The Google Pixel 7 Professional was a superb smartphone total. It packed in all the pieces an off-the-cuff smartphone consumer would count on from an Android smartphone together with, the now normal, well timed software program updates. However it got here up brief in a couple of areas like battery life, charging and had its justifiable share of heating points and camera-related bugs as effectively. With the brand new Pixel 8 Professional, there is a brand-new design, loads of AI-enabled options and even a brand new processor. Retaining 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 value in India
Not like final yr, Google’s Pixel 8 Professional lastly affords a better storage possibility 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 obtained the 128GB storage variant for evaluate which is priced at Rs. 1,06,999 in India, whereas the 256GB variant is offered at Rs. 1,13,999.
As talked about in my first impressions, each the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Professional, are Google’s costliest Pixel smartphones to launch in India. Merely put, the brand new top-end Pixel 8 Professional has obtained a value hike of Rs. 22,000, which immediately places it out of attain of a number of potential patrons. After which you must understand that even at Rs. 1,06,999, you’re nonetheless getting simply 128GB of inside storage and no free cloud storage entry both.
Certainly, Google has its arms full in the case of convincing its present Pixel customers to improve to the most recent mannequin this yr. And it is in all probability one of many the explanation why you’re studying this evaluate.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Design
Google’s Pixel 8 Professional has seen extra adjustments than the usual Pixel 8 (Overview) this yr. Principally, Google’s engineers removed some pointless stuff and made some refinements to the Pixel 7 Professional’s design. Retaining in thoughts its flat show, and total flatter profile it qualifies as a brand new design. However it’s an overhaul of kinds as the brand new Pixel 8 Professional nonetheless seems distinctly Pixel. That is primarily right down to its sharper, visor-like digital camera module on the again which is as chunky as final yr’s mannequin.
The visor-like digital camera module nonetheless will get scratched simply, identical to the Pixel 7 Professional
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The digital camera module’s edges are fairly sharp not like 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 cellphone’s fairly slippery matte-finished physique by resting my index finger beneath 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 the case of resisting fingerprints. At 213g the cellphone doesn’t really feel too heavy or too mild. This mixed with the soft-finished glass again lends the system a really premium and splendid really feel.
Google’s Pixel 8 Professional undoubtedly appears to be like the half for a premium smartphone
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Google additionally affords an IP68 score 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, provided 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 referred to 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 higher efficiency and effectivity. Nonetheless, Google is extra targeted on its AI capabilities and that is the place it’s anticipated to shine. 12GB RAM is normal and the cellphone affords as much as 256GB of storage this yr with no expandable storage and no extra SIM card slot. Nonetheless, one can use the eSIM performance to make use of two numbers on the identical system.
By way of connectivity, the Pixel 8 Professional affords 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 methods.
The Pixel 8 Professional’s (proper) design shares some similarities with the older Pixel 7 Professional (left)
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Other than the standard digital camera array, there may be additionally a brand new thermometer which can be utilized to verify the floor temperature of assorted supplies. Google will likely be including help for checking physique temperature quickly, which might make it helpful if it seems to be correct.
The cellphone has a 5,050mAh battery and helps 30W wired charging and 23W wi-fi charging. Nonetheless, the field contents do not embrace a supported charging adapter.
Going with the AI development, Google introduces its new AI wallpaper characteristic which is unique to this yr’s Pixel 8 and eight Professional gadgets. It wants an web connection to work however chomps out some actually distinctive and fascinating wallpapers utilizing its AI bits. The remainder of Android 14 feels and seems just like what’s obtainable on a Pixel 7 Professional.
Different new smarts which can be obtainable on the Pixel 8 Professional embrace the power to learn aloud net pages or articles from an online browser. Google Assistant may even translate an online web page earlier than studying it aloud which can also be helpful. The operation is correctly hands-free on the Pixel 8 Professional (I couldn’t get the characteristic to work efficiently on a Pixel 7 Professional), which is helpful in case your arms are busy.
The AI Wallpaper characteristic is a enjoyable technique to pattern the ability of AI and create some distinctive wallpapers within the course of
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The Pixel 8 Professional’s AI enhancing instruments, which can be found in its Images 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 allows you to actually reposition folks and objects in {a photograph} (which must be uploaded to the cloud). The AI fashions certain are spectacular! At occasions it will probably get actually onerous to inform if a picture has been edited in any respect. Nonetheless, pixel-peeping into these images normally reveals some clues. Magic Editor is not good and will get polished with future updates, however it’s a very highly effective software nonetheless.
The identical could be stated in regards to the new Finest Take characteristic which requires a sequence of images of the identical setting with a view to work. If you happen to occur to have sufficient images of the identical folks in the identical setting, then it is fairly onerous to inform if a picture has been edited.
