Google to improve smartphone availability as Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro battery details surface

Kamila Wojciechowska continues to reveal information about Google's next flagship smartphones, building on last week's reveal of USB DisplayPort Alt Mode and possible desktop mode support. According to the leaker, Google may sell the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in more markets than their predecessors or the Pixel 7a. Currently, Google offers the Pixel 7 series in 17 countries, including Puerto Rico. Reportedly, Google will expand availability to Austria, Belgium, Portugal and Switzerland, which would still fall far short of the countries in which Apple and Samsung's flagships are available.

Wojciechowska adds that both Pixel 8 series models will feature larger batteries than their predecessors, albeit only by 24 mAh in the Pixel 8 Pro's case. Specifically, the Pixel 8 Pro is said to utilise a 4,950 mAh battery, compared to the 4,926 mAh equivalent in the Pixel 7 Pro. In comparison, Wojciechowska claims that the Pixel 7 has a 4,485 mAh battery, a 5% improvement over the Pixel 7. Please note that these are likely rated capacities; Google tends to advertise typical capacities, which are higher, as do most smartphone manufacturers.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will support nominally faster wired charging too, with 4 W increases to 24 W and 27 W, respectively. Conversely, the pair will maintain the same wireless charging wattages as earlier models. Moreover, Wojciechowska reports that both smartphones will be Wi-Fi 7 capable courtesy of a Broadcom BCM4398 chip, an upgrade over the BCM4389 in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series. Google will still reserve ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity for its Pro-branded smartphone, though. Other upgrades from the Pixel 7 series include a 120 Hz display for the Pixel 8 and a Tensor G3 chipset for both models, as well as display improvements for the Pixel 8 Pro too. 

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