In this review, we delve into the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the latest offerings from Google. These smartphones continue to provide solid value compared to their competitors, despite the increase in price. While their batteries leave something to be desired, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro impress with their fantastic cameras, premium feel, and the promise of seven years of software updates. Join us as we explore the key features, improvements, and potential drawbacks of these devices.
What we love
Discover the standout features of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro that make them worth considering.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro come with fantastic cameras that capture stunning photos. Whether you're taking family pictures or capturing everyday moments, the camera quality is impressive. Additionally, these smartphones have a more premium feel, offering a sleek and sophisticated design. Lastly, the promise of seven years of software updates ensures that you'll stay up-to-date with the latest features and improvements.
What could be improved
Explore the areas where the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro fall short and could use some enhancements.
While the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer great value, they are more expensive than their predecessors. This price increase may deter some potential buyers. Additionally, the battery life of these devices is underwhelming, with around four hours of screen time for the Pixel 8 and slightly longer for the Pixel 8 Pro. Finally, some of the new AI camera features, such as face swap tech and generative photo editing, may be seen as more gimmicky than useful.
The essentials
Learn about the key aspects of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, including performance, battery life, screen quality, and camera capabilities.
Performance: While the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro may not be the fastest smartphones on the market, they offer smooth everyday usage with faster app loading times and quicker photo processing.
Battery life: The battery life of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is underwhelming, with around four hours of screen time for the Pixel 8 and slightly longer for the Pixel 8 Pro. While this should still get you through a full day of standard usage, heavier users may need to recharge during the day.
Screen: Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro feature lovely screens, with the Pixel 8 Pro finally offering a flat display. The Pixel 8 Pro's screen is particularly impressive, providing a visually appealing experience.
Camera: The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro excel in the camera department. The faster primary lens improves the reliability and sharpness of photos, especially in low light. The Pixel 8 Pro also benefits from a greatly improved 5x zoom lens, while the Pixel 8 introduces a new 12MP ultra-wide lens with macro mode.
Bag of tricks
Explore the AI camera features of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, including Best Take and Magic Editor.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer two headline AI camera features: Best Take and Magic Editor. Best Take allows you to combine multiple photos in a burst to ensure everyone looks their best, while Magic Editor is a powerful photo editing tool that lets you remove, reposition, and enlarge elements in your shots.
Best Take is particularly useful for group shots, ensuring that everyone is looking at the camera or smiling. Magic Editor, on the other hand, provides advanced editing capabilities, allowing you to remove objects, swap out the sky, and more. While these features can be impressive, they may not always produce perfect results and can be slow to generate.
A little bit nicer, once again
Discover the improved design and feel of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro compared to their predecessors.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have received design upgrades that enhance their overall look and feel. The Pixel 8 Pro features a flat display, replacing the curved display of previous models. This change not only improves practicality but also provides a more visually appealing design. Additionally, the Pixel 8 Pro feels nicer in the hand, with smoother edges and a matte back that offers better grip and hides fingerprints.
On the other hand, the standard Pixel 8 is slightly smaller and comes with a 6.2-inch screen. It also boasts a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, resulting in smoother scrolling. Google's official silicon cases have also been improved, although there is a delicate ridge above the charging port that may be prone to wear and tear.
Seven long years
Learn about Google's impressive support pledge for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, offering seven years of major operating system upgrades, security updates, and feature drops.
One standout feature of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is Google's commitment to providing seven years of support. This includes major operating system upgrades, security updates, and feature drops. This support pledge sets Google apart from other phone manufacturers and ensures that users will enjoy a long-lasting and up-to-date experience with their devices.
While this support is commendable, it remains to be seen how Google will handle software features that are limited to specific models. For example, the Pixel 8 Pro offers a manual camera mode that is not available on the standard Pixel 8. It is important for Google to provide equal software functionality across its devices to fully deliver on its support pledge.
In need of a charge
Discover the underwhelming battery life of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro and its impact on daily usage.
Battery life is a notable drawback of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. In testing, the devices provided around four hours of screen time for the Pixel 8 and slightly longer for the Pixel 8 Pro. While this should still allow for a full day of standard usage, heavier users may find themselves needing to recharge during the day.
It is worth noting that other smartphones, such as the standard iPhone 15, offer longer battery life with at least six hours of screen time per charge. This shortcoming is disappointing considering the efficiency of Google's Tensor processors. However, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro do offer adaptive battery technology and an ultra-power saver mode to help extend battery life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer solid value compared to their competitors, despite the increase in price. These smartphones impress with their fantastic cameras, more premium feel, and the promise of seven years of software updates. However, the underwhelming battery life and some gimmicky AI camera features are areas that could be improved.
FQA
Are the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro worth the price increase?
Yes, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro still provide solid value compared to their competitors, even with the price increase. The fantastic cameras, premium feel, and seven years of software updates make them worth considering.
Can the battery life of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro last a full day?
The battery life of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro can last a full day of standard usage. However, heavier users may need to recharge during the day due to the underwhelming battery performance.
Are the AI camera features of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro useful?
While the AI camera features, such as Best Take and Magic Editor, can be impressive, they may not always produce perfect results and may be seen as more gimmicky than useful. The faster primary lens and improved zoom capabilities are the standout features in the camera department.
What sets the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro apart from other smartphones?
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro stand out with their fantastic cameras, more premium feel, and the promise of seven years of software updates. The support pledge from Google ensures a long-lasting and up-to-date experience with these devices.