Google Pixel 8 first impressions: AI 'magic' enhances the Android 14 experience

Google, during its 'Made by Google' event in which it introduced its new Pixel 8 lineup, used the word 'AI' more than 50 times, driving home the point that artificial intelligence. (AI) will play a big part in powering the new smartphones' experience. In fact, while we were covering the launch of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, a colleague joked that Google might as well call this generation 'Pixel AI'.

And you know what, I think Google pulled off a magic trick — an AI magic trick, to be precise — here. I have with me the hazel variant of the Pixel 8 and it is a more refined version, physically, of last year's Pixel 7. But it's the under-the-hood software wizardry, combined with beefed-up hardware, that makes this probably my favourite compact phone ever. I said last year that the Pixel 7 was the best smartphone in its size and price category, but from my couple of days of using the Pixel 8, there's a new contender for that title.

I will be writing a full review after putting the Pixel 8 through its paces, but for the moment, let me share my first impressions.

In terms of design, the Pixel 8 is rather similar to its predecessor, with the only differences being that it is slightly smaller in size — the 8 is shorter by 5 mm, thinner by just over 2 mm, but thicker by 0.2 mm. That said, it is lighter by 10 grams, weighing in at 187 grams. This may not sound like much of a difference, but once you hold both devices, the weight difference becomes more obvious.

The screen has a very subtle curve at the edges, giving it a more refined feel. Google sent me the Hazel colour variant for review. Combined with the grey brushed aluminium camera visor, it looks understated and classy. I always preferred my phones in muted colours, and this one hits the spot.

There are two cameras on the back — just like in last year's model: a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens. On the front, there's a 10.5MP selfie camera.

The display is a massive upgrade — it is 6.2 inches in size and is now an OLED panel, compared to the Pixel 7's AMOLED panel. It boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate and an impressive 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It has all the features expected in an Android device, such as an always-on-display (AOD), a higher pixel per inch (ppi) density at 428 and a 20:9 aspect ratio. However, this is not an LTPO display, meaning the lowest it can go is 60 Hz. So keep that in mind while turning on AOD, as the screen will keep refreshing at 60 Hz, possibly affecting battery life. But in my experience so far, the battery life as been stellar. I'll have to see how it holds up over a longer duration.

The Pixel 8 packs a slightly larger battery than the 7 at 4,575 mAh in capacity, and maybe it's the Tensor G2 chip or maybe it's Android 14 — yes, the Pixels already have Android 14 — but battery life has not been an issue. In fact, it has been rather impressive, especially since I tend to turn off adaptive brightness and don't really manage battery life. So far, I've easily gotten a full day out of the phone, with regular usage, with about 20-30% left in the tank.

Android 14 is the result of everything Google has worked on refining since the launch of the first version of its mobile operating system. It is feature-packed, has tonnes of customisation options, the Pixel launcher remains one of my favourite Android skins, and the phone is as snappy as, um, snapping your fingers.

I won't go into too many details here as I want to save them for the full review, but the AI enhancements, especially in the photography department, are nothing short of astonishing. The Magic Eraser and Unblur were great tools, but Magic Editor takes it to a different level by giving you the ability to manipulate a photograph by moving objects around however you want to get the shot you want.

The cameras appear to shoot better photos than the 7, but these are just initial impressions.

There are a lot of under-the-hood improvements, so be sure to read the full review.

The only sticking point is the price — at Rs 75,999, it is right up there with the new base iPhone 15 and other flagship smartphones in the market. Is it worth the price? That depends on a lot of factors. But for now, given Google's promise of seven years of full software support, including OS and security patches, I'd say it's worth it.