I love big phones and I cannot lie. But there's something about the compactness of the Google Pixel 8 that has me smitten. Last year, I heartily recommended the Pixel 7 as the best smartphone for those looking for a powerful device with good cameras that can fit in one hand. Now, the Pixel 8 has dethroned it.
Ever since Google shifted to manufacturing its own hardware, its ultimate goal was to have end-to-end control of the smartphone-making process so that the hardware and software are optimised to play well with each other—the only other company that does this is Apple with its iPhones. That goal was realised with the Pixel 6 lineup, which was powered by Google's first in-house SoC, the Tensor. Now, two generations and a tectonic tech shift later, the Pixel 8 powered by the Tensor G3 feels both like the culmination and an evolution in Google's strategy.
As far as looks go, the Pixel 8 is remarkably similar to its predecessor, albeit slightly smaller. It sports a 6.2-inch screen as opposed to 6.3 inches on the Pixel 7. The 8 is shorter by 5 mm, thinner by just over 2 mm, thicker by 0.2 mm, and lighter by 10 grams, weighing 187 grams. All this means is a smartphone that is a delight to hold in one hand.
As I noted in my first impressions piece, 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.
But if just design elegance could make a good smartphone, then even a budget phone from some other companies would give the Pixel 8 a run for its money. With the Pixel 8, it's not what's on the outside that counts, but what's on the inside—the software. And Google has knocked this out of the park with artificial intelligence (AI) powering virtually every part of Android 14, which the Pixel 8 runs out of the box.
'Pixel AI'
At the launch of new Pixels at its 'Made by Google' event, the tech major's keynote presenters mentioned 'AI' at least 50 times, and for good reason. AI is omnipresent in Android 14—be it taking pictures, setting a wallpaper, or using Google Assistant, AI powers the whole thing, and, in my opinion, the user experience is a lot better for it.
For one, it is so much darned fun. My favourite feature is 'AI Wallpaper', which lets you choose from a set of preset prompts to generate a unique wallpaper. Essentially, this feature allows you to input prompts, which the AI then uses to create unique wallpapers. While it's a bit limited in terms of themes and keywords, it still provides plenty of options for customisation, and even repeating the same prompt results in different wallpapers.
For the moment, this feature is exclusive to the Pixel 8 series but will come to older Pixels in the future by way of a feature drop.
Battery
The Pixel 7 had decent battery life, giving me a full day with medium-to-heavy usage. And the Pixel 8, which got a slight battery capacity boost, pretty much gave me similar battery life. At the end of a regular day of usage, including phone calls, texts, emails, and random web browsing, the Pixel 8 had about 20% left in the tank, which is not mindblowing but could be enough for most people.
When I was testing the camera, the battery flagged, prompting me to charge it before the day was over, but this was an atypical day. Also, I had Always-On Display (AOD) on, and considering this is not an LTPO display—meaning it cannot lower the dynamic refresh rate to below the standard 60 Hz—it had a slight impact on battery life.
All in all, the 4,575 mAh battery is solid, if not remarkable.
Cameras
Now we come to the cherry on top—the cameras. The Pixels have always boasted a top-notch photography experience, despite mid-range specs, thanks to their computational photography prowess. The Pixel 8 kicks that up a notch, with excellent hardware and magical software.
The Pixel 8 sports a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens. On the front, there's a 10.5MP selfie camera.
Respectable specs, but once AI jumps into the picture, the whole game changes. In addition to tools like Magic Eraser and Unblur, the Photos app now has Best Take and Magic Editor. Best Take is especially useful in group photographs as it allows you to select the best frame possible, and Magic Editor allows you to manipulate any object in a photograph—reposition, erase, change the colour of the sky, etc.—to get the photo you want rather than the one you took.
I have mixed feelings about this feature, as it takes the skill out of photography. Now, I'm no photographer, but for me, the fun lies in taking photos and trying to get better at it. If I can just achieve that in the post, then am I really learning? I don't think so. That said, it is impressive just how well this feature works.
Here is a sample of a photograph taken at Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra. The first is the unedited original, followed by one with the 'Golden Light' filter and one with the 'Stormy Sky' filter—all applied in Magic Editor.
Here's another comparison — I took a photo of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai from across the road, ensuring there were as many objects in the way as possible — street lamps, bollards, etc. The first image is the original, while the second was edited in Magic Editor, with all the distractions removed for a clear view of the building's facade.
It's impressive—and a little scary—just how well this works.
Conclusion
The Pixel 8 is a brilliant, compact smartphone that offers a superb user experience, looking and feeling good while doing it. The ₹74,999 starting price might be a bitter pill to swallow, as it competes against the likes of the new iPhone 15, but considering Google's promise of seven years of full software support—OS and security patches—I think it will be money well spent. Battery life is adequate, the cameras are superb, and the software powered by AI elevates it to a whole new plane.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
