The Google Pixel 7 Professional was a superb smartphone total. It packed in every part an off-the-cuff smartphone person would count on from an Android smartphone together with, the now customary, well timed software program updates. Nevertheless it got here up brief in a couple of areas like battery life, charging and had its fair proportion of heating points and camera-related bugs as nicely. With the brand new Pixel 8 Professional, there is a brand-new design, loads of AI-enabled options and even a brand new processor. Maintaining this in thoughts, one would naturally count on Google to have labored on some if not the entire shortcomings of its predecessor. However that is not precisely the case with Google’s latest Pixel flagship.
Google Pixel 8 Professional worth in India
In contrast to final yr, Google’s Pixel 8 Professional lastly gives the next storage choice in India. After years of complaining about providing a measly 128GB of storage with its base fashions, Google lastly determined so as to add a brand new storage tier in India with the introduction of a 256GB variant. I acquired the 128GB storage variant for assessment which is priced at Rs. 1,06,999 in India, whereas the 256GB variant is accessible at Rs. 1,13,999.
As talked about in my first impressions, each the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Professional, are Google’s most costly Pixel smartphones to launch in India. Merely put, the brand new top-end Pixel 8 Professional has acquired a worth hike of Rs. 22,000, which immediately places it out of attain of a number of potential consumers. After which you need to take into account that even at Rs. 1,06,999, you might be nonetheless getting simply 128GB of inside storage and no free cloud storage entry both.
Certainly, Google has its palms full in terms of convincing its present Pixel customers to improve to the newest mannequin this yr. And it is most likely one of many the explanation why you might be studying this assessment.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Design
Google’s Pixel 8 Professional has seen extra modifications than the usual Pixel 8 (Overview) this yr. Mainly, Google’s engineers removed some pointless stuff and made some refinements to the Pixel 7 Professional’s design. Maintaining in thoughts its flat show, and total flatter profile it qualifies as a brand new design. However it’s an overhaul of types as the brand new Pixel 8 Professional nonetheless seems distinctly Pixel. That is primarily right down to its sharper, visor-like digicam module on the again which is as chunky as final yr’s mannequin.
The visor-like digicam module nonetheless will get scratched simply, similar to the Pixel 7 Professional
The digicam module’s edges are fairly sharp in contrast to final yr’s mannequin, however I am glad Google retained its chunky protruding look as a result of it makes it simpler to carry on to the telephone’s slightly slippery matte-finished physique by resting my index finger under it for help.
The matte-finished rear glass panel is a primary for Google’s Pixel vary and its total rounded look and curves do remind me of the unique Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. As slippery because the rear panel is, it is wonderful in terms of resisting fingerprints. At 213g the telephone doesn’t really feel too heavy or too gentle. This mixed with the soft-finished glass again lends the system a really premium and splendid really feel.
Google’s Pixel 8 Professional positively appears the half for a premium smartphone
Google additionally gives an IP68 ranking which is identical as on final yr’s mannequin. Construct high quality is kind of stable and I am glad Google lastly removed the curved edge show which appeared pointless on a Pixel, on condition that it by no means had any added software program options like on Samsung’s smartphones.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Specs and software program
This yr’s Pixel 8 Professional brings one other new chipset known as the Tensor G3. It is constructed utilizing the 4nm manufacturing course of, which along with its new nona-core structure ought to in principle translate to raised efficiency and effectivity. Nevertheless, Google is extra centered on its AI capabilities and that is the place it’s anticipated to shine. 12GB RAM is customary and the telephone gives as much as 256GB of storage this yr with no expandable storage and no further SIM card slot. Nevertheless, one can use the eSIM performance to make use of two numbers on the identical system.
By way of connectivity, the Pixel 8 Professional gives an upgraded WiFi 7 expertise, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, a USB-C port, ultra-wideband (UWB) help and help for a number of international positioning techniques.
