7 little-known Google Pixel 8 features you should use today

With each new Pixel version, Google adds new features you won't find on any other phone. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are no different, and you might not immediately notice some of their best functions. Whether you're new to getting your hands on a Pixel 8 or haven't fully explored your Pixel 8 yet, here are some lesser-known features you should take advantage of on the device today.

1. Voice input assistant

All Android phones have voice input. But you do get Assistant Voice Typing on the Google Pixel 8 (and older Pixel models). This feature enhances the traditional speech-to-text method by doing all the processing on the device. Your Pixel doesn't need an active Internet connection to convert what you're saying to text.

The result is near real-time speech-to-text conversion, dramatically improving your voice typing experience. Additionally, the Assistant Voice Typing feature is smart enough to automatically insert punctuation and highlight any grammatical errors in your sentences.

What's even better is that the Assistant Voice Typing feature can recognize commands like "send", "undo" and "delete" so you can send (or delete) messages you typed through your voice without No need to lift a finger.

Enable this feature by navigating to Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Voice typing . Once enabled, you can tap the microphone button on the Gboard toolbar to use voice typing. Because this feature is part of Gboard, you can't use voice typing with other third-party keyboards.

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The downside to the Assistant Voice Typing feature is that it doesn't work with all languages. Currently, it supports English, French, German, Italian, German, Japanese, and Spanish. On Pixel 8, voice typing is even faster than on previous Pixel models. Additionally, this feature can understand multiple languages ​​at once, allowing you to switch between them seamlessly.

If for some reason you don't like the Assistant Voice Typing feature, please check out some of the other dictation apps for Android devices.

2. Advanced face unlock

Most Android phones today have face unlock feature. However, this is largely limited to unlocking the phone. But the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro offer a much superior experience. Google claims the Pixel 8's face unlock is secure enough for the 'highest class of Android biometrics'. The company achieved this using new AI and Machine Learning algorithms.

So you can use face unlock on Pixel 8 to authorize payments, access your password manager, etc. Anywhere you need to verify your identity, you can. Use face unlock instead of fingerprint scanning. And because face unlock is enabled automatically, authentication is seamless.

If you're switching from an iPhone, you won't find this improvement to be a big deal. But if you're switching from another Android device, you'll realize how much more convenient the Pixel 8's face unlock makes signing in to apps or authorizing payments. Navigate to Settings > Security and privacy > Device unlock > Fingerprint and Face Unlock with fingerprint and face to set up this feature on your Pixel 8.

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3. Customize lock screen

You can customize your Pixel 8's lock screen with a different wallpaper than your home screen, choose one of many clock themes, change the color and size, and adjust the left/right shortcuts.

Android 14's lock screen customization isn't limited to Pixel phones, but it really shines on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro because it works exactly as Google intended. To access these options, press and hold on the lock screen or navigate to Settings > Wallpaper and style and switch to the Lock screen tab .

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By customizing your Pixel 8's lock screen, you can give it a personal look that will help make your phone stand out. While Google's implementation is impressive, the lock screen customization options on the iPhone are much more flexible. There you can add widgets to the lock screen, which isn't possible on Android without a third-party app.

4. Custom AI wallpapers

Google leverages the power of Generative AI on Pixel and Pixel 8 to let you create your own unique wallpapers. The process is relatively simple, although you are limited to a few predefined themes to base your wallpaper on. To try this feature:

1. Press and hold an empty area on your Pixel's home screen and select Wallpaper and style .
2. Click More wallpapers at the bottom and select AI wallpaper in the  Create a wallpaper section .
3. Choose your desired wallpaper theme from the available options.
4. Tap and choose from available predefined keywords.
5. Click Create wallpaper to create an AI-based wallpaper. This will take a few seconds.
6. You probably have multiple creations, so swipe left to check them all out. Click on the check mark in the upper right corner to select one and proceed to set it as wallpaper.

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5. AI-powered camera feature

Google's Pixel phones are known for their great cameras, and the Pixel 8 is no exception. More importantly, the phone is equipped with a host of AI-powered camera features to further enhance the experience of capturing memories.

With Best Take, you can take multiple group photos and then swap faces to make sure everyone looks their best. Similarly, Magic Editor lets you use the power of Generative AI to retouch your photo after it's been taken. Additionally, Magic Eraser, first introduced on Pixel 6, can now reduce unwanted background noise in your recorded videos.

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However, that is not all. In December 2023, Google rolled out Video Boost to Pixel 8 Pro users, further enhancing video recording with superior color, lighting, and stabilization.

6. Drag and drop content between apps

Android 14 natively introduced the ability to drag and drop content between apps. You're limited to text and images, but the feature works well, especially if you frequently review documents and emails on your phone.

Simply press and hold the highlighted text (or image) until it can be moved. Then, use your other hand to open the app where you want to drop content. Make sure the text box has focus on the new application and drop the selected item.

Please note that this feature is a bit complicated in its current state. It may not work on all apps, and dragging and dropping images doesn't always work.

7. Handy gestures

Google offers a ton of gestures on the Pixel 8 series, which can help quickly trigger some everyday actions. For example, you can seamlessly switch between the front and rear cameras in the Pixel Camera app by rotating your phone twice.

Similarly, you can open the Camera app by double-tapping the power button. The best part is that this shortcut works anywhere in the operating system, even when playing games or using apps.

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You can find all the handy gestures available on Pixel 8 in Settings > System > Gestures . This is one of the best Pixel 8 features you should enable.

Google's Pixel 8 series may not outperform the competition thanks to its raw specs, but the phone stands out with its impressive AI-powered features. All of them combined allow the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to deliver an experience that other Android phones can't match, despite having superior hardware. As we've seen, taking the time to explore the many functions of this new phone is well worth it.

Samuel Daniel

Update 14 December 2023