Audio Magic Eraser is one other AI-enabled software, which might impressively perceive the sounds in a video. As soon as activated, it listens to the clip and shortly identifies the totally different sounds after which categorises them (speech, nature, wind, noise and so on.) letting one modify the degrees to bump up the amount 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 fascinating to see how the AI mannequin identifies the totally different sounds in any given video.
The Audio Magic Eraser software within the Images app is helpful for eradicating or decreasing undesirable sounds in a recorded video
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As controversial as these picture enhancing options are, I can see a number of Pixel 8 and eight Professional customers serving to many who aren’t capable of snap handsome images. Furthermore, Pixel 8 Professional customers might look like wizards to aged people who normally do not find yourself composing a trip picture proper, and sometimes request the unimaginable, like transferring the Eiffel Tower a bit to the correct. Surprisingly, all of that and extra is now attainable utilizing easy drag-and-drop instruments.
As spectacular because the Pixel 8 Professional’s pictures and enhancing capabilities are this yr, I nonetheless confronted the identical digital camera bug as on final yr’s fashions. The Night time Sight bug triggers when capturing back-to-back images from the digital camera app’s evening mode when transitioning from 1X to 2X. As soon as triggered, all images captured thereafter don’t get saved within the cellphone, leaving one with a digital camera that can allow you to click on images however not save them. The one technique to get the digital camera to start out storing snapped images once more is to restart the cellphone or await the digital camera app to crash.
For lengthy, Pixel smartphones have all the time been the primary gadgets 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’ll present as much as 7 years of software program updates which incorporates its quarterly Characteristic Drops (that deliver new options) and safety updates. Including to this dedication Google additionally defined that it’ll refill on spares for these two smartphones as effectively, 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 gadgets continuously, however changing your smartphone much less continuously works effectively for the atmosphere because it additionally reduces e-waste.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview:Â Efficiency
As for the Pixel 8 Professional’s 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED show, it really works effectively below vivid daylight and exhibits pretty correct colors when set to the Pure color mode. Its 120Hz dynamic refresh charge, which might drop to 1Hz when not getting used, additionally works as anticipated.
Similar to final yr, battery statistics aren’t all that nice as I typically discovered me reaching out for the charger by the tip of a piece day with about 20 p.c left round 7:00 PM, after unplugging the cellphone at round 8:00 AM. If you find yourself utilizing the digital camera and edit a number of pictures 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 phase are able to. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely which at the moment 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)
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On the Pixel 8 Professional, most informal and high-end video games run simply effective at default settings. However the cellphone 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 Obligation: Cellular.
The cellphone does heat up after enjoying a couple of Name of Obligation tournaments on Extremely settings, however it doesn’t get abnormally sizzling and that is primarily right down to CPU throttling. Nonetheless, one can count on loads of body drops throughout gameplay because the Tensor G3 is not actually designed for operating demanding titles at the very best settings. Ray-tracing, whereas being comparatively new, can also 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 phase and have been far beneath 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 exams. To offer you an concept 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 evaluate.
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 capturing 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 finished processing those which have already been captured. Whereas this doesn’t look like an enormous drawback, I did find yourself lacking a number of moments whereas snapping images of my child. Capturing RAW images additionally takes some time to course of, in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional Max which is nearly immediate.
The Pixel 8 Professional identical to the Pixel 7 Professional runs a bit sizzling outdoor when related to 5G networks
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For a cellphone that is extra targeted and identified for its images options, it is unhappy to see that the most recent 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 along with a separate imaging chip solely for dealing with all of its digital camera necessities as the present Tensor G3 processor clearly is not up for the job.
Even with every day utilization, one thing so simple as scrolling via net pages and social media apps (even YouTube) can get jittery at occasions. Scrolling is jittery when utilizing each native and third-party apps and that is one thing many customers have complained about on Reddit as effectively. Google took its personal candy time to try to resolve its Pixel 7 Professional’s scrolling points, however these have but to be resolved efficiently.
The cellphone nonetheless will get sizzling when utilizing the digital camera app, particularly when capturing extra difficult digital camera modes like Portrait and Night time mode. The cellphone additionally will get fairly sizzling outdoor when related to 5G networks. Google nonetheless doesn’t provide any cooling resolution (aside from CPU throttling) with its Pixel telephones, which retains them operating heat more often than not when used outdoor. 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 so much 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 characteristic works as shortly as Apple’s Face ID authentication, nevertheless, it solely works effectively (or shortly) in good lighting. Dimly lit settings will see the digital camera struggling to recognise faces, which is after I needed to revert to the great previous 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 digital camera division as effectively. Key amongst these is the brand new 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle digital camera which replaces the 12-megapixel digital camera on the earlier mannequin. There is a new brighter 50-megapixel major digital camera as effectively however I count on minor enhancements (if any) with this one. The whole lot else aside from 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 digital camera modes have been revamped on the Pixel 8 Professional. The Pixel 8 Professional particularly this yr will get a particular professional mode referred to as Professional Controls, which brings superior digital camera controls for smartphone digital camera fanatics preferring to tweak issues a bit earlier than capturing or whereas recording.
