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The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the company’s upcoming flagship handset. It will launch alongside the Google Pixel 8, which we’ve already previewed in a separate article. The Pixel 8 Pro will be the best Google has to offer, though, a level above the vanilla Pixel 8 model. Details regarding the phone have been trickling in for a while now, though the device will become official later this year, most likely in October.
Having said that, we’re here to take a closer look at the Pixel 8 Pro, and see what it’ll have to offer. Below, you’ll find a lot of information about the device, based on what leaked thus far. We’ll add more information as it leaks out, of course. So, if you’re interested in the Pixel 8 Pro, well, read on.
This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Google Pixel 8 Pro (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on September 8, 2023.
When will the Google Pixel 8 Pro be released?
The Pixel 8 Pro will become official on October 4. Google officially confirmed its Pixel 8 launch event. That’s not all, though, the company also confirmed what devices will arrive during that event, aside from the Pixel 8 series. This launch event comes a year after the Pixel 7 event, almost exactly a year after.
What models are coming?
Google will reveal both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro during the event. We’ve already talked about the Pixel 8, so we’re here to focus on the ‘Pro’ model. Chances are that the device will end up offering 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, while we’ll get more than one storage option. We’re not sure what those storage options will be just yet, though. Google will certainly go up to 512GB or maybe even 1TB this time around. The Pixel 7 Pro was available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models. Don’t expect expandable storage to be a part of the picture, though.
How much will the Google Pixel 8 Pro cost?
We still don’t have any information regarding the Pixel 8 Pro price, but the phone is tipped to be a bit more expensive than its predecessor. The Pixel 7 Pro launched with an $899 price tag, which was considered a good price point last year. If Google can make it happen again, that would be great, as flagship phones are immensely expensive these days. If we had to guess, we’d say that the starting price tag will either be the same, or the Pixel 8 Pro will be a bit more expensive at $949 or $999.
What will the Google Pixel 8 Pro look like?
The Google Pixel 8 Pro surfaced in CAD-based renders back in March, while official images surfaced in both August and September. In September, Google actually directly released a bunch of official images, which you can check out in one of the galleries at the end of this section. The company accidentally also gave us a 360-degree look at the phone. The Pixel 8 Pro design won’t be too much different than the Pixel 7 Pro’s. The device will be a bit more rounded, however, and its camera visor will look slightly different. Its display will be either flat or very slightly curved. The bezels will be thin, and all its physical buttons will be located on the right-hand side. The power/lock button will sit above the volume rocker buttons. The phone’s prototype also appeared in images, which goes hand-in-hand with these CAD renders.
The device will be made out of metal and glass, almost certainly. Its camera visor on the back will connect with the frame on the sides, and will be covered by metal, as was on the Pixel 7 Pro. The back side of the phone will be slightly curved towards the edges. The camera visor will once again protrude quite a bit on the back. Google’s logo will be visible on the back, but it won’t be too flashy or anything like that.
Even the phone’s promo video surfaced, giving us a look at the phone itself. You can check out the video below.
You can check out the images below to see what the phone will look like for yourself. It will be larger than the Pixel 8, that’s for sure, and it’ll be easy to recognize thanks to a different setup inside the camera visor. The device is tipped to measure around 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.7mm (12mm including the camera bump). The Pixel 8 Pro is coming in Jade, Licorice, Porcelain, and Sky color variants.
CAD-based renders:
Seems like the new Pixel 8 series will introduce Audio Magic Eraser feature to reduce video background noise.#Pixel8 #Pixel8Pro #GooglePixel pic.twitter.com/Tb23MoDuUI
— EZ (@EZ8622647227573) August 11, 2023
Official images:
What specs will the Google Pixel 8 Pro have?
The Pixel 8 Pro will be fueled by the Google Tensor G3 SoC. That chip will be a considerable improvement over the Tensor G2. Not only will it come with newer Arm cores, across the board, but it will have a different cores setup, and support UFS 4.0 flash storage. More changes will be implemented, and even though it won’t be the most powerful chip on the market, it will be a major improvement over its predecessor. That chip will also be included inside the Pixel 8.
The Pixel 8 Pro will likely feature a 6.7-inch QHD+ (2992 x 1344) LTPO AMOLED display. Unlike the one in its predecessor, this one will be flat. That display will offer a 120Hz refresh rate, adaptive. Max brightness will be 1,600 nits, by the way. Google is expected to offer plenty of RAM here, probably 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. UFS 4.0 flash storage will also be included. The phone is tipped to arrive in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. Don’t expect expandable storage to be on offer here, though, because it won’t be.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro will come with a bigger battery than its predecessor. It will include a 4,950mAh battery, compared to a 4,926mAh unit in the Pixel 7 Pro. It’s not a huge difference, but any improvement is welcomed. It will also support faster wired charging at 27W, compared to 23W the Pixel 7 Pro offered. Wireless charging speed will remain the same. Google may even offer an eSIM only version of the Pixel 8 Pro, in some markets, most probably in the US.
What about the cameras? Well, the Pixel 8 Pro is tipped to include an improved main camera sensor over the Pixel 7 Pro. In fact, detailed Pixel 8 Pro camera specs surfaced. The phone is said to include a 50-megapixel main camera. Samsung’s ISOCELL GN2 sensor will be used, thus improving upon the ISOCELL GN1 which was used in the Pixel 6 and 7 series. A new 64-megapixel ultrawide camera will be used (Sony’s IMX787 sensor). That is the same sensor Google used in the Pixel 7a, but for the main camera. The telephoto camera will seemingly remain the same, and offer 5x optical zoom. A 10.8-megapixel selfie camera was also mentioned. Google is also looking to change up the Google Camera UI. On top of that, a bunch of new camera AI features will be available too.
Should you wait to buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro?
So, should you wait for the Pixel 8 Pro or get the Pixel 7 Pro now? Well, the Pixel 7 Pro can be bought at a discount at the time of writing this article, but we’d suggest waiting a bit. The Tensor G3 will bring various improvements to the table, and if the Pixel 8 Pro ends up sporting a new camera setup as well, it’ll be worth the wait. Let’s just hope that Google doesn’t plan to raise the price up, or at least doesn’t plan to raise it by much. Not a single price rumor surfaced thus far, so all we can do at this point is wait.