Google Pixel 8 Pro Launched With a Thermometer and 7 Years of Updates

(CTN News) – This year’s Google Pixel 8 devices come with artificial intelligence, an object-measuring temperature sensor, and seven-year software support.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were launched alongside the second-generation Pixel smartwatch and Android 14, aiming to compete with Apple’s iPhone 15 line while following Fairphone’s lead with longer battery life.

Introducing the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

The Pixel 8 starts at £699 (€799/$699) and has a 6.2in 120Hz OLED screen. It is slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor. On the back, a dual-camera system with 21% more light captures better low-light performance and includes macrophotography capabilities.

Users will be able to swap faces between multiple frames to create photos where everyone is smiling or looking in the same direction. As part of the photo editor feature, you will be able to resize subjects in shots and apply other effects using generative AI, while a new “audio magic eraser” can remove background sound in videos, such as crowd noise.

A smaller 6.7in screen and a third 5x optical zoom telephoto camera on the back distinguish the £999 (€1,099/$999) Pixel 8 Pro from the Pixel 8 Plus. In the future, health-related features will be enabled via the phone’s temperature sensor, which can measure walls, phones, and other devices.

In addition to manual camera controls, the 8 Pro has a “video boost” feature that uses AI on the device and Google’s data centres to provide Night Sight video.

Google’s new Tensor G3 chip and AI features will come with both phones, including the ability to summarize, read aloud, and translate articles, as well as improved grammar and proofreading.

Also, software support will be extended to seven years from release – two more years than previous models and longer than most other manufacturers, including Samsung. With its latest phone, Fairphone broke ground by offering up to ten years of updates, similar to Apple’s seven years of updates.

Watch Pixel 2

Also updated was Google’s smartwatch, which is now 10% lighter and still compatible with previous generation straps.

It runs WearOS 4 and features new Gmail and Calendar apps, as well as a faster quad-core processor. Fitbit’s new watch comes with new electrical stress sensors, a larger heart rate sensor on the back, and automatic workout recognition in the Fitbit app.

In-store sales of the watch will begin on 12 October alongside the Pixel 8 smartphones.

Version 14 of Android

Beginning today, Google’s Android software will be rolling out to Pixel smartphones and tablets, as well as supported third-party devices in the near future.

The new version of Android 14 comes with greater customisation options for the lock screen, such as generative AI wallpaper and AI that makes certain features more prominent when needed, such as the weather widget when it’s raining.

In Health Connect, your health and fitness data is synced from third-party apps and encrypted securely on the device, similar to Apple’s Health app on an iPhone.

SEE ALSO:

Meta’s Proposed $14 Monthly Ad-Free Instagram Subscription Sparks Privacy Debate In Europe

Why is Quality Assurance Important in Software Development?