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Long-Term Assessment of Google Pixel 8: An appealing small high-end phone that requires a price reduction
The Google Pixel 8 is a highly recommended versatile choice for those who prefer small, high-end phones, especially if it can be found for less than Rs 60,000.
Advantages: – High-quality construction and finish – Small design featuring IP68 protection against dust and water – Superior main camera, enhanced ultra-wide camera – Crisp and lively 120Hz OLED screen – Seamless and uncluttered Android 14 user interface – Assurance of 7 years of software updates – Decent overall performance following several updates.
Downsides: The charging process is not quick; there's no included charger- The Tensor G3 tends to slow down when heavily used- It doesn't have a telephoto camera yet- It's high-priced.
Score: 3.75 out of 5. The cost ranges from INR 75,999 to INR 82,
We've had the Google Pixel 8 in our possession for a few months. To such an extent that, by the conclusion of the previous year, we were familiar enough with it to include it in our roundup of the top smartphones of 2023. However, there are specific high-end phones that actually improve and become more reliable as they receive several updates to address initial glitches. Google Pixel phones perfectly illustrate this point. Therefore, we decided to extend our use of the Pixel 8, and now it's time to share all the essential details about it.
The design of the Google Pixel 8 is both compact and robust, with a high-end finish and touch. There have only been minor tweaks to the design of the Pixel 8, but they've all been effective. The phone maintains its characteristic Pixel design and is comfortable to hold due to its small size. It weighs less than 190 grams. The construction is durable with a high-quality finish, courtesy of an aluminium frame and glass back. It also retains its IP68 rating for resistance to dust and liquids. Although the screen remains flat, the edges have been delicately rounded, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and tactile experience.
The borders around the screen are noticeably slimmer, particularly the bottom one, which effectively reduces the overall height of the phone by a few millimeters. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus shields both the screen and the back from any potential scratches. Fingerprints and smudges are hardly noticeable on the Rose (which resembles Rose Gold) version that we received for assessment. The metal edges beautifully accent the back. The metal finish also continues onto the unique camera strip on the back, a feature that has been consistent in at least the last three versions of this phone.
The power button and volume controls are conveniently located on the right side of the phone. They, along with the in-screen fingerprint reader, are easy to reach without overextending one's fingers. Although the fingerprint reader isn't the best available, it's certainly better than the one found in the Pixel 7 series. The left side of the phone houses the SIM card tray, while a USB-C port and speaker are situated on the bottom. However, the phone does not have a memory card slot or a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The display on the Google Pixel 8 is crisp and vivid, now boasting a 120Hz refresh rate. Google has slightly decreased the display size without compromising resolution, which enhances pixel density. The Pixel 8 comes with a compact 6.2-inch Full HD+ OLED display, offering a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a maximum brightness of 2000 nits. For the first time, a non-Pro Pixel device has achieved a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen, which complies with HDR10+, presents vibrant colors and superior contrast right out of the package.
It's fortunate that the tuning is spot on since there aren't many options for adjusting the colours. The two modes available are Adaptive and Natural. The Adaptive mode brings a bit more vibrancy to the colours, while the Natural mode maintains an authentic look. Experiment with both to find what best fits your preferences. An always-on display is also an option if that's what you like. There's hardly any room for criticism with the display, and in many respects, it's one of the phone's most notable features.
The Google Pixel 8's hardware and performance are decent, but not quite on par with top-tier devices. The device is driven by Google's Tensor G3 chip, which is also used in the Pixel 8 Pro. Despite being fairly potent, it doesn't hold up against the previous two Qualcomm flagship processors, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3, in terms of sheer processing prowess. However, it's important to note the Tensor G3's ability to handle AI tasks, an aspect that may not be evident in standard synthetic benchmark results.
This device comes with 8GB of RAM and a choice of either 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. Notably, some rival devices have been providing the more advanced UFS 4.0 storage since the beginning of 2023. As for its performance, the Tensor G3 handles everyday tasks such as using social media and messaging apps, watching videos, surfing the web, and multitasking with multiple browser tabs with ease. Initially, during our testing phase, the phone tended to warm up slightly, but it now manages to maintain a cooler temperature for extended periods.
