Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro rumours: What’s the story?

Google’s next flagship smartphones are approaching launch, and there have been a number of rumours speculating about what they might offer when they arrive.

We are rounding up what we want to see from the successors to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, along with what any rumours are suggesting. The devices are claimed to be codenamed Shiba (Pixel 8) and Huskey (Pixel 8 Pro). Here is everything we have heard so far.

Pixel 8 release date and price

Google has sent invitations to an event taking place on 4 October. The timing of the invitation is no coincidence, as it followed one day after Apple issued its own invitations, so there’s a sense of competitiveness here from Google.

Once the devices have been revealed, we would expect them to go on sale a couple of weeks later so likely before the end of October 2023.

The Pixel 7 starts at $599 in the US, £599 in the UK, and €649 in Europe, while the Pixel 7 Pro starts at$899 in the US, £849 in the UK and €899 in Europe, which was the same as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. It’s not yet clear if we can expect the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to fall within the same ballpark, though we would expect them to be close in price.

SmartPrix

Design

The first design leaks came in the form of some renders from OnLeaks and MySmartPrice. These renders show some changes to the camera housing on the rear of the Pixel 8 Pro, as well as what appears to be a flat display rather than curved. For the Pixel 8, it looks like the 2023 model will have slightly rounder edges than the Pixel 7.

MySmartPrice

These renders were then backed up by a, since-deleted, Reddit post whereby a user managed to get his hands on an early prototype device and shared some real-life photos. These pictures also showed a matte finish which would be an interesting addition, though it’s hard to say if this is something that will make it to the final release.

A leak from WinFuture tells us that we can expect the Pixel 8 to come in Licorice, Peony and Haze colour variants, while the Pixel 8 Pro will be available in Licorice, Porcelain and Sky. We’ve subsequently seen the Porcelain colour confirmed by Google itself thanks to a leak on the Google Store showing the phone.

If the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, the devices will likely feature an under-display fingerprint sensor and a centralised punch hole camera. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are both IP68 water and dust resistant so it is expected that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro would also be.

DroidLife

We’ve also seen what could be a prototype of the Pixel 8 Pro showing off a new feature – temperature sensing. This could be a new feature the phone offers and there might be a new sensor to support it on the rear – but the phone used in that demo video is close to the leaked renders we’ve shared above. That video has since been removed from YouTube.

Display

There have been a couple of reports about the display on the next-gen Pixel so there’s a good picture forming about what’s to come. It’s said the Pixel 8 will have a 2400 x 1080 display, while the Pixel 8 Pro will move to a 2992 x 1344 display. It’s also been claimed the Pixel 8 Pro will move to a 6.7-inch display, while the Pixel 8 will have a 6.17-inch display which is smaller than its predecessor. Display industry analyst, Ross Young, backs up these sizes, claiming we can expect a 6.16-inch display on the Pixel 8, and 6.7 on the Pixel 8 Pro.

There’s also the suggestion that the Pixel 8 will have a 1400 nits brightness, with the Pixel 8 Pro getting 1600 nits, both an increase on the previous generation.

The Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch display with a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch display with a 3120 x 1440 pixel resolution. The Pixel 7 has a 90Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 7 Pro has an adaptable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz. It looks like the Pixel 8 Pro might have a smoother adaptive refresh rate system, while the Pixel 8 will jump to 120Hz.

Hardware and specs

The Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro both run on the Google Tensor G2 chip, and rumour has it the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will feature the next generation of this chip, codenamed Zuma. That new Tensor G3 hardware is said to use more modern cores, so could be much more powerful, with 9 CPU cores in a 4+4+1 configuration. That’s four Cortex-A510 cores (little), four Cortex-A715 (big) and finally a Cortex-X3 which is a high-performance core. Then there will be a Mali-G715 GPU, again with more power than the Tensor G2.

With the Pixel 7 offering 8GB of RAM and the 7 Pro offering 12GB RAM, we’d expect the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro to offer similar. A leak shared by WinFuture tells us to expect the Pixel 8 to come with either 128GB or 256GB of storage, while the Pixel 8 Pro will add a 512GB option – just like the Pixel 7 series. As usual, we don’t expect to see microSD support on any of them.

The Pixel 8 is said to have a 4485mAh battery with 24W wired charging and support for 20W wireless with the Pixel Stand, while the Pixel 8 Pro is said to offer a 4950mAh battery, 27W wired charging and 23W charging through the Pixel Stand. None of these charging rates are especially fast – in fact, if true, they’re pretty slow overall.

Google

Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen)

There’s another rumour that’s doing the rounds about the Pixel 8 – and that’s the possibility of it being eSIM only – in some regions at least. This comes down to eSIM transfer features appearing in Android 14, with the suggestion that it might be an option for the US market at least.

