The Google Pixel 8 is among the finest Android telephones round. With improved efficiency, longer battery life, a greater show, and 7 years of Android updates, the Pixel 8 is hard to beat.
The Pixel 7 remains to be an excellent gadget that leads the pack in digital camera efficiency. The Tensor G2 chipset is not blazing quick, however can nonetheless maintain its personal by in the present day’s requirements, and it nonetheless has just a few years left of Android updates.
Execs
Nice digital camera system
Respectable total efficiency
All-day battery
Cons
Solely two extra years of Android updates
Design is not for everybody
The Google Pixel sequence has supplied a few of the finest Android smartphones available on the market. Every year, Google releases a brand new Pixel gadget and because the launch of the Pixel 6, has continued to refine the Pixel’s design and supply a modest bump to the specs sheet. This continued refinement means every year you will get a greater telephone than the earlier 12 months, nevertheless it will not be sufficient to sway you to an annual improve.
With Google’s continued deal with refinement, the Pixel 8 gives some welcome upgrades over the earlier technology Pixel 7. The display screen is now brighter with a quicker refresh fee, the SoC has gotten a lift, the battery is a bit greater, and it expenses quicker. Whereas it will not be sufficient to sway folks nonetheless utilizing the Pixel 7, should you’re prepared for an improve, the Pixel 8 is the apparent alternative. Just like the Pixel 7, Google has plans to maintain this telephone up-to-date for years to return, so you’ll be able to preserve utilizing it for longer than you most likely need to.
Worth, specs & availability
The Google Pixel 8 launched in October 2023 and is offered from retailers like Amazon, Finest Purchase, Google’s personal retailer, in addition to by way of many carriers. Whereas a number of of those carriers provide stable low cost on the Pixel 8, particularly with a trade-in, if you wish to purchase it in full, the Pixel 8 prices a bit greater than in earlier years at $699. That is probably to offer a buffer between the Pixel 8 and the cheaper Pixel 7a.
The Pixel 7 presently carries a recommended retail worth of $599, though it might routinely be discovered at a reduction, typically beneath $400 for the 128GB mannequin. When you can nonetheless decide up a Pixel 7 from many on-line retailers like Amazon, Finest Purchase, and the Google Retailer, it is not getting the identical promotions because the newer mannequin from carriers. It is also price noting that as Google sells by way of its reamining inventory, you may not be capable of discover the colour and measurement you like.
The Pixel 7 stays true to Google’s new design language
Design
From a design perspective, Google hasn’t modified a lot between the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 7. The entrance of the gadget remains to be all display screen with skinny bezels and a hole-punch digital camera situated on the top-center of the gadget. The facility and quantity buttons are alongside the suitable edge, and its USB-C port may be discovered on the backside. The Pixel 8 retains the Pixel 7’s digital camera bar with a satin metallic body and polished again glass.
For these of you who’re followers of smaller and lighter units, you’ll be happy to know that Google has shrunk the Pixel 8. The Pixel 8 measures 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm and weighs solely 187g. The Pixel 7 is bigger and heavier; it measures 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm and weighs 197g. The Pixel 8’s display screen can be a bit smaller at 6.2 inches, down from 6.3 inches, however total, the brand new gadget has a better display screen to physique ratio. That measn smaller bezels across the display screen with the underside seeing the largest discount.
The Pixel 8 is available in three shade choices: Hazel, Rose, and Obsidian. The Pixel 7 is offered in Lemongrass, Snow, and Obsidian colorways. Each Pixel units have stereo audio system, twin audio system, face unlock, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. They’re additionally IP68 mud and waterproof, providing you with ample safety from the weather.
Show
The Pixel 8’s show is extra feature-rich than any earlier non-Professional Pixel that has come earlier than it. The Pixel 8 has an always-on ‘Actua’ 6.2-inch 2400 x 1080 OLED show with a refresh fee of as much as 120Hz. It additionally gives as much as 1,400 nits in HDR mode and as much as 2,000 nits of peak brightness. In our Pixel 8 overview, we discovered the additional brightness and elevated refresh fee greater than made up for the slight lower in display screen measurement in comparison with the Pixel 7.
The Pixel 7’s barely bigger OLED show remains to be a pleasant show at 6.3 inches with the identical 2400 x 1080 decision. Whereas the brightness is not as excessive, it is nonetheless vibrant sufficient to simply use outdoor on a vibrant day. The Pixel 7 can hit as much as 1,000 nits in HDR mode and tops out at 1,400 nits of peak brightness. The 90Hz refresh fee can be noticeably slower to some folks, however for probably the most half, will not have an effect on usability a lot. Each the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 7 are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Software program
Since each of those units are made by Google, you’ll be able to count on a really related, if not similar expertise on each of them. You might be getting Google’s customized Pixel Launcher UI, which is generally inventory Android with just a few quality-of-life enhancements. These enhancements are normally centered round machine studying and AI and might enhance your total expertise.
These options embrace Pixel Name Help for serving to make and keep away from undesirable calls, Google Assistant, Magic Eraser, and a built-in VPN by Google One. For instance, Google has improved speech recognition on the Pixel 8 so you’ll be able to converse to Google Assistant extra naturally. Even so, we nonetheless discovered its multi-language dictation to be a bit missing in some areas.
On the safety entrance, Pixel 8 has gotten a greater face unlock choice which can be utilized for logging into apps somewhat than simply bypassing the lock display screen because it was on Pixel 7. With an optical fingerprint sensor nonetheless accessible, the Pixel 8 gives the most effective of each worlds for biometric safety.
