Release date, specs, price & more

The Google Pixel 8 is one of two smartphones Google will announce later this year. This phone is actually a part of the company’s flagship lineup, it’ll launch alongside its ‘Pro’ sibling. We’ll get more and more information about the device as we’re getting closer to the launch date. That’s why this article will be updated accordingly.

We already have plenty of information about the Pixel 8, and we’ll do our best to relay that information to you below. The phone is set to come in a smaller chassis than last year, with a shiny new processor, and much more. It’ll differentiate from the ‘Pro’ model, of course, hence the separate preview article.

This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Google Pixel 8 (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on June 6 (original publishing date).

When will the Google Pixel 8 be released?

Google is expected to announce its Pixel 8 series in either September or October this year. The Pixel 7 series arrived on October 6 last year. Chances are that it’ll happen in October this time around too, but we cannot be sure. Google will announce the launch event later in the year, so we’ll have to wait and see. Both smartphones are expected to ship in around a week after the launch, though.

What models are coming?

If the Pixel 7 is any indicator, the Pixel 8 will come with a single RAM setup, and more than one storage option. If we had to guess, we’d say that 128GB and 256GB storage variants will be available, at least. It’s also possible Google will ditch the 128GB storage model entirely, we’ll have to wait and see. The device is expected to offer 12GB of RAM. The ‘Pro’ variant will be entirely different than the vanilla model, and we’ll talk about it in a separate article.

How much will the Google Pixel 8 cost?

The Pixel 8 price tag did not surface just yet. Google managed to surprise us with the Pixel 7 price, however. The Pixel 7 launched with a $599 price tag, so it was considerably more affordable than its ‘Pro’ sibling. If Google manages to keep a similar price tag for the Pixel 8, that would be great, of course. Even if it ends up being slightly more expensive, that’s doable. Google should be able to pull that off, as the Pixel 8 won’t be a huge change design-wise. It will include a number of new components, and that, along with some other factors, could boost its price tag. We’ll have to wait and see.

What will the Google Pixel 8 look like?

The Google Pixel 8 will retain the Pixel 7’s design language. It will look a bit different, however. The Pixel 7 was a squarish phone, while the Pixel 8 will be a bit more curved. The camera sensors inside the camera visor will also look a bit different, at least based on the CAD-based renders that surfaced (shown at the end of this section). The bezels on the device will be truly thin, though they probably won’t be uniform. It would be great if Google could pull it off, though, as it did with the Pixel 5.

The camera visor will once again protrude on the back quite a bit, while the phone will be made out of metal and glass. The camera visor will connect to the phone’s frame on the sides, as it did on the Pixel 7. A flat display is expected on the front, with a centered display camera hole at the top. All the physical buttons will sit on the right-hand side of the phone. The power/lock key will sit above the volume up and down buttons, as we’re used to seeing from Pixel phones.

This handset will be smaller than its predecessor. It is tipped to feature a 6.16-inch display. The Pixel 7 included a 6.3-inch display, officially, at least it was marketed as such. It’s possible this panel will be marketed as a 6.2-inch panel, we’ll see. The good thing is, there will be more of a size difference between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro than it was between their predecessors. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro were not that different size-wise. The Pixel 8 will cater more to people who want a more compact phone.

What specs will the Google Pixel 8 have?

The Google Pixel 8 will be fueled by the Google Tensor G3 processor. That is the third-gen processor from Google, and it’ll bring some notable improvements over the first two generations. This chip will offer a 1+4+4 layout, with a single big core, the Cortex-X3. The cores will get a boost across the board, a considerable boost over the original Tensor and Tensor G2. UFS 4.0 will also be supported, and more.

The phone will offer either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and we’re expecting LPDDR5X RAM this time around, though such info did not leak yet. We’ll be able to choose between at least two storage options, most likely 128GB and 256GB storage variants. The phone will include a 6.16-inch display on the front. That will be a 120Hz panel, and it’ll most likely be a fullHD+ AMOLED display. The display will be flat.

A rumor suggested that the Pixel 8 Pro could include a new main camera sensor, but it did not say anything about the regular Pixel 8. Google will either stick with the ISOCELL GN1 inside this phone, or switch to the GN2. The second camera on the back will be an ultrawide unit, and Google could stick with the same unit as in the Pixel 7. One thing is for sure, that will be an ultrawide camera, but the sensor is still a mystery.

The phone’s battery size did not surface just yet. What did surface, however, is the fact that Google won’t improve wireless charging here. The Pixel 8 will support wireless charging, but don’t expect high charging speeds to be on offer.

Should you wait to buy the Google Pixel 8?

Should you wait for the Pixel 8, or buy the Pixel 7 instead? Well, considering that we’re already in June, and considering the improvements the Tensor G3 will bring… you’re probably better to wait for the Pixel 8. Based on the rumored info, at least, the Tensor G3 will be a major improvement compared to the Tensor G2. Not only that, but the Pixel 8 will be spruced up from the design’s standpoint, and should be able easier to use with one hand, on top of everything. There’s always the Pixel 7a option, if your budget is not high enough. If it is, however, you’re advised to wait and see what the Pixel 8 will bring.