Google has just unveiled its highly-anticipated Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, and as a tech enthusiast, I was eager to see what they had in store. The event was brimming with exciting AI-powered camera features, promising to elevate your photography game by eradicating unwanted photobombers and enhancing overall image quality. The hardware improvements and a slew of features aimed at making these phones more akin to Iron Man’s Jarvis certainly piqued my interest.
However, despite the hardware marvels on display, my inner audiophile couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration. It’s not that Google did anything wrong per se; rather, my discontent stemmed from the absence of significant announcements regarding audio and screen quality enhancements for music and movie aficionados.
Throughout the entire presentation, Google remained remarkably tight-lipped about its plans to elevate audio and screen quality. The sole remotely relevant update in this realm was the news that the existing Pixel Bud Pro wireless earbuds would receive a smattering of AI upgrades and two new color options. Yet, even these improvements did not primarily revolve around enhancing audio quality.
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The main highlight seemed to be the potential for better call quality, positioning Google’s AirPods Pro 2 competitors as contenders in the realm of headphones with microphones. However, this tidbit failed to spark the excitement that audiophiles like me had hoped for.
This absence of focus on audio and visual quality is especially disheartening, as it underscores Google’s seeming disinterest in challenging Apple in the arena of music and home entertainment. While we are still evaluating Apple’s latest iPhone 15 lineup, a glance at our best smartphone guide reveals Apple’s consistent dedication to ensuring reliable audio performance, to the extent that it can rival some of the more affordable options in our best portable music player guide.
Remarkably, outside of Sony, it appears that no other company has recognized that most individuals use their phones as their primary music player. This presents a golden opportunity to win over customers by enhancing audio capabilities.
I can forgive Google for not introducing a much-needed competitor to Apple’s five-star over-ear AirPods Max or for not delving deeper into Project Caviar, its potential Dolby Atmos and Apple Spatial Audio rival (as I had previously hoped). However, the complete absence of any discussion about sound or picture quality feels like a missed opportunity.
In conclusion, Google’s Pixel 8 launch has left us wanting when it comes to advancements in audio and visual excellence. While the company has made strides in other areas, it’s crucial for them to recognize the importance of catering to music and movie enthusiasts who rely on their smartphones for a top-notch entertainment experience.
