It’s official, we have a new generation of Google phones . The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were presented today. They are once again the standard bearers of Android, with a measured evolution, although with more than interesting changes compared to previous versions.

And, apart from a considerable price increase, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro incorporate improvements in performance and cameras. Next, we review all these technical differences that, at least on paper, will help us better understand the evolutionary line of the last three generations of Pixel (except for the ‘a’, given that the Pixel 8a will not be released until next year ). 

Technical files

Technical sheet of the Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and Pixel 8

Technical data sheet of the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro

The same design idea, although with increasingly smaller screens

Less is more or at least that’s what Google must think with its standard Pixel range. While the Pixel 6 wore a diagonal of 6.4 inches, its successor, the Pixel 7 reduced it to 6.3 inches. And so on until we reach the 6.2 inches of the Pixel 8. Of course, the size is not the only thing that changes.

Despite maintaining the resolution and additives such as HDR10+, the new Pixel 8 joins the 120 Hz bandwagon after four generations anchored at 90 Hz (the Pixel 4 already brought that refresh rate).

Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro y Pixel 8 Pro

The ‘Pro’ models do not experience as much change in their screen , maintaining a similar size from the 6.71 inches of the Pixel 6 Pro , minimally reduced to 6.7 inches in the Pixel 7 Pro and maintaining that diagonal in the new Pixel 8 Pro .

Otherwise, the six models have a similar appearance, although with some slight noticeable changes . One of them is that in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 the glass was kept as a visible and palpable material on the back, while in the new Pixel 8 a matte material is added that should give different sensations to both sight and touch.

From Tensor to Tensor, but without increasing the memories

It was with the Pixel 6 that Google, in collaboration with Samsung, launched the Google Tensor G1 . The Tensor G2 followed in its wake with the Pixel 7 and now we find a Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 that had already been leaked previously and represents a great evolution.

While waiting to be able to face it in real day-to-day conditions and compare it with other MediaTek or Qualcomm chips, especially in demanding tasks, we find the following differences and similarities in the elements of these SoCs:

Regarding memory, the standard Pixels have been anchored at 8 GB . A good capacity for a multitude of uses, but perhaps it would have been nice to see it accompanied by a 12 GB option as in the ‘Pro’. For storage, all three are offered in 128GB or 256GB . Maybe this year with the price increase, 256GB could have been the standard.

On the other hand, the ‘Pro’ offer versions with 8 and 12 GB of RAM, except for the Pixel 8 Pro which “only” offers 12 GB . Regarding storage, we can make the same criticism as the previous ones, given that they also come with 128, 256 and 512 GB options without having increased the base capacity in any case and without yet daring to bet on 1 TB versions.

Fast charging is the pending issue in the six

If we look at the batteries, the capacities have been more or less maintained . With some almost negligible difference, the Pixel 6, 7 and 8 have remained around 4,500 mAh, while the Pixel 6 Pro, 7 Pro and 8 Pro range around 5,000 mAh.

However, if what you are looking for is fast charging, the six models cap at 30 W of power. Furthermore, and this is not trivial, none of them come with a power adapter in the box, although they do have a USB-C to USB-C cable with the 3.0 standard, despite the fact that the last two generations support USB 3.2.

What is worth highlighting positively is the wireless and reversible charging capacity that all of them incorporate. This will not only allow the battery to be recharged in a base with the Qi standard, but will also allow other devices to be recharged using this standard (for example, headphones).

The magic of the camera will once again be in the software

If there is something common about Google phones, it is that not everything is the technical data , given that via software they stand out for being one of the mobile phones with the best processing. Starting from this basis, we see how there are not too many notable changes in the cameras in these three generations.

It is the wide angle of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro that experiences the most changes , now being a larger sensor that improves its macro functions, this being a function that the standard model debuts and that the previous models did not have. that were not ‘Pro’.

Many updates, although more for the Pixel 8

If Google is characterized by something, it is by providing great update support to its mobile phones. Not in vain are the owners of Android. Thus, the Pixel 6 and 7 guarantee 3+2 years of support . The first three with full versions of Android and the next two with security patches.

However, the Pixel 8 will add up to 7 years of complete updates , a milestone for the manufacturer and for the Android industry itself. Therefore, taking into account their release dates, this will be the version and year in which they stop receiving support:

• Pixel 6/6 Pro: Android 15 and with security patches until 2026
• Pixel 7/7 Pro: Android 16 and with security patches until 2027
• Pixel 8/8 Pro: Android 21 including security patches until 2030

For practical purposes, say that in the end all three will receive Android 14 today , so at least for now they are equal in that sense.