The Pixel 8 Professional’s (proper) design shares some similarities with the older Pixel 7 Professional (left)
Aside from the same old digicam array, there may be additionally a brand new thermometer which can be utilized to verify the floor temperature of varied supplies. Google can be including help for checking physique temperature quickly, which might make it helpful if it seems to be correct.
The telephone has a 5,050mAh battery and helps 30W wired charging and 23W wi-fi charging. Nevertheless, the field contents do not embrace a supported charging adapter.
Going with the AI pattern, Google introduces its new AI wallpaper function which is unique to this yr’s Pixel 8 and eight Professional units. It wants an web connection to work however chomps out some actually distinctive and attention-grabbing wallpapers utilizing its AI bits. The remainder of Android 14 feels and seems much like what’s accessible on a Pixel 7 Professional.
Different new smarts which are accessible on the Pixel 8 Professional embrace the power to learn aloud net pages or articles from an internet browser. Google Assistant may even translate an internet web page earlier than studying it aloud which can be helpful. The operation is correctly hands-free on the Pixel 8 Professional (I couldn’t get the function to work efficiently on a Pixel 7 Professional), which is helpful in case your palms are busy.
The AI Wallpaper function is a enjoyable strategy to pattern the facility of AI and create some distinctive wallpapers within the course of
The Pixel 8 Professional’s AI enhancing instruments, which can be found in its Pictures app are jaw-droppingly spectacular when it comes to functionality. Whereas the older Magic Eraser has gotten significantly better over time, the newly marketed instruments nonetheless want a little bit of polish when it comes to output.
The brand new Magic Editor software permits you to actually reposition individuals and objects in {a photograph} (which must be uploaded to the cloud). The AI fashions positive are spectacular! At instances it might probably get actually laborious to inform if a picture has been edited in any respect. Nevertheless, pixel-peeping into these images often reveals some clues. Magic Editor is not excellent and may get polished with future updates, however it’s a very highly effective software nonetheless.
The identical may be mentioned concerning the new Greatest Take function which requires a sequence of images of the identical setting as a way to work. In case you occur to have sufficient images of the identical individuals in the identical setting, then it is slightly laborious to inform if a picture has been edited.
Audio Magic Eraser is one other AI-enabled software, which may impressively perceive the sounds in a video. As soon as activated, it listens to the clip and rapidly identifies the completely different sounds after which categorises them (speech, nature, wind, noise and so on.) letting one regulate the degrees to bump up the quantity of the sounds they want to hear (speech, nature) over those that they need to quieten (noise, wind). Whereas I didn’t discover the outcomes all that spectacular, it’s attention-grabbing to see how the AI mannequin identifies the completely different sounds in any given video.
The Audio Magic Eraser software within the Pictures app is helpful for eradicating or decreasing undesirable sounds in a recorded video
As controversial as these picture enhancing options are, I can see plenty of Pixel 8 and eight Professional customers serving to many who aren’t in a position to snap handsome images. Furthermore, Pixel 8 Professional customers might seem to be wizards to aged people who often do not find yourself composing a trip picture proper, and sometimes request the unimaginable, like shifting the Eiffel Tower a bit to the suitable. Surprisingly, all of that and extra is now attainable utilizing easy drag-and-drop instruments.
As spectacular because the Pixel 8 Professional’s images and enhancing capabilities are this yr, I nonetheless confronted the identical digicam bug as on final yr’s fashions. The Night time Sight bug triggers when taking pictures back-to-back images from the digicam app’s night time mode when transitioning from 1X to 2X. As soon as triggered, all images captured thereafter don’t get saved within the telephone, leaving one with a digicam that may allow you to click on images however not save them. The one strategy to get the digicam to begin storing snapped images once more is to restart the telephone or anticipate the digicam app to crash.