The phone typically remains cool, but it may heat up a bit after half an hour of playing games or capturing numerous photos consecutively. While the heat doesn't become a cause for concern, the device's performance tends to slow down significantly as it warms up. In some instances, the performance decreases to half, as evidenced by the 3D Mark stress test image below. We also conducted a few synthetic benchmarks to measure its performance and compare it with its previous model, the Tensor G2, which is the power behind the Pixel 7 series.
The image below displays the benchmark scores, but I will also provide a comparison of its performance with its predecessor and the OnePlus 11 5G, which uses Qualcomm's previous generation flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Notably, the Tensor G3's Geekbench 6 single-core score is a whopping 50% higher than the other two chips, thanks to its 3 GHz Cortex-X3 core that controls the nona-core chipset. However, its multi-core score is sandwiched between the two, showing a 15% increase over the G2 and 10% less than the Qualcomm chip.
In the 3D Mark Wild Life gaming tests, we noticed a 33% increase in performance compared to the Tensor G2. Yet, it still falls significantly short of what the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 can attain, as the Tensor G3 lags behind by about 30%. That being said, the actual gaming performance of the Pixel 8 is fairly good, and it can handle most games. However, you might need to reduce the graphics quality in some instances to ensure smooth frame rates.
The phone features dual speakers, one situated at the back of the earpiece, and the other located at the phone's lower part. Together, they deliver a considerably loud and robust sound, along with superior stereo separation. The device is compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and includes tri-band WiFi supporting a range of standards including a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7. Throughout our testing phase, the call quality and reception showed no issues. Additionally, the phone is 5G ready.
The battery performance of the Google Pixel 8 is satisfactory. Though the battery size has grown from 4355 mAh in the Pixel 7 to 4575 mAh in this model, the actual duration of the battery isn't significantly different. Interestingly, initial tests revealed a poorer battery life than the Pixel 7. However, with several updates and improvements, the battery now sustains well over a day's worth of average use, approximately 28 to 30 hours, which is decent for a smaller-sized phone.
The speed of charging has seen a slight upgrade compared to the previous model, but still falls short when compared to contemporary standards; it's not even on par with the benchmarks established by multiple Chinese manufacturers five years ago. The Pixel can utilize 27W fast charging with USB-PD 3.0 chargers, which is a 7W improvement from the maximum capacity of the Pixel 7. Therefore, opting for a 30W charger instead of a 20W one does increase the charging rate here, albeit not significantly, which is not the case with the 7.
Google continues to exclude a charger from its package, providing only a USB-C cable. We experimented with a variety of third-party chargers, ranging from 20W to over 30W USB-PD chargers. The quickest charging time we registered for the Pixel 8, from 1% to 100%, was 88 minutes – which is 7 minutes faster than the Pixel 7's maximum speed. From the current range of high-end devices, I think only those from Apple charge at a slower pace. The OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14 can both fully charge in less than 40 minutes. If they can't match this speed, I hope that Google aims to charge the Pixel 9 in under an hour at least.
The camera performance of the Google Pixel 8 is impressive, especially the primary camera and the enhanced ultra-wide camera. Though they might seem like the Pixel 7 cameras, they are superior. The main camera is a 50MP camera equipped with Laser auto-focus, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and a wider f/1.7 aperture. The ultra-wide camera is a 12MP camera with an expanded 126-degree field of view, and crucially, it includes auto-focus, allowing it to function as a high-quality macro camera, a feature that was not present in the Pixel 7. However, the specialized telephoto camera that is included in the Pro models is still not available.
The primary camera takes impressive photos in both well-lit and poorly-lit environments. The color representation is quite true-to-life and the depth of field is exceptional. Pixel phones have consistently had superior contrast features over the years, and the Pixel 8 is no exception. The photos taken showcase remarkable detail, as can be seen in the sample images provided at the end of this section. Its performance in low light conditions is also among the top-tier.
When the lighting is dim, the phone instinctively changes to Night Sight mode, enhancing the picture's brightness just enough without overdoing it or sacrificing detail. The level of detail captured is frequently similar to that taken in well-lit conditions. Pixel phones have had a strong affinity for portrait photography for quite some time, and this bond continues with the Pixel 8. The ability to detect edges in portrait photos is extremely precise, with an almost flawless distinction between the subject and the background. This feature works great on both humans and other objects, as can be seen in the camera samples.
