The Google Pixel 7 Professional was a superb smartphone total. It packed in the whole lot an off-the-cuff smartphone person would anticipate from an Android smartphone together with, the now normal, well timed software program updates. Nevertheless it got here up brief in just a few areas like battery life, charging and had its fair proportion of heating points and camera-related bugs as properly. With the brand new Pixel 8 Professional, there is a brand-new design, loads of AI-enabled options and even a brand new processor. Maintaining this in thoughts, one would naturally anticipate Google to have labored on some if not all the shortcomings of its predecessor. However that is not precisely the case with Google’s latest Pixel flagship.
Google Pixel 8 Professional value in India
In contrast to final yr, Google’s Pixel 8 Professional lastly presents the next 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 obtainable 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 consumers. After which it’s important to remember the fact that even at Rs. 1,06,999, you might be 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 current Pixel customers to improve to the newest mannequin this yr. And it is most likely one of many the explanation why you might be studying this evaluate.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Evaluation: Design
Google’s Pixel 8 Professional has seen extra modifications than the usual Pixel 8 (Evaluation) this yr. Principally, Google’s engineers removed some pointless stuff and made some refinements to the Pixel 7 Professional’s design. Maintaining in thoughts its flat show, and total flatter profile it qualifies as a brand new design. However it’s an overhaul of types as the brand new Pixel 8 Professional nonetheless seems distinctly Pixel. That is primarily all the way 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, similar to the Pixel 7 Professional
The digital camera module’s edges are fairly sharp in contrast to 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 telephone’s moderately slippery matte-finished physique by resting my index finger under it for assist.
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 glorious in the case of resisting fingerprints. At 213g the telephone doesn’t really feel too heavy or too gentle. This mixed with the soft-finished glass again lends the system a really premium and opulent really feel.
Google’s Pixel 8 Professional undoubtedly seems the half for a premium smartphone
Google additionally presents an IP68 score which is identical as on final yr’s mannequin. Construct high quality is sort of strong 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 Evaluation: 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 concept translate to higher efficiency and effectivity. Nevertheless, Google is extra targeted on its AI capabilities and that is the place it’s anticipated to shine. 12GB RAM is normal and the telephone presents as much as 256GB of storage this yr with no expandable storage and no further SIM card slot. Nevertheless, one can use the eSIM performance to make use of two numbers on the identical system.
When it comes to connectivity, the Pixel 8 Professional presents an upgraded WiFi 7 expertise, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, a USB-C port, ultra-wideband (UWB) assist and assist for a number of world positioning programs.
The Pixel 8 Professional’s (proper) design shares some similarities with the older Pixel 7 Professional (left)
Aside from the standard digital camera array, there may be additionally a brand new thermometer which can be utilized to test the floor temperature of assorted supplies. Google will probably be including assist for checking physique temperature quickly, which might make it helpful if it seems to be correct.
The telephone has a 5,050mAh battery and helps 30W wired charging and 23W wi-fi charging. Nevertheless, the field contents do not embody a supported charging adapter.
Going with the AI pattern, Google introduces its new AI wallpaper function 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 attention-grabbing wallpapers utilizing its AI bits. The remainder of Android 14 feels and seems much like what’s out there on a Pixel 7 Professional.
Different new smarts which can be out there on the Pixel 8 Professional embody the flexibility to learn aloud internet pages or articles from an online browser. Google Assistant may even translate an online web page earlier than studying it aloud which can be helpful. The operation is correctly hands-free on the Pixel 8 Professional (I couldn’t get the function to work efficiently on a Pixel 7 Professional), which is beneficial in case your arms are busy.
The AI Wallpaper function is a enjoyable technique to pattern the ability of AI and create some distinctive wallpapers within the course of
The Pixel 8 Professional’s AI enhancing instruments, which can be found in its Images app are jaw-droppingly spectacular by way of functionality. Whereas the older Magic Eraser has gotten a lot better over time, the newly marketed instruments nonetheless want a little bit of polish by way of output.
The brand new Magic Editor instrument allows you to actually reposition individuals and objects in {a photograph} (which must be uploaded to the cloud). The AI fashions positive are spectacular! At instances it will possibly get actually arduous to inform if a picture has been edited in any respect. Nevertheless, pixel-peeping into these pictures often reveals some clues. Magic Editor is not excellent and may get polished with future updates, however it’s a very highly effective instrument nonetheless.
The identical might be stated in regards to the new Greatest Take function which requires a sequence of pictures of the identical setting with a view to work. In case you occur to have sufficient pictures of the identical individuals in the identical setting, then it is moderately arduous to inform if a picture has been edited.