Professional Controls is splendidly designed with practicality and ease in thoughts, making it straightforward to make use of and perceive
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To be clear, the Pixel 8 Professional’s Professional Controls mode just isn’t as superior because the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely’s digital camera app which additionally affords varied 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 so much higher when it comes to functionality and management when capturing video, even when in comparison with an iPhone 15 Professional Max, I reviewed earlier.
Not like the Pixel 7 Professional the place one will get entry to brightness, shadow and white stability sliders within the viewfinder when capturing, the Pixel 8 Professional hides all of its Professional controls below a settings button situated on the prime proper nook. Tapping on it offers one entry to superior controls like Night time Sight length, brightness, shadow, white stability, focus, shutter velocity and ISO as effectively. I significantly appreciated the main target management because it highlights the at the moment targeted space in pink due to a spotlight peaking characteristic like on an actual digital camera.
Tapping on the standard gear icon on the backside now opens a complete menu with a particular Professional tab by which one can choose the decision (binned or full body), output kind (RAW/JPEG) and a really useful Lens Choice selector, which helps you to select between Auto or Handbook. Selecting Auto principally will get you your entire zoom vary which additionally contains the digital ranges between the native focal lengths (0.5X, 1X and 5X).
The guide will get you entry to only the native focal lengths, which switches off the digital camera’s computerized lens choice. That is helpful to keep away from utilizing the incorrect digital camera (which the smartphone robotically selects relying on the space of the article/topic from the lens. This typically results in digitally cropped and scaled images. So, in case your topic is just too shut for the 5X telephoto digital camera, it simply will not focus, letting you recognize that you have to keep a better distance to get the proper 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 pictures which could be tweaked later within the publish. As for the video, Professional Controls solely allows you to tweak white stability and publicity on this mode.
The Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional digital camera samples have been captured in daylight and low mild utilizing their major cameras (faucet picture to increase)
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As for picture high quality, I discovered the pictures from the first digital camera to be virtually an identical 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 typically seen that colors aren’t as correct though the pictures regarded good. Low-light imagery is implausible, however I seen that the first digital camera tends to crush the blacks in settings with contrasted lighting.
Google Pixel 8 Professional captures some high quality 5X telephoto photographs (prime) and macro images (backside) (faucet pictures to increase)
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Images from the ultra-wide digital camera, which has seen essentially the most adjustments this yr, pack in additional element and dynamic vary when capturing in daylight. Colors are fairly correct as effectively. Macro images additionally got here out nice and the brand new digital camera allows you to get even nearer (as much as 2cm) to your topic.
Google Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional daylight and low-light digital camera samples captured utilizing their ultra-wide-angle cameras (faucet picture to increase)
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By way of zoom, the telephoto digital camera shoots actually spectacular images with good element. I used the 5X telephoto to seize some crisp portraits and close-ups and effectively they usually all regarded beautiful with a pure bokeh. Going past its optical limits, Google’s Tremendous Res Zoom manages high quality pictures as much as 10X (hybrid zoom) however the high quality begins to dither thereafter.
Google Pixel 8 Professional telephoto zoom digital camera samples captured in daylight (faucet picture to increase)
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Whereas it manages good picture high quality, the Pixel 8 Professional identical to the Pixel 7 Professional struggles with edge detection when in Portrait mode (faucet picture to increase)
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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 digital camera appears to be like sharp, has a superb bitrate and affords a gradual body charge. Stabilisation can also be spectacular, making it a stable improve over the Pixel 7 Professional’s video recording capabilities. Low mild 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 mild.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Overview: Verdict
What units the Pixel 8 Professional aside from 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 a number 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 also be an space which cellular images fanatics will take pleasure in.
However the value hike might persuade many upgraders to stay with their Pixel 7 Professional fashions this yr as the entire above-mentioned options (aside from a 7-year dedication for software program updates) do not actually look like must-haves on anybody’s checklist.
To make issues worse, the Pixel 7 Professional in the present day retails for as little as Rs. 63,999, which is not a foul deal, relying on what one is searching for in a brand new smartphone buy. Its nonetheless digital camera efficiency is just like the Pixel 8 Professional however falls behind in the case 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 affords 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) (obtainable at Rs. 1,24,999 for the 256GB variant) absolutely affords higher worth, with spectacular zoom functionality, a greater and bigger show, wonderful battery life, and to an extent even Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem of gadgets which incorporates, smartwatches, audio equipment, tablets and laptops.