Smartphones, over the past few years, have become a bit boring. While the Google Pixel 6 series was a big deal, its sequel wasn’t really that special. However, the Pixel 8 series will be debuting soon, and there’s really a lot to get excited about.
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Tensioner may be It will be much better this year
By far, the weakest link of every pixel since the Pixel 6 has been the Tensor. Although Google’s custom chip isn’t bad, it’s still far behind the competition. The original Tensor chip was riddled with connectivity and heat issues, and while the Tensor G2 has made great strides, it still suffers from heat issues and more. And all in a world where Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset keeps getting better.
With the upcoming Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8, there’s reason to get a little excited.
Google Tensor G3 is expected to represent a very big shift from Tensor and Tensor G2. A leak earlier this year mentioned a revamped 1+4+4 core layout and the use of much newer components, most notably including the Cortex-A715 and Cortex-A510 to support the new Cortex-X3 that provides the bulk of the performance. These upgrades alone are worth the excitement, but for me, there’s another aspect.
Tensor chips rely heavily on Samsung to come to life, which also means they are made on Samsung’s own processing node, which, unfortunately, isn’t as good as TSMC’s. However, this seems to have changed in recent months. At this point, it’s clear that Samsung’s 4nm process that the Tensor G3 will be based on is on par with TSMC’s. This doesn’t necessarily mean Google will magically match Snapdragon’s pace, but it could be a big step in the right direction.
The evil of the curved screen has been defeated
Another reason I’m so excited about the Pixel 8 series, and specifically the Pixel 8 Pro, is that Google ditched the curved sides of the screen, opting instead for a flat glass panel on both the standard and Pro models.
finally.
matte finish?
Google also appears to be opting for a matte finish on the main body of the Pixel 8 Pro this year, at least in the “porcelain” color shown off this week. Sure, the standard Pixel 8 is shiny, but that represents some progress, at least.
It gives the Google Pixel 8 a longer lifespan
Other Android brands have outpaced Google when it comes to the overall lifespan of Pixel phones, but the company may reclaim the crown this year. As we recently reported, the Pixel 8 series will feature a longer software update lifespan compared to Samsung Galaxy devices, which currently get four years of Android updates and five years of security patches.
This can be a big deal, and even if Google only matches Samsung’s support, it still means you’re getting better bang for your buck.
The camera is getting new hardware
Something else that’s been a little under the radar is that Google is bringing a new camera sensor to the Pixel 8 series, likely the Samsung GN2. This probably won’t lead to any groundbreaking updates, but it gives Google the opportunity to cement its position as one of the best camera phones ever.
Competition is getting more expensive
Google’s Pixel phones, since the Pixel 6 series, have been slightly cheaper than competing phones. For example, the Pixel 6 Pro started at $899, while it was priced against the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which claimed $1,199, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which had a price tag of $1,099 for its base model.
Going into 2024, it looks like the competition will see higher prices. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – which Samsung is sure to use in the Galaxy S24 Ultra – is said to be much more expensive. With the iPhone 15 series, Apple is expected to raise prices across the board thanks to its new chip and titanium body.
Of course, we also heard this week that the Pixel 8 series could be more expensive. Leaks from Europe indicate an increase of about 20%. It remains to be seen if that will happen, but the good news is that even if Google inflates prices by $150 to $200, it will still undercut the competition a bit.
When will the Pixel 8 come out?
Google has confirmed a launch event on October 4 where the Pixel 8 series is expected to go official. Of course, stay tuned for our full coverage.
Top news for this week
Google Keep format is being rolled out
Google recently announced that Google Keep, the beloved note-taking app, will finally get support for body text formatting. Now, the function is finally rolled out. See below for our coverage, including a deep dive into how to make the most of this feature.
Android 14 is late
It was expected that this week would see the official release of Android 14, but that simply did not happen. As we detailed in our newsletter on Tuesday, Google is behind its usual schedule, and it looks like the update will be pushed back to October. However, a new beta version of Android 14, version 5.3, has been released.
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