Google has been teasing its upcoming Pixel 8 series of smartphones for a while now, and the latest leak gives us a 360-degree preview of the Pixel 8 Pro model. The official page, which was spotted by Jose Ruben and shared by Mishaal Rahman on X, allows users to rotate and zoom in on the device, revealing some of its features and design elements. Here’s what we know so far about the Pixel 8 Pro, which is expected to launch on October 4, 2023.
Three new colors and a thermometer feature
The Pixel 8 Pro will come in three new colors: Licorice (black), Porcelain (white), and Sky (blue). The back panel has a horizontal camera bar that houses three sensors and a flash. The front panel has a hole-punch display with slim bezels. The page also shows a SIM card tray on the left side, a power button and volume rocker on the right side, a USB-C port and a speaker grille on the bottom, and a microphone on the top.
One of the most interesting features that the page reveals is a temperature sensor on the back of the device. This could be used to measure the ambient temperature or the body temperature of the user. Google has not explained how this feature will work or what benefits it will offer, but it could be related to some health or wellness applications.
A powerful performance and a stunning display
The Pixel 8 Pro is expected to be powered by Google’s own Tensor G3 chipset, which is said to offer improved performance, security, and AI capabilities. The phone will also have 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The battery capacity is rumored to be 4,950mAh with 27W wired charging support. The phone will run on Android 14 out of the box, which will bring new features and enhancements to the Pixel experience.
The display of the Pixel 8 Pro is likely to be a 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The screen will have a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels and a pixel density of 513 PPI. The front-facing camera will be an 11MP sensor for selfies and video calls.
A versatile camera system with impressive specs
The Pixel 8 Pro will have a triple camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 64MP ultra-wide camera, and a 49MP telephoto camera with a periscope lens. The primary camera will use the same Sony IMX787 sensor that was used in the Pixel 7a, while the ultra-wide camera will have a field of view of 120 degrees. The telephoto camera will offer up to 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom.
The Pixel cameras are known for their excellent image quality and software features, such as Night Sight, Portrait Mode, Astrophotography Mode, and more. The Pixel 8 Pro will also introduce some new features, such as Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted objects from photos; Face Unblur, which can fix blurry faces in photos; and Motion Mode, which can create dynamic photos with blurred backgrounds.
A premium price tag and a competitive market
The Pixel 8 Pro is expected to be priced higher than its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro, which started at $699 for the base model. Some reports suggest that the Pixel 8 Pro could cost as much as $899 for the base model and $999 for the higher-end model. This would put it in direct competition with other flagship smartphones from Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, and others.
The Pixel 8 Pro will launch alongside the Pixel 8, which will have a smaller display, less RAM, less storage, and a dual camera setup. Google will also unveil the Pixel Watch 2 and the Pixel Buds Pro at the same event. The Pixel Watch 2 will be Google’s first smartwatch with its own operating system, while the Pixel Buds Pro will be wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation.