Google's All-New T G3 Processor: A Step Forward but Not a Leap

Google has introduced its all-new T G3 processor, which is touted as an upgrade to the previous generation. However, it's essential to note that this new processor is not a significant leap forward in terms of performance. Instead, it's more of an incremental improvement that takes advantage of the unique characteristics of the Pixel series. Google has emphasized the importance of AI and machine learning functions in the Pixel series, which are designed to provide a seamless user experience. While the T G3 processor may not be the most impressive in terms of raw performance, it's certainly a step in the right direction.

Battery Life: A Different Story for the Pro Model

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have different battery capacities due to their varying screen sizes. The Pixel 8 has a 4575mAh battery, while the Pixel 8 Pro boasts an impressive 5500mAh cell. This difference in battery capacity will likely impact how long each device lasts throughout the day. Although I haven't had extensive time with both phones, I can attest that the lifespan of the Pixel 8 Pro is indeed more impressive.

The Camera: A Major Differentiator

When it comes to camera capabilities, the Pixel 8 Pro is undoubtedly the better option. Both devices share the same primary rear shooter and front-facing cameras, but the Pro model takes things up a notch with an additional telephoto sensor. This feature provides 5x optical zoom, which is a significant upgrade over the regular Pixel 8. The Pixel 8 Pro also gets autofocus on the ultra-wide-angle camera, enabling macro mode capabilities that were previously absent from this feature. Furthermore, the Pro model has a dedicated 48MP telephoto camera with an f/2.8 aperture, allowing for stunning images and 5x optical zoom. On the other hand, the Pixel 8 misses out on this crucial feature but makes up for it with Super Resolution Zoom, which offers 8x digital zoom.

Manual Controls and Enhanced Camera Features

One of the standout features of the Pixel 8 Pro is its manual controls, making it the first Pixel smartphone to offer such functionality. This includes manual focus, exposure compensation, and ISO control. Additionally, the Pro model supports high-resolution image output using the full 50MP sensor. Another notable feature is video boost and Night Sight video functionality, which are currently not available on the Pixel 8 but will be added in a future update.

Targeting Different Tiers of Consumers

It's clear that Google is targeting different tiers of consumers with the specs and pricing of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The base model Pixel 8 is likely to appeal to most users, offering an excellent Android experience with timely software updates every month and quarter. On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro is geared towards enthusiasts who demand more features, such as a larger screen, finer camera controls, greater flexibility, or additional storage.

A Long-Lasting Software Commitment

One of the most significant selling points of both devices is Google's commitment to software updates. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive Android 14 right out of the box, but that's not all – they'll also get Android 21 in 2030, making them one of the few phones to enjoy a 7-year support window. This is an impressive undertaking from Google, and it's clear that they're dedicated to providing users with the best possible Android experience.

A Recommendation for Most Users

If you're not chasing specific specs on the Pixel Pro, I would recommend defaulting to the Pixel 8 as your go-to option. It offers a more manageable size, an equally competent primary camera, and an impressive software update system that will keep your device running smoothly for years to come.

