The Google Pixel 8 is about to get a long-awaited update

By Bryan M. Wolfe Updated May 31, 2024

A person holding the Google Pixel 8 showing the screen. — Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you own a Google Pixel 8 or the recently released Google Pixel 8a, we have some good news for you. A Google Pixel 8 Pro feature is finally coming to your phone.

According to an APK teardown of Google’s AICore app by Android Authority, a new toggle for activating Gemini Nano on the two smartphones is present. Google also mentioned that Nano would be available on these phones through Developer Options, indicating a launch is coming sooner rather than later. This means users will likely need to activate it manually when Gemini Nano finally launches on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a.

Gemini Nano is Google DeepMind’s most efficient AI model. It was added to the Pixel 8 Pro through a software update in December, but has been missing from the other two Pixel 8 series phones.

From a features standpoint, Gemini Nano powers specific AI features such as Smart Reply in Gboard and Summarize in the Recorder app. It’s different from the Gemini chatbot that’s replacing Google Assistant.

Interestingly, Google’s initial plan was not to bring Gemini Nano to the Pixel 8. The company said the feature couldn’t operate on non-Pro Pixel 8 models because of hardware limitations. That stance quickly changed, which led to where we are today.

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a users should soon receive a software update that includes Gemini Nano capabilities. We’ll let you know when this happens and tell you how to activate it on your phones.

Topics

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

Mobile

The first 6 things you need to do with your Google Pixel 9

The back of the Google Pixel 9.

Google has launched the Google Pixel 9 series, and it’s quite an impressive lineup. The base model Pixel 9 got a big upgrade with a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens and 12GB RAM. The Pro models now come in two sizes so that anyone who wants a smaller Pro phone can finally have it without compromising on features. The Pro phones also have a mighty 16GB RAM and a powerful triple-lens camera setup.

While you may be super excited to start using your new phone right away, there are some things you should make sure you do first. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of your Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, or Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Customize the look of your Pixel 9

Mobile

Does the Google Pixel 9 have a good camera? Here are the first photos I took with it

Someone holding a Pixel 9 taking a photo.

The Made by Google August event has come and gone, and a whole slate of new Pixel products came with it. I had the opportunity to go out to Mountain View, California, for the event, and with that came the opportunity to test out the new Google Pixel 9.

One of the things I do most with any smartphone is take photos, so I was eager to put the Pixel 9 through its paces. While I still need some extra time with the Pixel 9 before I share my full review, here are some examples of how Google upgraded the cameras on the base model Pixel 9 this year.
What are the Pixel 9 camera upgrades?

Mobile

I tried Google’s new Pixel Studio app, and it’s a mess

A close-up photo of the Pixel Studio app on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Google's Pixel 9 phones are all about AI. If you watched the company's launch event, there was no way of missing it, as that's almost all Google seemed interested in talking about. Some AI here, a sprinkle of AI there, and an extra touch of AI on top, just to be safe.

One of the many AI features on the Pixel 9 is an app called Pixel Studio. It's an image generator app that allows you to create an image of virtually anything you'd like. You open the app, type in what you want a picture of, and voilà -- Pixel Studio makes it for you. It's not the first app of its kind, but it is the first one shipped on a Google Pixel phone. Unfortunately, it's a dumpster fire.
What Pixel Studio does well