Google Pixel Pro 8: How hot are you? This Pixel knows

The Pixel 8 Pro, which cost just $200 more than the entry-level iPhone 15, is so powerful we’re almost tempted to leave the Apple ecosystem.

Google's new Pixel 8 cameras are an impressive selling point.

Perhaps one of the best things about Google’s New Pixel Pro 8 is a feature that may have been very handy during the pandemic.

That feature is a built-in temperature sensor, one which the search engine giant said, can measure up to 200C.
On a recent night out in Sydney, The Australian put it to the test on some hotpot, a noodle dish and our forehead. And while we didn’t bring any other kind of thermometer, it seemed pretty accurate to us – measuring 34.1C on our forehead, 72C on the pot of hotpot and 46.7C in the noodle dish.

Having a sensor on hand, because let’s be honest that’s where our phone usually is, would be very handy when we’re feeling ill, for a quick test on some food or even for the health enthusiasts who enjoy things like ice baths.

But that’s not all we like about the new device, available from today and retailing for $1699.

Google's new Pixel 8 Pro is available from October 12.

Initially the $400 price jump from 2022 scared us, but upon further inspection and in comparison to Apple’s entry-level iPhone 15 which retails for $1499, it’s not so bad for what is Google’s premium device.

If the device really does go the distance, and by that we mean seven years, as that’s how long Google has promised to provide software updates for the device, then it’s not a bad investment at all. However, it’d be naive to think that smartphones in 2030 would not be significantly different to what we have today.

One thing we love is the camera. Google’s been ahead of the pack for some time now and we can honestly say we rate the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera above that of Samsung’s S23 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max.

While some might argue that conclusion, it’s one we arrived at having played with all three simultaneously over the past seven days.

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera is the most versatile of all three devices, and it had the clearest image quality for the least amount of work.

High yield low effort is a winner, if you ask us.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro in a porcelain-coloured case with a matching Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Buds Pro. Picture: Joseph Lam

That image quality arrives via a 50 megapixel wide camera, a 48 megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 48 megapixel telephoto lens. There’s also a 10.5-megapixel selfie camera on front.

What’s great about the Pixel 8 Pro and other devices is a feature called battery share in which you can wirelessly charge an iPhone, Pixel or Samsung device or even a pair of AirPods.

If you’re one who is always in meetings and you’re forking out a premium for Otter.ai, you’ll love Google’s intelligent voice recorder which provides instantaneous speech-to-text transcription which can be turned into a Google Doc within seconds.

Computational audio is a big push for Google this year with a function it calls audio magic erase. This splits different sound producers into layers and gives users the ability to remove things such as background noise.

There’s also video boost, a free cloud-based service in which Google will automatically edit a video in the cloud and send a user a notification when complete.

What’s left to say? The device itself is rather handsome. In the porcelain-coloured case with a matching pair of Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel Watch 2, it really is easy on the eyes.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Buds Pro.

But one of the downfalls of Google consumer technology, particular its smartphone range which is the third most popular in Australia, is that there just aren’t a lot of accessories.

That goes for the watch which is limited to the 2023 charger and, thanks to four little prongs on the new charger, won’t work with last year’s.

Similarly, the Pixel Tablet, which is a bit like a Google home with a removable screen, doesn’t yet have a keyboard.

What’s not so hot is the fact the phone has had a slight change in shape this year. It’s not super noticeable or obvious but it means Pixel 7 Pro holders will need a new case if upgrading.

The verdict? If you want a phone that is easy to use and takes beautiful photos and video with little to no skill required, this is it.