Google Pixel 8 & Pixel 8 Pro review: Setting the standard for Android phones

Note: This feature was first published on 20 October 2023.

TL;DR version: Pricing could be better, but they're great Android phones with nifty AI features nonetheless. You'd be surprised by our Editor's Choice pick.

All in on AI

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro aren’t just phones any more. It’s a window into a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) uplifts and complements the human condition, bringing out little improvements to let humanity achieve a new standard beyond the weakness of flesh and fickleness of minds.

At least, that’s what Google wanted you to think when they first introduced the phones during its online keynote announcement, given how the presentation made a wonderful AI drinking game*.

*(Take one neat shot per mention of “machine learning” and finish a whole glass per “generative AI” quip. HWZ is not responsible for any of your drinking choices or consequences).

Leading the Android 14 duo is a brand new Google Tensor G3 processor, which Google said has "the biggest machine learning model" that's "10x more complex" compared to its previous Tensor chipsets. 

Amongst all the smartphone brands, Google’s claims about AI are more believable given their work in using generative AI to create easy-to-use features for everyday users.

Some examples new to Pixel are Magic Editor (move or remove unwanted things in your photos), Best Take (selecting ideal faces in group photos), and Audio Magic Eraser (remove noise from two-minute videos). All these are on top of its improvements to older AI tricks, which you can try on the Google Photos app.

Google also gave the phones fancy names for their OLED displays, with the Pixel 8 using Actua (6.2-inch) and Pixel 8 Pro’s called Super Actua (6.7-inch). They’ve also blown out the competition by setting a good example for long-term user support with seven years of updates to its operating system, security, and Feature Drops (software) for the new Pixel 8 series phones until 2030.

Otherwise, these phones look and feel the same as their predecessors, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Surely, there must be a reason why these phones saw a S$100-S$250 price hike, with the Pixel 8 launching at S$1,099 (128GB) while Pixel 8 Pro goes at S$1,549 (128GB), right?

Let’s see if Google really thinks its updated software and new processor are enough to make you part with more money than before.

Minor changes outside

If you’ve used the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 7, or 7 Pro, you won’t find the Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro any different in the hand. The Camera Bar design returns for a third time, with slightly rounded aluminium rails and a glass finish to the touch.

Perhaps the Pixel 8 Pro might feel slightly different because Google switched to a flat display instead of keeping the old curved look. Still, the change won’t affect how you hold and view your Pro device. If anything, we’re glad Google stopped with the curved glass front, as it makes the premium-priced phone look dated.

The Pixel 8 Pro has a frosted glass rear, while the Pixel 8 comes with a polished glass back. Google’s choice of frosted glass makes the Pixel 8 Pro less susceptible to fingerprint smudges. 

Then again, the standard Pixel 8’s polished back doesn’t attract stains. Both are nice to look at if you can live with Google’s milky pastel hues (our Pixel 8 was in Rose, while our Pixel 8 Pro came in Bay colourways).

What we liked most were the mild changes to the OLED displays. Google’s design choices made the Pixel 8’s panel quality even closer to the Pixel 8 Pro (details here). Both can peak at 120Hz refresh rates, with the same competencies (HDR content support, 24-bit colour depth) and features (Always-on Display, At A Glance, Now Playing). 

Pixel 8 Pro justifies its higher price tag with its LTPO OLED packing a wider refresh rate range of 1-120Hz (Pixel 8 packs 60-120Hz), along with a significantly higher HDR and peak brightness of 1,600-nits and 2,400-nits, respectively.

That said, the regular Pixel 8’s 1,400-nit HDR brightness still fares well in Singapore’s hot and hazy outdoor afternoons, easily taking on 1080p content under the sun without breaking a sweat.

Another difference is Pixel 8 Pro uses the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection against scratches and drops, while Pixel 8 uses Corning’s previous glass version for the same purpose. We’ll leave it to you to hit those links and check out their minor differences. 

Despite their sizes resulting in different display resolutions, both Pixel 8 (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) and Pixel 8 Pro (2,992 x 1,344 pixels) have similar pixel density (Pixel 8 at 428 PPI, Pixel 8 Pro at 489 PPI) and identical 20:9 aspect ratios. There’s no perceivable quality difference between them, so choosing the 6.2-inch Pixel 8 or 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro boils down to your preferred handling size. You’re getting IP68 dust-and-water resistance either way, with thin bezels on both devices.

Since Google didn’t make massive changes to the display, waterproofing, handling, or design, we’ll jump straight into the AI features peddled during the keynote.

