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The Pixel 8 Pro is the largest high-end Android smartphone Google announced in 2023. It’s also the most powerful handset that got announced by the company. It remains a similar design to its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro, but it’s improved in a number of ways. It launched alongside the vanilla Pixel 8, which is essentially its smaller variant. The Pixel 8 Pro includes three cameras on the back, unlike the Pixel 8’s two, a sharper and larger display, and so on. Having said that, let’s get to it, starting with the Pixel 8 Pro’s specifications.
Google Pixel 8 Pro specs
The Google Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch QHD+ (2992 x 1344) Super Actua display. This is an LTPO OLED display (1-120Hz refresh rate), and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The panel goes up to 2,400 nits of brightness at its peak. The Google Tensor G3 fuels the Pixel 8 Pro, while the phone includes 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It’s available in four storage variants, from 128GB to 1TB, while UFS 3.1 flash storage is used.
A 5,050mAh battery is included, while the phone supports wired and wireless charging at 30W. USB PD 3.0 (PPS) is supported, but Google recommends its 30W charger, which is not included in the box. You can get to around 50% in 30 minutes, but charging it the whole way will take considerably longer. The ‘Battery Share’ support is also a part of this package, so you can charge other devices wirelessly.
A 50-megapixel main camera (wide, f/1.68 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 82-degree FoV, OIS + EIS) is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/1.95 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, 125.5-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera (f/2.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, 21.8-degree FoV, 5x optical zoom, Super Res Zoom up to 30x). On the front, a 10.5-megapixel camera (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 95-degree FoV) is placed.
Android 14 comes out of the box here, with 7 years of software updates. Bluetooth 5.3 is also supported, as is Wi-Fi 7, and 5G. The phone does include stereo speakers, and Spatial Audio support. You will find an optical fingerprint scanner under the display of the Pixel 8 Pro. The phone also supports facial scanning thanks to its front-facing camera.
How much does the Google Pixel 8 Pro cost?
The Google Pixel 8 Pro comes in four different storage options, each of them has 12GB of RAM. As mentioned above, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions are available in the US. That may differ in other markets. Having said that, the pricing for the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999, and it jumps up $50 per variant. So, the other three variants are priced at $1,049, 1,099, and $1,149. Other markets will have different starting price tags too, so keep that in mind.
Where can I buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro?
You’ll be able to buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro at all of the usual places. That goes for both the carriers and the retailers. The list is available below.
– Google Store
– Amazon
– AT&T
– T-Mobile
– Verizon
– Best Buy
Are there any pre-order offers available?
If you opt to pre-order the Pixel 8 Pro, you can get a valuable freebie with the phone. Google is offering a free Pixel Watch 2 with a pre-order of the company’s smartphone. This offer is valid through the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy, and even some carriers.
What carriers does it work on?
The good news is, the Google Pixel 8 Pro will work on all US carriers, basically. That includes AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. On top of that, the phone will also work on their MVNOs too, including Visible, US Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket, and others.
What colors does the Google Pixel 8 Pro comes in?
The Google Pixel 8 Pro comes in three color options, just like its sibling. The colors are different compared to the Pixel 8, though. The only color that the two phones share is Obsidian aka black. The other two Pixel 8 Pro colors are Bay (blue) and Porcelain (dirty white). The colors on offer could vary from one region to the next, and also from one store to the next, of course.
What new upgrades does the Google Pixel 8 Pro have over the Google Pixel 7 Pro?
A noticeably improved SoC
The Google Pixel 8 series comes with the Tensor G3 SoC. This chip is a considerable improvement over the Tensor G2, at least on paper. It’s still not on par with the best Qualcomm has to offer, not even close, but still… it’s a move forward. The difference is much bigger now than it was for the Tensor G2 compared to the original Tensor. Every major subsystem has been updated too.
Let there be light
The Google Pixel 8 Pro’s display caps out at 2,400 nits of brightness. The Pixel 7 Pro’s, on the flip side, offered a maximum brightness of 1,500 nits. Now, the Pixel 7 Pro did not exactly have a dim display, but this is a major improvement in comparison. Using the phone in direct sunlight will feel considerably different thanks to this. One thing to note is that the phone can reach that level of brightness only if the automatic brightness setting is used.
7 years of software support
The Google Pixel 8 series will get 7 years of software support. And no, not only 7 years of security update, but 7 years of “OS, security, and Feature Drop updates”. Google was quite clear to emphasize that OS updates are accounted into those 7 years. So you’ll be getting major Android OS updates until the year 2030 with this phone.
Improved cameras
Unlike the Pixel 8, the Pixel 8 Pro comes with three cameras on the back, just like its predecessor. Those cameras have been improved. A 50-megapixel main camera is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera. The main camera comes with new hardware, which offers 21% more light sensitivity compared to the Pixel 7 Pro. The ultrawide camera comes with a major new sensor to improve ultrawide photos, while macro shots should also see a major improvement. We still have a 48-megapixel telephoto camera here, but an improved one. 5x optical zoom is still a part of the package.
Faster RAM
The Google Pixel 8 Pro still includes 12GB of RAM, like its predecessor, but it has faster RAM on the inside. It comes with LPDDR5X RAM, compared to LPDDR5 RAM inside the Pixel 7 Pro. The same is the case for the smaller model, actually, even though it has less RAM. That should help with the overall snappiness during usage, and also with gaming.
What cases are available for the Google Pixel 8 Pro?
Google announced a single official case for the Pixel 8 Pro, as it did last year. This case comes in several color options, though. It comes in Bay, Charcoal, Coral, Mint, and Porcelain color options. In plain words, those are blue, black, red-ish, blue-ish, and light gray colors. The company says this case has a soft silicone feel to it, and that it’s made with “42% recycled materials”. It’s the same as the one for the Pixel 8. This case is priced at $29.99, in case you were wondering. Check out all the colors in the gallery below.
Should I buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro?
So, should you get the Pixel 8 Pro? Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for in a phone, and what’s your budget. This handset comes with a brighter display than its predecessor, a more capable processor, faster RAM, and a better camera setup. If any of those things make a difference to you, you may want to consider the device. It also has Google’s software and all the software features you’d expect, of course. It’s not cheap, though so… think hard before you pull the trigger.