As previously stated, this device lacks a specific telephoto camera. However, the camera application provides a 2X zoom function, which could be described as either hybrid or digital. Even though the zoomed-in images aren't completely lossless, they are of a decent quality, comparable to what one might anticipate from an optical zoom. The zoom function extends up to 8X, but the image quality significantly decreases and becomes rather blurry after 5X. Up to 5X, the AI does a commendable job in maintaining the image quality.
Switching focus to the 12MP ultra-wide camera, it delivers impressive results in ample lighting, with similar colour and dynamic range to the primary camera. There are instances where the colours appear a bit oversaturated, however, most people won't find any issue with this. It also manages to perform decently under low light conditions, though the colours seem a bit dull and the detail doesn't quite match up to that of the main camera. The ultra-wide camera on the Pixel 8 comes with auto-focus, enabling it to take quite impressive close-up macro shots.
The device comes with a 10.5MP front-facing camera, which is slightly lower than the 10.8MP camera found on the Pixel 7. However, the performance remains consistent. The selfie camera takes great pictures with realistic skin tones. With a wide field of view, it's capable of producing more than satisfactory portrait selfies. All the cameras on the device have the capability to shoot 4K videos at various speeds, including 24, 30, and 60 frames per second. The back cameras have the ability to shoot slow-motion videos in 1080p up to 240 frames per second. With the help of OIS and gyro-EIS, the footage captured is stable. There is also an option for 10-bit HDR. The videos shot from the back cameras are clear, steady, and impressive for this range.
Click this link to view untouched photo samples taken with the Google Pixel 8.
The operating system and user interface of the Google Pixel 8 are top-notch for Android devices. As a Pixel product, it offers the most refined Android 14 experience currently available. It provides a pure Android experience, free of any superfluous software, and utilizes the Material You design aesthetic. The user interface is smooth, free of lag, and devoid of any substantial glitches. Any minor problems that were initially present after the phone's release have since been resolved.
The Pixel 8 operates on the most recent version of Android 14, inclusive of the March 2024 security patch, with the anticipation of frequent updates in the future. Google has indeed committed to providing 7 years of software updates for the Pixel 8 series, which is quite impressive. This phone comes with a variety of handy tools and well-known Google apps that are smoothly incorporated.
Whether it's identifying objects with Google Lens or using speech recognition or translation, everything functions smoothly. Also, there are some software features for the camera, such as Magic Eraser and Camouflage, that let you modify or improve your photos. Google has consistently updated this gadget with new features, now including enhanced Google AI-powered options. Remember to regularly browse through Pixel Tips to discover new and improved features of the Pixel 8.
The Google Pixel 8 is currently retailing in India for Rs 75,999 for the 128GB model and Rs 82,999 for the 256GB model, each coming with a one-year warranty. This is a significant increase of Rs 16,000 from the initial launch price of the Pixel 7. Our review was delayed in anticipation of a potential price reduction, but unfortunately, this did not occur. However, there is an offer for an immediate discount of Rs 10,000 on the Pixel 8 with the use of certain credit cards. Still, even with this discount, the cost appears to be a bit steeper than expected. Allow me to elaborate on this.
The Pixel 7 Pro, which boasts superior features except for its processor, is currently available at Rs 66,999 for the 128GB version. Despite being powered by the slightly outdated Tensor G2 chip, it's still quite potent for the majority of tasks. It also offers a display with a higher resolution and a superior camera system, including an incredible telephoto camera absent in the Pixel 8.
The Pixel 7, which doesn't significantly differ from the Pixel 8, can be purchased for a mere 45K. Given the substantial price difference, it's difficult to advocate for the Pixel 8 at its current cost. Even though it slightly outperforms the Pixel 7 in various aspects, the high price tag isn't justifiable. Not only are previous generation Google phones competing with the Pixel 8, but there are also contemporary high-end smartphones like the OnePlus 12 and the Xiaomi 14 that are available for considerably less. The Apple iPhone 15 can also be included in this competition.
The Google Pixel 8 is by no means a sub-par phone. Indeed, it was among the top smartphones of 2023, and it continues to be a favorite. However, 2024 has introduced new competitors, requiring it to step up its game to offer users more bang for their buck. Currently, it appears Google has borrowed Apple's pricing approach, where their new phones become a more worthwhile purchase a year later after a price decrease around holiday times. If this scenario occurs, the Pixel 8 would be a worthwhile investment, especially if you can find it for less than 60K in the near future.
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