Google Pixel 8 review: superior than the Pixel 8 Pro smartphone?

Summary

Google Pixel 8 review.. In comparison to the Google Pixel 8 Pro, the Google Pixel 8 occupies a secondary position. The fact that one phone is classified as Pro while the other is not is not the phone’s fault; yet, it is always the case that this occurs. Because it is considered the “cheap” alternative, it is the model that is considered to be less attractive.

Google Pixel 8 review

I have been using the Google Pixel 8 as my primary phone for some time now, and there is no way that you would be making a mistake if you decided to go with that particular model. To further understand why you shouldn’t instantly upgrade to the Pro model with your new Pixel, let’s go into more depth.

Regarding our assessment of the Google Pixel 8

Andy Boxall, who had been using the Google Pixel 8 for more than a week in the United Kingdom, was the one who wrote and released our evaluation of the device. It was revised in April 2024 by Joe Maring, who authored the “six months later” portion below after returning to the Pixel 8 for a few of weeks in the United States. You may find the corrected version below.

And now, six months later, the Google Pixel 8

It has been around half a year since the Google Pixel 8 was introduced to the public. Ever since then, we have been given the opportunity to experience a multitude of excellent Android phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the OnePlus 12. Despite the fact that such smartphones provide Google with a formidable challenge, the Pixel 8 nevertheless manages to distinguish itself as something really remarkable.

Almost everything that was fantastic about the Pixel 8 when it was first released is still just as amazing in April 2024, which is six months after the device was released. It is amazing because the display is stunning, the camera is just as trustworthy as it has always been, and the tiny size is wonderful. To add insult to injury, Google’s Android 14 software continues to impress. The simplicity of it is something that I continue to appreciate, and the additional functions that Google has introduced are unquestionably helpful. One of the most recent features is called Circle to Search, and while I don’t use it all the time, I am always grateful that it is there for usage whenever I find myself in need of it.

On the other hand, just like any other phone, the Pixel 8 has not aged flawlessly. In my experience, the battery life is only sufficient for around one full day of usage, which is a less amount of time than what Andy discovered during his tests. In addition, the Tensor G3 chip has regularly brought to my attention the fact that I am not using a phone that is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU. This is the case whether it is the Pixel 8 becoming heated after a few minutes of gaming or applications periodically freezing up for no obvious reason. Despite the fact that they are not ground-breaking problems in the same way that the Tensor G2 was for the Pixel 7 series, they are nonetheless things that I notice.

The Google Pixel 8 is now facing more intense competition than it ever has before, and in some respects, it is not nearly as simple to suggest it as it was a few months ago. As a matter of fact, however, it is a phone that I can’t help but like. The phone is adorable, comfy, and laid-back, and it is a phone that I don’t have to give a lot of thought to. My experience with the Google Pixel has been that it “just works” the most of the time, and I have been delighted to use it again.

Design of the Google Pixel 8’s

In addition to having a matte aluminum metal frame and a polished glass back panel, the Google Pixel 8 also features Gorilla Glass Victus covering the 6.2-inch screen. It has a thickness of 8.9 millimeters and weighs a total of 187 grams. A huge metal camera visor that extends over the top of the back panel is another feature that it has. Additionally, it has a water and dust resistance certification of IP68. On the surface, it does not seem to be very different from either the Google Pixel 7 or the Google Pixel 6, but when you take it up, you will notice that it is.

It is a considerably lighter phone than the previous two generations, and it is also much more compact than the previous two. This is because the screen size has decreased by 0.1 inches over the course of the previous two generations. Because of its proportions of 150 millimeters by 70 millimeters, it is quite pleasant to hold in one hand (according to Asus’s research, this is the ideal size for a phone that can be used with one hand, and the company continues to employ this formula for its Zenfone series), and it never gets tedious or uncomfortable to use. Corners that are more curved give it a more contemporary appearance and make it easier to hold in your hand.

It is simple to find and push the buttons on the side, and the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the display is both fast and accurate. It is not always necessary for me to use the fingerprint sensor since Face Unlock is often able to unlock the computer before I do. Even more impressive is the fact that Google has modified the system for the Pixel 8 so that it satisfies the criteria for payment and permission inside applications. Living with the Pixel 8 is a very pleasant experience for a number of reasons, one of which is the smooth and simple security, which is not compromised in any way in comparison to the Pixel 8 Pro.

