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In-depth Assessment of Google Pixel 8: An appealing small high-end smartphone requiring a price reduction
For those who appreciate small high-end smartphones, the Google Pixel 8 is a great overall choice provided you can get it for less than Rs 60,000.
Positive Aspects: – High-end construction and finish – Small, waterproof design with IP68 rating – Superior main camera, enhanced ultra-wide camera – Crisp, bright 120Hz OLED screen – Seamless and uncluttered Android 14 interface – Assurance of 7 years of software updates – Decent overall functioning after several updates.
Drawbacks: The charging process is sluggish and it doesn't come with a charger. The Tensor G3 often slows down when it's overworked. It still doesn't have a telephoto camera. It's also pricey.
Score: 3.75 out of 5. Cost range: From INR 75,999 up to INR 82
We've been testing out the Google Pixel 8 for several months now. We were impressed enough with it by the conclusion of last year to include it in our 2023 roundup of top smartphones. Some high-end phones improve and stabilize over time, thanks to a series of updates that rectify initial issues. Google Pixel phones perfectly illustrate this trend. So, we decided to spend some more time with the Pixel 8, and now we're ready to share all the essential details about it.
Design of Google Pixel 8: Small and robust construction, high-end finish and texture – Google has made only minor alterations to the Pixel 8 design, however, they fit perfectly. The phone continues to embody the distinctive Pixel design style and it feels comfortable to hold due to its small dimensions. The weight is maintained at less than 190 grams. The construction is tough with a luxurious finish, attributed to an aluminum frame and glass backside. The IP68 certification for dust and water resistance is still present. The screen remains flat but the corners are a bit curved, enhancing its visual appeal and touch.
The edges of the phone are significantly slimmer, particularly the lower edge, which reduces the overall height of the phone by a few millimeters. The screen and back are shielded from scuffs and scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The Rose (which more closely resembles Rose Gold) version we reviewed hardly shows any fingerprints or smudges. The metallic sides perfectly accent the back of the phone. The metallic coating also covers the unique camera strip on the back, a feature that has been a part of the last three, if not more, versions of this phone.
The volume and power controls are conveniently located on the right side of the device. They, along with the integrated fingerprint sensor, are positioned so that they can be easily reached without having to overly extend one's fingers. Although the sensor isn't the top-of-the-line, it's certainly superior to the one found in the Pixel 7 series. The SIM card holder is on the left side of the phone, and the bottom houses the USB-C port and a speaker. However, the device lacks a memory card slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The Google Pixel 8 screen offers a crisp and vibrant display, now featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. Google has slightly decreased the display size without compromising on resolution, enhancing the pixel density. The Pixel 8 boasts a compact 6.2-inch Full HD+ OLED display, with 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 is HDR10+ certified, offers brilliant brightness, sharpness, and excellent color accuracy and contrast right out of the box.
It's beneficial that they've calibrated it effectively since there are minimal colour alterations available. Only two options are available – Adaptive and Natural. The first one enhances the vibrancy of the colours a bit, whereas the second one maintains their originality. You should experiment with both and select the one that matches your preference. You also have the option of an always-on display if that's what you prefer. The display leaves almost no scope for grievances and in numerous aspects, it's one of the phone's key highlights.
The Google Pixel 8's performance and hardware are decent, but they don't quite reach the standards of top-tier models. The device runs on Google's third-generation Tensor G3 processor, which is also found in the Pixel 8 Pro. Although this processor is fairly strong, it doesn't compare to the raw processing strength of the last two generations of Qualcomm's premier chips, like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Gen 3. However, it's important to note that the Tensor G3's AI processing abilities may not be fully represented in common synthetic benchmark scores.
The device provides 8GB RAM and a choice between 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, although some competitors have been providing the quicker UFS 4.0 storage since the beginning of 2023. Turning to its performance, the Tensor G3 effortlessly handles daily tasks such as using social media or messaging apps, viewing video content, surfing the web, and seamlessly switching between various browser tabs. Initially, the phone tended to become slightly warm during the initial stages of our trial, but it now maintains a cooler temperature for extended periods.
