Is Google Planning to Release a Super High Premium Pixel 8 Ultra Model?
A render of the upcoming Pixel 8 Pro has been released, leaving more questions than answers. If the render is legit, there are some interesting decisions allegedly made by Google for the Pixel 8 Pro that need to be addressed. The elephant in the room is the display.
The Display
According to Smartprix, the Pixel 8 Pro will sport a 6.52-inch display, which is smaller than the 6.7-inch screen on the Pixel 7 Pro. While some Pixel users prefer a smaller screen, there is a large contingent of users who want the 6.7-inch display or even larger. This is where a Pixel 8 Ultra might fit in.
The Curved Screen
The Pixel 8 Pro also doesn’t have a curved screen, a feature that many Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro users simply hate. However, this is something that could end up on a Pixel 8 Ultra for those who don’t mind paying more for the features they want.
Facial Recognition
It would seem that the Pixel 8 Pro would once again rely on the Tensor-driven version of Face Unlock which is not secure enough for Google to allow Pixel 7 series users to employ it to verify Google Pay transactions or sign into apps. But Google has built a secure facial recognition system before; it did so on the Pixel 4 line using the same components as Apple to create 3D facial mapping. Perhaps a Pixel 8 Ultra will feature a 3D mapping system and allow users to once again count on Face Unlock for secure facial recognition.
Fingerprint Scanner
Using an optical fingerprint sensor isn’t fast enough for Pixel users. There is a rumor that Google will switch to an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for the Pixel 8 line, but this might be something found in a Pixel 8 Ultra model.
Battery and Charging
A Pixel 8 Ultra should include a larger battery than the 5000mAh capacity component used on the last two Pixel Pro models. More importantly, it should offer much faster charging speeds.
Conclusion
While the smaller, flat displays seen on the Pixel 8 Pro renders really do have me thinking that we could see a Pixel 8 Ultra this year. Actually, it might not be called the Pixel 8 Ultra; the Pixel 8 Extreme sounds pretty good to me.
