Google Pixel 8 Review – Not For You!

Google Pixel 8 Series is here with a massive price bump, especially in India. There is no doubt, it’s going to be very hard for Google to sell the Pixel 8 or even Pixel 8 Pro.

The USA price is perfect for what Pixel 8 is offering but the same can’t be said for India. This is going to be fun, wait for it, we will talk a lot about prices in a minute.

Google Pixel 8 Price

• 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs 75,999 (India ), $699 (USA)

Google Pixel 8 Review

There is no doubt about it, the Pixel 8 is worth buying, however, it is very pricey in India. So it is better if you skip this phone and look for the better option but for the USA, this is a perfect phone as it’s available at a good price and it also offers everything that a $699 phone should have.

Google is going on the iPhone route which won’t work in India, they have to work on price. The majority of the people in India will prefer the iPhone or Samsung over the Rs 50,000 price tag.

There are users who love Pixel for what it offers and for those users, Pixel 8 is a better option.

Now, I don’t have to say much about cameras, software, build quality, speakers, or even updates because this time, Google has covered everything.

Talking about performance, Google Tensor G3 is nothing but Exynos 2400. Still, the performance is good and it is close to what Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is offering. Still, we have to wait and see because in the end this is made by Samsung.

That being said, let’s deep dive into the Google Pixel 8 and see what else Google has to offer at Rs 75,999 ($699 – USA).

Display and Build

This is the brightest non-Pro Pixel that ever existed in the history of humankind, I mean 2000 nits peak brightness is the best. So whether you want to use Pixel 8 in your home or even outdoors, everything from text to videos will look great.

The 6.20-inch 120Hz OLED display is perfect for gaming and even watching movies on Netflix. The HDR support is there in almost all the OTT apps including Netflix and even YouTube.

The In-display fingerprint is good as usual but this is an optical sensor which means, it won’t work if your fingers are wet.

The Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back will ensure that the phone doesn’t break but we all know that glass is glass it breaks. So make sure you get a solid case, so you don’t have to pay to replace the glass.

The aluminum frames look perfect and they’re solid too. Also, the IP68 provides dust/water resistance up to 1.5m for 30 minutes.

Related: Best Smartphones Under Rs 25,000

The good news is, that the Pixel 8 weight is only 187 which means, even if you scroll on social media for hours then your wrist won’t hurt too much.

The end story is that the Pixel 8 has a solid display and the same can be said for the build quality as well. This is also a small device, so if you’re someone who doesn’t like big phones then this is the perfect for you.

Performance

Google Tensor chipsets are never meant for gaming at all but things have changed and looks like they’re now more focused on performance too.

This doesn’t mean, Google Tensor G3 is a powerful SoC, it simply means, it’s not as bad as Google Tensor G2.

• Google Pixel 8 AnTuTu 10 Score: 998938

The benchmark score changes every time you take the test but still, I feel 998938 AnTuTu score is not that bad. 

This means, that whether you want to play games like COD Mobile, BGMI Mobile or any other mobile games then the Tensor G3 will able to handle it. 

The real test will be in summer conditions because last year’s Tensor G2 was horrible. Going by the numbers of Tensor G3, this is a far better SOC compared to Tensor G2.

Now, Google has made significant changes in GPU while the CPU remains the same. CPU is throttling the same as the Pixel 7 Series which is not a good sign.

During the throttle test, Google Pixel 8 went up to 55% which isn’t a good sign but it is better compared to the Pixel 7 which went up 57%.

So yes, the Pixel 8 does get hot, but it’s not as bad as Pixel 7. So as I have said, this is not made for gaming, it’s a good option for day-to-day usage only.

The phone does get hot if you play games for hours. Also, during the summertime, things may go up.

I do feel that Google needs to stay away from Samsung’s Exynos Chipsets, rather, than build their own chipsets. Maybe, this will happen or it won’t.

The moral of the story is that performance won’t be a huge issue with the Pixel 8 Series, that’s what numbers are saying.

