All round 12GB RAM
While we don’t expect the Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro phones to be launched until October 2023 (which is when they’re expected), we are already hearing rumors about them, with the most recent leak revealing possible codenames as well as potential specifications.
WinFuture (opens new tab) via Phone Arena (opens new tab) has discovered some “publicly accessible code sources” that include two new Google device codesnames. These codenames are “Shiba”, and “Husky”. They are similar to the Pixel 7 codenames. The Pixel 7 was known as Panther, and the Pixel 7 Pro was called Cheetah. These are big cats, not dogs, but they’re close enough.
This is not the only evidence of these codenames being attached to the Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro. The code shows these devices running Android 14 with a chipset codenamed Zuma, which has the same modem and Tensor G2 used in the Pixel 7 line.
This brings things down a bit. However, there are screen details that all seem to confirm that we are looking at smartphones. The screen size of the Shiba is 1080×2268, and the Husky is 1344×2822.
The Pixel 8 Pro is likely to have a higher resolution Husky, while the standard Pixel 8 Pro Shiba has a lower resolution Shiba. These resolutions are slightly lower than their Pixel 7 siblings but still within the same range and the types of counts you’ll often see on current smartphones.
One final specification is also included. It’s the same for both devices. They will both have 12GB RAM, though it is possible that other configurations may exist.
All of this would be taken with a grain of salt. It’s possible that these devices are not the Pixel 8 line. However, those phones seem to be the most natural fit.
Analysis: The Pixel 8 would benefit from 12GB RAM.
The Pixel 7 Pro comes with 12GB RAM. However, the standard Pixel 7 is limited to 8GB. Therefore, a significant upgrade to the Google Pixel 8 would require a 12GB increase in RAM.
This would suggest that Google may be putting more emphasis on power in its phones. While the Pixel 7 line excels in many ways, the Tensor G2 chipet used in these phones isn’t as powerful than its competitors.
It’s not the RAM that is lacking, but the chipset is. There’s also a possibility that Google is using this strategy to prioritize power. This could mean that the Tensor G3 (or whatever the Pixel 8’s chipset is called) is much beefier than G2.
It’s speculation at best, but it is possible. To help differentiate the models, it’s possible that the Pixel 8 Pro might come with 16GB RAM.
Although we won’t know for certain until 2023, these phones are already shaping up as some of the most important phones in that year.