Audio Magic Eraser is one other AI-enabled instrument, 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 alter the degrees to bump up the amount of the sounds they want to hear (speech, nature) over those that they wish to quieten (noise, wind). Whereas I didn’t discover the outcomes all that spectacular, it’s attention-grabbing to see how the AI mannequin identifies the totally different sounds in any given video.
The Audio Magic Eraser instrument within the Images app is beneficial for eradicating or decreasing undesirable sounds in a recorded video
As controversial as these picture enhancing options are, I can see a whole lot of Pixel 8 and eight Professional customers serving to many who aren’t capable of snap handsome pictures. Furthermore, Pixel 8 Professional customers might seem to be wizards to aged folks who often do not find yourself composing a trip picture proper, and infrequently request the unimaginable, like shifting the Eiffel Tower a bit to the correct. Surprisingly, all of that and extra is now doable utilizing easy drag-and-drop instruments.
As spectacular because the Pixel 8 Professional’s images 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 taking pictures back-to-back pictures from the digital camera app’s evening mode when transitioning from 1X to 2X. As soon as triggered, all pictures captured thereafter don’t get saved within the telephone, leaving one with a digital camera that may allow you to click on pictures however not save them. The one technique to get the digital camera to start out storing snapped pictures once more is to restart the telephone or watch for the digital camera app to crash.
For lengthy, Pixel smartphones have at all times been the primary gadgets to obtain Android software program updates and Google has by some means 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 Function Drops (that deliver new options) and safety updates. Including to this dedication Google additionally defined that it’ll replenish on spares for these two smartphones as properly, in case your smartphone will get broken or stops functioning over the following 7 years. Certainly such commitments will attraction to those that do not improve their gadgets continuously, however changing your smartphone much less continuously works properly for the setting because it additionally reduces e-waste.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Evaluation: Efficiency
As for the Pixel 8 Professional’s 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED show, it really works properly underneath brilliant daylight and reveals 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 usually discovered me reaching out for the charger by the tip of a piece day with about 20 % left round 7:00 PM, after unplugging the telephone at round 8:00 AM. If you find yourself utilizing the digital camera and edit a number of pictures anticipate the battery ranges to drop even sooner. In our video loop battery check, 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 section are able to. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely which presently retails a further Rs. 20,000 managed to final 21 hours and seven minutes in the identical check.
The Pixel 8 Professional (proper) has a flat show in comparison with the older Pixel 7 Professional (left)
On the Pixel 8 Professional, most informal and high-end video games run simply high quality at default settings. However the telephone clearly is not as highly effective when in comparison with its Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered counterparts so do not anticipate flawless body charges when taking part in graphics-intensive titles like Genshin Affect or fast-paced video games like Name of Obligation: Cellular.
The telephone does heat up after taking part in just a few Name of Obligation tournaments on Extremely settings, but it surely doesn’t get abnormally scorching and that is primarily all the way down to CPU throttling. Nevertheless, one can anticipate loads of body drops throughout gameplay because the Tensor G3 is not actually designed for operating demanding titles at the most effective settings. Ray-tracing, whereas being comparatively new, can be not supported. I additionally discovered the contact sampling to be a bit sluggish when taking part in 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 section and have been far under 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 provide you an thought 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 taking pictures Portrait mode pictures and can cease capturing pictures (or disable the shutter button) when the picture buffer is full after clicking round 7-8 portrait mode pictures in fast succession. It does this to complete processing them within the background and can let one snap extra pictures solely as soon as it is performed processing those which have already been captured. Whereas this doesn’t seem to be an enormous drawback, I did find yourself lacking a number of moments whereas snapping pictures of my child. Taking pictures RAW pictures additionally takes some time to course of, in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional Max which is sort of on the spot.
The Pixel 8 Professional similar to the Pixel 7 Professional runs a bit scorching outside when linked to 5G networks
For a telephone that is extra targeted and recognized for its images options, it is unhappy to see that the newest 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 together 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 day by day utilization, one thing so simple as scrolling by way of internet pages and social media apps (even YouTube) can get jittery at instances. Scrolling is jittery when utilizing each native and third-party apps and that is one thing many customers have complained about on Reddit as properly. 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 telephone nonetheless will get scorching when utilizing the digital camera app, particularly when taking pictures extra difficult digital camera modes like Portrait and Night time mode. The telephone additionally will get fairly scorching outside when linked to 5G networks. Google nonetheless doesn’t supply any cooling resolution (other than CPU throttling) with its Pixel telephones, which retains them operating heat more often than not when used outside. Many Chinese language smartphone manufacturers have adopted vapour chamber cooling to keep up efficiency ranges whereas performing power-intensive duties. This yr’s Samsung Galaxy S23 additionally utilised the identical, making it run loads 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 function works as shortly as Apple’s Face ID authentication, nonetheless, it solely works properly (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 nice outdated fingerprint scanner, which fortunately labored as anticipated.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Evaluation: Cameras
This yr’s Pixel 8 Professional comes with a number of enhancements within the digital camera division as properly. 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 properly however I anticipate minor enhancements (if any) with this one. All the pieces else other than the brand new Tensor G3 stays the identical, which isn’t a foul deal because the earlier Pixel 7 Professional was not unhealthy 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 fans preferring to tweak issues a bit earlier than taking pictures or whereas recording.
