Enhanced camera phones and heat-detecting devices unveiled, plus Pixel Watch 2 and Android 14
Google’s newest smartphone release equips Pixel devices with AI, a temperature-sensing object measurement feature, and extended software support for up to seven years. Announced alongside the second generation of its Pixel smartwatch and the introduction of Android 14, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro aim to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone 15 lineup, all while taking inspiration from the pioneering Fairphone for creating more enduring devices.
Pixel 8 and 8 Pro
Priced at £699 (€799/$699), the Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch 120Hz OLED display, making it slightly more compact and lighter than its forerunner. Its enhanced dual-camera system on the rear captures 21% additional light, resulting in improved low-light performance and incorporating a macrophotography mode.
The new “best take” function allows users to interchange faces across multiple frames, creating photos where everyone is smiling or facing the same direction. The photo editing feature enables resizing subjects within images and applying various effects through generative AI. Additionally, a fresh “audio magic eraser” can eliminate background noise from videos, such as crowd chatter.
Priced at £999 (€1,099/$999), the Pixel 8 Pro offers the same software capabilities, along with a larger 6.7-inch screen and an additional third 5x optical zoom telephoto camera on the rear. The phone incorporates a temperature sensor, allowing users to measure objects like walls, phones, and other devices, with potential health-related features in the future.
Furthermore, the 8 Pro provides manual camera controls and a “video boost” feature that leverages AI on the device and Google’s data centers to deliver Night Sight video and other modes expected later this year.
Both phones will feature Google’s latest high-end Tensor G3 chip and AI capabilities. These include the capacity to condense articles, read them aloud, and provide translations, in addition to improved grammar and proofreading functionalities.
Furthermore, software support will now span seven years from the release date, which is two years longer than previous models and surpasses the duration offered by most other manufacturers, including Samsung. Apple typically provides a similar seven-year update cycle, whereas Fairphone recently set a new precedent by offering up to 10 years of updates with its latest phone.
Pixel Watch 2
Google’s smartwatch underwent an enhancement, featuring a more polished design that is now 10% lighter, yet still compatible with straps from previous generations.
The Pixel Watch 2 boasts an upgraded quad-core chip for improved speed and operates on the latest WearOS 4, incorporating newly introduced Gmail and Calendar applications. Additionally, it includes novel electrical stress sensors, an expanded heart rate sensor on the rear for enhanced exercise monitoring, and revamped workout functions with automatic recognition within the Fitbit app.
This watch will be priced starting at £349 and will be in physical stores beginning October 12, alongside the Pixel 8 smartphones.
Android 14
The upcoming iteration of Google’s Android software will begin its rollout today, commencing with the company’s Pixel smartphones and tablets, and subsequently extending to compatible third-party devices in the near future.
Android 14 introduces enhanced customization features for the lock screen, which encompass generative AI wallpaper and AI functionality that prioritizes pertinent features, such as displaying the weather widget during rainy conditions.
Furthermore, the novel Health Connect system allows for the synchronization of fitness and health data from third-party apps, encrypting it securely on the device—similar to Apple’s Health app on an iPhone—ensuring that not even Google can access this data.
