Google finally has a phone that’s not just for Android enthusiasts.
The price goes up to $1,399 for 1TB of storage space.
The back has a matte texture that I can only describe as perfection.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Everything else about the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s design is pretty standard.
After a year with the phone, I fully expect to see similar wear on the Pixel 8 Pro.
I would have preferred the matte finish found on the regular Pixel 8.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro includes the search giant’s latest CPU, the Tensor G3, is among the best smartphone cameras on the market, and has some of the best AI-powered features.
Under the display, you’ll find an optical fingerprint sensor.
It’s fast, accurate, and gets the job done.
I still miss the days ofrear fingerprint sensors, but I’ll digress.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro includes the search giant’s latest CPU, the Tensor G3, is among the best smartphone cameras on the market, and has some of the best AI-powered features.
This version of Android comes off as focused on under-the-hood refinements, which I greatly appreciate.
Announced alongside the Google Pixel 8 series, Audio Magic Eraser aims to identify and silence annoying background audio.
The most magical new AI feature, in my opinion, is Best Take.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
I was amazed at how well Best Take worked.
Google isn’t using generative AI to adjust a person’s gaze (at least not yet).
The functionality is impressive, but they felt more like party tricks.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
I’m not saying you won’t find a use for them, but I didn’t.
The Pixel 8 Pro’s greatest strength is the fact that this seems to be a mostly solved problem.
But scrolling through Instagram or ordering an Uber never stressed the Tensor G3.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
In all of my day-to-day tasks, I never felt limited.
The phone remained extremely snappy and performed exactly as you’d expect from a flagship smartphone.
What does that mean?
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Basically, the Pixel 8 Pro can handle more powerful processes without succumbing to lag or other disruptions.
For the most part, I simply dropped the Pixel 8 Pro on asecond-gen Pixel Standto wirelessly charge overnight.
A full charge from 0 to 100% takes a little over 70 minutes.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
To my eye, the Pixel is still king.
But what really sets the Pixel 8 Pro apart is the reliability of the smartphone’s photo quality.
No handset is perfect, but I trust Google to nail the shot more than any other.
But enough talklet’s look through some of the photos I took with the Pixel 8 Pro.
It’s also worth pointing out that the racetrack photos were shot through a glass window.
I’ve also included a gallery of miscellaneous photos below captured on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Am I a fan of the ultra-wide camera’s fisheye effect?
Not really, but I understand its usefulness when capturing some scenes.
What I do love is the 50MP and 48MP sensors behind the main and telephoto cameras.
These collect so much data and, once the phone is done processing the image, returns fantastic-looking photos.
A best-in-class Android phone thats all about the camera and AI tricks.
As the world discovered shortly after the phone’s launch, thelimitation was completely artificial.
Ultimately, both versions of Google’s latest Pixel are great phones.
When deciding between the two, consider which screen size you prefer and if you want a telephoto camera.
Should You Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro?
It’s hard to take a bad photo with this rig.
Ultimately, the AI features faded into the background after a couple of weeks with the phone.
Plus, software performance continues to impress me, particularly compared to previous Pixel handsets.
I haven’t experienced any of the shortcomings I’ve experienced on older models.
Time will tell, but from my experience so far, this is a no-compromise Pixel.
