The Google Pixel 8 continues Google’s tradition of delivering a top-tier smartphone experience with a strong focus on camera performance, software innovation, and seamless integration with the Google ecosystem. As the successor to the popular Pixel 7, the Pixel 8 offers several key improvements, including a refined design, enhanced performance, and new AI-driven features. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a tech-savvy user, or someone who values a clean Android experience, the Google Pixel 8 is designed to meet your needs. In this review, we’ll explore the design, features, performance, and overall value of the Google Pixel 8 to help you determine if it’s the right smartphone for you.
In this Google Pixel 8 Review, we’ll take a look at:
Design and Build Quality
The Google Pixel 8 boasts a refined design that combines aesthetics with practicality, making it stylish and durable.
Sleek and Modern Design
The Pixel 8 features a sleek, minimalist design that builds on the foundation of its predecessor. The phone is crafted with premium materials, including a glass front and back, and an aluminum frame with a solid, high-quality feel. The edges are slightly curved, making the phone comfortable to hold, while the matte finish on the back panel adds a touch of elegance and helps prevent fingerprints. The Pixel 8 is available in various colors, including traditional black and white, and more vibrant options like coral and sky blue.
Durable and Water-Resistant Build
Google has ensured the Pixel 8 is built to withstand daily wear and tear. The phone is equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back, providing robust protection against scratches and drops. The Pixel 8 is also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, meaning it can handle accidental spills, splashes, and brief submersion without issue. This durability makes the Pixel 8 a reliable companion for everyday use, whether at home, in the office, or on the go.
Display and Visual Experience
The Google Pixel 8 offers a stunning display that enhances productivity and entertainment, delivering vibrant colors and sharp details.
6.2-Inch OLED Display
The Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch OLED display with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. With a 2400 x 1080 pixels resolution, the display delivers sharp and detailed visuals, making it ideal for everything from streaming videos to browsing the web. The screen also supports HDR10+, ensuring you enjoy high dynamic range content with enhanced brightness and color accuracy. Whether watching your favorite shows or editing photos, the Pixel 8’s display provides an immersive visual experience.
Smooth 120Hz Refresh Rate
One of the standout features of the Pixel 8’s display is its 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling, swiping, and animations feel incredibly smooth and responsive. This higher refresh rate is particularly noticeable when gaming or navigating through the phone’s interface, providing a more fluid and enjoyable user experience. The adaptive refresh rate can automatically adjust based on the displayed content, helping conserve battery life when a high refresh rate isn’t necessary.
Performance and Hardware
The Google Pixel 8 is powered by Google’s latest custom chipset, offering impressive performance for various tasks, from gaming to multitasking.
Google Tensor G3 Chipset
At the heart of the Pixel 8 is the Google Tensor G3 chipset, designed to deliver fast and efficient performance while powering the phone’s AI-driven features. The Tensor G3 offers significant improvements over the previous generation, providing faster processing speeds, better energy efficiency, and enhanced machine learning capabilities. This makes the Pixel 8 well-suited for real-time language translation, advanced photography, and on-device AI processing.
Ample RAM and Storage Options
The Pixel 8 has 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and fast app switching. Whether you’re running multiple apps simultaneously or playing graphics-intensive games, the Pixel 8 easily handles it. The phone has two storage options, 128GB and 256GB, giving you plenty of space for your apps, photos, videos, and other files. While no microSD card slot exists for expandable storage, the included Google One cloud storage offers a convenient alternative for backing up your data.
Long-Lasting Battery Life
Battery life is another strong point for the Pixel 8. The phone has a 4,400mAh battery that easily lasts a full day, even with heavy usage. The Tensor G3’s improved power efficiency, combined with the adaptive refresh rate, helps to extend battery life by reducing power consumption when high performance isn’t needed. The Pixel 8 also supports fast charging, with up to 30W wired charging and 20W wireless charging, allowing you to top up the battery when needed quickly. Reverse wireless charging is also supported, enabling you to charge other devices using the Pixel 8’s battery.
Camera System and Photography
The Google Pixel series is known for its exceptional camera performance, and the Pixel 8 continues this tradition with an upgraded camera system that excels in various lighting conditions.
Dual Rear Camera Setup
The Pixel 8 features a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. The primary camera uses advanced computational photography techniques to capture detailed and vibrant photos, even in challenging lighting conditions. The ultra-wide camera offers a 120-degree field of view, making it ideal for landscape shots, group photos, and creative compositions. Both cameras benefit from Google’s AI-driven features, such as Super Res Zoom, Night Sight, and Portrait Mode, which enhance image quality and provide greater creative control.
