Google Pixel 8: The new, blue and more expensive smart phone range

Google’s 2023 Pixel 8 range has landed, introducing upgrades and a massive price jump that might scare away some would-be buyers.

Google has unveiled its latest smartphone, watch and ear pod range.

Search engine giant Google’s Pixel 8 range has landed with an updated line-up of smartphones, watches and ear buds in two new colours.

Google’s most premium device, the Pixel 8 Pro, arrives with a price tag of $1699 which is a $400 jump from last year, while the new Pixel 8 costs $1199, representing a jump of $200.

For that price, users get a 50 megapixel wide camera, a 48 megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 48 megapixel telephoto lens on the back of the Pixel 8 Pro; while the Pixel 8 has a 50 megapixel wide camera and a 12 megapixel ultra wide camera. Both devices carry a 10.5 megapixel selfie camera.

Google's new Pixel 8 Pro arrives in Australia on October 12.

There’s a big focus on the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera this year, which is not so different to what Apple has done with the iPhone Pro Max.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s selfie camera now has autofocus; and no image is a single image because the device takes multiple photos and blends them together – a feature it calls Best Take.

A new feature called Magic Editor means it doesn’t really matter where you stand in a picture as the device is able to use AI to remove, reposition or centre a person in the photo. There’s also the ability to control the camera’s shutter speed and ISO.

Much like Australian telcos, Google is rolling out the use of AI in audio with a feature it calls “audio magic erase”. That feature uses computational audio to remove distracting background noises by sorting different sounds into layers.

Google's Pixel 8 Pro heavily emphasises improvements to its cameras.

When it comes to video, there’s a new cloud-powered option called “video boost” which allows a user to upload videos to the cloud where they will have them automatically edited to improve low light and stability. Once the edit is finished, the user is notified.

One new smart feature is the ability to scan temperatures, which Google said could read up to 200C.

The Pixel 8 Pro is 6.7 inches with a 5050mAh battery while the Pixel 8 is 6.2 inches with a 4574mAh battery. In terms of weight, 8 Pro is 213g while the 8 is 167g.

Google has also introduced the second edition of its smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2.

For those who like to hang on to their phones for a while, Google has promised seven years’ worth of updates.

The Google Pixel 8 in so-called “selfie” mode.

Although Google’s Pixel phone range has shot up in price, the Pixel Watch 2 is the same price as last year, retailing at $549 for Wi-Fi only and $649 for Wi-Fi and LTE.

The Pixel Watch 2 comes with what the company is calling Fitbit’s most advanced stress-management technology, which includes new sensors called the body-response sensor and skin temperature sensor.

Using those, the watch can provide what Google calls the “daily readiness score”.

The second iteration of the smartwatch has access to Gmail, which it hadn’t included with its first version.

Pixel Watch 2 comes with a promise of three years of software updates as well.

Google's second smart watch after acquiring Fitbit, the Pixel Watch 2.

Fitness enthusiasts will enjoy some updates to the device’s ability to track workouts, as auto tracking is now available to be turned on automatically as well as haptic reminders for when a person is passing through different heart rate zones and what it mean in terms of weight loss.

Some new safety features include in-built fall detection and emergency SOS. Another feature called “safety check” allows a user to schedule a timer while travelling; and if they don’t respond on their watch after the time expires, location sharing and contact with emergency services will automatically be turned on.

Google said the new watch has a more powerful battery – 306mAh in size – which has the ability to last for 24 hours on display mode.

The Pixel Watch 2 is no more expensive than its predecessor.

On the surface there isn’t a great deal of change to the design.

All devices are available for pre-sale from Thursday and the new devices can be bought in store from October 12.