Google's new flagship Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones have – finally – been officially unveiled, along with a new smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2, and two new colourways for the Pixel Buds Pro.
The latest additions to the Pixel phone family have improved processing power in the form of the new Google Tensor G3, upgrades to their camera systems, fast charging capabilities, and, according to senior company exec Rick Osterloh, "the latest AI enhancements from Google". The phones also see a price increase over the Pixel 7 family.
Both handsets are rated for dust and water resistance to IP68 standards, and design director Claude Zellweger added that the phones will feature 100% recycled aluminium and plastic-free packaging. The company also plans to partner with iFixit, to offer parts enabling customers to fix their own phones.
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Google Pixel Watch 2 (LTE edition in polished silver and bay blue)
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The new Pixel 8 phones will ship with Android 14 and also come with seven years of OS upgrades and security updates, as well as 'feature drop' support until 2030.
A bundle offer is also running where customers who purchase the Pixel 8 Pro can get the Pixel Buds Pro or WiFi edition of the Pixel Watch 2 for free. Alternatively, they can choose to claim a discounted WiFi and LTE edition of the Pixel Watch 2.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are set for release on October 12, and pre-orders are open now in the UK.
Google Pixel 8
Google's Pixel 8 smartphone will be available in a choice of three colourways – rose pink, black ('Obsidian') and green ('Hazel') – and two storage options, 128GB or 256GB.
Pricing in the UK starts at £699 for the 128GB version, SIM-free. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping from October 12.
The Pixel 8 has 8GB of RAM, and is a slightly smaller size with a 6.2-inch display. The Actua display is new to the Pixel 8, and is described as 42% brighter than the Pixel 7's screen.
Related: Best Google Pixel-exclusive features
The Tensor G3 chip powers functionality including an improved Call Assist feature, which aims to sift out spammers from genuinely important callers. Additionally, the phone can recognise what language you're speaking and switch between multiple languages.
Its 10MP front camera is complemented by a 50MP rear wide lens, a 12MP rear ultrawide lens and an upgraded main sensor. The rear camera system can film 4K video,
In addition to existing Google Photos app editing features including the Magic Eraser and photo unblurring tech, both the front and rear cameras on the Pixel 8 will now use Guided Frame technology, which recognises people and pets.
The phone's processor can also separate out audio channels on videos via its 'Audio Magic Eraser' function, which was demonstrated with a video of a baby talking with a dog barking in the background.
Additionally, 'Magic Editor' employs generative AI to provide photo-editing tools including moving and resizing objects in a picture, as well as the ability to edit the background and adjust lighting.
Via the Google Photos app, the 'Best Take' feature takes several pictures in a short period of time, so that people can edit group photos and combine different people's expressions into one photo. Fire Island star Joel Kim Booster took part in a demonstration of the tech, filmed at Griffith Observatory and broadcast during the keynote.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro will be available in three colourways – black ('Obsidian'), pale blue ('Bay Blue') and off-white ('Porcelain') – and three storage size options, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. Pricing starts at £999 for the 128GB edition of the phone, SIM-free.
With 12GB of RAM, the Pixel 8 Pro has a matte glass body and a slightly larger screen than the Pixel 8, a 6.7-inch Super Actua Display which Zellweger described as its "brightest display yet".
Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB model in bay blue)
The fully upgraded camera system features a 10MP front camera with autofocus, a 50MP rear wide lens, a 48MP rear ultrawide lens, plus a 48MP rear telephoto lens that has 5x optical zoom.
In addition to the camera and photo and video editing features available on the Pixel 8, it will have Pro Controls including shutter speed, ISO sensitivity and focus.
As rumoured, it also has a temperature sensor built into it, and Zellweger added that it's hoping to clear technology with the FDA that will allow customers to use the Thermometer app to take their own temperature in the future.
Google Pixel Watch 2
The Google Pixel Watch 2 will have WiFi and 4G LTE versions. Pre-orders open today, with shipping starting in a week's time.
Pricing starts at £349 in the UK and $349 in the US. All new watches include six months of Fitbit Premium.
It will be available in four colourways – black ('Obsidian'), off-white ('Porcelain'), green ('Hazel'), and pale blue ('Bay Blue').
The Pixel Watch 2 will have "more durable coverglass and 100% recycled aluminium housing", according to Fitbit co-founder James Park. He added that bands designed for the predecessor Pixel Watch are compatible with its successor.
It has a quad-core CPU, fast charging capability, and an estimated 24 hours of use on a single charge with an always-on display.
Running Wear OS 4, it supports Gmail and Google Calendar, and will have improvements to other Google apps like YouTube Music and Google Maps.
The Safety Check feature from the Pixel phones will also be introduced on the Pixel Watch 2 – if you are unable to check in before a pre-set timer expires, then it will send an alert and your location to your key contacts.
The Pixel Watch 2 has three new sensors. It features a redesigned heart rate sensor system that's designed to improve accuracy by 40% on the previous model, a new skin temperature sensor and a continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor, which aims to assess a user's stress levels based on the data it receives and provide suggestions for managing stress.
These new and revised sensors will be complemented by a software upgrade, AI algorithms and the redesigned Fitbit app, which launched in September.
Google Pixel Buds Pro update
It was also announced on Wednesday (October 4) that the Pixel Buds Pro will get some software updates designed to improve user experience, such as its Clear Calling tech which is designed to and reduce background noise.
They'll use Bluetooth Super Wide Band, which aims to provide a more realistic sound, and AI software updates will pause the earbuds' audio and turn on transparency mode if the microphone senses you speaking.
Related: Best AirPods alternatives in 2023
New colours have also been launched, including Bay Blue and Porcelain, to match the new Pixel 8 family of phones.
The Pixel Fold will also get a dual-screen interpreter mode, providing translation across 45 languages.
Google also announced plans to use its generative AI tech to provide a "streamlined view" of events on Google Home devices, with experimental features rolling out next year. Its generative AI chatbot Bard will also be integrated into Google Assistant.