For lengthy, Pixel smartphones have at all times been the primary units to obtain Android software program updates and Google has someway managed to one-up itself on this space with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional. Google claims that it’s going to present as much as 7 years of software program updates which incorporates its quarterly Function Drops (that convey new options) and safety updates. Including to this dedication Google additionally defined that it’s going to fill up on spares for these two smartphones as nicely, in case your smartphone will get broken or stops functioning over the subsequent 7 years. Certainly such commitments will enchantment to those that do not improve their units often, however changing your smartphone much less often works nicely for the atmosphere because it additionally reduces e-waste.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Efficiency
As for the Pixel 8 Professional’s 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED show, it really works nicely beneath brilliant daylight and reveals pretty correct colors when set to the Pure color mode. Its 120Hz dynamic refresh price, which may drop to 1Hz when not getting used, additionally works as anticipated.
Similar to final yr, battery statistics aren’t all that nice as I usually discovered me reaching out for the charger by the top of a piece day with about 20 p.c left round 7:00 PM, after unplugging the telephone at round 8:00 AM. If you find yourself utilizing the digicam and edit a number of photographs count on the battery ranges to drop even sooner. In our video loop battery take a look at, the Pixel 8 Professional managed to final for 14 hours and quarter-hour, which is barely higher than the Pixel 7 Professional, however not nice in comparison with what most smartphones on this section are able to. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely which presently retails an extra Rs. 20,000 managed to final 21 hours and seven minutes within the similar take a look at.
The Pixel 8 Professional (proper) has a flat show in comparison with the older Pixel 7 Professional (left)
On the Pixel 8 Professional, most informal and high-end video games run simply high quality at default settings. However the telephone clearly is not as highly effective when in comparison with its Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered counterparts so do not count on flawless body charges when enjoying graphics-intensive titles like Genshin Impression or fast-paced video games like Name of Responsibility: Cellular.
The telephone does heat up after enjoying a couple of Name of Responsibility tournaments on Extremely settings, nevertheless it doesn’t get abnormally scorching and that is primarily right down to CPU throttling. Nevertheless, one can count on loads of body drops throughout gameplay because the Tensor G3 is not actually designed for working demanding titles at the very best settings. Ray-tracing, whereas being comparatively new, can be not supported. I additionally discovered the contact sampling to be a bit sluggish when enjoying fast-paced FPS video games.
The Tensor G3 contained in the Google Pixel 8 Professional managed barely inferior scores in comparison with most smartphones on this section and have been far under what Apple’s newest iPhone 15 Professional Max is able to. The Pixel 8 Professional scored 10,38,343 factors in AnTuTu and managed scores of 1,629 and three,274 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core checks. To present you an thought about the place Google’s Pixel 8 Professional stands, the lower-priced OnePlus 11 5G (QHD+ show) which we reviewed earlier this yr scored 11,89,556 factors and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 (FHD+ show) managed a rating of 12,87,359 whereas the iPhone 15 Professional Max managed a cushty lead scoring 16,61,205 factors in our assessment.
Google sticking with its personal Tensor design for its processor does have its downsides as they’ve but to determine higher methods to deal with all of the processing that occurs after snapping {a photograph}. Similar to the Pixel 7 Professional, the Pixel 8 Professional struggles when taking pictures Portrait mode images and can cease capturing images (or disable the shutter button) when the picture buffer is full after clicking round 7-8 portrait mode images in fast succession. It does this to complete processing them within the background and can let one snap extra images solely as soon as it is performed processing those which have already been captured. Whereas this doesn’t seem to be an enormous downside, I did find yourself lacking a number of moments whereas snapping images of my child. Taking pictures RAW images additionally takes some time to course of, in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional Max which is nearly prompt.
The Pixel 8 Professional similar to the Pixel 7 Professional runs a bit scorching outside when related to 5G networks
For a telephone that is extra centered and recognized for its pictures options, it is unhappy to see that the newest Tensor G3 SoC is not able to dealing with the fundamentals. Google actually has to work on the Tensor G3’s imaging pipeline or go together with a separate imaging chip solely for dealing with all of its digicam necessities as the present Tensor G3 processor clearly is not up for the job.
