Google’s Pixel 8 is the actual star of its Android lineup – and now it is $200 off

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Pixel 8 presents a flagship-level expertise with Google’s newest AI and machine studying options, all for underneath $700. Proper now, you should buy one for as little as $499 on Amazon.
• With quick efficiency, superb cameras, and Google’s Actua show, IT‘s among the best smartphone offers out there.
• In comparison with equally priced telephones, just like the Nothing Cellphone 2, the Pixel 8 is a much better worth.

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The Google Pixel 8 Professional may be getting all the eye these days (particularly since IT‘s the primary handset to achieve entry to Google’s new Gemini AI mannequin), however the usual Pixel 8 may be the actual MVP of Google’s lineup this yr.

Additionally: I in contrast the Google Pixel 8a with each main sub-$500 Android cellphone – here is my shopping for recommendation

That is as a result of the Pixel 8 presents among the best mixtures of specs, options, and premium design at a value significantly decrease than the competitors. What’s extra, ever since Amazon Prime Day, Pixel 8 deals have been hovering around $499.

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At that value, the Pixel 8 shouldn’t be solely troublesome to disregard, however maybe the one cellphone you need to be pondering of when you’re procuring on a funds. You will not discover one other cellphone like IT underneath $500, and IT‘s solely whenever you sift by means of the $800-$1,000 choices that you simply discover commendable competitors.

An enormous motive why that is such a compelling choice is the Tensor G3 chip, Google’s newest in-house processor that powers all the Pixel 8’s AI and machine studying options. IT‘s not only a stable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 different, however a monumental motive why the Pixel 8 is such an awesome cellphone.

Evaluate: Google Pixel 8 Professional: This cellphone offered me on an AI-powered future

The chip powers all of the Google Pixel-ness of the Pixel 8, from transcribing voices within the Recorder app to letting you edit photographs to your coronary heart’s content material with the AI-powered Magic Editor. The Google Assistant additionally takes benefit of the G3 to course of your voice faster and even summarize net pages for shortly consuming Information. Alongside powering Google’s HDR pipeline for pictures, guaranteeing Android 14 is slick and clean, the G3 is without doubt one of the most succesful smartphone chips in the marketplace. And when paired with 8GB of RAM, you will by no means have a sluggish day.

The show is one other enormous motive to get this cellphone. The Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch Actua show is a bit smaller than the display on the Pixel 7, however that makes IT simpler to carry in a single hand. IT‘s additionally gorgeous to take a look at; with a Full HD+ decision, a 120Hz refresh fee, and a couple of,000 nits of peak brightness, IT‘s one of many brightest and clearest shows in the marketplace. Plus, IT‘s OLED, so colours are vibrant and inky blacks are plentiful.

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Look past the show and you will find a handsome cellphone crafted out of aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus. That includes Google’s signature digicam bar on the again and skinny bezels across the show, the Pixel 8 is a stunner amongst different sub-$700 telephones. IT‘s additionally IP68-certified for mud and water resistance, and IT is available in three good finishes: Obsidian (black), Hazel (kinda inexperienced), and Rose (extra of a golden peach, in my view).

When IT involves Pixel telephones, there are two areas you must discuss: cameras and software program.

On the digicam entrance, Google knocked IT out of the park. The rear 50MP most important shooter and 12MP ultra-wide are each glorious performers in broad daylight and at evening. The cameras simply match or outpace what you’d get with an iPhone 15 Professional or Galaxy S23 Extremely by way of readability, element, and sharpness, whereas colours are sometimes way more correct than they ever have been on a Pixel cellphone. 

Additionally: Google simply added an enormous function to the Pixel digicam, and two extra might be on the way in which

You additionally get all the digicam chops that the Pixel title carries like astrophotography, Tremendous ResZoom, twin publicity controls, and Extremely HDR. That is on prime of different options like Greatest Take and Magic Editor that make these cameras the neatest you will discover. Plus, video high quality has been vastly improved over earlier Pixels — IT‘s flat-out corresponding to the iPhone.

On the software program aspect, Google’s Pixel expertise atop Android 14 stays my favourite solution to work together with Android. IT‘s clear, minimal, and offers you a heat, inviting feeling that no different Android pores and skin can mimic. You get all of the options of Android 14 like customizable lock screens, higher safety, bigger fonts, and improved notifications, together with all the Pixel options you possibly can ask for, akin to Name Display, Now Enjoying, Direct My Name, AI-generated wallpapers, and –of course –the Pixel Launcher.

However the actual kicker within the software program division is Google’s prolonged help. The corporate is guaranteeing seven full years of software program help, which implies you will get updates till 2030 when you purchase this cellphone. That is extraordinary for an Android cellphone, and IT provides gadgets just like the iPhone a run for his or her cash. 

Additionally: Google Pixel 8 vs. Google Pixel 8 Professional: Which mannequin do you have to purchase?

The Pixel 8 may also final all day on a cost due to the 4,575 mAh cell inside. With my medium to heavy utilization, I sometimes finish days with 30-40 % within the tank, which implies anybody utilizing the cellphone a bit much less might stretch IT out to final a day and a half. Plus, you get 30W quick charging to juice again up in addition to Qi wi-fi charging.

So, what are the downsides? Actually, there aren’t so much. The Pixel 8 nonetheless will get fairly heat after utilizing IT for some time, however that is typical with Google’s Tensor processors. I additionally want there was a correct telephoto digicam on the again; Tremendous Res Zoom is helpful for upscaling digitally zoomed photographs, however IT can solely take you to date. Oh, and I nonetheless do not belief Face Unlock; Google helps you to use IT to pay for issues now utilizing Google Pay, however IT nonetheless depends on a flat picture of your face to authenticate you.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

You are not going to discover a significantly better worth than the Pixel 8. From the attractive show and design to the speedy efficiency and superb cameras, Google’s normal flagship cellphone stands by itself with an impeccable stability of high-end options for a cheaper price than different flagships.

Additionally: Google Pixel 9, Professional, Professional XL, and Professional Fold: Specs, options, and all the things else we all know to date

With its sale value of $499, the closest competitors occurs to be the Galaxy S23 FE and Nothing Phone (2), two gadgets which might be completely worthy of a spot in your pocket however do not provide the identical worth because the Pixel 8. Google’s cellphone is a correct flagship with seven years of software program help, the most recent AI options, and the corporate’s newest digicam tips. The Cellphone (2) and S23 FE are high-end mid-rangers that stability specs and value properly, however do not feel as high-end because the Pixel does.

Anybody searching for an Android cellphone underneath $600 — not to mention underneath $700 — ought to look to the Pixel 8. The worth is solely unbelievable, and IT‘s by far among the best telephones of the yr.