Google's next Pixel hardware event is less than two weeks away, which, in turn, means the Pixel 9 lineup is almost here. That said, there's no need to wait for the debut of Google's next phone on August 13 if you want a future-proof Android phone packed with premium specs and new ai capabilities. That's because the Pixel 8 Pro, Google's current high-end flagship, is on sale now. amazon.com/dp/B0CGTJ12Z9/?tag=theverge02-20″>amazon and Best Buy with 128GB of storage starting at $699 ($300 off), an all-time low.
If recent rumors are to be believed, Google’s next pro-level smartphone will feature several distinctive design changes and a modest performance boost thanks to its G4 Tensor chip. But the third-generation chipset in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is still plenty fast, allowing both phones to run large language models on-device. That means they can take advantage of a number of ai editing tools, including one that lets you choose the best expression for each person in a photo when you take multiple images and an improved Magic Eraser that lets you easily remove larger objects from photos — albeit with varying degrees of success.
The Pixel 8 Pro has a lot to offer beyond ai, too. The 6.7-inch Android phone packs an excellent camera array with a 5x telephoto lens and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, along with manual exposure controls not found on the standard Pixel 8. It also offers a fast 120Hz refresh rate, expanded face unlock capabilities, and seven years of OS updates, so it’ll continue to be supported for years to come.