The phone usually remains at a cool temperature, but tends to heat up a bit after half an hour of playing games or taking numerous consecutive photos. While the heat isn't excessively high, the performance does decrease significantly as the device gets warmer. In some instances, performance can fall to half its usual level, as evidenced by the 3D Mark stress test image provided. We conducted several synthetic benchmarks to evaluate the phone's performance and compare it to its predecessor, the Tensor G2, which powers the Pixel 7 series.
The image below provides the benchmark scores, but I'll give you 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 significant 50% higher than the other two chips, thanks to its 3 GHz Cortex-X3 core that commands the nona-core chipset. However, its multi-core score is sandwiched in between the two, with a 15% increase from the G2 and 10% less than the Qualcomm chip.
During the 3D Mark Wild Life gaming tests, we noticed a 33% increase in performance compared to the Tensor G2. However, it still significantly lags behind the capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, trailing by about 30%. Despite this, the Pixel 8's gaming performance in real life usage is fairly good, and it can handle most games available. For some games, you may need to reduce the graphics settings to maintain a smooth frame rate.
The phone comes equipped with dual speakers, positioned at the earpiece and the bottom of the phone, delivering strong, clear sound with effective stereo separation. It is compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and offers tri-band WiFi supporting a wide range of standards including a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7. We found the call quality and reception to be excellent throughout our testing phase. Plus, it also supports 5G technology.
The battery performance of the Google Pixel 8 is satisfactory. Although there is an increase in battery capacity from 4355 mAh in the Pixel 7 to 4575 mAh in the Pixel 8, the actual battery lifespan doesn't show much difference. Initially, the Pixel 8's battery performance was not as good as the Pixel 7's. However, after several updates and improvements, the battery can now last more than a day with moderate usage, or around 28 to 30 hours, which is reasonable for a small-sized phone. There's no rapid charging feature though.
The time it takes to charge has seen a slight upgrade from its previous version, but it still falls short when compared to current norms. It's even lagging behind the benchmarks established by some Chinese companies five years ago. The Pixel can handle 27W rapid charging with USB-PD 3.0 chargers, which is a 7W increase from the maximum capacity of the Pixel 7. Therefore, using a 30W charger instead of a 20W one can boost the charging rate, albeit not significantly, which wasn't the case with the 7.
Google continues to not include a charger with their products, providing only a USB-C cable. We tested a variety of 20W, 25W, 30W, and higher power USB-PD chargers from third-party manufacturers. The quickest charging time we recorded for the Pixel 8, from 1% to 100%, was 88 minutes. This is 7 minutes quicker than the fastest time for the Pixel 7. In terms of current high-end devices, it seems that only Apple's products charge slower. The OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14 can fully charge in less than 40 minutes. If Google can't achieve that speed, I hope they aim for under an hour with the Pixel 9.
The camera performance of the Google Pixel 8 is excellent, featuring a superior main camera and an upgraded ultra-wide camera. Despite the resemblance to the Pixel 7’s cameras, the Pixel 8’s cameras are superior. It boasts a 50MP primary camera equipped with Laser auto-focus, optical image stabilisation (OIS) and a wider f/1.7 aperture. The 12MP ultra-wide camera has an expanded 126-degree field of view. Moreover, it includes auto-focus, which allows it to function as a high-quality macro camera, a feature the Pixel 7 lacked. However, a specialized telephoto camera, which is found in the Pro models, remains unavailable.
The primary camera takes outstanding photos in both well-lit and dim environments. The color representation is quite precise and the scope of light and dark is exceptional. Pixel phones have always been known for their superior contrast, and the Pixel 8 is no exception. The photos taken display a high level of detail, evident in the sample pictures provided at the conclusion of this portion. The camera also performs exceptionally well in low light conditions.
When the lighting conditions are poor, the phone intuitively shifts to Night Sight mode. This feature illuminates the image adequately without sacrificing its quality or detail. The level of detail obtained is usually similar to that of photos taken in well-lit conditions. Pixel phones have long been renowned for their excellence in portrait photography, a reputation that continues with the Pixel 8. When taking portrait photos, the edge detection is extremely accurate, resulting in almost flawless background separation. This function performs well not only on people but also on various other subjects, as demonstrated by the camera samples.
