Everything you need to know – updated May 2024

UPDATE (May 9, 2024): Google has started pushing out Android security update for May 2024 to its Pixel phones. The Google Pixel 8 is, of course, one of the devices that is receiving this update as we speak. You can find more information about the update at the end of the article.

The Google Pixel 8 got announced alongside its ‘Pro’ sibling today, October 4. The Pixel 8 is a compact flagship smartphone from Google, and the difference in size between the vanilla and ‘Pro’ models is more pronounced this time around. The Pixel 7 was not exactly that much smaller than the ‘Pro’ variant, which is not the case with the Pixel 8. It does bring forth some notable improvements, as expected, though it looks rather similar to last year’s Android device. There’s plenty to talk about here, so let’s get going.

Google Pixel 8 specs

The Google Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Actua display. That is an LTPS OLED panel. Its refresh rate can jump from 60 to 120Hz. The Gorilla Glass Victus protects this panel, and it’s flat. It’s also quite bright at 2,000 nits at its peak, noticeably brighter than the Pixel 7’s. The Google Tensor G3 fuels the Pixel 8, while Google included 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage, which is not expandable. The Titan M2 security coprocessor is also included here.

You will find a 4,575mAh battery inside the Pixel 8. The phone supports charging at 27W, that goes for both wired and wireless charging, by the way. Google recommends its 30W charger, which does not come included in the box, but you don’t have to use it. The phone supports PD 3.0 (PPS) charging. It also supports ‘Battery Share’, so you can wirelessly charge other phones with it.

Powerful cameras boosted by AI

A 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.68 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 82-degree FoV, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, OIS + EIS) sits on the back, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 125.8-degree FoV). On the front, you’ll find a 10.5-megapixel snapper (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 95-degree FoV, fixed focus). Spectral and flicker sensors are included on the back.

Android 14 comes pre-installed on the phone, while Google promises 7 years of software updates. 5G is supported, as is Wi-Fi 7. The phone includes an optical fingerprint scanner, but it also supports facial scanning via the front-facing camera. Stereo speakers are included, and Spatial Audio is supported. You also get Bluetooth 5.3 support here.

How much does the Google Pixel 8 costs?

The Google Pixel 8 got announced in two storage variants, 128GB and 256GB models. Both of those models include 8GB of RAM, so we have two different price tags. The phone starts at $699, it’s $100 more expensive than its predecessor, the Pixel 7. The 256GB storage option is priced at $749, in case you were wondering.

Where can I buy the Google Pixel 8?

You’ll be able to buy the Google Pixel 8 at all of the usual places. That goes for both the carriers and the retailers. The list is included below, we’ll be adding links as they become available.

– Google Store
– Amazon
– AT&T
– T-Mobile
– Verizon
– Best Buy

Are there any pre-order offers available?

Yes, there are, and they’re not exclusive to Google Store. If you pre-order the Pixel 8, you can get get a free pair of the Pixel Buds Pro. This offer is valid for purchasing through the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy, and even some carriers.

What carriers does it work on?

The Google Pixel 8 will basically work on all US carriers. So, it will work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and their MVNOs as well. Including Visible, US Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket, and more.

What colors does the Google Pixel 8 come in?

The Google Pixel 8 comes in three color variants. Google announced Hazel, Obsidian, and Rose color options. The Hazel color variant is basically a gray Pixel 8, while the Obsidian model is black-colored. The Rose color represents a pink variant of the phone. Those are seemingly the only colors Google opted for this time around, at least for the time being.

What countries is it available in directly from Google?

As far as North America is concerned, it is available in both the US and Canada. When it comes to Europe, here’s the list: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and the UK. You’ll also be able to get it in the APAC area, including Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.

What new upgrades does the Pixel 8 have over the Pixel 7?

So, the Google Pixel 8 does look very similar to its predecessor. Google obviously improved it, though, so what are the upgrades that it delivers? Well, we’ll go over the main ones below, so read on.

