Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro hands-on: AI like it’s magic

Note: This feature was first published on 5 October 2023.

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are now officially available, with the new generation of Pixel handsets also getting a punctual, official release in Singapore. 

We’ve had the opportunity to try out the phones at Google’s SG HQ today, and here are some of our thoughts on the new features showcased during its online keynote.

Note: If you’re interested in specs, you may look at our event coverage here. In this hands-on, we’re looking at how some of Pixel’s newly launched AI features work, along with their use cases and limitations.

Best Take is the best thing for group selfies so far

If you’ve watched the keynote, you’d have heard about Best Take, a Google Photo feature that lets you get picture-perfect group selfies where everyone looks and smiles at the camera. You and I know that’s near impossible without several attempts, or having at least one unfortunate soul looking like they were an infant that was dropped too many times on the floor when growing up.

Here’s how Best Take works. The photo-editing feature doesn’t generate faces using artificial intelligence (AI), nor does it create a version of “you” it thinks is perfect. Best Take combines information and image data from multiple group selfie attempts. The AI identifies all the similar-looking shots, singles out the faces in all those shots, and matches them to the right person before presenting you with your options.

The result is choosing the best- (or funniest-) looking faces from everyone in the photo. You rinse and repeat with each head in the shot, and you now have a perfect group selfie.

To best use Best Take, you must take multiple shots of the same crowd within a reasonable timeframe — you can’t just take a selfie from a different day and hope to replace one head within a group shot taken elsewhere. 

While it borders on science fiction horror, knowing that Best Take can only work with what you produce is reassuring. The AI is only responsible for sourcing and identifying people correctly.

This feature works on both Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Audio Magic Eraser removes what you consider noise

The Google keynote showcased Audio Magic Eraser as a tool that lets you keep the annoying whining child in your video while “noise-cancelling” other sounds. Not exactly an appealing demonstration, unless you’ve a fetish for hearing children in distress.

During our live session, we were very happy to learn that Audio Magic Eraser is much more than what Google demonstrated. Using AI, the Pixel phone will parse and separate audio samples for you, grouping them into two main categories: the sounds made by your subject and those that aren’t. 

The Pixel 8 will present your audio options in four broad categories: Speech, Nature, Wind, and Noise. Each of them can be reduced to your tastes. Sounds not made by your subject would fall under “Noise”, so it won’t confuse some random person’s unintelligible moaning as a part of your clip. Simply play around with the sliders until you’re satisfied before confirming your edits.

While it goes beyond pressing a single button to “clean up” the audio track of any videos shot on your Pixel, we still greatly appreciate the level of noise-cancellation control and how intuitive it feels. Typically, you’d need some mastery of audio engineering and a full-fledged audio-editing tool to pull this off. Doing it on a phone before it leaves your default app feels almost magical.

The only limitation is that it works on two-minute or shorter videos. If you’ve something longer (like an interview that needs transcription), you’d have to cut it up into many little pieces or wait until Google figures out how to avail Audio Magic Eraser for longer clips.

Like Best Take, Magic Audio Eraser is also on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Object Temperature for the Pixel 8 Pro

Before we elaborate more about the temperature sensor on the Google Pixel 8 Pro, we have to caveat that this was a demo-by-request: the Google team was more interested in showcasing a series of AI photography or videography chops and not all the Pixel 8 Pros in the room were sufficiently updated to carry the Object Temperature app.

On the one Pixel 8 Pro where the feature was present, we tried by comparing it to a professional object thermometer we’ve brought to Google’s offices (we typically use it to check device temperatures during benchmarking, and you can see it featured in our TikTok video above). We felt the Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor fares reasonably well, throwing up readings within 0.1-1.0°C of our thermometer. 

There are a few reasons why it couldn’t be bang-on accurate. One, the Pixel 8 Pro’s Object Thermometer requires you to indicate the type of object you’re trying to sense. We assume that Google’s AI models need more machine learning before getting temperature readings more effortlessly. 

Second, is the difference in using Google’s sensor versus conventional object thermometers: Google recommends a ~5cm gap between your Pixel 8 Pro’s sensor and the item, while our tool’s recommended distance is to get the sensor as close to the object as possible. The gap can introduce a slight difference in readings — either due to ambient temperatures, a difference in the surface area detected, the lights around us giving off heat, or even user error.

With those variables, we’d still say the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor is sufficiently accurate for basic checks before you start worrying about bigger problems, just like how you shouldn’t solely rely on wearables or health trackers to make medical judgement calls (always leave it to a professional).

For a fuller picture of what the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer, stay tuned for our full review.

Until then, the Google Pixel 8 starts at S$1,099 (128GB) in Hazel, Rose, and Obsidian colourways. The Google Pixel 8 Pro starts at S$1,549 (128GB) in Bay, Porcelain, and Obsidian. Pre-orders begin on 5 October 2023, 12 AM Singapore Time. On-shelf retail availability starts on 12 October 2023, 9 AM SGT.

For a comprehensive list of new features, specs, and prices, don’t forget to check out our event coverage here. We've also compiled a separate list of promotions and offers we've found here.

Read Next:

• Google launches Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in Singapore
• Google Pixel Watch 2 comes with sensors sensitive enough to track your stress levels
• Google Pixel Buds Pro users rejoice! New software enables AI powers and 50% lower latency
• The best Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro cases in Singapore: Spigen, dbrand & more

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