We’re also hearing that Google might move to extend the software support on its devices – which could mean the Pixel 8 matches the iPhone for the length of software support it offers. This would be over 5 years – but that’s still to be confirmed.

Camera

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are expected to move from a Samsung GN1 sensor to the Samsung GN2. That would see a larger sensor for better light capture and resulting in better Night Sight performance too. On the Pixel 8 Pro it’s said that there will be a 64-megapixel ultrawide camera using a Sony IMX787 sensor, while the Pixel 8 keeps its ultrawide on a Sony IMX386, but offer a wider capture angle.

A report shows some indication that the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro could support staggered HDR, designed to boost the HDR performance.

Currently, the Pixel 7 has a dual rear camera with a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The Pixel 7 Pro meanwhile has the same setup, along with a 48-megapixel telephoto camera.

While not a camera feature, one of the leaks that has surfaced shows an extension of the Magic Eraser function. This time it will allow you to remove background noises from video, meaning you can clean-up your video and get better results thanks to a bit of AI.

Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro rumours: What’s happened so far?

Here’s what the rumours have suggested so far for the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

30 August 2023: The Google Pixel 8 will launch on October 4

Google has invited media to a Made by Google hardware event where the Pixel 8 is expected to launch.

30 August 2023: Google gives us our best Pixel 8 Pro look yet with this leak

An image featured on the Google Store showed a phone not yet released – the Pixel 8 Pro.

29 August 2023: Google Pixel 8 could get longer software support

Google could be looking to make the Pixel more competitive by extending the duration of software support offered for its phones.

22 August 2023: Google Pixel 8 could be eSIM only

The Google Pixel 8 could be eSIM only according to this leak.

14 August 2023: Leaked Google Pixel 8 Pro promo reveals an exciting new AI feature

The ability to erase noise leaks as a new feature of the forthcoming Pixel 8 series.

7 August 2023: Pixel 8 and 8 Pro storage options and colourways leak

A report from WinFuture tells us that the Pixel 8 Pro will come in 128GB. 256GB and 512GB varieties as well as numerous colour options.

4 July 2023: Pixel 8 Pro real-life photos show exactly what you’ll get from Google’s next phone

This latest leak is essentially the holy grail of leaks – it’s the prototype phone, photographed, shared on Reddit and then deleted.

3 July 2023: Battery details surface for Pixel 8 series

Faster charging and bigger batteries could grace the new Pixel 8 models.

19 June 2023: Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro tipped for radical display changes

Some big changes are coming to Google’s next Pixel phones.

12 June 2023: Leaked Google Pixel 8 specs hint at big camera upgrades across the board

The Pixel 8 series is shaping up to be a big camera upgrade this year.

5 June 2023: Google Pixel 8 Tensor G3 leak points to some big performance upgrades

Google isn’t messing about when it comes to its next Pixel silicon.

18 May 2023: Google Pixel 8 Pro leaks in video with a hot new feature you just have to see

Looks like Google is turning up the heat with the next-gen Pixel.

14 April 2023: The Google Pixel 8 is set to shrink, allegedly sporting a 6.16-inch display

Analyst and seasoned leaker, Ross Young, claims the Pixel 8 will sport a 6.16-inch OLED panel, while the Pixel 8 Pro uses a 6.7-inch panel, the same as the 7 Pro.

22 March 2023: Google Pixel 8 Pro could use multiple-camera magic for better Night Sight results

According to the code divers at 9to5Google, the latest Google Camera update includes references to a new type of Night Sight technology that would allow for even more detailed shots.

15 March 2023: Early Google Pixel 8 renders have one big surprise for Pixel 7 fans

The leak comes courtesy of MySmartPrice and tipster @OnLeaks. The renders show a phone that is similar to the current Pixel 7 overall, but it’s far from identical.

14 March 2023: Is this our first real look at the Pixel 8 Pro?

This render leak comes courtesy of SmartPrix and @OnLeaks with a black version of the Google Pixel 8 Pro shared.

23 December 2022: Leaked roadmap reveals plans for Google Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8 and beyond

A report published by Android Authority claims the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will arrive later in 2023 and not feature any significant changes over the current Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It’s said the Pixel 8 will be smaller than the Pixel 7, delivering a more compact form factor though.

The two phones are also claimed to feature an updated Google Tensor processor called Tensor G3.

21 December 2022: Leak points to a new camera module on the Google Pixel 8

A leak suggests the 2023 Pixel phones will gain staggered HDR support, something that’s not possible with the main sensor on the Pixel 6 and 7 series

9 November 2022: The Pixel 8 leaks have begun including codenames and specs

A WinFuture report claimed the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are codenamed Shiba and Huskey respectively.

It’s also said they will run Android 14, a chip called Zuma and the Pixel 8 will get a 2268 x 1080 display, while the Pixel 8 Pro will move to a 2822 x 1344 display.