Google Pixel 8

Google Pixel 8 Review

Design

The Google Pixel 8 presents a compact form factor, measuring 150.5 mm in height, 70.8 mm in width, and 8.9 mm in depth. It weighs 187 grams. The device comes in four color options: Mint, Obsidian, Hazel, and Rose. The build quality includes a scratch-resistant 2.5D curved glass screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. It features a frame-less design with a hole-punch notch for the front-facing camera.

Display

The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 428 ppi. The display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 2000 nits (1400 nits HBM). It has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. Additional features include Always-On Display, DCI-P3 color gamut, and multi-touch capacitive technology. The screen has an aspect ratio of 20:9. It does not use LTPO technology.

Performance

The device is powered by the Google Tensor G3 chipset, built on a 4nm process. The CPU is a Nona-core setup consisting of one 3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 core, four 2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 cores, and four 2.15 GHz Cortex-A510 cores. Graphics are handled by the Immortalis-G715s MC10 GPU. The phone has 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It achieved an AnTuTu v10 score of 876,512. It uses UFS 3.1 storage, with options for 128GB or 256GB, with no SD card slot for expansion. The phone includes a cooling system.

Camera

The Pixel 8 features a dual rear camera setup. The main camera is a 50MP Samsung GNV sensor with an aperture of f/1.69, 1.20µm pixel size, and 1/1.31" sensor size, using 2x2 pixel binning. The secondary rear camera is a 12MP Sony IMX386 Exmor RS wide-angle/macro lens with an aperture of f/2.2 and 0.80µm pixel size and a 1/2.9" sensor. The front-facing camera is a 10.8MP Samsung S5K3J1 sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 and 1.22µm pixel size on a 1/2.65" sensor. Video recording capabilities include 4K at 24/30/60fps with HDR, OIS, and EIS, and 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps with HDR, OIS, and EIS. Camera features include dual LED flash, optical image stabilization, slow-motion video, noise reduction, pro video mode, digital zoom, autofocus, PDAF, LAF, NPU AI Engine, and HDR. DXOMARK gave it an overall Mobile score of 148, with photo and video scores of 152 and 148, respectively.

Battery Life

The Pixel 8 houses a 4575 mAh Li-Polymer battery. It supports 27W fast wired charging and also supports reverse charging. Wireless charging is not specified. The battery is non-removable.

Software

The device ships with Android 14 and is expected to receive software updates up to Android 21. It includes various sensors like an under-display fingerprint sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and barometer. It does not have a notification LED.

Connectivity

Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth 5.3 with LE, NFC, and dual SIM (Nano-SIM + eSIM). It has USB Type-C 3.2 connectivity with OTG support. The phone supports a wide range of 5G and 4G LTE bands, as well as 3G and 2G networks. GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, and Galileo are supported for location services. Audio features include stereo speakers, noise cancellation microphones and 3 microphones.

Pricing

The Google Pixel 8 is positioned in the medium price range, with varying prices depending on region and retailer. For example, the 8GB/256GB version can be found for approximately $375 - $546 USD, depending on the retailer.

Overall Verdict

The Google Pixel 8 offers a premium experience with its advanced Tensor G3 chip, excellent camera capabilities, and a vibrant OLED display. The software support is also a key strength, providing updates up to Android 21. While it lacks a headphone jack and a microSD slot, the Pixel 8 stands out with its compact design and smooth performance. The price is medium, placing it as an attractive option for users seeking a well-rounded flagship experience without paying top-tier prices.