The Pixel 8 has spent the most of its time inside the silicone case that Google provides. Although the case does get soiled with dust and lint, it is also important to note that it is probably a good idea to use such a thing. I have removed it primarily for the purpose of taking photographs of the phone; but, during this time, it has already established a pair of scratches on the glass rear of the device. They are apparent in the appropriate light, but they are not very evident beneath your fingernail, and the fact that it has scraped so rapidly is a bit alarming.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 were both pretty big phones, and although the Pixel 8 is still fairly thick and slab-like, it is far more comfortable to use in one’s palm and can be truly classified as compact this time around. A smartphone that is contemporary, lightweight, and nearly just the right size is the Google Pixel 8.

a camera for the Google Pixel 8

Similar to the Pixel 8 Pro, the primary camera on the Pixel 8 has a resolution of 50 megapixels, and it is equipped with both optical and electronic image stabilization (OIS and EIS). Additionally, the camera has an aperture of 1.68. The wide-angle camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels and a field of vision of 125.8 degrees; however, there is no specially designed telephoto camera, so you have to make due with the two times “optical quality” zoom that is offered by the primary camera. The front-facing camera has a resolution of 10.5 megapixels with a fixed focus.

It is not going to come as a surprise to you that the primary camera is of very high quality. The photographs that it captures are vivid and engaging, while at the same time seeming to be natural. It never goes into the region of being too saturated, but it maintains colors that are vibrant and exciting, making it possible for you to share them online with minimum modification on your part. You may notice a tiny reduction in clarity if you crop the picture, but other than that, it looks pretty decent. You can zoom in to 2x by using the shortcut that is available inside the camera app.

It is evident that there is pixelation when the digital zoom is set to 5x; but, when the zoom is set to 8x Super Res, a significant amount of this is erased by the software developed by Google, and the final picture seems to be much better than you would anticipate. Even if Night Sight brightens photographs quite a bit (the photograph of the logs in the gallery above was taken in practically total darkness and with a three-second exposure), it does add grain and blur to the image when it is really dark. To criticize the great majority of photographs that were shot with the Pixel 8 would be nothing more than a matter of nitpicking.

However, it is much simpler to find fault with the wide-angle camera, which has a pixel count that is disappointingly low. Although the colors, contrast, and tones in the photographs that it takes are comparable to those taken by the primary camera, the detail levels that are achieved when cropping the picture or looking at it extremely closely cannot match with those of the main camera. It is highly recommended that you get the Pixel 8 Pro if you capture a significant number of wide-angle photographs. Moreover, the macro mode is negatively impacted by the low quality of the wide-angle lens.

Putting these concerns to the side (the Pixel 8 is not the only phone this year that has a wide-angle camera that is disappointing), you are left with a primary camera that is quite powerful and shoots photographs that are truly remarkable. Due to the fact that it mostly utilizes digital zoom, it is not as adaptable as its more costly sister; yet, many individuals won’t worry about this disadvantage at all. When taken as a whole, the Google Pixel 8 is a really satisfying device to use.

The Magic Editor on the Google Pixel 8

When you take pictures with the Pixel 8, you have the ability to modify them to a degree that has never been seen before on a smartphone. Magic Editor is the most recent generative artificial intelligence tool that Google has released. It gives you the ability to change the picture to a great extent, allowing you to do anything from deleting or relocating objects and people to altering the appearance of the sky and water. It has the potential to be quite powerful, and the greatest part is that it is so easy to use.

The edits that are made by Magic Editor are made with the help of Google’s cloud-based generative AI. In order to eliminate things, you trace around them in the same manner as you would with Magic Eraser; however, in this case, the application produces a new backdrop rather than just smoothing and softening the original one. It is most effective when the backdrop is composed of basic forms, and it is still susceptible to confusion when individuals are present, unless they are little components of the picture. Additionally, you have the ability to pick things and move them about inside the frame. Magic Editor even has the capability to build new sections of the picture to fill in the spaces when you go about doing this.

Magic Editor provides you with a number of options to choose from in order to alter the overall appearance of the photograph. If you do not like any of these options, you have the ability to refresh them numerous times. Although the majority of the adjustments do not seem to be genuinely real, they surely do make the editing process more enjoyable. The alterations may be shocking. In addition, Magic Eraser is included, as well as a brand new tool called Best Take, which allows you to replace the faces of your pals with a more favorable one in the event that they destroy the picture by not smiling. In our evaluation of the Google Pixel 8 Pro, you will be able to see it in action.

In terms of its technical capabilities, everything is extremely excellent, and I have had a lot of fun working with Magic Editor, particularly when it comes to removing annoying backdrop objects and signs from images. But it is a bit of a gimmick, and I wouldn’t always want to use the scene modification system in Magic Editor. This is not the least of the reasons why I wouldn’t want to use it. Not least of the reasons is that it may mean that some special but imperfect photographs could be lost or deleted owing to its enormous skill, which would be a tragedy.

However, when you use Magic Editor or Magic Eraser for the first time, you will forget about all of these worries and fears. These tools are really strong, and it is truly remarkable that we are able to make such significant changes to photographs using just a mobile device. There is no other place where you can discover Magic Editor but on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. These two devices, coupled with the whole Google Photos editing package, provide a compelling reason to consider purchasing any of these devices if you are really interested in photography.

