A few of the top smartphones that were released in 2023 included the Google Pixel 8. Because of its small size, high-quality camera, and high-quality software, it was a highly enticing buy, particularly considering that it was just $699 at retail.
Nevertheless, it has been five months since the debut of the Pixel 8, and a great deal of progress has been made. In addition to the announcement of the Galaxy S24 series by Samsung, OnePlus has been on a roll, and we are rapidly gaining a solid picture of what the Google Pixel 9 will look like. In light of all of this, I made the decision to re-install my SIM card into the Pixel 8 in order to evaluate the device’s performance in the year 2024.
The aspects of the Google Pixel 8 that I continue to like
In spite of the fact that it had been quite some time since I had used the Google Pixel 8, I have been using it again for the last couple of weeks, and I have not once considered myself to be out of step with it. The Google Pixel 8 is a phone that is really simple to keep up with. There are no particularly steep learning curves, no peculiar software obstacles to overcome, and no hardware problems that may potentially ruin the game. When I think back to October 2023, I recall that the phone was just as easygoing as it is now in April 2024. Everything about the phone works well.
One of the many characteristics that the Pixel 8 has is its size, which is one of its assets. Since I am someone who uses the iPhone 15 Pro Max on a daily basis, switching back to the Pixel 8 has been a wonderful experience. Not only can it fit into my pocket with plenty of space to spare, but I can also operate it without any difficulty with just one hand. However, the screen is never overly crowded since it is 6.2 inches in size. Over the course of the last several weeks, I have wasted a lot of time on my phone by watching a lot of movies on YouTube and playing an excessive amount of Marvel Snap matches, but I have never once felt the need for extra storage space. I find the size of the phone to be one of my favorite aspects of the device since it is so much more appealing.
In addition, the software of the Pixel 8 is another reason why it has been so simple to revisit. The taste of Android 14 that Google offers continues to be one of my favorites. It is uncluttered, uncomplicated, and really straightforward to use. In contrast to Samsung’s One UI and OnePlus’ OxygenOS, which I feel like I need to fine-tune and modify in order to get them to perform the way I want them to, the software that comes with the Pixel is really easy to use. There is no need for me to conceal redundant applications, disregard hundreds of functions that I will never make use of, or anything else of the type. Simply said, it is great.
Because of the debut of the Pixel 8, one of the most significant new software features that it has acquired is the Circle to Search function. Although it was first introduced on the Galaxy S24 in January, the Circle to Search feature has proven to be a very useful utility on the Pixel 8. This is not something that I use on a regular basis, but whenever I do, it never fails to astonish me. Moreover, it is the Pixel feature that I like using the most. I am able to make use of it when I am in need of it, but when I am not interested in using it, it is not visible to me.
Of course, there is also the camera to consider. To this day, the primary camera with 50 megapixels continues to be a delight to use. The camera system on this phone is not even close to being the most sophisticated one available today, yet it is still one of my favorites.
When it comes to zooming, is it the greatest camera? No, not really. Even when zoomed in to 8x, which is the greatest distance that the phone can reach, the photographs are still useable. The shortcut on the camera that allows for 2x zoom works really well. If, on the other hand, you choose to go any farther, you are out of luck. In addition, the ultrawide camera with 12 megapixels is not the very finest that we have ever seen. However, do you know what? In my experience with the Pixel 8, none of it is very bothersome to me. If I snap a photo with my phone, there is a good possibility that I will be pleased with the final appearance of the image. When it comes to nighttime photography, the Pixel 8 performs quite well; it is able to effortlessly capture moving things, and its colors are just stunning, establishing a wonderful mix between realism and vividness.
Last but not least, Google’s Magic Editor continues to prove its worth. However, despite the fact that I am not interested in moving things in my photographs or altering the appearance of the sky (although both of these functions are outstanding), the object eraser tool that it offers is really effective. Magic Editor continues to perform an excellent job at removing unpleasant objects and filling in the background with a level of precision that is astonishing. This is true regardless of whether the item in question is a garbage can, a plastic bag, or maybe something else entirely. When I’m using my iPhone, I truly miss having access to this particular AI tool, even if it isn’t always ideal.