The Pixel 8 Pro: A Price Worth Paying

On the other hand, if you're willing to shell out an extra $300 for the upgraded features, the Pixel 8 Pro is well worth it. The larger screen, finer camera controls, greater flexibility, and additional storage will make a significant difference in your daily usage. While it may not be a spec beast, the Pixel 8 Pro packs enough punch to stand its ground against other high-end smartphones.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro depends on your individual needs and preferences. Both devices offer excellent Android experiences with timely software updates and impressive camera capabilities. By choosing the right model for you, you'll be able to take advantage of the features that matter most and enjoy a seamless user experience.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Google pixel 8 and 8 Pro are two of the best phones of the year so far but now with even more changes and a $300 price difference but which is it better buy well we're going to find out today so the changes for the Google pixel 8 series are definitely more than mere refinements this time around and the result is a greater separation between the base model and the more expensive pro tier phone most notable of these is the pixel 8 which is smaller and better than ever with a 6.2 in chassis size it actually makes it one of the smallest Flagship Google phones at least since the pixel 5 launched a few years ago and at just 187 G it's a super lightweight handset and because of that it's also just super comfortable to hold on top of that I will say although the 8 Pro does come in at 213 G it's not a hefty phone in fact the rounded Corners make it one of the most comfortable phones that you can go out and buy today this obvious size distinction equals a pixel8 pro with a larger and better display than the vanilla pixel 8 as you'd expect the pixel 8 6.2 in OLED display has received some upgrades of its own while retaining that 1080p resolution but it gets an all important and super impressive High refresh rate to 120 htz it's actually really slick in practice and in keeping with its bigger sibling for the first time the screen itself also on the pro can hit 1 Hertz and the peak brightness level can go as high as an insane 2,400 nits which means it should be legible in all settings the pixel8 isn't too far behind as it also packs in a fairly bright screen of its own which can reach as high as 2,000 nits I've got to say viewing these Outdoors was an absolute Breeze and this also thrown in Google's typically excellent colors contrast levels and all of the well calibrated aspects of a Google display as you'd expect of course a major upgrade on the 8 Pro is a switch to a flat screen I think from a usability standpoint this is really really huge and a big change for the series it's just easier for you to use this phone it's less likely to be damaged from the drop and naturally it means you you'll find cheaper accessories to throw on this screen if you don't want an extra added protection another big change is the rear panel color options and finishes because Google has dropped the glossy glass in favor of matte but sadly it's only on the pro this time around for whatever reason the eight sticks with glossy finishes and although it does hide scratches well it really just doesn't look as good the pro is quite soft at a touch as well because of that upgrade or that upgrade to Frosty glass which definitely reminds me of the pixel 3 Series and there's a little bit of a throwback you also get ip68 ratings on the entire pixel8 series here too I also really do like that Google has adopted further rounded Corners rather than sharp edges this year too it's been something that's changed over the past few years Google has really softened up the design to be just less angular and it has this strange effect of reducing the footprint of the hardware while also just making it much more comfortable the camera bar on the pro has changed a little here too with a singular cutout for all of the lenses rather than separation it just looks a little weird at first as it's one big cutout that is pill shape but you do get used to it pretty quickly Google's all new T G3 processor is also not a huge Quantum Leap but more of a also ran chip from The Firm I wouldn't say it's bad it's just it's not really going to LEAP to the top of the performance charts instead it's tailored to the pixel and the pixel experience daytoday with tweaks and tuning that take advantage of the unique characteristics of the pixel series which is more Ai and machine learning functions which Google is definitely touting this year so because these phones are different sizes they are naturally going to have different battery capacities the pixel8 has a 4575 Milah battery while the pixel 8 Pro has a 5,50 Mah cell that's going to get you through most days with enough to spare and although I haven't necessarily spent tons of time with the 8 and8 Pro at this point in time the lifespan definitely impressed me it's definitely now though time to talk about another reason why you will probably choose that Pro over the regular series pixel this year and that is of course the camera both cameras here have the same primary rear shooter and front facer the ultra wide angle does differ again for the first time while the pro has an extra telephoto sensor that the regular pixel 8 has lacked both of these phones get autofocus on the ultra wide camera which is a definitely a big bonus which also enables macro mode capabilities the pixel8 pro also has a 48 megapixel telephoto camera this is definitely the star of the show for many of you