Google Pixel 8: the display and its overall performance

The display is an OLED panel called “Actua Display” and is 6.2 inches in size. It has a resolution of 2400 by 1080 pixels, a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and a variable refresh rate that ranges from 60Hz to 120Hz. The primary difference between it and the Pixel 8 Pro is that the latter has a screen that is brighter, more pixel-dense, and has a larger variable refresh rate. Additionally, the glass that covers the Pixel 8 Pro is significantly more durable. The Pixel 8 contains 8 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), and both of the Pixel 8 phones employ Google’s latest Tensor G3 CPU.

We don’t post benchmarking tests in our evaluations here at Digital Trends since they are simply statistics and can be easily manipulated. However, I often use the 3DMark program and its 20-minute Wild Life Extreme Stress Test to evaluate how well it handles very tough games and to determine how much heat it generates.

Considering that the Tensor has a history of enjoying the sensation of becoming heated, how would the Tensor G3 respond to the test? I would not describe it as hot, and it is not even close to being scorching. However, it does become rather warm. Despite the fact that the phone is working hard, as you would anticipate throughout this test, it never becomes a cause for worry. Everyone who is interested in playing a lot of games should see this as a positive omen.

It is possible that the screen may not reach the same level of brightness as the screen on the Pixel 8 Pro, but I have not had any trouble seeing it outdoors in the autumn sunlight and from a variety of distances. I simply need the screen to be bright enough for me to view it, and the Pixel 8 is sufficient for that purpose; thus, I am not sure how much of an advantage I would gain from the Pro in this situation. In spite of the fact that it is technically flat, the body has a beautiful curvature that allows it to blend into the screen and avoid producing any sharpness. Additionally, it does not have an excessive amount of reflection, and the bezels on the sides are thin. When viewing videos, it is crisp and packed with vivid colors.

Calls have sounded excellent either via the speaker or when I use headphones that are linked to Bluetooth. I have not had any problems while utilizing devices that are typically associated with phones. NFC and Google Pay are both functioning without any issues, and the Pixel 8 is able to draw in a good signal linked to both 4G and 5G networks. At this point in time, the Tensor G3 presents a superior and more dependable performance compared to earlier models, which provides the Pixel 8 with an abundance of speed and capability. I just really hope that everything continues to be like this.

Software offered by Google Pixel 8

With the Pixel 8, Google has installed Android 14, and the company has promised that it would continue to provide significant Android upgrades and security patches for the next seven years, in addition to its regular feature drops.

This is very good long-term support, and it is even greater than the four-year support pledge that Samsung and OnePlus have made. The software on your phone would remain as current as possible even if you kept it until the year 2030, which implies you may keep it until then. The issue of whether or not the hardware would be is another one.

If you have previously used a phone that came with Android 13, the Android 14 software that comes with the Pixel 8 will seem extremely familiar to you. When compared to the Pixel 7 Pro, the operation, design, and smoothness are extremely identical, and I failed to spot any significant differences between the two. The scattering of new capabilities that are included in Android 14 will, if Magic Editor did not already drop enough signals about Google going all-in with artificial intelligence on the Pixel 8, then it will.

Google Assistant, for instance, can read out loud online pages and papers; it can also filter, handle, and even react to conversations so that you don’t have to. Additionally, it can offer summaries of websites. At a later time, even more artificial intelligence functions are going to be released, but not all of them will be accessible on the Pixel 8. For instance, the Zoom Enhance function of the camera is specific to the Pixel 8 Pro, and the Pro mode of the camera is also exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro. There is a place for every present AI capability, but it is quite unlikely that everyone would utilize them, and they are not reasons to purchase.

If you use the wallpapers that are created by AI, you could have more fun. Have you ever been curious by the appearance of a wallpaper that depicts a setting that has strange cliffs in various tones of indigo? The artificial intelligence wallpaper from Google will show you. Both enjoyable and unique, it is. In addition, I like the several ways in which the lock screen can be customized, ranging from the arrangement of the time and date to the addition of convenient shortcuts. Although Android has always been highly configurable, Google has put a lot of effort into making these modifications more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing with Android 14.

In my experience, Android 14 on the Pixel 8 has shown to be highly dependable. There have been no issues that I have come across, all of my applications are functioning without any problems, and browsing and dealing with the program is both simple and quick. It is everything that you actually want from a smartphone, and the many artificial intelligence capabilities just serve to add to its overall attractiveness.

