Some fortunate individuals are receiving their pre-ordered Pixel 8 handsets ahead of the official release date, which is set for October 12th. These early recipients have taken to Reddit to share their initial experiences with the device. One user mentioned that while they generally found the phone to be “great,” they were somewhat disappointed with the quality of selfies taken with the front camera in comparison to those captured on their iPhone 13 Pro Max.
It should be noted that both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro feature 10.5MP selfie cameras. However, only the front-facing camera on the Pixel 8 Pro has autofocus. Interestingly, multiple Reddit users expressed their preference for the selfies taken with the front camera of the Pixel 3 XL, missing the superior quality that was available with that model.
Regarding the lack of sharpness in pictures taken with the Pixel 8’s front camera, there is a possibility that Google may release an update to address this issue. Many phone manufacturers refine the camera performance through updates following the device’s release.
One individual who received their Pixel 8 early shared that they had placed their order on October 4th when Google initially unveiled the Pixel 8 lineup. Pre-orders commenced on the same day, and their phone was shipped to India.
It is worth mentioning that the Pixel 8 boasts a 120Hz refresh rate due to Google’s addition of a 90Hz refresh rate on the previous Pixel 7a (compared to the older 60Hz rate on the Pixel 6a). Interestingly, the Smooth Display feature, which refers to the refresh rate on Pixel models, is disabled by default on the Pixel 8. To enable it, navigate to “Settings” > “Display” and toggle on Smooth Display.
According to an owner of the Pixel 8 in India, the viewing angles on the device are satisfactory, although there may be a minor tinting or color shift visible under scrutiny. In terms of audio quality, they noted that the Pixel 8 has slightly less bass than other devices but still delivers crisp sound on par with the iPhone.
For now, reports of early arrivals only revolve around the Pixel 8, and no information regarding the Pixel 8 Pro has surfaced yet.
