Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google is all set to launch the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro on October 4. With the Pixel 8 launch date nearing, it has led to an increase in the usual debate of whether upgrading to Google's upcoming smartphone makes sense. If you are also confused by the Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7 debate, read on to find out what you should do.
What Happened: Google is all set to launch the Pixel 8 Pro and the more affordable Pixel 8 at an Oct. 4 event in New York City. Most of the focus is on the ‘Pro' model, and this time, Google seems to be packing some important upgrades.
See Also: Google Announces Oct. 4 Event: Pixel 8 Series, Pixel Watch 2 Expected To Launch
Google has had a hard time keeping information about its upcoming hardware launches a secret, relatively speaking. As such, we know quite a bit about the Pixel 8 series weeks ahead of its launch.
Read on to find out the winner of the Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7 argument.
Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7: Most Notable Upgrades
1. Tensor G3 Chipset
Google started using custom-designed chipsets in its Pixel smartphones in 2021 with the Pixel 6. In line with this, the Pixel 8 series will be powered by the Tensor G3 chipset, an update to the Tensor G2 chipset that powered the Pixel 7 series.
Amongst the biggest upgrades in store for the Tensor G3 include a major graphics boost – rumors suggest that we could see a 10-core GPU. The Tensor G3 chipset is also expected to include support for 8K video recording at 30 frames per second and up to a 60% boost for camera and speech tasks.
The new chipset is also said to include UFS 4.0 support – if Google uses this storage technology, it should improve across-the-board speed.
2. Camera Improvements, Unified Camera Module Design
Google is expected to use a new 50MP ultrawide angle camera sensor in the Pixel 8 series, up from the 12MP resolution of the Pixel 7 series. Additionally, the primary sensor is also going to be upgraded to Samsung GN2 from GN1, which can capture up to 35% more light, resulting in sharper and more detailed images.
Besides this, Google also inadvertently leaked the first official image of the Pixel 8 Pro, showing off a unified camera visor design instead of splitting off the depth sensor like on the Pixel 7.
3. Five Years Of Software Updates
In a bid to catch up to rival Apple Inc. AAPL and also to make up for being left behind by Samsung, Google is reportedly going to offer up to five years of software updates.
This means that Google will increase the software update support for the Pixel 8 series by two years – Pixel 8 users can expect software updates for five years from the date of launch, as against only three years on the Pixel 7 series and earlier.
For comparison, Apple's five-year support for iPhones has been legendary in the smartphone industry. More recently, Apple issued an iOS update for the iPhone 5s ten years after its launch in 2013.
4. Video Unblur
Google is expanding its beloved photo editing tools to videos this year – reports suggest that the company is readying the feature for the Pixel 8 series based on code found in the Google Photos app.
As the name suggests, Video Unblur will allow users to sharpen their videos with assistance from machine learning. The Photos app gained the Photo Unblur feature last year with the launch of the Pixel 7 series.
5. Higher Display Refresh Rate
One of the prominent complaints about the Pixel 7 has been its lower refresh rate, especially when other competing devices offer a 120Hz refresh rate.
Google is expected to address that with the Pixel 8 this year – it is said to get a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, bringing it up to par with its ‘Pro' sibling and other competing devices.
It would also help Google distinguish the Pixel 8 from the Pixel 7a, which also has a display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
6. Bigger Batteries, Faster Charging
Battery life hasn't been stellar on Pixel phones, but we could see some improvements this year with the Pixel 8 series.
The Pixel 8 is expected to see a 5% higher battery capacity than the Pixel 7. It is also expected to support faster 24W wired charging compared to Pixel 7's 20W support.
On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro is expected to see only a minor uptick in battery capacity over the Pixel 7 Pro, but wired charging speeds could see a boost to 27W from 23W.
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Read Next: Did Google Just Accidentally Leak Official Images Of Pixel 8 Pro?
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