Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: An AI powerhouse, but there is much more at stake here
08.12.2023 - 12:59
/ tech.hindustantimes.com
/ Ai
/ Pro
Google is one of the world's biggest technology companies and while it initially became famous as a search engine, it has become a household name in various other tech sectors, including smartphones. The Sundar Pichai-led firm has been riding the artificial intelligence (AI) wave, unveiling a vast range of AI services including its popular chatbot Bard. However, it's not just software that has benefitted from the adoption of this technology. Google's smartphone, the Pixel series, has also gained AI features over the years that have helped it stand out from the crowd. The plethora of magic editing features on the Pixel devices has made it one of the best camera-centric smartphones around the world.
To further bolster its ambitions in the consumer technology segment, Google launched its Pixel 8 series in October, mere months after unveiling its first-ever foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold. The series debuted with two smartphones - the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. While the Pixel 8 promises great specifications at a somewhat affordable price, the Pixel 8 Pro offers all the bells and whistles without any compromise. But are the AI features and the camera, enough to help the Pixel 8 Pro stand out from the crowd or does disappear in the ocean of Android smartphones out there in the world?
I've spent a considerable amount of time with the Google Pixel 8 Pro and it is the best camera smartphone of the year. Having said that, its hardware isn't impressive enough to make it stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Here's why.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro features a tried and tested design similar to last year's Pixel 7 Pro. however this time around, Google has gotten rid of the curved edges, and that's a good thing simply because they did not fulfill any purpose apart from making the device's display more prone to damage when dropped. The same metal visor runs through the back and houses the camera unit, as well as the new temperature sensor. Despite the visor protruding quite a bit, it is comfortable to rest your fingers while holding the Pixel 8 Pro with one hand and increases the grip on the device. However, the same visor does get stuck sometimes while putting the phone in my pocket. The back of the Pixel 8 Pro now features a soft matte texture which replaces the glossy surface from its predecessor. While it has massively reduced the amount of fingerprints it collects, it also makes it a somewhat slippery affair.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating which is at par with the best smartphones in the market, so no complaints there.
Moving on to the Pixel 8 Pro's display, it is a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED panel which Google calls a Super