Pixel 8 Pro launched with a brand new temperature sensor, perfect for checking that cup of tea, pan you’re about to throw a slab of beef on, and essentially any other surface that you’re able to get the device within 2 inches of.
At launch, Google can’t highlight the ability to check the temperature of a human, as the FDA application to check and record it into Fitbit has yet to be approved. I feel as if that business should have been handled ahead of launch. Technically that lack of FDA approval doesn’t stop you from using it on humans and I’ve found that it works relatively fine. It won’t beat the accuracy of my trusty ol’ rectal thermometer, but it’s certainly more convenient.
My question to all Pixel 8 Pro owners is: Are you using this new sensor? If so, what on? I’ve used it only a handful of times just to test it, but I have yet to come across an everyday situation where I think, “Oh, thank goodness my phone has a built-in temperature sensor.”
So, are you using it?
stupid idea, will never use. if it infrared or had any legit range for sure.
Using it to take the temp on my dab rig
I’ve used it from time to time to check ambient temperatures from outdoor furniture
One disk in a file server was not being picked by the ZFS raid. Used temperature to find the only one not burning hot from being in use.
I haven’t much but that is because my main use case is grilling and that season is over in my part of the world. I look forward to not having to pack my IR next summer.
Also, if the FDA approves it, it will be a great backup to my Withings Thermo.
I would use it more if it had the most BASIC feature, History, why doesthe app not record the last 10 or so readings, it’s rediculas, Programmers have different brains to regular people, they miss out the basics.
The only reason I could see this needing FDA approval is for tracking menstrual cycles. Fitbit uses this software and I’m guessing they’re passing it along to Pixels.
Will only be a cool feature when Apple “introduces” in 3 years and the world will be amazed. ????
I like my coffee at 60℃, no more, no less, to a reasonable degree, so “yes”.
I use it every day. I run a grocery store and I use it to make sure cases are holding temp or if an item was found outside of refrigeration I can get a more accurate read than just go by touch. We have thermometers in the store, but this sensor is within an acceptable variance from our devices that I can spot check and monitor as I go. If I ever see a display that looks like it may be filled passed it’s load limit, pulling my phone out of my back pocket is a real convenient way to ensure food safety.
If any reading ever is questionable, I would do the same thing I would do if using an infrared thermometer, I would go probe the product and ensure it is within proper temp and remove any discrepancy you can get from packaging and excess air inside.
The reactions I get from people who audit us for food safety are just in amazement that I can get readings that are nearly as accurate as their equipment are priceless. They immediately ask if it’s an app, to which I laugh, but then I mention what phone it is and the conversation starts. It’s a feature others in my industry envy, well that and the awesome Bay color ????
Somewhat related note, anyone tried the 8 Pro with FitBit ECG app? It has you put your finger on the flash and I legitimately could not complete the test without risk of burning my finger.
I use it off and on.
i used it to check the temp of my pipes on my bike. it said 230 degrees. i have no idea if that’s accurate but i do know they will burn the f#@k out of you
i also checked my black leather seats that the sun was shining on. said 165. i don’t know, could be close. they definitely felt hot when i sat on them. seems pretty gimmicky to me, just something to play with from time to time
I use it tons every day!! I work in R&D and have actually been using it to check component and heatsink temperatures. It’s amazing. (It definitely varies +/- 5°f… But I’m measuring things that are like 80-115°C so it’s plenty accurate enough for rough ata glance measurements without having to put a thermocouple on everything.
Nada, but the only good thing is that it makes the camera bar even look better because it’s symetrical with the LED Flash.
Let’s be real. None of us bought it for the temperature sensor. Like 99% of people, I have only tested it a few times, only to say “cool?” and never use it again.
I would be absolutely floored if they actually kept this in the Pixel 9. It’s definitely one of the more unusual gimmicks they tried adding to a phone.
Are the 1% of people like me who haven’t even been curious enough to try it?
I used it to check the temperature of a steak I was making and it was only half a degree off from what the meter probe was reading.
I use it to check my hemorrhoid’s for flare ups.
I used it to test the temp of my radiators when they randomly came on last week and made my apartment feel like the 8th circle of hell. 201 and 205 for each. First and only real world use so far. I too think it’s a gimmick, but it was nice to be able to confirm how insanely hot those radiators were.