Software and AI

7 Years of Security and 7 Years of OS updates, bold claim, right? I’m just hoping that Tensor G3 will be able to last for the next 7 years. Otherwise,7 years of updates won’t make any sense.

When it comes to iPhones, they last longer because of the chipset but when it comes to Pixel, it’s not the case because Google is just using the Exynos processors which doesn’t have a good reputation.

Related: 5 Best Smartphones Under Rs 30000

Still, a 7 OS update is a good step and this means, the Pixel 8 Series will get updates till 2030.

Talking about AI, 

Google has implemented the Bard across the device. Now, if you’re reading this article and if you trigger the Google assistant then ask to summarize this in a compact way, the assistant will happily do it.

This is a f*ked thing for website owners but hey, it’s good for users like you.

You can also ask the assistant to read the article. 

Google has also added tons of features in the Photos App and all the features are free for Pixel users. Now, some features are not available on the launch day but they will be added very soon.

One of my favorite features is that if you take a photo of your friend and he is not looking at the cameras then you can make him look at the cameras and make him smile at the same time with the help of AI.

This feature is added to the photos app and is free too.

Also, the boosted video feature is only for Pixel 8 Pro. Now, to use this feature, you just need to upload your video to the cloud and Google will do all the processing and give you a better-looking video.

Google is using AI and No one is sitting at home, editing your video but still, this is a wild feature but it’s only available on Pixel 8 Pro.

By the way, Pixel 8 runs on Android 14 out of the box.

Cameras

Everything is AI this time, even if the camera doesn’t take good images, you have the option to play with it in the Photos App.

Google Pixel 8 has a 50MP primary sensor and 12MP ultra-wide lens while there 10.5MP selfie shooter on the front. Both the cameras can shoot videos at 4K@24/30/60fps and 1080p@30/60fps.

Only the primary sensor has OIS.

Google is known for its cameras and no one can beat them, not even Apple or Samsung but the big problem is with Video. Google is claiming that the Pixel 8 Series will take better video than the iPhone but it’s not true at all.

Photos are not way ahead of iPhone 15 but yes, the Pixel 8 takes better and more natural images. 

Regarding videos, the iPhone 15 takes the best videos then the Google Pixel 8.

Coming back to Google Pixel 8, 

This time, Google has added a new design element. Now, you have two tabs, one for Photos and one for videos which is perfect and clever.

Earlier, you had to rely on Google to take the best images, you didn’t have any option to play around with ISO or anything else. But this time, Google has added PRO mode where you can play around with settings but this is only available on Pixel 8 Pro.

This is software and not hardware and yet, they’re limiting this feature to the Pro model.

I know, not everyone uses the Pro-Mode but it is always better if we get the option. There are users like me, who love to take control over the cameras.

The primary 50MP sensor is perfect, whether it’s dynamic range, noise, soft, or even colors, everything comes out perfect. There is also a Photos App where you can improve your photos for free.

The ultra-wide sensor is good too but at the end of the day, this is a 12MP sensor, so it will be better if you stick to the primary sensor when you’re capturing happy movement under low light conditions.

Of course, Google has added night mode which works great but it’s always better to use a primary sensor at night for better images.

The 10.50MP front camera is not as good as what Vivo or even OPPO offers but it gets the job done. 

In conclusion, the Pixel 8 has good cameras and takes solid images but when it comes to video, it’s not as good as iPhones as Google claims. Still, you will be more than happy with what Google is offering with Pixel 8 plus the AI integration.

*Check out the raw camera samples of Google Pixel 8.

Audio and Battery

Stereo speakers are there and they’re perfect. They go loud, they’re clear and also have bass too. 

Now, just like every other smartphone, 40% volume comes from the top speaker and 60% comes from the bottom one. Again, there is no 3.5mm audio jack present.

The 4,575 mAh will last for ages, kidding.

