The Google Pixel 8 Pro is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2023, promising seven years of software updates and a range of innovative features. But how durable is it? A popular YouTube channel put it to the test and compared it with the new iPhone, which recently failed the same challenge.
The Pixel 8 Pro survives the scratch, burn, and bend test
The YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, run by Zack Nelson, is known for testing the durability of various gadgets by subjecting them to scratches, burns, and bends. Nelson recently tested the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which was launched on October 10 at the Made by Google event in New York City.
The Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch display with tempered glass, which is not as resistant as Apple’s Ceramic Shield display on the new iPhone. However, it performed at the same level as most other smartphones with tempered glass, showing scratches at level six on the Mohs scale of hardness.
The back of the Pixel 8 Pro is also made of glass, which is prone to shattering if dropped or bent. The phone also has an aluminum frame, which can be easily dented by a sharp blade. Nelson used his box cutter to carve some marks on the sides and corners of the phone.
The display of the Pixel 8 Pro also has a temperature sensor, which can measure the ambient temperature and humidity. Nelson tested this feature by applying a naked flame to the screen, which caused some pixels to turn off temporarily. However, they recovered after a few seconds, and the temperature sensor still worked.
The most interesting part of the test was the bend test, which is designed to simulate extreme pressure on the phone. The new iPhone recently failed this test, as its back glass shattered along the antenna lines. The Pixel 8 Pro, however, passed the test with flying colors. The phone creaked a bit, but did not show any signs of cracking or breaking. Nelson praised Google for strengthening the antenna lines and making the phone more durable.
The Pixel 8 Pro offers more than just durability
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is not only a sturdy smartphone, but also a powerful one. It has a Snapdragon 888 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of storage. It also has a 5G connectivity, wireless charging, and water resistance.
The Pixel 8 Pro also boasts a range of unique features that set it apart from other smartphones. It has a periscope zoom camera that can capture up to 20x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom. It also has an ultrawide camera that can take macro shots and a telephoto camera that can take portrait shots.
The Pixel 8 Pro also has a radar chip that enables Motion Sense gestures, which allow users to control the phone without touching it. Users can swipe their hand over the phone to snooze alarms, skip songs, or silence calls. The radar chip also enables Face Unlock, which is faster and more secure than fingerprint scanners.
Another feature that makes the Pixel 8 Pro stand out is its software. The phone runs on Android 13 Raisin, which offers a smooth and intuitive user interface. The phone also has exclusive access to Google’s services and apps, such as Google Assistant, Google Photos, Google Lens, and Google Translate.
The Pixel 8 Pro also has some features that are not available on any other smartphone. It has a Live Caption feature that can transcribe any audio or video in real time. It also has a Recorder app that can record and transcribe audio in multiple languages. It also has a Call Screen feature that can screen unwanted calls and spam calls.
The Pixel 8 Pro is more expensive than its predecessors
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is not a cheap smartphone. It starts at $999 for the base model with 128 GB of storage and goes up to $1,199 for the model with 512 GB of storage. This is a significant increase from the previous generation of Pixel phones, which started at $699 for the Pixel 7 and $899 for the Pixel 7 Pro.
The Pixel 8 Pro is also more expensive than some of its competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ($999) and the OnePlus 10T Pro ($799). However, it is still cheaper than the new iPhone ($1,099 for the iPhone 15 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max).
The Pixel 8 Pro is available in three colors: black, white, and coral. It can be purchased from Google’s online store or from various carriers and retailers.
