With a starting price of $699 for the Pixel 8 and $999 for the Pro variant, Google's latest smartphones are ushering in a new era of AI integration in consumer gadgets. Although the Pixel line holds a modest 1% share of the global smartphone market, it enjoys popularity among photography enthusiasts and those who prefer unaltered Android devices. The Pixel 8 series enhances this lineup with the Tensor G3 mobile processor, Google's custom chip designed to deliver advanced AI and machine learning capabilities.

The incorporation of AI into mobile devices is a pivotal trend, and Google's deep integration of AI into the Pixel 8 series was evident during its launch event. AI features enhance photography, web page summarization, and call spam blocking. The Pixel 8 Pro, in particular, stands out with its thermometer app, pending FDA approval.

Notably, the Pixel 8 Pro represents a groundbreaking advancement by becoming the first hardware to run Google's generative AI models directly on the device. This on-device AI capability enables the smartphone to perform certain AI functions locally, reducing the reliance on remote server processing.

These AI-driven features and capabilities differentiate the Pixel 8 smartphones in the competitive market. While Google Pixel currently ranks 12th globally in terms of shipments with a 0.9% share, these updates have the potential to make Pixel phones more appealing to holiday season shoppers, particularly in the crucial US market, responsible for nearly 39% of Pixel's global shipments.

One standout feature is Dual Exposure technology, present in the main camera of the Pixel 8 range. This technology simultaneously captures two images—one optimized for low light and the other for high dynamic range. The result is videos with vibrant colors and minimal noise, even in challenging lighting conditions, demonstrating Google's commitment to leveraging AI for an enhanced user experience.