More powerful SoC

The Google Tensor G2 is not exactly the most powerful processor around, and that was the case when it launched too. It doesn’t have the edge in terms of sheer power or power efficiency compared to competition from Qualcomm. The same was the case with the Tensor G1. Well, the Tensor G3 is a major improvement on paper, even though it’s still close to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Based on what we can see, though, it’s a considerable step forward compared to the Tensor G2, but bigger than the Tensor G2 was compared to the Tensor G1. Not only is it expected to offer a performance boost, but also be noticeably better with power consumption.

A 120Hz display, finally

The Google Pixel 8 comes with a 120Hz AMOLED display, finally. This is still not an LTPO panel as is on the Pixel 8 Pro, it’s an LTPS display (60-120Hz refresh rate). That’s still good enough, at least we’re no longer stuck on a 90Hz panel that was included in the last two generations of vanilla Pixel flagships.

Brighter than ever

In addition to having a 120Hz display, the Google Pixel 8 also has a brighter display than its predecessor. The Google Pixel 7 capped out at 1,400 nits of brightness at its peak, the Pixel 8 goes all the way up to 2,000 nits. That’s not the highest brightness in the market, of course, but it’s still a major improvement. 2,000 nits can be reached via the automatic setting only, by the way, so keep that in mind.

7 years of software support

Google is planning to provide major 7 years of OS updates to the Pixel 8. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about 7 years of software support, but OS updates. So, not only will the Pixel 8 get 7 years of security updates, but 7 years of major OS updates, and feature drops. Even though Google confirmed that at this point, it’s still hard to believe, but it’s a good thing, of course. That basically means you’ll be getting updates until the year 2030, for those of you who are keeping count.

Battery gains

The Google Pixel 7 arrived with a 4,355mAh battery. Well, the Google Pixel 8 pushes that to 4,575mAh. That’s a 220mAh improvement. Do note that the Pixel 8 also has a slightly smaller display, despite the fact it has a higher refresh rate. Still, the larger battery in combination with the new SoC, should be able to boost the battery life of the device compared to its predecessor. We should see a rather noticeable difference.

Improved camera hardware

Not only does the Google Pixel 8 has a new main camera sensor, but it also comes with some ultrawide camera improvements. Google is using the ISOCELL GN2 sensor this time around. It’s a successor to the ISOCELL GN1 it used in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7. That is a 50-megapixel camera. The ultrawide camera is now wider at 125.8-degree FoV, compared to the 114-degree FoV the Pixel 7 offered. ‘Macro Focus’ feature is now also available, and more.

Smaller & lighter

The Google Pixel 8 is both smaller and lighter than its predecessor. Why is this an advantage? Well, the Pixel 7 was too close to the size of the Pixel 7 Pro. Many people argued that only one of the two phones should exist. Well, Google decided to make that difference a bit more noticeable, so that the users who actually want a more compact phone can get one. The Pixel 8 is shorter, narrower, and also 10 grams lighter than its predecessor, despite the fact it has a larger battery.

What cases are available for the Google Pixel 8?

Google announced a single official case for the Pixel 8, though it does come in a number of colors. This case is designed with “42% recycled materials”, and it feels like soft silicone to the touch, says Google. It comes in Charcoal, Coral, Hazel, and Mint colors. The case is priced at $29.99, as was the Pixel 7 case. You can check out this case in all color variants in the gallery below.

Should I buy the Google Pixel 8?

We cannot exactly give you a yes or no answer to this question, of course. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a device, and what device you currently own. Considering you’re thinking of getting the Pixel 8, I’ll assume you want a more compact flagship-grade phone. If you also want stock software on top of that, or something close to it, the ASUS ZenFone 10 is another phone you should consider, just to give you some options. The Pixel 8 does deliver a more powerful SoC than its predecessor, and it’s more compact, not to mention that it has an even better camera setup, and a better and brighter display. The Pixel 8 seems like a good choice for a compact flagship, at least on paper, though it’s not exactly cheap, so… there’s a lot to consider here.

