The Pixel 8 Pro’s thermometer, with the January Feature Drop, can now measure body temperature after activation with object support, and Google has explained how it works. Google Health has a team dedicated to “bringing health tools to Pixel phones.” In 2021, Google Fit gained the ability to measure heart rate and breathing using your phone’s camera. The company first “designed a small device with a body temperature sensor” to integrate it into the Pixel phone. The Pixel 8 Pro should be swiped from the center of the forehead to the temple to measure the temporal artery, which is said to be more accurate than “forehead measurements pointing at the center of the forehead.” The closer the device is to the veins, the more accurate the reading is, as the veins are small. The Pixel 8 Pro must be placed within half an inch of the skin due to the wide range of the infrared sensor (130+ degrees), or “it can sense the heat beyond the forehead.” However, Google aimed for the Pixel 8 Pro’s body thermometer to be “non-contact to prevent the spread of germs.” The solution was to use the camera’s LDAF (laser sensor autofocus) sensor to “determine if the phone is close to the person’s forehead before beginning the measurement,” with a vibration for confirmation. Data from the infrared sensor is processed by a system that calculates the temperature within the range of “96.9°F – 104°F (36.1°C – 40°C) to ±0.3°C,” consistent with Google’s clinical trials and compared to the FDA-cleared temporal artery thermometer. The thermometer received FDA approval (De Novo category), granting control over medical devices in the US, in mid-December. FTC: We use affiliate links to make money. More information.
