Release date, rumors, specs, price, and feature wishlist

Replace, April 10, 2023 (03:16 PM ET): This hub has been up to date to incorporate details about potential options gathered from APK teardowns.

Authentic article: The Google Pixel 7 sequence made fairly the splash in October 2022, incomes each our Editor’s Alternative and Reader’s Alternative awards in 2022. We are able to positively see why, because the telephones delivered respectable efficiency, polished software program, and an important digicam expertise (as traditional for a Google cellphone).

Now that these telephones have been in the marketplace for a number of months and cemented themselves among the many finest Android telephones, we’re curious to see how Google can enhance on them with the Google Pixel 8 sequence. So we’ve gathered all essentially the most notable Pixel 8 rumors and leaks in a single place.

Will there be a Google Pixel 8 sequence?

Google has launched a flagship Pixel or two yearly for the reason that first Pixel line again in 2016. So the percentages are excessive that the Pixel 8 household will debut in 2023. Dependable German outlet WinFuture beforehand confirmed in November 2022 that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional are certainly coming and might be codenamed “Shiba” and “Husky,” respectively.

• Pixel 7 sequence launch date: October 6, 2022
• Pixel 6 sequence launch date: October 19, 2021
• Pixel 5 launch date: September 30, 2020

Google normally launches its flagship telephones in October annually, with the Pixel 7 vary and Pixel 6 duo each revealed on this month. The Pixel 5 was launched on September 30, however this was the exception relatively than the rule, as all earlier units launched in October. For sure, it’s a good wager to count on the Pixel 8 launch date to fall in September or October 2023.

What options and specs will the Pixel 8 sequence have?

We haven’t seen a ton of Pixel 8 household leaks simply but, however there’s nonetheless a good quantity of information to go on. Right here’s what we all know in regards to the telephones when it comes to design, options, and total specs.

WinFuture was the primary to report that the Pixel 8 sequence will obtain the next-generation Tensor processor code-named “Zuma.” This was corroborated by our personal leaked Google Pixel roadmap.

There’s no phrase on the Tensor G3’s specs and capabilities, however we hope Google switches to extra fashionable CPU cores, because the Tensor G2 continues to be a couple of generations behind ARM’s newest cores. In February, we obtained some proof that implies Google could certainly go down this route and incorporate extra fashionable cores.

Within the first developer preview of Android 14, Mishaal Rahman found a characteristic referred to as “Superior Reminiscence Safety.” This characteristic would forestall errors in dealing with reminiscence in native programming languages, just like the Reminiscence Tagging Extension (MTE) on ARMV9 CPUs. The Tensor G2 chip — discovered within the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional — consists of ARMV8.2 CPU cores and thus can’t deal with the characteristic. Nonetheless, the brand new Android 14 characteristic allows MTE on appropriate ARMV8.5+ units. This implies that Tensor G3 may have no less than an ARMV8.5 CPU core.

We’re additionally hoping the brand new chipset results in a cooler expertise, as we complained about heating in our Pixel 7 evaluation. Moreover, the leak from WinFuture additionally pointed to 8GB of RAM for the usual Pixel 8 and 12GB of RAM for the Professional variant. That is in keeping with the Pixel 7 sequence.

WinFuture additionally claims that the Pixel 8 may have a 2,268 x 1,080 show whereas the Pixel 8 Professional will pack a 2,822 x 1,344 display screen. The latter decision is barely decrease than the Pixel 6 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional’s 1440p panels.

An APK teardown instructed that the Pixel 8 lineup might obtain a brand new video unblur software. Like photograph unblur on the Pixel 7, this characteristic would assist to scrub up blurriness, however in movies. One other teardown revealed Evening Sight may very well be additional improved by combining pictures taken by the principle and telephoto lenses to reinforce the middle of the ensuing picture.

We’re guessing the usual Pixel 8 will retain a 4,300mAh or increased battery whereas the Pixel 8 Professional might retain a ~5,000mAh battery. As for charging speeds? We desperately wish to see a significant discount in charging instances, however we wouldn’t wager on it.

Google has caught with comparable digicam methods for 2 generations now, with the one actual {hardware} change being the Pixel 7 Professional switching to a 5x 48MP telephoto digicam as an alternative of a 4x shooter. In any other case, you’ve nonetheless obtained the identical 50MP Isocell GN1 predominant digicam right here.

It’s additionally price noting that assist for staggered HDR tech might convey a couple of advantages over present Pixels too. These advantages are sooner, extra environment friendly HDR photographs together with extra element and richer colours.

In any other case, historical past tells us that we’ll see two rear cameras on the Pixel 8 (predominant and ultrawide) and three rear shooters on the Professional mannequin (predominant, ultrawide, and periscope telephoto). However we’ll simply have to attend and see if Google’s subsequent flagships can rank, but once more, among the many finest digicam telephones you should buy.

Google completely revamped the way in which Pixels look with the Pixel 6 sequence. With the Pixel 7 sequence, the corporate solely refined that design, and it appears to be like like we might see some comparable iterations for the Pixel 8 sequence.

There are some delicate adjustments right here. The show is flat, a primary for the Professional-level telephones from Google. The rear digicam module has a barely new design with all three cameras encased in a single glass “capsule,” not like the “capsule + circle” design of the Pixel 7 Professional. There additionally seems to be an extra sensor underneath the digicam flash, though what this sensor does is a thriller for now. Exterior of those three issues, although, we don’t see too many different adjustments. Even the system’s total dimensions — 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.7mm — barely differ from the Pixel 7 Professional’s dimensions of 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm.

Based mostly on the renders, it appears to be like just like the Pixel 8 received’t see the sort of design adjustments the Pixel 8 Professional is getting. In reality, it appears Google has determined to not tinker in any respect with the design, being nearly an identical to the Pixel 7. Nonetheless, our personal info obtained from a trusted supply says the Pixel 8 will truly be smaller than the Pixel 7 (when it comes to total dimension). The alleged Pixel 8 dimensions are 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm, a notable drop from the Pixel 7 at 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm. So followers of a extra compact Pixel flagship ought to maintain an eye fixed out for this mannequin.

• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional value: $599 and $899
• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional value: $599 and $899
• Pixel 5 value: $699

Google made an enormous splash with the Pixel 6 when it launched at $599, persevering with to supply this identical price ticket with the Pixel 7. In the meantime, the Pixel 6 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional each got here in at $899, making for good offers in comparison with different premium flagships in the marketplace.

We haven’t seen any price-related leaks for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional simply but, however we hope Google maintains the identical pricing as earlier units. Nonetheless, we wouldn’t be shocked to see a slight value hike in gentle of inflation, the financial system, and different elements.

One of the disappointing issues in regards to the Pixel 7 vary is the sluggish wired charging time. The telephones provide 20 to 23W charging speeds, leading to a full cost taking up 90 minutes. That’s extremely sluggish in comparison with even mid-rangers and low-end units from different manufacturers.

We actually wish to see Google up the ante with sooner charging speeds. We’re not asking for 80W+ charging, however even constant 30W or 40W speeds would make for a vastly lowered charging time.

The final two generations of Pixels have maintained the identical pricing, particularly $599 for the vanilla mannequin and $899 for the Professional variant. Merely put, these are wonderful costs when in comparison with similarly-equipped rival flagship telephones.

We’ve obtained our fingers crossed that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional proceed this development in 2023. Alternatively, we hope Google solely implements a small value hike (e.g. $20 to $50) if it completely has to extend the value.