Android 14 takes a back seat for generative AI

One big change about the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is that these Pixel phones are the first Android mobiles to come with Android 14. 

Google usually pushes out the updates to their own devices first, making these 2023 Pixels the first-ever phones to have a public-ready copy of the latest Android operating system. 

There isn’t much for Pixel 8 series users to brag about with Android 14 since the updates are mostly under the hood (as covered at Google I/O earlier this year). Here’s a summary based on the official blog post announcing the Android 14:

• More personalisation (new or custom lock screen shortcuts, templates, fonts, widgets, formats)
• Generative AI wallpaper (more below)
• Monochromatic theme for easier viewing
• Health Connect for centralising health tracking information
• 100% pinch and zoom for Magnifier
• Flash Notifications for visual light flashes (inside accessibility settings)
• General privacy and protection additions, like alerting you if unknown tracking devices are on you

You can see it was not a massive change in its design or UI like Android 12 two years ago. Back then, Google introduced head-to-toe customisation for a truly personalised experience. Android 14 being familiar is a good thing, because it also means the new Pixels are still true to their pure Android roots.

AI wallpapers could be better

Google’s Generative AI Wallpaper is an Android 14 feature launching first on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. 

As its name implies, you “create” a wallpaper with AI prompts, selecting a theme and picking out adjectives and nouns from a fixed list of suggestions. 

Making your own AI wallpaper is fun for the first few minutes, but it quickly became stale for us due to the limiting parameters — the options only let you exchange certain words in a prompt for a different look. The resulting AI images are also repetitive. 

For instance, our cotton lamp prompt only has three different types of lamps on repeat, with mildly different patterns and ground. The lace UFO looks like different mushrooms in the sky. While they’re interesting, it’s unlike truly creative thinking (e.g. we wanted Victoria's Secret Angels descending from an equally dazzling UFO). 

We get that it’s a flex by Google and its work in generative AI, but we won’t be switching to its AI wallpapers anytime soon. Also, you can use external AI tools with more granular control and save the results as phone wallpapers, so that’s the standard Google needs to beat for this feature to feel practical.

Photo edits like Magic

But not all of Google’s generative AI on the Pixel 8 series are disappointing. A clear winner for us was Magic Editor, which is even more mind-blowing than Google’s old Magic Eraser. You highlight the areas you want AI to work on, and Google will do its best to erase or move what you singled out.

Just look at this example:

In this attempt, we wanted to see what Google would’ve done if we wanted to remove the pebbled path. The results were amazing — we were given three choices, with varying levels of dried leaves. Magic Editor also retained the metal railings despite our highlight selection cutting across the base of those stilts.

Here are more examples. See if you can spot the difference.

Magic Editor is extremely effective within certain limits. For example, It couldn’t handle replacing details on the toy packaging cleanly. 

You also need pinpoint precision to catch extremely fine bits the AI can miss out on (like that smidgen of tofu we didn't catch). Nonetheless, this is a practical application of generative AI making itself useful for the everyday user. You only need a modicum of attention to detail and functioning fingers to use Magic Editor effectively.

It also works on photos you’ve taken in the past, like this shot of drinks from a different phone. To do so, it needs to be retrieved from your Google Photo’s cloud storage.

Using Magic Editor to move your subject is a matter of drag-and-drop, followed by 15 seconds of the AI figuring out what to fill the gaps with.

Other AI applications include Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser, which we’ve covered in our hands-on article here. Everything we’ve mentioned up to this point is available on both Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Not quite the temperature sensor we wanted

Unique to the Google Pixel 8 Pro is a temperature sensor and the Object Temperature app hidden inside Tips. According to Google, it uses the Pixel 8 Pro's infrared sensor to calculate object temperature, but the brand's explanation wasn't really sufficient in helping us understand why we need to select different settings for different materials.

Our initial impressions found the sensor fairly accurate since it came within 1°C of the single subject we tried on. But, after an extensive time with the phone, we eventually found Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor wildly insufficient for practical use.

Temperature readings can vary widely (up to 10°C) depending on material selection, which is strange (since temperature isn’t innately dependent on material type). The sensor also can’t give consistent readings despite multiple attempts at the same object in a very short period of time (e.g., a cloth surface can give you a 1°C++ difference across multiple tries in 10 seconds). 

This means the Pixel 8 Pro’s thermometer cannot replace food thermometers, e.g. those used for coffee-brewing or sous vide, since these cooking techniques require precise temperature control. It can give you a temperature estimate, but why give approximate readings when an accurate one is better?

We also understand that Object Temperature isn’t designed for the human body since that would likely require a certification from various health authorities worldwide. 

