The new phones Made by Google, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, have arrived in Italy in style compared to previous years, with an important launch and commercial agreements with big names such as Unieuro and Vodafone Italia. Let’s start from the outside: the two phones that Google sent us to test have a rounded design, metal finishes and recycled materials. The first is equipped with a 6.2-inch Actua display, the second a 6.7-inch Super Actua, both very bright and with brilliant colors (that of the Pro is the brightest screen produced by Google)
VIDEO – Watch the review of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
We called these phones “smartphones with artificial intelligence” because there are many special features powered by the new proprietary Google Tensor G3 chip, which among other things makes both phones run quickly. The Pro is obviously the most complete, fastest model and high-performance: on board there is a 12 GB RAM, 128, 256 or 521 storage space and a long-lasting battery (5,000 mAh) which allows you to use the phone easily from morning to evening, even during intense days.
READ ALSO – Our first impressions at the presentation of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
The flagship of Pixel phones is the photographic sector. On the Pro we find a 50 MP wide-angle camera, a 48 MP ultra-wide angle camera (with 125° field of view opening) also capable of taking beautiful macro photos, a 48 MP telephoto lens with 5X optical zoom and a selfie-cam 10.5 MP with 95° aperture and automatic focus. We were very satisfied with the photos we took during our two weeks of testing: always bright (even in low light), well defined, never grainy, always well contrasted.
NOW, all the insights from the innovation and technology column
Artificial intelligence helps improve the performance of photos: with Best Shot you can use the photos you take to get the best look of everyone, for example when taking group photos Magic Editor, on the other hand, uses AI to move or resize subjects, to make the background stand out and obviously to eliminate unwanted objects or people (Magic Eraser function): the use of these tools is simple and intuitive. Please note that using these advanced features the phone tends to heat up.
READ ALSO – Google celebrates 25 years of “great technological achievements”
We were also extremely satisfied with the videos, which on the 8 Pro reach 4K 60fps quality: the cinematic blur effect is very good as is the optical image stabilization (even when we are running it seems like we have the Pixel on a trolley). Night Video and Video Boost will also arrive in a future update, a function that will make videos increasingly “faithful” to reality. This year’s novelties also include Gomma Magica Audio with which you can easily reduce distracting sounds such as traffic, crowds and wind.
Watch videos shot with Google Pixel 8 Pro
There are many “goodies” that we find within the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro software. Starting from the Call Filter, which silently responds to calls from unknown numbers with a natural voice avoiding wasting time, a sort of virtual secretary. Pixel can also read articles aloud or summarize them, again thanks to the use of artificial intelligence. It’s a shame that these functions are currently only available for American users.
READ ALSO – Artificial intelligence, this is how Google Bard works
The new Google Pixels are safe phones. The new Titan M2 security chip acts as a “watchdog”, capable of protecting personal information from external attacks. Face recognition has been improved (it’s really lightning fast), becoming more secure and – as already happens with the iPhone – allowing access to banking and payment apps. For safer browsing, with the purchase of a Pixel you get one year of Google One VPN.
READ ALSO – Artificial intelligence, Google tests software in hospitals
The presence of a temperature sensor on the back of the Pixel 8 Pro is surprising: just bring the phone close to an object or a liquid to know how many degrees it is at. In our tests it worked a bit like this and like this and among other things perhaps it would have been more useful to enable the sensor also for body temperature. Magnifier, a Google app that acts as a magnifying glass, works very well. Pixel 8 Pro despite its size is light and easy to handle: it weighs approximately 210 grams and is 8.8 mm thick.
REVIEW – Google Pixel 7a
We always appreciate the ringtones of Pixel phones very much: refined, discreet, inspired by the sounds of nature and never annoying. A practically unique feature in the technology landscape, Google offers seven years of software support for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro: this means that it is possible to receive feature, operating system and security updates between now and 2030.
SEE ALSO – Google Maps, travel virtually with Immersive Viewing
A look at the (few) differences on the “younger brother” Pixel 8: it is sold in the configuration with 128 or 256 gigabytes of storage space while the RAM memory is 8 gigabytes. The 8 is really very easy to handle, it has a back in shiny glass and in the pocket it is a featherweight thanks to its 187 grams of weight for 8.9 mm of depth. Even on the 8 we find a very respectable battery that allows you to work intensely for over a day (4,500 mAh) .
SEE ALSO – 10 curiosities about the most famous search engine
As for the photographic sector, the Pixel 8 has the same updated main camera as the Pixel 8 Pro, the 50 megapixel wide-angle one; there is also an ultrawide lens (12 MP) which allows macro focusing and 125° field of view; the selfie-cam is also the same as the 8 Pro. However, the Pro Controls are missing (to set all the characteristics of the lenses) and it is not possible to shoot in Ultra HDR.
Here are the prices of the two phones: Pixel 8 is sold in gray green, pink and obsidian black at the starting price of 799 euros. Pixel 8 Pro is available in sky blue, clay gray and obsidian black colors at a starting price of 1,099 euros.
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
PRO
- Many innovative functions generated by artificial intelligence
- Yield of photos and videos
AGAINST
- Temperature sensor a bit useless if it can’t detect body temperature
- The phone tends to heat up when we do complex operations, for example on photos
Source-tg24.sky.it