The massive distinction will come down the road. The Google Pixel 7 was assured to get three years of Android updates (till 2025) and 5 years of safety updates (to 2027). Google is blowing that out of the water this 12 months by giving the Pixel 8 seven years of Android updates, safety updates, and have drops – that means it is going to be supported till 2030.
Efficiency
The Pixel 7 launched with Google’s customized Tensor G2 SoC, which was marginally improved over the unique Tensor. Whereas the Tensor chipset has lacked top-end computational and graphics efficiency, it excels at machine studying and picture processing. Whereas we’ve not observed any large enhancements in efficiency, the Tensor G3 within the Pixel 8 does seem to have higher thermal administration. So much less overheating.
The Tensor G3 chipset modifications the configuration a bit in comparison with the Tensor G2. The Tensor G2 got here with two Cortex-X1 cores at 2.85GHz, two Cortex-A78 cores at 2.3GHz, and 4 Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8GHz. The Tensor G3 comes with one Cortex-X3 core at 3GHz, 4 Cortex-A715 cores at 2.45GHz, and 4 Cortex-A510 cores at 2.15GHz. Whereas the Tenso G3 comes out forward of the G2 in benchmarks, it nonetheless falls wanting Qualcomm’s finest chips in different flahgship telephones. Nonetheless, this telephone has loads of energy for absolutely anything on the Play Retailer.
The Pixel 8 ships with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and both 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The Pixel 7 is analogous right here; it comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and both 128GB or 256GB of UFS3.1 storage. Total, you’ll be able to count on the Pixel 8 to be barely quicker than the Pixel 7 and far nearer to a tool just like the Galaxy S23 in efficiency.
Battery Life
The Pixel 8 comes with a 4,575mAh battery, which simply delivers all-day battery life. In our testing, we discovered the Pixel 8 delviers considerably longer display screen time than the Pixel 7 regardless of its battery not being a lot greater. The Pixel 7 ships with a barely smaller 4,355mAh battery, although that is additionally usually sufficient to make it by way of a complete day. Whereas nonetheless not
The Pixel 8 additionally will get quicker charging with 27W wired charging supported in comparison with 20W on the Pixel 7. Wi-fi charging has taken a small step again to 18W from 20W, however for most individuals, it is a worthwhile trade-off. Even so, you may want one of many finest wi-fi chargers to get prime charging speeds from both telephone.
Digital camera
Google has supplied one of many finest digital camera programs in a smartphone for a while now, and that’s nonetheless true with the Pixel 8. The Pixel 8 makes use of a dual-camera system which consists of a 50MP f/1.68 essential show that may zoom 2x optically and as much as 8x digitally and has an 82-degree discipline of view. It additionally has a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens with a 125.8-degree discipline of view. The front-facing digital camera is available in a ten.5MP with an f/2.2 aperture and a 95-degree discipline of view.
The Pixel 7 additionally has a dual-lens digital camera setup, and in reality the {hardware} specs are remarkably related. The principle lens is a 50MP Quad Bayer lens with an f/1.85 aperture and an 82-degree discipline of view. The ultrawide is a 12MP f/2.2 lens with a 114-degree discipline of view. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 have a single-zone laser detect autofocus (LDAF).
Each the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 7 can file 4K and 1080P at as much as 60 FPS from each the entrance and rear lenses. They assist 10-bit HDR video, Cinematic Blur, Cinematic Pan, astrophotography timelapse, optical picture stabilizing, and slo-mo video as much as 240 FPS.
The Pixel 7’s cameras are extra delicate to mild that means they work higher in a variety of situations. We discovered that the newer telephone did not must kick in evening mode as quickly because the Pixel 7, that means higher movement in low mild images. The Pixel 8’s ultrawide digital camera is a extra delicate sensor from the Pixel 7 Professional and which additionally helps it seize higher photos. Final however not least, the selfie digital camera has gotten a stable improve.
Which is best for you?
In case you’re searching for a brand new telephone in the present day, the Pixel 8 is the clear winner right here. It not solely surpasses its predecessor in some key areas however matches it in all places else.
The Pixel 8 has total quicker efficiency, a greater show, barely higher battery life, and years of further software program updates. Seven years of Android and safety updates is nothing to sneeze at and can preserve the gadget related for near a decade. The telephone has gotten a bit smaller whereas nonetheless enhancing the show as nicely. Whereas the digital camera system would not get an enormous improve, it’s undeniably superior on the newer mannequin. For an additional $100, the advantages far outweigh the extra value.
Google Pixel 8
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With enhancements in all places, the Google Pixel 8 gives a ton of efficiency, an excellent digital camera system, respectable battery life, and 7 years of Android updates. Google has made the Pixel 8 sequence a severe contender for finest smartphone of the 12 months.
If you have already got a Pixel 7, then upgrading is a harder promote. Whereas the Pixel 8 is improved in some key areas, the Pixel 7 is not any slouch and can proceed to get software program updates for just a few extra years. It nonetheless has among the finest cameras available on the market and the Tensor G2 SoC nonetheless has loads of energy to maintain up for a pair extra years a minimum of. That being stated, the Pixel 7 has seen some good offers taking the worth beneath $400 at some retailers. In case you’re on the lookout for a brand new telephone on a finances, the final years flagship Pixel is a wonderful alternative with a few extra OS updates to return, and years of safety updates on deck,
The Pixel 7 remains to be an excellent telephone a 12 months after its preliminary launch. It might not provide the identical stage of efficiency or the variety of Android updates because the newer Pixel 8 it’s nonetheless fairly succesful. Anybody who already has a Pixel 7 is aware of that it’s nonetheless an excellent gadget.
