The Made By Google event in October 2023 introduced three new devices: the Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2. However, the standout feature of the event was Best Take, a new software engineering feat that revolutionizes smartphone photography. Best Take uses a series of photos to create a single blended image, allowing users to take better headshots by combining elements from different images. It’s essentially an automated Photoshop tool for your phone and is expected to be a game changer for Instagram lovers and others.
Best Take works best when combined with other software tricks from Google, such as the upgraded Magic Editor, which can remove or move elements of a photo and change lighting. To support these new features, the new Pixel phones come with powerful hardware. The Pixel 8 Pro, the top-of-the-line model, features the Google Tensor G3 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. It also boasts a Super Actua OLED display with a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz. The camera setup includes a 50MP main lens, 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom.
The Pixel 8, a more affordable alternative, has a few small omissions compared to the Pro model but remains a powerful flagship phone. It features a 6.2-inch Actua OLED display with a variable refresh rate of 60Hz to 120Hz, the same Google Tensor G3 processor, and 8GB of RAM. The Pixel 8 has dual-lens rear camera setup and offers storage options of 128GB or 256GB. Both models are expected to offer strong battery life, with the Pixel 8 Pro available for pre-order starting on October 4 and the Pixel 8 available at a price of $999.