AI-Powered Photography Features
Google has integrated several AI-powered features into the Pixel 8’s camera system, making it easier to capture stunning photos with minimal effort. The new Magic Eraser tool allows you to remove unwanted objects or people from your photos with a simple tap, while the Face Unblur feature ensures that faces remain sharp and clear, even in motion. The Real Tone technology, which debuted on the Pixel 7, has been further refined to accurately represent diverse skin tones, resulting in more natural and inclusive portraits.
10.8MP Front Camera
The front-facing camera on the Pixel 8 has also seen improvements, with a 10.8MP sensor that captures sharp and detailed selfies. The camera supports features like Portrait Mode and Night Sight, allowing you to take great selfies in various lighting conditions. The wide-angle lens ensures you can fit more people into your selfies, making it perfect for group shots.
Software and Smart Features
The Google Pixel 8 offers a clean and intuitive software experience, with the latest version of Android and exclusive Google features that enhance usability and productivity.
Android 14 with Pixel-Exclusive Features
The Pixel 8 runs on Android 14, offering the latest features and improvements from Google’s mobile operating system. The clean and bloat-free interface provides a smooth and responsive user experience, with timely updates and security patches guaranteed by Google. Pixel-exclusive features, such as the improved Call Screen, Live Translate, and At a Glance, add extra value and functionality to the device, making the Pixel 8 stand out from other Android smartphones.
Enhanced Google Assistant
Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the Pixel 8, offering hands-free control over your phone and smart home devices. The Assistant can help you send messages, make calls, set reminders, and easily navigate your day. With on-device processing, the Assistant is faster and more responsive, even when you’re offline. The improved voice recognition also makes it easier to interact with the Assistant, whether dictating a message or asking for directions.
Tight Integration with Google Ecosystem
As part of the Google ecosystem, the Pixel 8 seamlessly integrates with other Google services and devices. Features like Google Photos, Google One, and Google Home work flawlessly with the Pixel 8, providing a cohesive and convenient experience across all your devices. The phone also supports Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service, allowing you to play AAA games on your device without needing a console or gaming PC.
Value for Money
The Google Pixel 8 offers excellent value for users who want a premium smartphone experience without paying flagship prices.
Competitive Pricing
Despite its premium features and capabilities, the Google Pixel 8 is priced competitively, making it an attractive option for those who want the best of Google without breaking the bank. The phone’s combination of advanced camera technology, powerful performance, and seamless software experience makes it a great value for the price. For users looking for a high-quality smartphone that excels in photography, AI features, and overall usability, the Pixel 8 is a compelling choice.
Long-Term Software Support
Google’s commitment to long-term software support is another factor that adds value to the Pixel 8. With guaranteed updates for at least three years, you can rest assured that your phone will stay up to date with the latest features and security enhancements. This long-term support ensures that the Pixel 8 remains a reliable and capable for years, providing peace of mind for users who want to get the most out of their investment.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Outstanding camera performance with AI-powered features.
- Smooth and vibrant 120Hz OLED display.
- Google Tensor G3 chipset for fast and efficient performance.
- Clean and intuitive Android experience with Pixel-exclusive features.
- Competitive pricing with long-term software support.
Cons
- No expandable storage, though Google One offers cloud storage options.
- Battery life is good but not exceptional compared to some competitors.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel 8 is a well-rounded smartphone that offers a premium experience at a competitive price. With its powerful Tensor G3 chipset, impressive camera system, and smooth 120Hz display, the Pixel 8 delivers on all fronts. It is an excellent choice for a high-quality smartphone that excels in photography, performance, and software. Whether you’re a Google enthusiast or simply looking for a reliable and feature-packed smartphone, the Pixel 8 is a solid option that won’t disappoint.
Summary of Google Pixel 8 Features
Feature | Description |
Display | 6.2-inch OLED, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate |
Processor | Google Tensor G3 chipset |
Camera System | 50MP primary, 12MP ultra-wide, 10.8MP front |
Battery Life | 4,400mAh, 30W fast charging, 20W wireless charging |
Best For | Photography enthusiasts, Android purists, Google ecosystem users |
Google Pixel 8 FAQ
What is the Google Pixel 8’s primary processor?
The Google Pixel 8 is equipped with the Google Tensor G3 processor.
How long will the Google Pixel 8 receive software updates?
Google has promised seven years of software updates for the Google Pixel 8.
Are there any new photo editing tools on the Google Pixel 8?
Yes, the Google Pixel 8 introduces AI-powered editing tools in Google Photos, making photo and video editing more accessible and efficient.