The Pixel 8 Pro was the top phone in the 2023 lineup from Google. It was announced on October 4, 2023, and went on sale on October 12, 2023. The US launch price started at $999 for the 128 GB model. Google no longer sells it new in its online store, so the phone is now discontinued. The Pixel 9 Pro XL took its place.
Design and display
The phone has a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen called the Super Actua display. It runs at 1344 x 2992 pixels, or 489 pixels per inch. The refresh rate can drop to 1 Hz and rise to 120 Hz. Peak brightness reaches 2,400 nits, and HDR content can hit 1,600 nits.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the screen and the matte back. A polished aluminum frame holds the two together. The body measures 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm and weighs 213 grams. It has an IP68 rating. Colors are Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay and Mint.
Performance
The phone runs on the Google Tensor G3, a 4 nm chip. Its fastest CPU core reaches 2.91 GHz, and the GPU is an Arm Mali-G715. It comes with 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Storage options are 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB of UFS 3.1. The US also got a 1 TB model.
Cameras
There are three rear cameras. The main 50 MP camera has a 1/1.31-inch sensor, an f/1.68 lens and optical stabilization. A 48 MP ultrawide camera adds autofocus and a 125.5-degree view. The 48 MP telephoto camera offers 5x optical zoom with optical stabilization. Super Res Zoom goes up to 30x.
The 10.5 MP selfie camera has autofocus. Both sides record 4K video at up to 60 fps. Pro controls let users adjust settings by hand. The phone also has a temperature sensor on the back.
Battery and charging
The battery has a typical capacity of 5,050 mAh. Wired charging peaks at 30 W with the Google 30W charger. Wireless charging reaches 23 W on the Pixel Stand (2nd gen). Battery Share can top up other Qi devices. The box includes a cable but no charger.
Software and updates
The Pixel 8 Pro shipped with Android 14. Google promises seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates from the first US sale. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and an Ultra-Wideband chip. The USB-C port supports USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Should you buy the Pixel 8 Pro?
The Pixel 8 Pro fits buyers who want a large screen, a 5x zoom camera and long software support. Compared with the Pixel 8, it adds a sharper LTPO display, more RAM and a third camera. However, Google has ended new sales, so availability depends on other sellers. Buyers who want a current model can look at the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