Even with each day utilization, one thing so simple as scrolling via net pages and social media apps (even YouTube) can get jittery at instances. Scrolling is jittery when utilizing each native and third-party apps and that is one thing many customers have complained about on Reddit as nicely. Google took its personal candy time to aim to resolve its Pixel 7 Professional’s scrolling points, however these have but to be resolved efficiently.
The telephone nonetheless will get scorching when utilizing the digicam app, particularly when taking pictures extra sophisticated digicam modes like Portrait and Night time mode. The telephone additionally will get fairly scorching outside when related to 5G networks. Google nonetheless doesn’t provide any cooling answer (other than CPU throttling) with its Pixel telephones, which retains them working heat more often than not when used outside. Many Chinese language smartphone manufacturers have adopted vapour chamber cooling to take care of efficiency ranges whereas performing power-intensive duties. This yr’s Samsung Galaxy S23 additionally utilised the identical, making it run rather a lot cooler in comparison with its predecessor. So, it is actually a thriller why Google refuses to incorporate the identical in its flagship Pixel smartphones.
The brand new and safe Face Unlock function works as rapidly as Apple’s Face ID authentication, nevertheless, it solely works nicely (or rapidly) in good lighting. Dimly lit settings will see the digicam struggling to recognise faces, which is once I needed to revert to the nice outdated fingerprint scanner, which fortunately labored as anticipated.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Cameras
This yr’s Pixel 8 Professional comes with a number of enhancements within the digicam division as nicely. Key amongst these is the brand new 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle digicam which replaces the 12-megapixel digicam on the earlier mannequin. There is a new brighter 50-megapixel major digicam as nicely however I count on minor enhancements (if any) with this one. Every part else other than the brand new Tensor G3 stays the identical, which isn’t a foul deal because the earlier Pixel 7 Professional was not dangerous at imaging to start with.
The digicam modes have been revamped on the Pixel 8 Professional. The Pixel 8 Professional particularly this yr will get a particular professional mode known as Professional Controls, which brings superior digicam controls for smartphone digicam fans preferring to tweak issues a bit earlier than taking pictures or whereas recording.
Professional Controls is splendidly designed with practicality and ease in thoughts, making it straightforward to make use of and perceive
To be clear, the Pixel 8 Professional’s Professional Controls mode isn’t as superior because the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely’s digicam app which additionally gives numerous controls for video. The Pixel 8 Professional’s Professional controls appear much more user-friendly (designed for the common Joe), and fairly sensible on the similar time, simply making it rather a lot higher when it comes to functionality and management when taking pictures video, even when in comparison with an iPhone 15 Professional Max, I reviewed earlier.
In contrast to the Pixel 7 Professional the place one will get entry to brightness, shadow and white stability sliders within the viewfinder when taking pictures, the Pixel 8 Professional hides all of its Professional controls beneath a settings button situated on the high proper nook. Tapping on it provides one entry to superior controls like Night time Sight length, brightness, shadow, white stability, focus, shutter pace and ISO as nicely. I significantly favored the main focus management because it highlights the presently centered space in pink due to a spotlight peaking function like on an actual digicam.
Tapping on the same old gear icon on the backside now opens a complete menu with a particular Professional tab wherein one can choose the decision (binned or full body), output sort (RAW/JPEG) and a really useful Lens Choice selector, which helps you to select between Auto or Guide. Selecting Auto mainly will get you your entire zoom vary which additionally consists of the digital ranges between the native focal lengths (0.5X, 1X and 5X).
The handbook will get you entry to only the native focal lengths, which switches off the digicam’s automated lens choice. That is helpful to keep away from utilizing the incorrect digicam (which the smartphone robotically selects relying on the gap of the item/topic from the lens. This usually results in digitally cropped and scaled images. So, in case your topic is simply too shut for the 5X telephoto digicam, it simply will not focus, letting you realize that that you must preserve a larger distance to get the right shot.
