After thoroughly reviewing the Pixel 8 Pro, we wanted to test out the Google Pixel 8, its smaller sibling. Additionally, take notice that the update has already been carried out to our review model, therefore this is a review of the Google Pixel 8 following the OS update. We really want to suggest the Google Pixel 8 smartphone to everyone, but should we? That is exactly what you will learn in this review.
In This Article
Google Pixel 8 Review: Design and Display
The Google Pixel 8 Series has two variants: the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 8, which is the one we will be discussing. Being the Pro variant, it has an additional telephoto lens, a larger screen, and a few more capabilities.
Personally speaking, we are not a great fan of a device very big in size because, firstly, we have small hands, and the second reason is that such a big smartphone does not fit in our pockets; hence, it is obvious that our pockets are made smaller. We prefer the size of the Pixel 8. It features a gorgeous-looking 6.2-inch FHD+ Actua display with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels. There is an adjustable refresh rate range of 60Hz to 120Hz supported by the OLED panel. With a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, it is 42% brighter than its predecessor.
We have been using this phone as our daily driver for the past month and we love its excellent display. After using the OnePlus Open (Review)for a while, we moved to the Pixel 8. The colour reproduction is more realistic and accurate. Furthermore, we played games like COD: Mobile on the device and we were very happy with the results. The sunlight legibility of the device is also good and one can easily read everything on the screen under direct sunlight.
All things considered, it’s a stylish phone with rounded edges. Although the rear is made of a somewhat glossy material attracting fingerprints, which can be removed with ease. With two camera sensors, the visor-shaped camera module is more prominent than before, at the back.
The front panel is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. As a result, the gadget is shielded against occasional damage and scuffs.
Also Read: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: AI Features, Hit or Miss?
Google Pixel 8 Review: Performance and Cameras
Coming to the performance, there is a Tensor G3 SoC with a Titan M2 security coprocessor engineered to bring Google’s AI advances. Tensor G3 is a 4-nanometer-based processor that is supposed to be significantly more power-efficient and cooler than its predecessor. It comes in two variants: 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage and 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage.
We are happy to report that in the almost two months that we have used this phone as our main device, we have experienced no lags, stutters, or heating problems. The phone did not provide an overheating warning, in contrast to the Pixel 7 (Review). When gaming for extended periods, it does feel a little warm, but this is completely normal and doesn’t affect your experience in any way. You turn the game off and it cools down very quickly.
Saying that one has to remember the Tensor G3 is not designed for gaming and is not as adept at multitasking as the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Review) or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review). Thus, this is a machine learning-based AI-forward chipset that has distinct objectives. However, the performance is excellent when you multitask, watch a lot of videos, or are even great at gaming.
The cost of this phone is what surprised us. There are several smartphones that are more capable of both gaming and performance. Therefore, we won’t advise you to play games at their top settings if you purchase this device.
Other than that, the performance of this smartphone is extremely good when compared to its predecessor, and we had a great time using it. It performed well when it came to multitasking, camera shots, and watching a lot of OTT content (as said). Overall, the experience was quite smooth and without any noticeable lags.
Also Read: Google Pixel 7 review: Is this an all-rounder phone?
The most recent version of Android, Android 14, which comes pre-installed with Pixel-only features, also extends Pixel support to seven years of security and OS updates for the phone. This is the best in class and the first time we see 7 years of updates coming into play.
Yes, the main USP of this phone is that the manufacturer is offering seven years of OS updates, so you won’t have to worry about anything until 2030. Note that Apple, Google’s main competition, only offers six years of software updates.
Using Android 14 is easy, and the user interface is generally fluid. We had a great time using Always on Display and the customised Android lock screen animations. It has no bloatware and is 100% stock Android.
But there is a software-related issue with the Pixel 8, and we want you to know if you intend to buy this device. The issue is that the device sometimes crashes and hangs. Occasionally the apps will just not open and the phone will start to hang at times, which is pretty strange. We are sure this will be taken care of after the next update.
Our consideration of a Pixel is primarily based on its software experience and camera optimisation. The device features a primary 50MP Octa PD sensor with an f/1.68 aperture, an 82-degree field of view, a 1/1.31-inch image sensor size, and Super Res Zoom up to 8x. The secondary camera on the device is a 12 MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus, 1.25 μm pixel width, f/2.2 aperture, 125.8-degree field of view, as well as a lens correction feature.
Pixel 8 captures accurate pictures, meaning that in the majority of the shots, the white balance is just what it was in that particular scenario. Additionally, colours are almost natural. Because the Pixel tends to apply the HDR effect to its images, the pictures may occasionally appear a little oversharpened. However, altogether, this phone takes incredibly sharp pictures.
Additionally, be aware that the 50-megapixel snapshot you receive is always reduced in quality because Pro control is limited to the Pixel 8 Pro.
The phone’s portrait mode is pretty great, and we adore the pictures it shoots.
For videography, the Pixel 8 can do up to 4K at 60fps videos. It supports 10-bit HDR recording and includes Gyro EIS. Although they are not as nice as those on the iPhone, the videos are still decent.
For selfies, it has a 10.5-megapixel dual PD sensor with a 1.22 μm pixel width, f/2.2 aperture, 95-degree field of view, and fixed focus. We got decent-looking selfies with it, though not as good as its elder sibling, but not bad at all.
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Now let’s talk about the battery and charging. The Pixel 8 comes with a 4,485mAh battery with 24W wired, 12W wireless fast charging support and does reverse charging as well. The battery life is good; it delivers around 6 to 7 hours of continuous screen play time on average for normal usage, including using social media accounts, watching videos on YouTube, and some gaming. Note that this is an improved screen on time, which we received after an update; previously, it was able to deliver about 4 to 5 hours. Overall, you will receive an average battery life, but if you play a lot of games and watch a lot of movies, you can just end up draining the battery in a single day.
The charging speed is about average, it is not particularly fast or slow. Also, there is no charger in the box.
Verdict
We examined this phone for several months before we gave our final verdict because of few concerns, including heating issues, delays, and soft locking. But after the update trust us, this Pixel Phone has lived up to our expectations in most departments eradicating any doubts we had. After updating. the phone does not tend to overheat, at least in our testing. We know you would be thinking, “How is the performance when you spend so much money on a smartphone?”
Also Read: Pixel 7 Pro Review: Why you should get the phone
After using this phone for so long, we’ve concluded that if you are a hardcore gamer and play games at the highest settings and want a flawless gaming experience, then this phone isn’t designed to be a high-performance gaming device. Even though it’s quite fantastic for gaming, if you dial down to medium settings, you’ll undoubtedly obtain a smooth frame rate.
Also, you do end up getting 7 years of updates when you buy the Pixel 8. The main question, though, is if the Tensor G3 can run the most recent version of Android for seven years. Time will tell if the company withdraws its claim, which is probably going to happen given that it isn’t as fast and capable as Qualcomm’s most recent flagship CPU or Apple’s in-house chipset.
The Pixel series this year has gotten rather pricey, just like in previous years. Thus, the Pixel 8 price in India starts at Rs 76,000. It’s really a mixed bag.
The Pixel 8 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to purchase a smartphone for photography purposes.