Professional Controls is splendidly designed with practicality and ease in thoughts, making it straightforward to make use of and perceive
To be clear, the Pixel 8 Professional’s Professional Controls mode will not be as superior because the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely’s digital camera app which additionally presents numerous 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 loads higher by way of functionality and management when taking pictures video, even when in comparison with an iPhone 15 Professional Max, I reviewed earlier.
In contrast to the Pixel 7 Professional the place one will get entry to brightness, shadow and white steadiness sliders within the viewfinder when taking pictures, the Pixel 8 Professional hides all of its Professional controls underneath a settings button situated on the high proper nook. Tapping on it provides one entry to superior controls like Night time Sight period, brightness, shadow, white steadiness, focus, shutter velocity and ISO as properly. I notably appreciated the main focus management because it highlights the presently targeted space in pink due to a spotlight peaking function 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 through which one can choose the decision (binned or full body), output sort (RAW/JPEG) and a really useful Lens Choice selector, which helps you to select between Auto or Handbook. Selecting Auto mainly will get you all the zoom vary which additionally contains the digital ranges between the native focal lengths (0.5X, 1X and 5X).
The handbook will get you entry to simply the native focal lengths, which switches off the digital camera’s automated lens choice. That is helpful to keep away from utilizing the incorrect digital camera (which the smartphone routinely selects relying on the space of the thing/topic from the lens. This usually results in digitally cropped and scaled pictures. So, in case your topic is simply too shut for the 5X telephoto digital camera, it simply will not focus, letting you understand that it is advisable to keep a better distance to get the proper shot.
Pixel 8 Professional additionally lets one shoot in RAW utilizing all three cameras which suggests you may get high-resolution (50 or 48-megapixel) RAW pictures which might be tweaked later within the put up. As for the video, Professional Controls solely allows you to tweak white steadiness and publicity on this mode.
The Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel 7 Professional digital camera samples have been captured in daylight and low gentle utilizing their major cameras (faucet picture to develop)
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 all the way 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 usually seen that colors aren’t as correct despite the fact that the pictures appeared 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 pictures (high) and macro pictures (backside) (faucet pictures to develop)
Images from the ultra-wide digital camera, which has seen probably the most modifications this yr, pack in additional element and dynamic vary when taking pictures in daylight. Colors are fairly correct as properly. Macro pictures 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 develop)
When it comes to zoom, the telephoto digital camera shoots actually spectacular pictures with good element. I used the 5X telephoto to seize some crisp portraits and close-ups and properly and so they all appeared attractive 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 develop)
Whereas it manages good picture high quality, the Pixel 8 Professional similar to the Pixel 7 Professional struggles with edge detection when in Portrait mode (faucet picture to develop)
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 seems sharp, has a superb bitrate and presents a gradual body charge. Stabilisation can be spectacular, making it a strong improve over the Pixel 7 Professional’s video recording capabilities. Low gentle 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 gentle.
Google Pixel 8 Professional Evaluation: Verdict
What units the Pixel 8 Professional other than each different Pixel of the previous, is its AI capabilities. It is a course that Google has charted for its Pixel smartphones, and the Pixel 8 Professional absolutely shines on this space with the flexibility to course of a whole lot 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 be an space which cell images fans will take pleasure in.
However the value hike might persuade many upgraders to stay with their Pixel 7 Professional fashions this yr as all the above-mentioned options (aside from a 7-year dedication for software program updates) do not actually seem to be must-haves on anybody’s record.
To make issues worse, the Pixel 7 Professional at the moment 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 much 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 presents minor enhancements over the older mannequin.
In case you are keen to spend upwards of Rs. 1,00,000 in India, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely (Evaluation) (out there at Rs. 1,24,999 for the 256GB variant) absolutely presents higher worth, with spectacular zoom functionality, a greater and bigger show, glorious battery life, and to an extent even Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem of gadgets which incorporates, smartwatches, audio equipment, tablets and laptops.