You wonder with the planning stages of phones, that this might have been in design during the pandemic. Back then we lived in a world where we were constantly checking our temperature, so it makes sense to put something like this on on the phone. Conversely, it also seems logical that they would remove it since we no longer do this in practice. Lol
I love it but can’t see it being approved by FDA for temp as it’s not even close to accurate, I can’t get mine above 91 on my forehead. Otherwise it’s useful for checking food/liquid temps but more importantly, I look forward to using it during Winter Storms when ice might be involved. Good way to check ground and road temps.
I’m assuming once they get FDA approval they’ll be an update to the app to select body temperature and the sensor will make the adjustments.
i think you have to stick it up your ass for an accurate temp for humans
????????????????????????
Checking body temperature involves a calculation which is why it doesn’t currently show anything close to accurate.
Nope. Stupid gimmick and raised costs for no reason.
Nope. Sure not.
Wonder how much engineering time went into this feature.
????
Like others, I only tried it to test it. It’s a wasted added expense. I would have rather had something useful like a headphone jack.
Totally forgot I had it
Nope. Not useful at all. Even after they get FDA approval, I still wouldn’t use this for taking temps. Stand alone oral thermometer if I want body temp. One of those IR laser temp guns for everything else. Those things can be had for cheap and you don’t have to be standing 2 inches away.
Oral? Tim said RECTAL in this article.
They CAN act as both in a pinch…
And I’m saying I’d prefer to use an oral thermometer versus my phone for taking my body temperature. ????♂️
No no, rectal ONLY
do not stick your phone in your bum.
????????????
Yes! Randomly on different objects just because. And to see if it matches what a thermometer says, when my temperature is taken. And it’s pretty close… So yes. My answer is yes.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
No.
It is a totally add-on feature that Google had to figure out what to do with. It can’t even measure human temperature which may or may not be useful. But who is going to hold their phone 2 inches away from a hot frying pan to measure the temperature of bacon? Stupid
My first thought about taking cooking temps with it was how to get the splattered grease off the camera lenses and screen afterwards. I just don’t understand the point of even promoting it for that.
not a lot of use cases I can think of either. However, even when I just play with it, it’s wildly inaccurate. Every time I use it on the same thing, the temperature varies by up to 5 degrees with each check.
It’s because your hands is moving from the target
Am I the only one who thinks it’s wildly inaccurate? Also, if I wanted to check the temperature of something hot, I really don’t want to get my hands 2in away from the surface of whatever may be screaming hot. I too see this as a gimmicky tool in response to COVID. That’s about all.
It’s definitely a stupid COVID thing. Remember how dumb that was.. let me take your temperature before coming into this restaurant. Lol
Personally I don’t discredit the taking temperature during a pandemic (stressing hard on personally), but if it was updated to make it more accurate it might make it somewhat useful to use once every 6 months. If I’m sick with whatever it might be at least I wouldn’t have to get new batteries for my thermometer each time since I rarely ever use that. Aside from illness, it’s not like I can jam my phone into a chicken breast or steak.
I haven’t taken my temperature since I was 10 years old. I’m now 41 years old. I don’t get the point
it’s a wonder you survived this long
I’m with you. As an adult, if you’re feeling bad, you don’t need to take your temp to know what’s wrong and how to solve it. It’s a tool for adults to use on kids who can’t articulate what’s wrong.
As a novelty so far.
I’ve been using it on my friends iPhone Pro to see how much it overheats
#Winner
Nope
Just to test but never since
I’d love to have a use but can’t find one in my every day life. When I BBQ, I use my Therma-Pro pen.
Once just to see it work, and will probably never touch it again unless its approved accurate body temp for taking my kids temp on the fly
You don’t have to wait for the gov. to tell you it’s okay…
Sure, but it just doesn’t work correctly for that now. I’ve put it against my skin a few times and it’s always around 90°F, which doesn’t seem right, since I’m alive. (Mostly.)
But it is “right”. The incorrect calibration is on the human side, as you are measuring skin temperature, not body temperature. If you take enough measurements to understand what a healthy “skin” temperature is relevant to ambient temperature, the results will become meaningful to humans too. See more details about this in the Skin Temperature article on Wikipedia.
Nope.
not once