The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be introduced on October 4th along with the Pixel Watch 2. What will be the key feature that Google will use to prevent Pixel users from switching to other Android phones like the S23 Ultra, or the iPhone 15 series? While Google did improve the Pixel 7 series compared to the Pixel 6, there is speculation that we will finally see an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 8 series to fix a problem that has been a pain point for Pixel users since the release of the Pixel 6 line.
An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is not the sexy new feature that drives consumers to choose a specific phone. The slightly larger capacity battery, when combined with a more efficient chipset, might increase battery life for the Pixel 8 phones, but it probably won’t be enough of a needle mover to keep power users like this writer from buying the iPhone 15 Pro Max which should offer amazing battery life thanks to the 3nm A17 Bionic SoC, and the rumored large increases in battery capacity.
Once again Google is looking to improve the Pixel’s photography capabilities which have always put the Pixel series at or near the head of the class when it comes to snapping photos or recording videos. Reportedly, both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will be using 50MP ISOCELL GN2 sensors for their primary cameras. These allow 35% more light to enter which should improve low-light photography. Faster shutter speeds have also been the subject of rumors and would reduce the blurring that can mar action photos.
The sensor expected to be used with the Pixel 8 line’s ultra-wide cameras is an old friend. The 64MP Sony IMX787 sensor, used to back the primary camera on the Pixel 7a, will be employed by the 2023 flagship Pixel models. But the new photography-based feature that is sexy enough to star in new promos will probably be the rumored Night Sight video.
It was November 2018 when Google rolled out Night Mode to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL and even the Pixel 2 received the feature. With Night Mode, Pixel users can take photos in the dark without blinding someone by using flash. Soon, other manufacturers added similarly named features to their phones’ photography systems. And with the Pixel 8 line, Google is expected to take the next step by offering a video version of Night Sight. As Yogi Berra allegedly said, “It’s deja vu all over again.”
And once again, the new Pixel phones will regain the low-light advantage it once had with photographs, but now on videos. Considering how Google promoted the hell out of Night Sight using it to differentiate the Pixel from the iPhone (until Apple added it a year later on the iPhone 11 with iOS 13 out of the box), we should expect Google to pour plenty of money into ads for Night Sight video. After all, you didn’t expect the big new feature for the Pixel 8 line to be the on-device thermometer that supposedly graces the iPhone 8 Pro, did you?
