Hands-On With the Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2

I ’m struggling to muster up excitement over the later heap of Pixel devices . ThePixel 8 and 8 Prohave meliorate in style and plan and probably in functioning , too ( I can only confirm everything once I test the specs myself ) . But where ’s the flair ? The feature you ca n’t live without ? And I ’m still waiting for someone in Android land to announcesatellite connectivitythat rivalsApple’sfeature .

alternatively , we have a menial , iterative update . I ’ve only gone hand - on with the newPixel 8andPixel 8 Profor less than an hr , so I ca n’t speak to how much more “ deserving it ” they are until I can put them through their stride . I want to conceive the telephoto capabilities have better and are skillful than theiPhone 15 Pro Maxoffers . The Pixel 8 Pro is also capable of 5x ocular rapid climb , and this year , it ’s bumped up to 30x for digital rapid growth . I ’m also hoping that the Pixel 8 is a good deal than what I get with the Pixel 7 last yr — six month in , I realized it was n’t up to sniff .

I also got to try on thePixel Watch 2 . It feels precisely like the Pixel Watch 1 , but it shoot a line some improvements , include a unexampled processor and watchband . We ’ll have to waitress for the review to see if that nitty-gritty rate varan and battery are any better than before .

Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

The Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8 Pro

allow ’s take on the Pixel 8 first since I ’m trying to determine if it ’ll be deserving its slightly smaller size . Google decrease the screen size by about a tenth part of an in , so there ’s a 6.2 - inch display as opposed to the Pixel 7 ’s 6.3 inches . It ’s venial but pays off majorly if you miss modest speech sound . I skipped out on the 7 Pro ’s telephotograph lens because I wanted something easy to hold . The Pixel 8 will be a little more accommodating .

I do n’t particularly appreciate the Pixel 8 ’s alone colorway is rose , or pink . It feel like a gendered stereotype : low is the special vividness for the Pixel 8 Pro , which is bigger , so it ’s for boy . Pink is reserve for the modest variant that ’s easier on dainty paw . I would have rather ascertain Google control stick to the spectrum - of - blue motif I mean it would incline into with this generation . I liked the green thing it had going with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro . What happened to that ?

The Pixel 8 Pro ’s blue colorway , dubbed “ bay , ” is stunning in somebody . When the sunshine bump off it , the blue brightens up . It also superintend to maintain its vibrancy among everyday fixture . The 8 Pro ’s soma is also a shade more reinforced than the Pixel 8 — it sport Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covering instead of first - gen Victus on the regular variate . The headphone stay IP68 rat for water- and debris resistor . It ’s the banner for all flagship equipment .

The Pixel 8 is a smaller device and the only one available in pink.

The Pixel 8 is a smaller device and the only one available in pink.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

Why did Google bundle a temperature sensor in the Pixel 8 professional ? I tried to use the feature article while pawing at the gimmick , but I could n’t quite sympathize what the reading was for — was it for the board below the phone ? Or was it measure my manus that were view as the gimmick ? The temperature sensor is supposed to avail you get a relative measurement for affair like a hot drinkable or intellectual nourishment the right way off the stove . Samsung already undertake the temperature sense thing with one of their older galaxy , and it ended up being the butt of many blogger ’s jokes . Will the Pixel 8 Pro ’s temperature sensing element suffer the same fate ?

ThePixel 8andPixel 8 Prohave slimly differing camera systems . The Pixel 8 has the same 50 - MP primary camera as the 8 Pro , though it ’s dialed down to a 12 - MP sensor on the secondary ultra - all-embracing lens . The 8 Pro ’s wide - slant choice has a fuller resolution at 48 MP and a with child aperture to capture more light for nighttime landscape painting shots .

I ’m concerned about what I ’d be giving up for the Pixel 8 ’s more midget soundbox when it comes to television camera execution . The Pro model ’s 48 - MP telephoto lens is the highest resolution in any Pixel gimmick , it can manage the same 5x optic zoom distance as the iPhone 15 Pro Max . Google ’s been able to zoom way out before , but most of that was digital with help from AI .

The front of the Pixel 8 Pro.

The front of the Pixel 8 Pro.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

At least the Pixel 8 cull up on some pieces it let stammer with the last release . The screen refresh charge per unit is now a varying 60Hz to 120Hz , which intend I can get smoother Poké ball throws in Pokémon Go now than I did with the Pixel 7 ’s 90Hz . I ’ll be curious how the stamp battery life also fares . The Pixel 8 and 8 professional have larger battery packs than their harbinger . But Android has yet to be capable to hold a candle to the iPhone ’s long electric battery life in the last two years .

The Pixel Watch 2: Redux

There are some fresh feature film to thePixel Watch 2 , even if it does n’t seem like it from afar . Yes , the design is copy and paste , except there ’s a vivid display to enjoy on this second - gen reprise — up to 1,000 nit peak light in direct sunlight .

I did not get to essay any of the health and wellness feature of the Pixel Watch 2 . I could only wear the twist and see how it feel on the wrist . It feel just like the last Pixel Watch ! I still prefer the pattern of the Galaxy Watch 6 in terms of push offering — the Galaxy Watch 6 has two buttons liken to the Pixel Watch 2 ’s , though the Watch 2 also has a digital peak that act as a button . At the very least , we ’re now in an era of Android vesture where you could choose from different designs and have a relatively uniform experience .

The Pixel Watch 2 does purport to offer the most accurate heart - pace version . This model has a “ multi - path ” nub rate sensor , switching between individual and multi - path style depending on how hard you ’re working out . It ’ll be interesting to see the overall performance of the Qualcomm SW5100 chip , which is the first Pixel Watch to have Qualcomm - made Si . Last twelvemonth ’s release used a Samsung Exynos mainframe .

The Pixel 8 Pro in its three colorways, including the new Bay blue.

The Pixel 8 Pro in its three colorways, including the new Bay blue.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

Overall , the Pixel Watch 2 is more of an extension of the Fitbit journey than the Android journeying . It ’s all about the improved fittingness capabilities , the wellness stats , and the instruction you’re able to get through Fitbit Premium . I ’ve been satisfied with Samsung Health these last many generations and the Galaxy Watch . But I ’m ready to take the plunge back to Fitbit to see if it ’s changed for the better or just a bit more Google - y than everything else .

ThePixel 8,Pixel 8 ProandPixel Watch 2release on October 12 , and are uncommitted now for pre - order through most major retailers .

Get the estimable tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .

news program from the future , delivered to your present .