out there with an f2.8 aperture OAS which enables 5x optical zoom as well the pixel a entirely misses out on this telephoto sensor but I will say Google does make up for it with super red Zoom of up to eight times and it definitely looks a lot better than the previous gen super AED Zoom also works much better on the pixel8 pro as it does have that dedicated telephoto sensor which helps it out to around about 30X digital Zoom another difference between the two phones is that the pixel 8 Pro supports manual or Pro controls and it makes it the first pixel smartphone to come with manual controls ever really alongside this you can also output high resolution images using that full 50 megapix sensor if you wish the pixel8 pro will receive video boost and night sight video functionality on top of the things I've already mentioned with a future update it's not currently available right now although the pixel 8 the base model is not expected to receive these disappointingly so objectively the pixel 8 Pro is the better camera system and if for that reason if you need Zoom plus all the trappings of the best pixel camera system at least available today then go ahead and pick it up but it is clear to us that Google is targeting different tiers of consumers with the specs and the pricing of the pixel 8 and the pixel 8 Pro this time around of course the biggest selling point of the pixel 8 and 8 Pro is not actually even the hardware that's something we need to know but actually the software update commitment with 7 years of proper support that means updates every month and every quarter and every full release the pixel 8 and 8 Pro will ship with Android 14 right now but if Google does stay true to its word Android 21 will be a possibility for this duo in 2030 no other phone not even an iPhone can claim such a long support window and that's something to be loaded because of this the $699 price tag of the pixel 8 makes it probably the de facto recommendation for most users and anyone looking for an Android phone of course it does have a smaller and more manageable size an equally competent primary Camera Plus the same overall software experience and that very very impressive update system I think if you aren't chasing any particular spec on the pixel Pro you should probably default to the pixel 8 as it will be a great smartphone for most people most of you watching even conversely the pixel8 pro is for the Enthusiast out there while it isn't a complete spec Chaser across the board that we often see from other OEM realistically no pixel has been a spec Beast for that matter it definitely packs in enough of a punch to stand its ground and for users who demand a larger screen finer camera controls greater camera flexibility or even just more storage the pixel8 pro makes a lot of sense if those are worth it to you though you will need to stump up an extra $300 but I think it's likely a price worth paying if those things as I mentioned are important to you dayto day hopefully though this has helped you make that all important buying decision but let us know which model you're opting for down in the comment sections below thanks for watching though this is Daman with Android authority and I will catch you in the next onethe Google pixel 8 and 8 Pro are two of the best phones of the year so far but now with even more changes and a $300 price difference but which is it better buy well we're going to find out today so the changes for the Google pixel 8 series are definitely more than mere refinements this time around and the result is a greater separation between the base model and the more expensive pro tier phone most notable of these is the pixel 8 which is smaller and better than ever with a 6.2 in chassis size it actually makes it one of the smallest Flagship Google phones at least since the pixel 5 launched a few years ago and at just 187 G it's a super lightweight handset and because of that it's also just super comfortable to hold on top of that I will say although the 8 Pro does come in at 213 G it's not a hefty phone in fact the rounded Corners make it one of the most comfortable phones that you can go out and buy today this obvious size distinction equals a pixel8 pro with a larger and better display than the vanilla pixel 8 as you'd expect the pixel 8 6.2 in OLED display has received some upgrades of its own while retaining that 1080p resolution but it gets an all important and super impressive High refresh rate to 120 htz it's actually really slick in practice and in keeping with its bigger sibling for the first time the screen itself also on the pro can hit 1 Hertz and the peak brightness level can go as high as an insane 2,400 nits which means it should be legible in all settings the pixel8 isn't too far behind as it also packs in a fairly bright screen of its own which can reach as high as 2,000 nits I've got to say viewing these Outdoors was an absolute Breeze and this also thrown in Google's typically excellent colors contrast levels and all of the well calibrated aspects of a Google display as you'd expect of course a major upgrade on the 8 Pro is a switch to a flat screen I think from a usability standpoint this is really really huge and a big change for the series it's just easier for you to use this phone it's less likely to be damaged from the drop and naturally it means you you'll find cheaper accessories to throw on this screen if you don't want an extra added protection another big change is the rear panel color options and finishes because Google has dropped the glossy glass in favor of matte but sadly it's only on the pro this time around for whatever reason the eight