ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Pixel 8 gives a flagship-level expertise with Google’s newest AI and machine studying options, all for beneath $700. Proper now, you should buy one for as little as $499 on Amazon.
- With quick efficiency, wonderful cameras, and Google’s Actua show, it is among the best smartphone offers accessible.
- In comparison with equally priced telephones, just like the Nothing Telephone 2, the Pixel 8 is a much better worth.
The Google Pixel 8 Professional could be getting all the eye these days (particularly because it’s the primary handset to achieve entry to Google’s new Gemini AI model), however the usual Pixel 8 could be the actual MVP of Google’s lineup this 12 months.
Additionally: I compared the Google Pixel 8a with every major sub-$500 Android phone – here’s my buying advice
That is as a result of the Pixel 8 gives among the best mixtures of specs, options, and premium design at a worth significantly decrease than the competitors. What’s extra, ever since Amazon Prime Day, Pixel 8 deals have been hovering around $499.
At that worth, the Pixel 8 shouldn’t be solely troublesome to disregard, however maybe the one cellphone you have to be considering of if you happen to’re buying on a finances. You will not discover one other cellphone prefer it beneath $500, and it is solely while you sift via the $800-$1,000 choices that you just discover commendable competitors.
A giant cause why that is such a compelling possibility is the Tensor G3 chip, Google’s newest in-house processor that powers the entire Pixel 8’s AI and machine studying options. It isn’t only a stable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 different, however a monumental cause why the Pixel 8 is such an excellent cellphone.
Evaluate: Google Pixel 8 Pro: This phone sold me on an AI-powered future
The chip powers all of the Google Pixel-ness of the Pixel 8, from transcribing voices within the Recorder app to letting you edit pictures to your coronary heart’s content material with the AI-powered Magic Editor. The Google Assistant additionally takes benefit of the G3 to course of your voice faster and even summarize net pages for rapidly consuming data. Alongside powering Google’s HDR pipeline for pictures, making certain Android 14 is slick and clean, the G3 is without doubt one of the most succesful smartphone chips available on the market. And when paired with 8GB of RAM, you may by no means have a gradual day.
The show is one other large cause to get this cellphone. The Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch Actua show is a bit smaller than the display screen on the Pixel 7, however that makes it simpler to carry in a single hand. It is also beautiful to have a look at; with a Full HD+ decision, a 120Hz refresh fee, and a pair of,000 nits of peak brightness, it is one of many brightest and clearest shows available on the market. Plus, it is OLED, so colours are vibrant and inky blacks are plentiful.
Additionally:
Look past the show and you will find a handsome cellphone crafted out of aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus. That includes Google’s signature digicam bar on the again and skinny bezels across the show, the Pixel 8 is a stunner amongst different sub-$700 telephones. It is also IP68-certified for mud and water resistance, and it is available in three good finishes: Obsidian (black), Hazel (kinda inexperienced), and Rose (extra of a golden peach, for my part).
In the case of Pixel telephones, there are two areas you need to speak about: cameras and software program.
On the digicam entrance, Google knocked it out of the park. The rear 50MP important shooter and 12MP ultra-wide are each glorious performers in broad daylight and at evening. The cameras simply match or outpace what you’d get with an iPhone 15 Professional or Galaxy S23 Extremely by way of readability, element, and sharpness, whereas colours are sometimes way more correct than they ever have been on a Pixel cellphone.
Additionally: Google just added a big feature to the Pixel camera, and two more could be on the way
You additionally get the entire digicam chops that the Pixel title carries like astrophotography, Tremendous ResZoom, twin publicity controls, and Extremely HDR. That is on high of different options like Greatest Take and Magic Editor that make these cameras the neatest you may discover. Plus, video high quality has been vastly improved over earlier Pixels — it is flat-out similar to the iPhone.
On the software program aspect, Google’s Pixel expertise atop Android 14 stays my favourite option to work together with Android. It is clear, minimal, and offers you a heat, inviting feeling that no different Android pores and skin can mimic. You get all of the options of Android 14 like customizable lock screens, higher safety, bigger fonts, and improved notifications, together with the entire Pixel options you can ask for, equivalent to Name Display, Now Taking part in, Direct My Name, AI-generated wallpapers, and –of course –the Pixel Launcher.
However the actual kicker within the software program division is Google’s prolonged help. The corporate is guaranteeing seven full years of software program help, which suggests you may get updates till 2030 if you happen to purchase this cellphone. That is remarkable for an Android cellphone, and it provides gadgets just like the iPhone a run for his or her cash.
Additionally: Google Pixel 8 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which model should you buy?
The Pixel 8 also can final all day on a cost due to the 4,575 mAh cell inside. With my medium to heavy utilization, I sometimes finish days with 30-40 % within the tank, which suggests anybody utilizing the cellphone a bit much less may stretch it out to final a day and a half. Plus, you get 30W quick charging to juice again up in addition to Qi wi-fi charging.
So, what are the downsides? Actually, there aren’t so much. The Pixel 8 nonetheless will get fairly heat after utilizing it for some time, however that is typical with Google’s Tensor processors. I additionally want there was a correct telephoto digicam on the again; Tremendous Res Zoom is helpful for upscaling digitally zoomed pictures, however it may solely take you to this point. Oh, and I nonetheless do not belief Face Unlock; Google enables you to use it to pay for issues now utilizing Google Pay, however it nonetheless depends on a flat picture of your face to authenticate you.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
You are not going to discover a significantly better worth than the Pixel 8. From the beautiful show and design to the speedy efficiency and wonderful cameras, Google’s commonplace flagship cellphone stands by itself with an impeccable stability of high-end options for a cheaper price than different flagships.
Additionally: Google Pixel 9, Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold: Specs, features, and everything else we know so far
With its sale worth of $499, the closest competitors occurs to be the Galaxy S23 FE and Nothing Phone (2), two gadgets which might be completely worthy of a spot in your pocket however do not supply the identical worth because the Pixel 8. Google’s cellphone is a correct flagship with seven years of software program help, the most recent AI options, and the corporate’s newest digicam methods. The Telephone (2) and S23 FE are high-end mid-rangers that stability specs and worth effectively, however do not feel as high-end because the Pixel does.
Anybody searching for an Android cellphone beneath $600 — not to mention beneath $700 — ought to look to the Pixel 8. The worth is solely unbelievable, and it is by far among the best telephones of the 12 months.