Pixel 8 Professional additionally lets one shoot in RAW utilizing all three cameras which implies you will get high-resolution (50 or 48-megapixel) RAW photographs which may be tweaked later within the put up. As for the video, Professional Controls solely permits you to tweak white stability and publicity on this mode.
The Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional digicam samples have been captured in daylight and low gentle utilizing their major cameras (faucet picture to increase)
As for picture high quality, I discovered the pictures from the first digicam to be nearly equivalent to final yr’s mannequin. The minor variations are primarily right down to the tone the place the Pixel 8 Professional chooses cooler tones in comparison with the Pixel 7 Professional’s hotter hues. The extent of element is second to none, however I usually seen that colors aren’t as correct regardless that the images seemed good. Low-light imagery is unbelievable, however I seen that the first digicam tends to crush the blacks in settings with contrasted lighting.
Google Pixel 8 Professional captures some high quality 5X telephoto photographs (high) and macro images (backside) (faucet photographs to increase)
Pictures from the ultra-wide digicam, which has seen essentially the most modifications this yr, pack in additional element and dynamic vary when taking pictures in daylight. Colors are fairly correct as nicely. Macro images additionally got here out nice and the brand new digicam permits you to get even nearer (as much as 2cm) to your topic.
Google Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional daylight and low-light digicam samples captured utilizing their ultra-wide-angle cameras (faucet picture to increase)
By way of zoom, the telephoto digicam shoots actually spectacular images with good element. I used the 5X telephoto to seize some crisp portraits and close-ups and nicely they usually all seemed beautiful with a pure bokeh. Going past its optical limits, Google’s Tremendous Res Zoom manages high quality photographs as much as 10X (hybrid zoom) however the high quality begins to dither thereafter.
Google Pixel 8 Professional telephoto zoom digicam samples captured in daylight (faucet picture to increase)
Whereas it manages good picture high quality, the Pixel 8 Professional similar to the Pixel 7 Professional struggles with edge detection when in Portrait mode (faucet picture to increase)
After managing common video high quality final yr, it is good to see that Google has lastly upped its online game. 4K 30fps video recorded from the first digicam appears sharp, has a superb bitrate and gives a gradual body price. Stabilisation can be spectacular, making it a stable improve over the Pixel 7 Professional’s video recording capabilities. Low gentle footage additionally has good element with low noise. HDR footage shot on the similar decision appeared a bit saturated however showcased good distinction and element even in low gentle.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Verdict
What units the Pixel 8 Professional other than each different Pixel of the previous, is its AI capabilities. It is a path that Google has charted for its Pixel smartphones, and the Pixel 8 Professional absolutely shines on this space with the power to course of plenty of requests and use a number of instruments with out the necessity to connect with the web or the cloud for processing. The very succesful and well-designed built-in Professional Controls can be an space which cellular pictures fans will take pleasure in.
However the worth hike might persuade many upgraders to stay with their Pixel 7 Professional fashions this yr as the entire above-mentioned options (apart from a 7-year dedication for software program updates) do not actually seem to be must-haves on anybody’s record.
To make issues worse, the Pixel 7 Professional as we speak retails for as little as Rs. 63,999, which is not a foul deal, relying on what one is on the lookout for in a brand new smartphone buy. Its nonetheless digicam efficiency is much like the Pixel 8 Professional however falls behind in terms of video recording. The brand new Pixel 8 Professional might not warmth up as a lot because the Pixel 7 Professional however its battery life solely gives minor enhancements over the older mannequin.
In case you are prepared to spend upwards of Rs. 1,00,000 in India, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely (Overview) (accessible at Rs. 1,24,999 for the 256GB variant) absolutely gives higher worth, with spectacular zoom functionality, a greater and bigger show, wonderful battery life, and to an extent even Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem of units which incorporates, smartwatches, audio equipment, tablets and laptops.