sticks with glossy finishes and although it does hide scratches well it really just doesn't look as good the pro is quite soft at a touch as well because of that upgrade or that upgrade to Frosty glass which definitely reminds me of the pixel 3 Series and there's a little bit of a throwback you also get ip68 ratings on the entire pixel8 series here too I also really do like that Google has adopted further rounded Corners rather than sharp edges this year too it's been something that's changed over the past few years Google has really softened up the design to be just less angular and it has this strange effect of reducing the footprint of the hardware while also just making it much more comfortable the camera bar on the pro has changed a little here too with a singular cutout for all of the lenses rather than separation it just looks a little weird at first as it's one big cutout that is pill shape but you do get used to it pretty quickly Google's all new T G3 processor is also not a huge Quantum Leap but more of a also ran chip from The Firm I wouldn't say it's bad it's just it's not really going to LEAP to the top of the performance charts instead it's tailored to the pixel and the pixel experience daytoday with tweaks and tuning that take advantage of the unique characteristics of the pixel series which is more Ai and machine learning functions which Google is definitely touting this year so because these phones are different sizes they are naturally going to have different battery capacities the pixel8 has a 4575 Milah battery while the pixel 8 Pro has a 5,50 Mah cell that's going to get you through most days with enough to spare and although I haven't necessarily spent tons of time with the 8 and8 Pro at this point in time the lifespan definitely impressed me it's definitely now though time to talk about another reason why you will probably choose that Pro over the regular series pixel this year and that is of course the camera both cameras here have the same primary rear shooter and front facer the ultra wide angle does differ again for the first time while the pro has an extra telephoto sensor that the regular pixel 8 has lacked both of these phones get autofocus on the ultra wide camera which is a definitely a big bonus which also enables macro mode capabilities the pixel8 pro also has a 48 megapixel telephoto camera this is definitely the star of the show for many of you out there with an f2.8 aperture OAS which enables 5x optical zoom as well the pixel a entirely misses out on this telephoto sensor but I will say Google does make up for it with super red Zoom of up to eight times and it definitely looks a lot better than the previous gen super AED Zoom also works much better on the pixel8 pro as it does have that dedicated telephoto sensor which helps it out to around about 30X digital Zoom another difference between the two phones is that the pixel 8 Pro supports manual or Pro controls and it makes it the first pixel smartphone to come with manual controls ever really alongside this you can also output high resolution images using that full 50 megapix sensor if you wish the pixel8 pro will receive video boost and night sight video functionality on top of the things I've already mentioned with a future update it's not currently available right now although the pixel 8 the base model is not expected to receive these disappointingly so objectively the pixel 8 Pro is the better camera system and if for that reason if you need Zoom plus all the trappings of the best pixel camera system at least available today then go ahead and pick it up but it is clear to us that Google is targeting different tiers of consumers with the specs and the pricing of the pixel 8 and the pixel 8 Pro this time around of course the biggest selling point of the pixel 8 and 8 Pro is not actually even the hardware that's something we need to know but actually the software update commitment with 7 years of proper support that means updates every month and every quarter and every full release the pixel 8 and 8 Pro will ship with Android 14 right now but if Google does stay true to its word Android 21 will be a possibility for this duo in 2030 no other phone not even an iPhone can claim such a long support window and that's something to be loaded because of this the $699 price tag of the pixel 8 makes it probably the de facto recommendation for most users and anyone looking for an Android phone of course it does have a smaller and more manageable size an equally competent primary Camera Plus the same overall software experience and that very very impressive update system I think if you aren't chasing any particular spec on the pixel Pro you should probably default to the pixel 8 as it will be a great smartphone for most people most of you watching even conversely the pixel8 pro is for the Enthusiast out there while it isn't a complete spec Chaser across the board that we often see from other OEM realistically no pixel has been a spec Beast for that matter it definitely packs in enough of a punch to stand its ground and for users who demand a larger screen finer camera controls greater camera flexibility or even just more storage the pixel8 pro makes a lot of sense if those are worth it to you though you will need to stump up an extra $300 but I think it's likely a price worth paying if those things as I mentioned are important to you dayto day hopefully though this has helped you make that all important buying decision but let us know which model you're opting for down in the comment sections below thanks for watching though this is Daman with Android authority and I will catch you in the next one\n"