo quality and especially low light performance meet or exceed even the latest iPhones and Galaxies. Google’s computational photography and Night Sight mode are class-leading.
