Meet the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

Google has unveiled its two new flagship Pixel phones. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are here, packed with amazing tech and lots of cool new camera features. Let’s take a closer look.

Both phones are super stylish, with that classic Google design and smooth curves. The Pixel 8 has a satin finish that feels natural to hold, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a soft, silky matte glass finish and highly polished camera bar. Google announced that its using 100% recycled aluminium on these new phones, and all the packaging is now completely free of plastic.

The Actua display is a Google first, and it looks spectacular.

The Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch Actua display that’s sharp, colourful and a whopping 42% brighter than on Pixel 7.  Videos, games, photos and everything else you do will really pop.

The Pixel 8 Pro takes things to the next level with its 6.7-inch Super Actual display. It’s even more immersive, and Google’s brightest display yet with 2,400 nits peak brightness. Even in direct sunlight, images look incredibly true to life. Plus, it has a variable refresh rate (from 1 to 120hz) that adjusts to your activity – if you’re gaming, the refresh rate will climb to keep up with the fast-moving onscreen action. If you’re simply browsing a few webpages, the refresh rate will drop right down.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8

Pro have had a serious camera upgrade, with videos being a real highlight - huge improvements have been made to auto-focus, low-light performance, dynamic range, shadows and skin tone accuracy.

The Pixel 8 has a new 50MP wide camera and 12MP ultrawide camera, capable of producing 2x optical quality images and much better low light performance.

Pixel 8 Pro has a new 50MP main camera that lets in 21% more light, a new 48 MP ultrawide lens with better macro focus, and an upgraded 48MP telephoto lens that can take photos with 10x optical quality. Magic Eraser has had a serious upgrade on Pixel 8 Pro. You can get rid of even bigger unwanted background images, and AI will fill in the gap perfecty naturally.

Here are some standout new camera features that are on both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro:

Best Take improves group photos, by taking multiple shots and letting you choose the faces you want. So, no more dodgy blinking!

Magic Editor gives you the power to select different objects in your photo and drag them to where you want. For example, if there’s too much space in the middle of your shot, you can bring everything closer together.

Audio Magic Eraser makes videos sound even better. It uses Google AI to reduce annoying background sounds, leaving  just the things you actually want to hear. If there’s a dog barking in the background of a happy birthday singalong, you can shush it right down.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will both be powered by the new Tensor G3. It’s the most powerful chip that’s ever been in a Pixel, and has been custom designed with Google AI to make your life easier.

For example, your Pixel instantly knows which language you’re speaking and can even switch between different languages. There’s also an option to have webpages read out loud – a great option if you’re taking the dog for a walk and don’t have your hands free to scroll.

Battery life just keeps getting better. Both Pixels have an ‘Adaptive Battery’ that can last over 24 hours, and ‘Extreme Battery Saver’ mode can give you up to 72 hours of power. Recharging is superfast too, so you can get back up and running in no time at all.

You’ve got a choice of 128GB or 256GB storage on both phones. That’s plenty of room for loads of your favourite apps, games, videos, photos and music.

To reduce dodgy spam calls, these new Pixels come with an AI-powered Call Screen featuret. This clever tech answers calls from suspicious numbers, and declines messages it identifies as spam.

These phones are also the first phones to ship with Android 14. It’s Google’s brand new mobile operating system, with new features like AI-generated wallpaper and customisable lock-screens.

On the back of the Pixel 8 Pro there’s a new temperature sensor on the camera bar. It’s a convenient way of checking things like the temperature of a pan or the milk in your baby’s bottle. In the future, Google says you’ll be able to take your own temperature and save it to the Fitbit app.

You can now order the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro (in bay, obsidian or porcelain) on a pay monthly iD Mobile plan that gives you all the flexibility and control you need. You can roll over unused data, cap your out-of-plan charges, enjoy ultra-fast 5G, and use the iD Mobile app to keep an eye on your monthly allowances.

What do you think about the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro? Best cameras ever? Share your thoughts in the comments below!