Battery and charging options for the Google Pixel 8

The Pixel 8 conceals a battery with a capacity of 4,575 milliampere-hours (mAh), and due to the fact that it seems to be quite little, I was concerned about how long it would last. The Google Pixel line has a long-standing reputation for having a battery life that is less than satisfactory, and the Tensor chip that Google uses has not been the most efficient. The battery life of our Pixel 8 Pro did not seem to be improved by the Tensor G3, but it is important to keep in mind that the Tensor G3 is operating a screen that is bigger, more sophisticated, and has a better resolution than the Pixel 8.

Not only does this seem to make a difference, but it also appears that my concerns were unwarranted. while I use the device for my typical three hours of screen time and usage each day, the battery lasts far into the second day. Not once has it threatened to die at the end of the first day, even while it was linked to the Google Pixel Watch 2. Four hours of intense screen usage, which includes gaming, streaming video, app use, phone calls, and camera use, consumes around fifty percent of the battery life of the device. In the event that your use is not very strenuous, the battery of the Pixel 8 will last for two days before it has to be recharged.

If you want some more specific information about the performance of the battery, you may consider the following: playing Pocket City for thirty minutes drains the battery by seven percent, streaming YouTube for thirty minutes depletes the battery by just two percent, and filming a four-kilobyte time-lapse movie for fifteen minutes consumes four percent. I would expect to see results that are comparable to, or even better than, those that I would get from any high-performance smartphone that is now available.

You will not get a charger in the package, and if you want the quickest charger, you will need to either own or purchase one that is compatible with USB-PD 3.0 PPS technology and produces a minimum of 30W of power. According to Google, this will offer a fifty percent charge in around thirty minutes. For the purpose of testing, I used an Anker GaN charger, and it quickly moved from around 2% to 58% in a span of thirty minutes. In all, it took seventy-five minutes to completely recharge. Additionally, the Pixel 8 is equipped with support for reverse wireless charging and 18W Qi wireless charging.

Google Pixel 8: the cost and availability of the device

The price of a Google Pixel 8 with 128GB of storage space is $699, and the price increases to $759 when the amount of storage space offered by the device is increased to 256GB. Obsidian, Hazel, and Rose are the three color options available to you. The model in our photographs is shown wearing Obsidian. Customers may buy the phone via Google’s own web shop, as well as through AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon service providers. Pricing for the Pixel 8 begins at 699 British pounds in the United Kingdom.

On average, the Pixel 8 costs $100 more than its predecessor, the Pixel 7. Because of this increase, it is now close to the retail price of the Samsung Galaxy S24 as well as the OnePlus 12, which is $799. It is now higher than the Motorola Edge (2023), which costs $599, as well as the Nothing Phone 2, which costs $499, and it is far more than the Samsung Galaxy A54, which costs $499. The only difference is that each of these cellphones has a unique set of capabilities. If you are looking for a device that can charge extremely quickly, the OnePlus 12 is the one for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a device that has a design that is eye-catching, the Nothing Phone 2 is an excellent option.

For what reason would you not want the Pixel 8?

The Pixel 8 is still another $100 step up to “flagship” handsets like the Galaxy S24, despite the fact that it is no longer quite the midrange bargain that it previously was. However, the price rise does not completely exclude the possibility of the Pixel 8 being taken into consideration by those who are looking for a deal.

The good news is that if you purchase the Pixel 8, you will not be able to see any significant declines in the quality of the construction, the software, or the capabilities of the camera. I would say that it is a better-designed phone, with some genuinely cutting-edge software capabilities to enjoy on the camera that you won’t find in the competition. Although it is more costly than the phone produced the previous year, I would say that it is a better-designed phone.

The verdict on the Google Pixel 8

Do you have any reason to desire to get the Google Pixel 8? The question that is more pertinent is about the reasons why you would not desire the Pixel 8. It is more aerodynamic, lighter, and more aesthetically pleasing than it has ever been. In typical usage, the battery lasts for two days, and this is true even when the device is linked to a smartwatch. The camera is capable of taking stunning photographs, and the artificial intelligence editing tools are entirely unique. In addition, the outstanding software will continue to get updates until the year 2030. It is all yours for the price of $699.

Not only does the Pixel 8 Pro have a more sophisticated camera and screen, but it also has a bigger number of artificial intelligence functions that will be included in future updates. However, the price of this device is $999. That is a significant leap forward! When deciding between these two phones, the longer battery life of the Pixel 8, which has a more modest price tag, is a cause to give careful consideration to the things that are most important to you.

Whenever there are two brand new phones that are produced, it is simple to believe that the best thing to do is to just get the Pro or the more costly model. However, Google has ensured that the specifications, performance, and capabilities of the Pixel 8 are exactly perfect, so you do not have to feel this way. My experience with the Google Pixel 8 as my primary phone has been nothing short of remarkable, and as a result, I confidently recommend it to everyone, regardless of the amount of money they are willing to pay.

Pros