Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google has confirmed the Pixel 8 launch date for Oct. 4 amid an endless stream of leaks, both from third parties and Google itself.

What Happened: The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are all set to launch at an event in New York City on October 4. Google is also expected to launch the Pixel Watch 2 and its next-gen flagship smartphones.

See Also: Google Pixel 8 Vs Pixel 7: Six Changes That Make Pixel 8 Worth The Wait

The Pixel 8 series is expected to feature some important upgrades – in terms of power and performance, as well as a few design and camera improvements.

Pixel 8 Expected Price

The Pixel 8 series could see a price hike, just like Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 15 Pro models.

Now, a new leak has revealed that we should expect a $100 price hike in the US on both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. 

The Pixel 8 could start at $699, while the Pixel 8 Pro is expected to start at $999. For context, the Pixel 7 costs $599, while the Pixel 7 Pro costs $899.

Both the devices are expected to be available in stores from Oct. 12, while the launch is scheduled for Oct. 4.

Pixel 8 Expected Features

Better Performance: The Pixel 8 series is expected to be powered by the Tensor G3 chipset, an update to the Tensor G2 chipset that powered the Pixel 7 series.

Amongst the biggest upgrades in store for the Tensor G3 include a major graphics boost – rumors suggest that we could see a 10-core GPU, 8K video recording at 30 frames per second, and UFS 4.0 support for improved storage performance.

Better Display: The standard Pixel 8 is said to get a display upgrade – instead of the 90Hz refresh rate like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 8 is expected to support a 120Hz refresh rate. This should help in improved user experience thanks to smoother animations.

The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, will support a 120Hz refresh rate just like its predecessor. However, the display technology is said to be LTPO, which supports a 1-120Hz refresh rate. This will decrease the refresh rate to 1Hz when the phone is locked, thereby helping save battery.

Camera Upgrades: Google is expected to use a new 50MP ultrawide angle camera sensor in the Pixel 8 Pro, up from the 12MP resolution of the Pixel 7 Pro.

The primary sensor will also see a generation upgrade from GN1 on the Pixel 7 to GN2 in the Pixel 8 series. The GN2 sensor is said to capture 35% more light, which should result in better-quality images.

Design Improvements: Google could implement subtle design changes – the Pixel 8's camera visor design on the back is expected to see most of these changes.

Google's Pixel 8 Pro leak suggests that the back will sport a unified camera visor design instead of splitting off the depth sensor like on the Pixel 7.

Longer Support: Google will reportedly offer up to five years of software updates, catching up to Apple's iPhones.

As a result, Pixel 8 users can expect software updates for five years from the date of launch, as against only three years on the Pixel 7 series and earlier.

New reports, however, suggest that we could see Google support the Pixel 8 series for up to seven years, which would be better than Apple by two years.

Bigger Batteries: The Pixel 8 is expected to see a 5% higher battery capacity than the Pixel 7. It is also expected to support faster 24W wired charging compared to Pixel 7’s 20W support.