As I previously noted, this device does not have a specialized long-distance camera. However, the camera application does provide a 2X zoom feature, which could be described as a combination of digital and optical zoom. While I wouldn't call them without any loss in quality, the photos taken at 2X zoom are quite good and are comparable to those taken using an optical zoom. You have the ability to zoom in up to 8X, but the image quality significantly decreases and becomes visibly blurry beyond 5X, with a considerable reduction in detail. The AI can enhance the image quality up to 5X.
Shifting focus to the 12MP ultra-wide camera, it delivers satisfactory results in adequate lighting, with color and dynamic range similar to the primary camera. The colors may seem a touch oversaturated at times, but this isn't typically seen as a problem. It also does a decent job in low light conditions, though the colors appear somewhat subdued and the detail doesn't quite match up to the primary camera. The ultra-wide camera of the Pixel 8 features auto-focus, enabling it to take impressive close-up macro shots.
The smartphone comes equipped with a 10.5MP selfie camera, which is a slight decrease from the 10.8MP camera on the Pixel 7. However, the quality remains high. The front camera snaps great selfies with realistic skin tones. It boasts a relatively wide field of view and is capable of taking more than satisfactory portrait selfies. All the cameras on the device have the ability to shoot 4K videos at 24, 30 and 60 frames per second, while the back cameras can capture slow-motion 1080p videos at up to 240 frames per second. The inclusion of OIS and gyro-EIS ensure stable footage. An option for 10-bit HDR is also provided. The videos recorded from the rear cameras are sharp, stable and impressive for this price range.
Click this link to view raw camera shots taken with the Google Pixel 8.
The operating system and user interface of Google Pixel 8 are considered top-notch for Android. As a Pixel device, it offers the most uncluttered and exceptional Android 14 experience currently available. It provides a straightforward Android experience, free from unnecessary software, and incorporates the Material You design aesthetic. The user interface is smooth, devoid of any significant lag, and any major glitches have been eliminated. Minor problems that were initially identified following the phone's launch have since been resolved.
The Pixel 8 operates on the most recent version of Android 14, which includes the March 2024 security update. Users can anticipate regular updates in the future. Remarkably, Google has committed to providing 7 years of software updates for the Pixel 8 series. This smartphone comes with a variety of practical features to experiment with, as well as well-known Google apps that are smoothly incorporated.
Whether you're using Google Lens for object identification, speech recognition, or translation, the functionality is impressive. There are also additional features for the camera such as Magic Eraser and Camouflage that allow you to modify or improve your photos. Google consistently updates this gadget with new features, now including enhanced options powered by Google AI. Be sure to check Pixel Tips regularly to discover any new or improved features for the Pixel 8.
The Google Pixel 8 is selling at Rs 75,999 for the 128GB model and Rs 82,999 for the 256GB model in India, each accompanied by a one-year guarantee. This price is notably Rs 16,000 more than the initial cost of the Pixel 7. We delayed publishing this review in anticipation of a possible price reduction, which unfortunately, did not materialize. There's a chance to secure an immediate Rs 10,000 discount with the correct credit card when purchasing the Pixel 8. However, even with this discount, the price seems slightly steep. Let's delve into why this is the case.
The Pixel 7 Pro, which boasts better features except for the processor, is presently available for Rs 66,999 for the 128GB model. Despite being equipped with the older Tensor G2 chip, it still offers sufficient power for most activities. Additionally, it comes with a higher resolution screen and a more advanced camera system, including the impressive telephoto camera that the Pixel 8 lacks.
The Pixel 7, which doesn't vary significantly from the Pixel 8, can be purchased for as little as 45K. Given this substantial price gap, it's difficult to endorse the Pixel 8 at its present cost. Although it surpasses the Pixel 7 in several aspects, it's not worth the high premium. It's not just the previous generation Google phones that are vying with the Pixel 8, there are also more potent current flagship models like the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14 that are priced much lower. The Apple iPhone 15 can also be included in this comparison.
The Google Pixel 8 is by no means a subpar device. In truth, it was one of the standout smartphones of 2023, and it continues to impress us. However, the arrival of 2024 has brought forth new competitors, and the Pixel 8 needs to adjust accordingly to offer users better value for their money. At the moment, it appears Google is emulating Apple's pricing tactic, where their new phones become a valuable purchase a year after their release, when prices decrease around holiday times. If this happens, the Pixel 8 would be worth considering, especially if you can find it priced below 60K in the near future.
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