Google Pixel 8: everything we know so far and what we want to see

The Google Pixel 7 series was a big hit in October, winning Editors’ Choice and Readers’ Choice awards for 2022. We can certainly see why, given that the phones offered respectable performance, elegant software, and a great experience with the camera (as usual for a Google phone).

Now that these phones have been on the market for several months and have established themselves among the best Android phones, we are curious to see how Google can improve them with the Pixel 8.8 series in one place, as well as distribute a wish list for these phones .

Will there be a Google Pixel 8 series?

Google has released a Pixel flagship or two every year since the first Pixel range in 2016. So the Pixel 8 family is very likely to launch in 2023. Reliable German Outlet WinFuture previously confirmed in November 2022 that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are indeed coming and will be called “Shiba” and “Husky” respectively.

• Pixel 7 Series Release Date: October 6, 2022
• Pixel 6 Series Release Date: October 19, 2021
• Pixel 5 release date: September 30, 2020

Google usually launches its flagship phones in October each year, with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 duo range unveiling this month. The Pixel 5 was released on September 30, but this was the exception rather than the rule as all the previous devices were released in October. It goes without saying that it’s a good bet to expect the Pixel 8 release date to fall in September or October 2023.

What features and specifications will the Pixel 8 series have?

We haven’t seen many Pixel 8 family leaks yet, but there’s still a fair amount of information to go by. Here’s what we know about phones in terms of design, features, and overall specs.

WinFuture was the first to report that the Pixel 8 series will receive the next generation Tensor processor codenamed “Zuma”. This has been confirmed by our leaked script.

Nothing is known about the Tensor G3’s specs and capabilities, but we expect Google to move to more modern CPU cores as the Tensor G2 is still a few generations behind the new Arm cores. We’re also hoping the new chipset leads to a cooler experience, as we complained about heat in our Pixel 7 review.

Other than that, this leak also indicated 8GB of RAM for the standard Pixel 8 and 12GB of RAM for the Pro variant. This is in line with the Pixel 7 series.

WinFuture it also claims that the Pixel 8 will have a 2,268 x 1,080 display, while the Pixel 8 Pro will have a 2,822 x 1,344 display. The latter resolution is slightly lower than the 1440p panels of the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro.

We think the standard Pixel 8 will keep a 4,300mAh battery or more, while the Pixel 8 Pro could keep a ~5,000mAh battery. As for upload speeds? We desperately want to see a significant reduction in loading times, but we wouldn’t bet on it.

Google has maintained similar camera systems for two generations now, with the only real hardware change being the Pixel 7 Pro switching to a 5x 48MP camera instead of a 4x shooter. Otherwise, you still get the same 50MP Isocell GN1 main camera here.

That could change in 2023, as insider Kuba Wojciechowski has revealed that the Pixel 8 series will support offset HDR technology. The main Isocell GN1 camera used in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 families does not support this technology, but the new Isocell GN2 sensor does. Looks like we might get an updated main sensor.

See more information: Camera phone buying guide

It’s also worth noting that support for scaled HDR technology could also bring some advantages over current pixels. These benefits are faster and more efficient HDR photos, as well as more detail and richer colors.

Otherwise, history tells us that we’ll see dual rear cameras on the Pixel 8 (main and ultrawide) and three rear cameras on the Pro model (main, ultrawide and periscope). But we’ll have to wait and see if Google’s upcoming flagships can rank, once again, among the best camera phones you can buy.

We don’t know much about the design of the Pixel 8 range at this point, so nobody knows if Google will stick with a similar design from the past two generations or go with something completely new. Let’s hope Google keeps the rear camera display seen on the last two Pixel lines, but who knows if it will be glass or aluminum.

In saying that, our information obtained from a reputable source states that the Pixel 8 will indeed be smaller than the Pixel 7 (both in terms of screen and overall size). So fans of a more compact Pixel flagship should keep an eye on this model. Otherwise, our source also said that the Pixel 8 Pro will be the same size as the Pixel 7 Pro.

• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro price: $599 and $899
• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro price: $599 and $899
• Pixel 5 Price: $699

Google had a big hit with the Pixel 6 when it launched at $599, continuing to offer the same price with the Pixel 7. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro both hit $899, doing good deals compared to other premium brands. flagships on the market.

We haven’t yet seen any price drops for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, but we expect Google to keep the same price as the previous devices. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a slight increase in prices due to inflation, the economy, and other factors.

One of the more disappointing things about the Pixel 7 lineup is the slow wired charging times. The phones offer charging speeds of 20-23W, with a full charge taking over 90 minutes. This is incredibly slow compared to mid-range and entry-level devices from other brands.

We really want to see Google up the ante with faster upload speeds. We’re not asking for 80W+ charging, but even a constant speed of 30W or 40W would result in significantly reduced charging times.

The standard Pixel 6 and 7 feature the same rear camera system, namely a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. So those looking to take zoom shots of any kind will have to rely on the lower quality Super Res zoom rather than a dedicated telephoto lens.

We expect to see a dedicated telephoto lens on the standard Pixel 8 in 2023, as this should result in higher quality zoom. We’re not asking for a 4x or 5x camera, but a 2x or 3x camera would also be a useful addition. Also, Google can use this camera in conjunction with Super Res Zoom for decent 5x shots or more, as we’ve seen on Pixel 4 phones.

The last two generations of Pixels have kept the price the same, i.e. US$599 for the vanilla model and US$899 for the Pro variant. Simply put, these are excellent prices compared to similarly equipped rival flagship phones.

Fingers crossed that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will continue this trend in 2023. Alternatively, we expect Google to implement only a small price increase (say, $20 to $50) if absolutely necessary.