With the next Pixel 8 update, there’s something new perfect for flu season: the temperature measurement taking advantage of the Pixel 8 Pro’s infrared sensor. And I’ve already tried it: in addition to taking my first measurements, I compared them with a traditional underarm thermometer. The Pixel is not doing badly.
We all have in mind the time of the pandemic, of confinement, of going out with a mask and constant temperature measurements in search of possible increases in fever. From that time on, some phones with a built-in thermometer came out, like the Honor Play 4. And Google recently surprised with a infrared sensor on the Proa sensor which until now only allowed the temperature of objects to be measured.
Body temperature measurement is now available, although limited
One of the curiosities of the Google Pixel 8 Pro is the temperature sensor located in the rear camera block. This is one of the things I tried for the first time when starting the phone, the curiosity to know what temperature objects are at might even be useful; How to know the exact amount of sugar when making caramel for example. It also served as a body thermometer, although It wasn’t too specific.. Until now.
As Google explains in a blog post, the Pixel 8 Pro gains a new temperature measurement intended to behave like a body thermometer. Google has included measurement algorithms to match the data obtained from the sensor with the temperature ranges of different ages. With a more than correct result, both in terms of ease of use and comfort.
To activate the temperature sensor, you must have updated the thermometer app (it is available in APK Mirror) and have a Pixel 8 Pro with an American SIM card. This requirement can be circumvented with Shizuku, as she discovered Michael Rahman. I can confirm that it works, I have activated it on my smartphone.
Once the app is updated and with the new functionality present, simply hold the Pixel a few inches from your forehead and turn it toward your temple, maintaining that distance from your head. The process is guided by voice to facilitate detection. Without being 100% accurate, it can help you get by if you don’t have a thermometer on hand.
Comparison of the Google Pixel 8 Pro thermometer with a traditional thermometer
The first readings gave fairly reliable readings, although they didn’t quite match my usual temperature. I therefore opted for the armpit thermometer to carry out various comparison tests; both in the first person and to my wife and my son. The result was somewhat mixed, notably because it is difficult to perform the measurement process precisely and identically between all shots.
The following measurements were taken using an underarm thermometer and the new Google Pixel 8 Pro body measurement.
|
thermometer |
pixel 8 pro |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Measure 1 |
36.1ºC |
36.7ºC |
|
Measure 2 |
35.9ºC |
36.3ºC |
|
Measure 3 |
36ºC |
36.4ºC |
|
Measure 4 |
36.1ºC |
36.8ºC |
The error range averages about ±0.5ºC, usually always greater than: the Pixel 8 Pro tends to add temperature. Since none of the three people I used as a sample had a fever, I can’t know how one will measure excess degrees Celsius, but everything seems to indicate that fever detection should be accurate. And still for information only: The Pixel 8 Pro is not a medical device.
The measurement of a non-medical device should never be considered a health value: Pixel 8 Pro values are for informational purposes only
The new temperature measurement is only available in the United States and arrives with the January feature. If you own a Pixel 8 Pro and want to try it, just follow the process I explained in the previous section.
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