That is Most likely the Pixel 8 Professional, and I Do not Like It

For the reason that date for Google I/O 2023 was introduced final week, the rumor mill has been churning out leak after supposed leak with anticipation over what the corporate will tease on the developer convention. We have now already seen a purported leak of the Pixel 7a. And now, we’re what are claimed to be renders of the Pixel 8 Professional, which might be popping out later this yr. To date, I don’t like what I see.

In line with Smartprix, in collaboration with famous leaker OnLeaks (who has been on the mark with {hardware} leaks previously), the upcoming Google Pixel 8 Professional is spherical once more. Google notably moved away from the rounded nook method after the Pixel 5 launch. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 are extra angular than their predecessors, which lead us to consider that this was the course Google was headed in as its rivals—Samsung, OnePlus—stayed rounded themselves. Alas, the renders present in any other case.

The digicam bar isn’t going wherever, regardless of the rounded edges. The Pixel 8 Professional rendering reveals three digicam sensors on the again. It additionally reveals a very flat show moderately than the gentle waterfall method on the Pixel 7 Professional. I personally discover the Galaxy S23 Extremely to be extra helpful since Samsung stopped curving the perimeters on the display, and I’m joyful to see that Google is likely to be headed in the same course.

I’m not joyful in regards to the more and more rounded corners, nonetheless. Because it seems now, the Pixel 8 Professional’s chassis design appears virtually regressive—like Google is taking a step again in its design language moderately than iterating on what it has occurring now. Although it matches Samsung’s course with the common Galaxy S23 collection, this looks like extra of a ploy to draw the iPhone-using crowd. The sides on the renderings put collectively by Smartprix appear to be among the previous iPhones. That steel siding seems to be exactly just like the first-generation Apple iPhone 3G/3GS. It additionally jogs my memory of a few of LG’s older handsets earlier than the model stopped making smartphones.

Google has made a behavior of teasing its next-generation {hardware} at Google I/O. It’s the proper time to trot out what’s subsequent, as all of the builders on its various platforms are tuning into it anyway. Final yr, it previewed the Pixel 6a earlier than launching it within the summertime, and we’re prone to see notes of the Pixel 7a up on display in the course of the keynote. It’s additionally been hinted that Google would possibly reveal the Pixel Fold in the course of the convention. If that folding smartphone is actual, it’d clarify why the Pixel 8 Professional is so rounded—we’ve already heard rumblings that Google’s foldable might be shorter and wider than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. It’s simple to see the Pixel 8 Professional design seen right here may very well be translated right into a folding machine. But it surely’s all conjecture at this level. The excellent news is there’s a lot great things on the best way.