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Updated January 30, 2024:

Google has decided to release a new color option for the Pixel 8, a ‘Minty fresh’ model. This is basically a mint color, or in other words a washed-out green-blue color, kind of. The color change is the only difference here, everything else remains the same.

In addition to a new color option for the device, Google also released new features as part of the ‘Pixel Feature Drop‘ package for January 2024. You’ll see all the features below, separately.

Circle to Search

One of the most talked-about features in this update is Circle to Search. It basically allows you to search for anything you see on the display by simply making a circle around it. This feature will start rolling out on January 31, Google said. All you need to do in order to activate this feature is long-press the Pixel home button or navigation bar and “circle, highlight, scribble or tap what you see to get more information from Search”.

Magic Compose for Google Messages

Magic Compose has arrived to the Google Messages app. You can use Google’s generative AI in order to rewrite a drafted message in different styles thanks to this new feature. This feature can make your messages more concise, for example, or more dramatic. Whatever you want.

Photomoji

Photomoji is a new feature that allows you to transform your photos into reactions with some help from on-device Google AI. So, for example, you can choose a photo of your cat, and turn it into a reaction emoji. Google’s AI will make a cutout for you.

Quick Share

Many of you are familiar with Nearby Share which now has a new name. Google decided to rebrand, as part of a partnership with Samsung, and that feature now has a new name. You can still use it as you usually did, and send files to various devices across platforms (Android, Windows, and ChromeOS).

Updated February 6, 2024:

A February 2024 security update has started arriving on Pixel smartphones. The changelog reveals the most updates for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro handsets, even though it’s coming to a number of Pixel phones (all the way down to the Pixel 5a 5G). The Pixel 8 is getting “General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions”, while Google is also issuing a fix for display getting corrupted in specific conditions. Google also improved stability and performance with certain third-party apps. This update is rolling out already, but do note that it’s staged, so you may have to wait a bit in order to get it.

Updated March 5, 2024:

The Google Pixel 8 is one of the devices that are getting Google’s Pixel Feature Drop which arrived in March 2024. Let’s see what’s new for this smartphone specifically. Google is improving the Call Screen feature. It can now help you get a call started when the caller is silent. Google Assistant can prompt the caller to speak to get the ball rolling.

This update also made sure to improve Instagram compatibility. Thanks to it, you can now capture and share 10-bit HDR videos directly on Instagram Reels. You can also upload and share Ultra HDR photos on your Instagram feed. That’s basically it as far as the Pixel 8 is concerned. The other changes are for other Pixel devices.

Updated April 3, 2024:

Google has started rolling out the April 2024 security update to its Pixel smartphones. The Pixel 8 is one of the smartphones, of course, as it’s the latest and greatest Pixel phone, alongside the Pixel 8 Pro. This update brings 28 general security patches for Android, and 25 that are specific for Google Pixel phones. Do note that Google did not detail those security patches. What the company did detail is the bug fixes included with this update.

Two out of four entries are Pixel 8 series specific, by the way. The company fixed an exposure bug that was reported a number of times in the last month. That bug was affecting the Pixel 8 series. In addition to that, the black halo artifacts that were showing up in the viewfinder are now gone too. They were showing up when users were switching from photo to video mode at standard 1x zoom. Google also issued camera stability improvements when changing zoom levels.

Updated May 9, 2024:

The Google Pixel 8 has started receiving a new Android security update. This time around, we’re talking about the May 2024 update. This update is rolling out to a bunch of Pixel phones, and that goes for both unlocked and devices bought at carriers in the US. This is not a big update at all. The next one will be, though, for June, as that is the next Pixel Feature Drop. This particular update does bring general improvements in stability and performance for Bluetooth LE audio. It also delivers a Pixel 8 series-specific change for the camera performance. Google says that this update fixes camera performance under certain conditions when recording a video. That’s basically it. The rollout is staged, though, so it may take a while before you get the update.