It has a day battery but if you’re a heavy user then you will have to charge Pixel 8 twice a day. On top of that, there is no charger in the box, it only comes with a charging cable.

The 27W wired charging is good and it will take 30 minutes to charge from 0% to 50. It’s not faster but it’s better than what Apple is offering with iPhone 15. 

There is also 18W wireless charging support too.

Google Pixel 8 Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Smooth 120Hz OLED Display	Too Pricey
Premium Build Quality	Not The best for Heavy Gamers
Whopping 7 Years of OS Updates	Small Battery Size
Clear and Loud Speakers	Only Wi-Fi 6 For Indian Units
Software with AI Magic	Front Cameras Need a little bit of Improvement
Decent Battery Life	Not the Best for Videography at this price range
The Best Cameras for Photography	CPU Throttles

My Opinion on Google Pixel 8 India Price

Whenever sales come in, most people in India prefer to buy Samsung or even Apple phones if they’re going to spend Rs 50,000 or more on a Smartphone.

This is the value Apple created. For Google, it will take time.

Also, Google phone doesn’t have good resale value in India. There are lots of people who don’t even know that Google makes phones.

So the only thing Google has to do is “get serious about the Indian market, so Indian users start believing in your mobile brand”

Just don’t kill your brand in India, like you did with lots of other products.

And yes, at this movement, Rs 75000 is too much to ask. I’m saying this from a regular customer perspective. A customer like me knows what Google is offering but regular customers will consider buying Samsung or Apple most of the time (above 50k).

Hey Google, work on the price. If you’re serious about the Indian market.

A thoughts.

Verdict

Google Pixel 8 is a good smartphone but its price is not good at all. If you’re someone who appreciates the software, and cameras and is willing to pay a premium for it then go for it otherwise, it’s better you consider the iPhone 15.

This is for Indian users.

Now, If you’re from the USA then yes, the Pixel 8 is cheaper than iPhone 15. Here, ask yourself whether you want iOS or Android.

It depends on the gadgets you have and what you prefer the most. In my case, I will go with the iPhone as I’m one of those users who doesn’t like to change the device for at least 4 to 5 years.

In this case, I have more trust in Apple than Google.

Because I don’t know whether Google will be selling Pixel smartphones till 2030. They might kill the smartphone lineup just like what they have done in the past and all the other services.

Google Domains has hurt me the most. In recent times, Google Podcasts.

By the way, we also have a WhatsApp Channel, so feel free to join the channel. And yes, it’s FREE…

Google Pixel 8 Full Specifications

Price	8GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs 75,999 (India ) $699 (USA)
Display	6.20-inches FHD+ OLED Display Wide-Vine L1 Support HDR10+ Support 2000 nits pick the brightness 1080 x 2400 pixels Resolution 120Hz Screen Refresh Rate IP68 dust/water resistant
Dimensions	159.6 x 72 x 7.9 mm Weight: 187g
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
OS	Android 14 7 Years of OS Updates. 7 Years of Security Updates.
Chipset	Chipset: Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) CPU: Nona-core (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4×2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4×2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) GPU: Immortalis-G715s MC10
SD-Card Slot	No
Rear Cameras	50MP Primary Sensor (OIS) 12MP Ultra-Wide Lens Video 4K@24/30/60fps. 1080p@30/60/120/240fps.
Front Camera	10.50MP Selfie Shooter. Video 4K@24/30/60fps. 1080p@30/60/120/240fps.
3.5mm Jack	No
Speakers	Stereo Speakers.
Bluetooth Version	5.3 Version.
5G Bands	20 5G Bands. n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n30, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n75, n76, n77, and n78
FM Radio	No.
Wifi	Wifi 7 USA Wifi 6 India
NFC	Yes.
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes, In-Display fingerprint sensor
Battery	4,575mAh (non-removable). 27W Wired Charging Support 18W Wireless Charging Support 50% in 30 Minutes (Wired)
Weight	187 Grams
Colors	Obsidian, Hazel, Rose

Images by Team VRY/yt