Key Takeaways for ZDNET
- the Pixel 8 It offers a ground-breaking experience with Google’s latest AI and machine learning features, all for less than $700. You can now buy one for as low as $549.
- With fast performance, amazing cameras, and Actua display, it’s one of the best smartphone offerings out there.
- Compared to similarly priced phones, like the Nothing Phone 2, the Pixel 8 represents much better value.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro may be getting all the attention at the moment (especially since it’s the first phone to gain access to Google’s new Gemini AI model), but the standard Pixel 8 may be the real MVP in Google’s lineup this year.
review: Google Pixel 8 Pro: This phone sold me on an AI-powered future
This is because the Pixel 8 offers one of the best sets of specifications, features, and premium design at a much lower price than competitors. What’s more, we are now at the end of the year, Pixel 8 deals are hovering around $549.
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Google Pixel 8
The Google Pixel 8 features the new Tensor G3 processor, the first Actua display on a Pixel, dual rear cameras, and Android 14 with seven years of software updates.
At this price, the Pixel 8 is not only hard to ignore, it’s probably the only phone you should consider if you’re shopping on a budget. You won’t find another phone like it for under $600, and it’s only when you sift through the $800-$1,000 options that you find worthy competition.
One of the main reasons why this option is so compelling is the Tensor G3 chip, Google’s latest in-house processor that powers all of the Pixel 8’s AI and machine learning features. It’s not just a powerful alternative to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it’s a huge reason why the Pixel 8 is a phone. Great.
The chip powers all the Google Pixel-ness in the Pixel 8, from transcribing sounds in the Recorder app to letting you edit photos to your heart’s content with the AI-powered Magic Editor. Google Assistant also takes advantage of the G3 to process your voice faster and even summarize web pages to quickly digest information. Besides powering Google’s HDR line of photography, ensuring Android 14 is smooth and smooth, the G3 is one of the most capable smartphone chipsets on the market. And when combined with 8GB of RAM, your day will never be slow.
The display is another big reason to get this phone. The Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch Actua display is slightly smaller than the Pixel 7’s, but that makes it easier to hold with one hand. It’s also stunning to look at; With a Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,000 nits of peak brightness, it’s one of the brightest and clearest displays on the market. Plus, it’s OLED, so colors are vibrant and deep blacks are plentiful.
Also: Best camera phones: Take crystal clear photos, videos, and selfies
Look beyond the display and you’ll find a good-looking phone made of aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus. Featuring Google’s signature camera strip on the back and thin bezels around the screen, the Pixel 8 stands out among other phones under $700. It’s also IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, and comes in three beautiful colors: Obsidian (black), Hazel (kinda green), and Rose (more of a golden peach, in my opinion).
When it comes to Pixel phones, there are two areas you should talk about: cameras and software.
On the camera front, Google knocked it out of the park. The 50MP main rear camera and 12MP ultra-wide camera are excellent performers in both daylight and night. The cameras easily match or beat what you’ll get with the iPhone 15 Pro or Galaxy S23 Ultra in terms of clarity, detail, and sharpness, while colors are often far more accurate than they’ve ever been on a Pixel phone. You also get all the Pixel’s signature camera stuff like astrophotography, Super ResZoom, double exposure controls, and Ultra HDR. This and other features like Best Take and Magic Editor make these cameras the smartest cameras you will find. Additionally, video quality is greatly improved over previous Pixels – and is quite comparable to the iPhone.
On the software side, the Google Pixel experience on Android 14 remains the preferred way to interact with Android. It’s clean, simple, and gives you a warm, inviting feeling that no other Android skin can replicate. You get all the features of Android 14 like customizable lock screens, better security, larger fonts, and improved notifications along with all the Pixel features you could ask for like call screen, play now, forward my call, AI-generated wallpapers, and – Of course – Pixel Launcher.
But the real advantage in the software department is the extended support that Google offers. The company guarantees seven full years of software support, which means you will get updates until 2030 if you buy this phone. This is almost unheard of for an Android phone, and it gives devices like the iPhone a run for their money.
also: Google Pixel 8 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which model should you buy?
The Pixel 8 can also last all day on a charge thanks to its 4,575 mAh cell. With my moderate to heavy usage, I usually end my days with 30-40 percent in the tank, which means anyone who uses the phone a little less can extend it to last a day and a half. Additionally, you get 30W fast charging for backup as well as Qi wireless charging.
So, what are the negatives? Honestly, there’s not much. The Pixel 8 stays pretty warm after using it for a while, but that’s the case with Google’s Tensor processors. I also wish there was a proper telephoto camera on the back; Super Res Zoom is useful for upscaling digitally zoomed images, but it can only take you so far. Oh, and I still don’t trust Face Lock; Google lets you use it to pay for things with Google Pay now, but it still relies on a flat image of your face to authenticate you.
ZDNET Buying Advice
You won’t find much better value than the Pixel 8. From the gorgeous display and design to the fast performance and amazing cameras, Google’s benchmark flagship stands on its own with an impeccable balance of high-end features at a lower price than other flagships.
Also: The best Android phones we tested this year
With a selling price of $549, the closest competitor is Galaxy S23 FE And No phone (2), two devices that absolutely deserve a place in your pocket but don’t offer the same value as the Pixel 8. Google’s phone is a proper flagship with seven years of software support, the latest AI features, and the company’s latest camera tricks. The S23 FE and S23 FE are high-end mid-range phones that balance specs and price well, but they don’t feel as high-end as the Pixel.
Anyone shopping for an Android phone for under $600 — let alone under $700 — should look at the Pixel 8. The value is simply amazing, and it’s one of the best phones of the year by far.