Release date, rumors, specs, price, and feature wishlist

The Google Pixel 7 series made quite the splash in October, earning both our Editors Choice and Readers Choice awards in 2022. We can definitely see why, as the phones delivered respectable performance, polished software, and a great camera experience (as usual for a Google phone).

Now that these phones have been on the market for several months and cemented themselves among the best Android phones, we’re curious to see how Google can improve on them with the Pixel 8 series. So we’ve gathered all the most notable Pixel 8 rumors and leaks in one place, while also dishing out a wishlist for these phones.

Will there be a Google Pixel 8 series?

Google has launched a flagship Pixel or two every year since the first Pixel line back in 2016. So odds are high that the Pixel 8 family will debut in 2023. Reliable German outlet WinFuture previously confirmed in November 2022 that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are indeed coming and will be codenamed “Shiba” and “Husky,” respectively.

• Pixel 7 series launch date: October 6, 2022
• Pixel 6 series launch date: October 19, 2021
• Pixel 5 launch date: September 30, 2020

Google usually launches its flagship phones in October each year, with the Pixel 7 range and Pixel 6 duo both revealed in this month. The Pixel 5 was launched on September 30, but this was the exception rather than the rule as all previous devices launched in October. Needless to say, it’s a fair bet to expect the Pixel 8 release date to fall in September or October 2023.

What features and specs will the Pixel 8 series have?

We haven’t seen a ton of Pixel 8 family leaks just yet, but there’s still a decent amount of info to go on. Here’s what we know about the phones in terms of design, features, and overall specs.

WinFuture was first to report that the Pixel 8 series will receive the next-generation Tensor processor code-named “Zuma.” This was corroborated by our own leaked roadmap.

There’s no word on the Tensor G3’s specs and capabilities, but we hope Google switches to more modern CPU cores as the Tensor G2 is still a few generations behind Arm’s latest cores. We’re also hoping the new chipset leads to a cooler experience, as we complained about heating in our Pixel 7 review.

Otherwise, this leak also pointed to 8GB of RAM for the standard Pixel 8 and 12GB of RAM for the Pro variant. This is in line with the Pixel 7 series.

WinFuture also claims that the Pixel 8 will have a 2,268 x 1,080 display while the Pixel 8 Pro will pack a 2,822 x 1,344 screen. The latter resolution is slightly lower compared to the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro’s 1440p panels.

We’re guessing the standard Pixel 8 will retain a 4,300mAh or higher battery while the Pixel 8 Pro could retain a ~5,000mAh battery. As for charging speeds? We desperately want to see a meaningful reduction in charging times, but we wouldn’t bet on it.

Google has stuck with similar camera systems for two generations now, with the only real hardware change being the Pixel 7 Pro switching to a 5x 48MP camera instead of a 4x shooter. Otherwise, you’ve still got the same 50MP Isocell GN1 main camera here.

This could change in 2023, as tipster Kuba Wojciechowski revealed that the Pixel 8 series will support staggered HDR technology. The Isocell GN1 main camera used on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 families doesn’t support this tech, but the newer Isocell GN2 sensor indeed supports it. So it sounds like we could get an upgraded main sensor.

Read more: Camera phone buyer guide

It’s also worth noting that support for staggered HDR tech could bring a few benefits over current Pixels too. These benefits are faster, more efficient HDR shots along with more detail and richer colors.

Otherwise, history tells us that we’ll see two rear cameras on the Pixel 8 (main and ultrawide) and three rear shooters on the Pro model (main, ultrawide, and periscope). But we’ll just have to wait and see if Google’s next flagships can rank, yet again, among the best camera phones you can buy.

We don’t know much about the Pixel 8 line’s design at this point, so it’s anyone’s guess whether Google will retain a similar design as the last two generations or go for something completely new. We hope Google retains the rear camera visor seen on the last two Pixel lines, but who knows if it’ll be made out of glass or aluminum.

In saying so, our own information obtained from a trusted source says the Pixel 8 will actually be smaller than the Pixel 7 (both in terms of the display and the overall size). So fans of a more compact Pixel flagship should keep an eye out for this model. Otherwise, our source also asserted that the Pixel 8 Pro will be the same size as the Pixel 7 Pro.

• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro price: $599 and $899
• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro price: $599 and $899
• Pixel 5 price: $699

Google made a huge splash with the Pixel 6 when it launched at $599, continuing to offer this same price tag with the Pixel 7. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro both came in at $899, making for good deals compared to other premium flagships on the market.

We haven’t seen any price-related leaks for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro just yet, but we hope Google maintains the same pricing as previous devices. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a slight price hike in light of inflation, the economy, and other factors.

One of the most disappointing things about the Pixel 7 range is the slow wired charging time. The phones offer 20 to 23W charging speeds, resulting in a full charge taking over 90 minutes. That’s incredibly slow compared to even mid-rangers and low-end devices from other brands.

We really want to see Google up the ante with faster charging speeds. We’re not asking for 80W+ charging, but even consistent 30W or 40W speeds would make for a vastly reduced charging time.

The standard Pixel 6 and 7 are both equipped with the same rear camera system, namely a 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide lens. So those wanting to take zoomed-in shots of any kind will need to rely on lower-quality Super Res Zoom instead of a dedicated telephoto camera.

We hope to see a dedicated telephoto camera on the standard Pixel 8 in 2023, as this should result in higher-quality zoom. We’re not asking for a 4x or 5x camera, but even a 2x or 3x camera would be a handy addition. Furthermore, Google can use this camera in conjunction with Super Res Zoom for decent 5x shots or higher, as we’ve seen with the Pixel 4 phones.

The last two generations of Pixels have maintained the same pricing, namely $599 for the vanilla model and $899 for the Pro variant. Simply put, these are excellent prices when compared to similarly-equipped rival flagship phones.

We’ve got our fingers crossed that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro continue this trend in 2023. Alternatively, we hope Google only implements a small price hike (e.g. $20 to $50) if it absolutely has to increase the price.