Pixel 8 release soon

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#3138579 4-Oct-2023 07:43

According to what I found on Google, the Pixel 8 release event is 10am eastern time, which is 3am NZT. We should have more info tomorrow.

If the Pixel8 has an ultrasonic fingerprint reader or something else good I'll probably go for it, but I won't be ordering immediately. Otherwise I'll probably get the S23.

The Samsung S23FE (fan edition) should come out at the same time. A quick search says compared with the standard S23 it's a little larger (between S23 and S23+), has a previous gen CPU, less RAM, previous gen glass, maybe no wireless charging, so basically a cut down version that's probably cheaper. I'd probably go with the standard S23 unless it's significantly cheaper.

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#3142727 4-Oct-2023 13:29

indapie2000

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#3142950 5-Oct-2023 08:04

Pixel 8 and 8 Pro official released, no news about a NZ release but the Pixel 5G page has been updated to show NZ telco support

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#3142951 5-Oct-2023 08:11

I got the announcement email this morning so I thought that I would try to pre-order.
I stumbled on the delivery address page. Only one country was available.

Rob

timmmay

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#3142952 5-Oct-2023 08:11

The Pixel 8 has been officially announced. Plenty of different reviews including XDA, youtube. They're $100 more expensive than Pixel 7. Amazon USA has it for US$699 including free shipping to NZ which is about NZ$1200, which is $200 less than the Samsung S23.

To me the key omission is the fingerprint sensor, which appears to still be optical. I unlock my phone dozens of times per day, unlock speed is key. Smart Unlock can compensate for this, but on my Pixel 4a I often get asked for my pin even when smart unlock is meant to be active. Does anyone else use this on a newer Pixel 6 / 7 device, and if so how to you find it? Fast and effective, or slow like my Pixel 4a?

The key changes seem to be:

Faster processor
7 years of Android updates - OS and security
Upgraded cameras
Lots of different software features, many of them around photos and video. The pro model gets more than the standard model, including better video processing which uses Google data centers to enhance videos.
Upgraded voice recognition in Google Assistant. Hopefully this flows through to Google Keyboard. I've seen on the Pixel 7 it uses "enhanced voice recognition" which is a Pixel exclude, which is much better than the same software on other Android phones. This would be a big advantage to me, I use voice recognition very regularly.
Incrementally better screens
Pixel 8 is slightly smaller than Pixel 7
Temp sensor on Pixel 8
Upgraded Face unlock that can work for banking and such.

One big thing about the Pixel is regular feature drops. The phones will get better over time. Other brands improve as well, but not as much as the pixels.

For me, it looks like an evolution, lots of little things that would be handy, and many things that would get better over time. Tough call between the S23 and Pixel 8. S23 has ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is a big thing, plus it's fully supported in NZ, works with all carriers, and has a 3X telephone lens on the standard S23. I'm on the fence about which I would prefer.

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#3142981 5-Oct-2023 09:17

farcus:

VoLTE and 5G already work on Android 13. I believe VoWiFi support is coming on Spark/Skinny in android 14

just updated to android 14 OTA this morning with my pixel 7 pro

i have a one nz and a spark sim installed.

spark now has VO-WIFI

one nz does not have it available yet.

Voice gives context

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davidrg

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#3143000 5-Oct-2023 10:03

I wonder why after 6-7 years Google has finally put some work in to add support for NZ carriers only for them to once again skip NZ with the Pixel 8. For years they were happy to have their phones not work correctly here - why change that now?

timmmay

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#3143002 5-Oct-2023 10:12

What are people thinking about the Pixel 8 after the release announcement? Who's ordering a Pixel, who's keeping what they have, who's getting something else?

