If you’re in the market for a new Android phone, then Google’s Pixel range is an obvious consideration. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google’s best expression of what the Android OS has to offer, delivering the software as they intended, without OEM intervention.
The hardware offers a really slick combination of design, features and functionality and their camera array bar provides a now iconic look to the phones.
Having spent a few weeks with the Pixel 8, it’s clear this combination of design, performance, features, and price tag represents amazing value for money.
Design
The Google Pixel 8 follows a similar design language to its predecessor the Pixel 7, with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic.
The Pixel 8 offers a 6.2″ display, filled with 1080×2400 pixels arranged in a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display dynamically adjusts its refresh rate between 60 and 120Hz as needed to find the right blend between optimising performance and battery life.
An impressive change with this year’s display is the brightness, a significant step up from the previous generation. The Pixel 8 is now offered with as much as 2,000 nits of peak brightness on the display. This was most apparent when I set my Pixel 7 Pro and the new Pixel 8 side by side. I actually thought the 8 was set at full brightness for a moment given how much brighter it was.
The display is wrapped in an aluminium frame with rounded edges, which feels great in the hand, however, the glass back can be a little slippery. Our review unit came with a rubberised case which resolves this nicely, giving you far more confidence as you handle the phone.
While the design of this phone is definitely an exercise in iteration, rather than revolution, the already great hardware didn’t really need a complete rethink, and to be honest, even next year we’re likely to see the same, making it a great time to jump in.
While the front of the phone is a regular slab of glass, the rear of the phone features a flat camera bar and while simple, it is also functional, making the camera bump a flat surface, which means tapping your phone while it’s on a table, will not result in the rocking experienced with other phones.
This camera bar houses the rear cameras and LED flash and contrasts the phone’s colour with a silver finish. This design choice gives the Pixel 8 a more modern and unified look and is clearly distinguishable from competitors.
Performance
Google is really proud of its Tensor G3 mobile chip and for good reason, it helps the Pixel 8 deliver some impressive performance. When living with the phone, you’ll find apps launch quickly, for a really smooth experience. One of my favourite tests is to launch Pokemon Go, a game that typically takes a significant time to load. I can tell you that the Pixel 8 outperforms the 7 Pro, the new generation of phone at a much cheaper price point is now faster with this year’s best chip.
My phone usage is best described as a power user, often running multiple apps, back to back, throughout the day. Capturing media that uploads in the background, uploading to cloud storage. I’m also listening to streaming music, podcasts, or X Spaces while using social media, checking emails and browsing the web. To achieve this, I’m regularly switching between apps and this phone handles my multitasking with ease, allowing the rapid switching between apps without any noticeable lag.
The Pixel 8 is offered with a 4,575 mAh battery which Google says is good for up to 24 hours, or with extreme battery saver could get you as much as 72 hours in a pinch. While I could exhaust the battery in under 24 hours.. closer to 18 hours, I am a power user and most would not be as intensive as my use. On a regular day, I would see it easily making it to the changer on your bedside.
Something I really appreciated was the camera on the Pixel 8. Photography is often a big differentiator between the Pro and non-Pro models and yet, I really didn’t feel like I lost a lot, of these cameras, with the help of Google AI smarts. take amazing photos and videos. The Pixel 8 comes with a 50MP wide camera, a 12 MP ultrawide camera on the rear and the 10.5MP selfie camera does an equally good job up front.
Features
The Pixel 8 is packed with features that make it a compelling choice for Android users. The phone’s highlight is undoubtedly its camera, which has been further enhanced from the Pixel 7. The main camera now features a larger sensor and improved image processing, resulting in stunning photos and videos in all lighting conditions.
The Pixel 8 also features a number of AI-powered features, such as Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted objects from photos, and Super Res Zoom, which allows you to zoom in on photos without losing quality.
Other notable features of the Pixel 8 include a beautiful 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a long-lasting battery, and the latest version of Android 14.
The phone also features 5G connectivity, as most of us would expect in 2023. This ensures you’ll have fast and reliable data speeds and as 5G coverage continues to expand, you’ll get those higher speeds in more places. Having faster network speeds on your device is great, but if you find yourself needing to provide access for your family on a road trip, or colleagues at a cafe, having a faster 5G connection will allow each device to be provided with great speeds.
Issues
While the Pixel 8 is an impressive smartphone, however, none are perfect. The phone’s fingerprint sensor, located on the under-display, can be a bit finicky at times.
Price and Availability
The Google Pixel 8 is available now in two storage options, you can choose from 128GB or 256GB. If you are someone who leverages a lot of cloud storage for your media, you could save some money by opting for the 128GB option. If you’re someone who loves to install a lot of games and take lots of videos, then chances are the 256GB option is for you.
The 128GB model starts at A$999.00, while the 256GB model costs A$1,099, which to double your storage I think is well priced. The phone itself offers amazing value for the money and while the screen size of the Pixel 8 felt a little small coming from the 7 Pro, it’s great to have this option as many prefer this form factor.
The phone is available in a variety of colours, including Hazel, Obsidian or Rose. In reality, most of you will put cases on this, so the colour of the device will be virtually obscured.
Overall
The Google Pixel 8 is a refinement of its predecessor, offering a sleek design, powerful performance, and a host of useful features. The phone’s camera is particularly impressive, capturing stunning photos and videos in all lighting conditions. With its long list of features and competitive price, the Pixel 8 is an excellent choice for Android users looking for a high-end smartphone.
The Google Pixel 8 is a top-tier smartphone that offers a refined design, powerful performance, and a host of useful features. The phone’s camera is particularly impressive, capturing stunning photos and videos in all lighting conditions.
With its long list of features and competitive price, the Pixel 8 is an excellent choice for Android users looking for a high-end smartphone.