Concerns that I have the most with the Pixel 8
It’s clear that the Google Pixel 8 has received a lot of acclaim! Do you think that means it’s flawless? On the contrary. Despite the fact that I take pleasure in utilizing the Pixel 8, there are a few issues that are readily evident associated with the device.
Unexpectedly, one of them is the design of the product. Even while I really like the size of the Pixel 8, I feel that some elements of the design are really annoying. In particular, I find the rounded edges to be very noticeable. My opinion is that they provide the Pixel 8 a really adorable and gentle appearance. However, when they are put into effect, they might make it very difficult to maintain grip on the phone. Despite the fact that it is a phone that fits snugly into my palm, I often have the impression that I need to readjust my grasp on it.
Moving back to the smooth, rounded frame of the Pixel 8 has not been fully perfect for me. Perhaps it is because I have been used to flat edges on phones such as the iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S24 Plus. There is a rumor going around that the Google Pixel 9 will have a flat frame that is quite similar to that of Apple and Samsung, and I am particularly excited about this possible development.
On the subject of problems, let’s speak about how long the battery lasts. It’s… not a problem. When Andy was reviewing the Pixel 8 in October of last year, he was able to go “deep into a second day” of usage on a single charge. From what I’ve seen, the Google Pixel 8 has a battery life of around one day, and then it dies. The battery life is completely acceptable; yet, in a world where phones with comparable prices, such as the OnePlus 12R, have far higher endurance, it is a little bit more difficult to ignore.
Another factor that makes it more frustrating is the sluggish charging speed of the Pixel 8. In the year 2024, a connected charging capacity of 27W is not an amazing quantity. In a situation when there are solutions available, like as the OnePlus 12R, which has charge rates of 80W, returning to something that is so slow may be quite annoying. Despite the fact that I still like having the ability to choose between wireless and reverse wireless charging, I truly wish that I could charge the Pixel 8 a lot more quickly than I am now able to.
In conclusion, I would want to discuss the Tensor G3 processor that is the driving force behind the Google Pixel 8. Additionally, it has continued to be a significant advancement in comparison to its Tensor G2 predecessor. The most of the time, it operates without any hiccups, it does not get too hot, and I have not had nearly as many problems or issues as I did with my Pixel 7 Pro. Having said that, it does not mean that it is flawless.
Even while it is not as significant of a problem as it was for the Pixel 7 series, the Google Pixel 8 still gets hot, and it does so substantially more than phones that use Qualcomm CPUs that were released more recently. If you plug it in to charge for a few minutes or play a couple of games of Marvel Snap, you can’t ignore the fact that the Pixel 8 is heating up. On the other side, I have had a few minor software difficulties here and there, such as applications that freeze up for a few seconds at a time, and games do not seem as smooth as they do on a phone powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The fact that Google still has a lot of potential to expand with Tensor is brought to light by all of these developments, even if they are not game-changing.
After 2024, is it still worthwhile to get a Pixel 8?
Making a return to the Google Pixel 8 has been an experience that has been rather fascinating. The portion of my brain that is responsible for reasoning is aware that if I were to propose a phone to someone in the present day, there are other options available that are superior.
With a more powerful CPU, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is available for only $100 more than its predecessor. A true telephoto camera, improved battery life, an improved screen, and Samsung’s own set of artificial intelligence capabilities are all included in this update. The selling pricing of the OnePlus 12 is the same as that of the Pixel 8s, which is $699. However, the OnePlus 12 comes with its own set of advantages, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, 80W wired charging, and its own outstanding camera system. If you are looking to acquire a phone, it is probable that one of those two options is a better choice than the Pixel 8.
On the other hand, there is something about the Pixel 8 that I find to be quite friendly. Perhaps it’s the excellent software that Google offers. It’s possible that the teeny-tiny, lovely size is what makes it so uncommon in the year 2024. There is a possibility that the camera quality is a contributing factor. The Google Pixel 8 is not without its shortcomings from a technological standpoint. However, when I pick up the Pixel 8 and am reminded of all the positive things it accomplishes, those problems become less noticeable and more in the background.
In order to test another phone, I need to remove my SIM card from the Pixel 8, but I am hesitant to do so. Or, to put it another way, I do not intend to quit using the Pixel 8. I believe that this is one of the strongest indications that Google accomplished something well, considering all the many ways in which we might evaluate and assess a smartphone in the year 2024.
