We are all amazed by the technology of Google’s new Pixel 8. And it’s not without reason, as the implementation of new tools linked to artificial intelligence makes the phone the smartest smartphone on the market.
Indeed, not only that, Google has also promised to update the phone’s operating system for the next 7 years. Quite a record in the Android market. It’s even a record in Apple’s territory, as they usually stick to 6 years.
But today, we have to write a post that tempers the excitement that comes with the launch of a new technological product. Because, like all new technology, it has its pros and cons. Today, we’re focusing on the cons.
Has the Tensor G3 fallen short?
When Google debuted the Tensor chip in the Google Pixel 6 series, it marked the first step away from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips that largely dominate the sector.
However, since its debut – and even now with the Pixel 8 – Tensor chips have been largely designed in collaboration with Samsung. Essentially, the Tensor chips in the G series have parts built by Google, but most of the design is similar to Samsung’s own Exynos chips.
We probably won’t see Google’s custom Tensor chip until 2025 with the Google Pixel 10, and Google is likely to continue working with Samsung for the Tensor G4 next year.
Still, Tensor chipsets haven’t been the best performers so far. In our time with previous Pixel phones, Tensor chips can get quite hot after just a few minutes with resource-intensive apps or tasks.
Despite having large batteries, Google’s Tensor phones usually don’t last more than a day with heavy use. We’ve also encountered bugs and performance issues.
Although the Google Pixel 8 and Tensor G3 have just been released, we don’t yet know how the chip will perform. The third time might be the charm for Google, but it wouldn’t hurt to wait another year or more for a G4 chip with better performance and energy efficiency, or even later.
Best cameras for the Google Pixel 9
With the Google Pixel 8 series, only the Pixel 8 Pro received significant camera improvements. That’s good news if you want the Pro model, but the regular Pixel 8 feels like it was left behind.
The camera specifications of the Pixel 8 include a dual-camera system with a 50 MP main sensor along with a 12 MP autofocus ultrawide camera, virtually unchanged from the cameras of the Google Pixel 7.
On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro features a 50 MP main camera with 2x optical zoom, a new 48 MP ultrawide camera, and a 48 MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and Super Res Zoom up to 30x.
Both have a 10.5 MP selfie camera, but only the Pro model has autofocus.
It wouldn’t surprise us if next year there are more improvements introduced in the cameras of the regular Pixel 9, such as a higher-megapixel ultrawide camera and autofocus on the selfie camera.
Is it time to change the design?
Google has maintained the same overall design aesthetic for its Pixel smartphones since the Pixel 6. And there’s really nothing wrong with that: it’s a good design that stands out from the crowd.
The rounded corners and the camera bar definitely make the Pixel unique among a sea of iPhones and Samsungs.
If you look at the history of Google Pixel’s design, the design changes every two or three years. Since the Pixel 6, Google has continued to use the same design for three years, carrying on the Pixel 6’s aesthetic with the Pixel 7 and now the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 would be the perfect time to shake things up a bit.
We have no idea what a refreshed design for the Google Pixel could look like, but for anyone tired of the same old camera bar on the back, it might be worth waiting one more year to see what Google comes up with for the Pixel 9.