Fingerprint reader is one of the biggest issues for me. I had an Xiaomi a few years back with optical fingerprint reader and I sold the phone after a few weeks because of it. Reading around places like reddit, it seems like some people think fingerprint unlock is great on Pixel 7, some think it's terrible, other think it's just ok. I've been playing with Smart Lock and related functions a bit this morning. If you enable smart lock and turn off "power button instantly locks phone" then when you pick the phone up it's automatically unlocked, hopefully only in the smart lock trusted locations - I'll test that later today. That reduces security somewhat and makes phones vulnerable to kids play with them, but completely works around the fingerprint reader issue. If you enable "power button instantly unlocks phone (except when kept unlocked by smart lock)" I find I need to fingerprint / pin unlock the phone, so Smart Lock isn't working properly. So all in all, so long as you're prepared to accept lower security fingerprint reader doesn't have to be a big issue.

Beyond that Pixel 8 looks like it should work ok in NZ, but no guarantees. That support seems to be improving over time. The Tensor 3 CPU looks like it has some very modern ARM cores like one big Cortex X3 and four medium Cortex-A715 cores. I read somewhere that the A715 medium cores are almost as fast as the big core on the Tensor 2 / Pixel 7. The software / photography / AI features look interesting, things like face swaps, and will improve over time.

I'm leaning towards getting the Pixel 8, though I'll give it a few weeks to make sure it works properly in NZ.

MikeB4

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#3143008 5-Oct-2023 10:20

I always keep two phones for security and safety due to my disabilities. I am considering replacing my current back up phone a Samsung S20FE. I like to looks and features of the Pixel phones and depending on operability and availability in Aotearoa I may buy the Pixel 8 as a back up.
My primary handset is a Samsung S23 Ultra.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

indapie2000

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#3143009 5-Oct-2023 10:22

timmmay:
Beyond that Pixel 8 looks like it should work ok in NZ, but no guarantees. That support seems to be improving over time. The Tensor 3 CPU looks like it has some very modern ARM cores like one big Cortex X3 and four medium Cortex-A715 cores. I read somewhere that the A715 medium cores are almost as fast as the big core on the Tensor 2 / Pixel 7. The software / photography / AI features look interesting, things like face swaps, and will improve over time.

I'm leaning towards getting the Pixel 8, though I'll give it a few weeks to make sure it works properly in NZ.

I'm about 99% certain I'll get it. I'm currently on the Pixel 5, just got the Android 14 update (the last one for this phone I think) and I don't have 5G, VoLTE or VoWIFI which will become an issue once telcos switch off their 3G networks.

Pixel 8 will be a good upgrade from the 5 and on paper it seems like P8 will work in NZ properly (although I might also wait for some brave souls to get it first and see what their experience is)

Sig

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#3143015 5-Oct-2023 10:40

sdavisnz:

farcus:

VoLTE and 5G already work on Android 13. I believe VoWiFi support is coming on Spark/Skinny in android 14

just updated to android 14 OTA this morning with my pixel 7 pro

i have a one nz and a spark sim installed.

spark now has VO-WIFI

one nz does not have it available yet.

Thank you, thats helpful. Surely the 8 will also work with VO-WIFI. This site Pixel Phone Simulator seems to suggest 5g etc all good.

Now we just need someone to test it quicl. Im not sure if i am brave or rich enough to do so but have to hand my current work/only phone back by 20th Oct......

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sdavisnz

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#3143017 5-Oct-2023 10:47

Yeah 5g works on both

You want me to test vo-wifi on spark?

Voice gives context

Sig

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#3143023 5-Oct-2023 10:55

sdavisnz:

Yeah 5g works on both

You want me to test vo-wifi on spark?

Yes please if thats ok.

MikeB4

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#3143030 5-Oct-2023 11:05

sdavisnz:
Yeah 5g works on both

You want me to test vo-wifi on spark?

Where I live 5G coverage is crap from all Telcos. The closest is OneNZ. Considering I live a few ks as the Tui flies from the capital it's nuts. I think 6g will be rolling around the globe before our Telcos get their act together.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

farcus

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#3143032 5-Oct-2023 11:05

Sig:

sdavisnz:

Yeah 5g works on both

You want me to test vo-wifi on spark?

Yes please if thats ok.

android 14 - vowifi working fine for me on pixel 6a on skinny

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