Given its unfinished state, we don’t understand why Google thought this feature was worth a shout-out for Pixel 8 Pro during its keynote.

Thankfully, we doubt anyone in the real world would buy a phone because it has a thermometer. Unfortunately, the extra money you pay for the Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t always translate to having better features.

Now, on to the better stuff about Pixel phones — imaging.

Imaging Performance 

As mentioned earlier, Google has many “Magic” post-processing AI tools to help you improve your shots after taking them. We’ve reviewed how some of those tools work on our earlier page and more over here. Here, we’ll dive straight into the new Pixel phone imaging performance — without Magic-whatever.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro share the same Main Camera, and almost the same Front Camera. Considering that both phones also pack the same processor with most of its AI chops either on-device or via the cloud (on Google Photos), we can safely say there’s no difference between either device if you primarily shoot using the main camera with steady hands. 

What Google Pixel 8 Pro differs in (and why they charge way more for it) is the pixel-binned ultra-wide camera, the 5x optical zoom via its telephoto lens, and a shorter 2cm focusing distance for its Macro capabilities. These are all situational shooting options, but they help widen your shooting versatility by offering extra clarity across a wider zoom range. Pixel 8 Pro also makes shooting easier with multi-zone LDAF (keeping in focus with the help of multiple points, as opposed to a single spot).

While the Pixel 8 gets macro shooting now, it has a focusing distance of 5cm. It's good, but not as good as Pixel 8 Pro's significantly closer 2cm distance.

Finally, only the Pro comes with Pro Mode, which controls shutter speed, ISO, and RAW shooting.

It's time for image samples to do the talking.

(Note: if you’re wondering why we didn’t review Video Boost, it’s because the tool is a Feature Drop launching in December 2023 — it wasn’t available during our review period).

Day shots and Macro (Pixel 8)

Day shots and Macro (Pixel 8 Pro)

As expected, the notable differences are in the secondary cameras offered on both devices. Macro shooting is much easier on the Pixel 8 Pro with its shorter focus distance and multi-zone laser focus detection, and the same handset also offers ultra-wide shots that look more true to the scene. 

2x in-sensor zoom photos are also high quality on both devices, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s longer zoom ranges for telephoto win hands down. The 5x optical quality makes shooting animals from a distance easier without startling them while retaining important details like fur, shadows, and highlights.

Night shots and indoors (Pixel 8)

Night shots and indoors (Pixel 8 Pro)

All in all, you can get the Pixel 8 if you don’t see yourself going beyond the main camera or its 2x in-sensor “optical quality” zoom. It has very impressive main camera imaging for its price tag.

While you pay more for the Pixel 8 Pro and its telephoto capabilities plus ease of photography, the extra money translates into greater shooting capabilities with minimal photo-taking effort. But, S$450 more than the Pixel 8 feels like a heavy price to pay for situational lenses.

Benchmark Performance 

The Google Tensor G3 on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is a chipset built on 4nm process, with a 9-core CPU (by Arm, one big, four middle, four efficiency cores) paired with a 7-core Immortalis G715 GPU. The neural processing unit, which Google calls the TPU (with a T that stands for Tensor), is designed by Google, although the chipmaker is Samsung. Google uses LPDDR5X RAM for the Pixel 8 (8GB) and Pixel 8 Pro (12GB), with UFS 3.1 storage on both models (ours were 128GB).

That means we’ll pit it against some of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 options out there, along with Samsung’s latest flagship phones. We’re also throwing in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro for a better idea of its gains. With two Pixel phones packing the same Tensor G3 at wildly different price points, it also makes it easier for us to pick similarly powered handsets across a wider range of Android options in Singapore.

Putting it to the test

To find out how the competitors line up specs and price-wise, check them out in this link.

To find out more about the tests we conduct and what they relate to, we've jotted them down here.

Benchmark Performance remarks

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro hold up in everyday tasks, be it through real-world use or via benchmarking. Both phones kept to a cool 37-38°C, and it only runs warm (40°C onwards) if you're abusing AI tools like Magic Editor over a longer period of time.

Also, the slight differences in synthetic numbers can be chalked up to the RAM differences: Pixel 8 only has 8GB, while Pixel 8 Pro packs 12GB. This is more apparent in benchmarks for CPUs or simulated tasks, although real-world use presents no perceivable difference in both phones.

Battery Life

Our battery benchmark uses PCMark for Android’s Work 3.0 Battery Life test to determine a modern Android-based smartphone's battery uptime in minutes. This controlled benchmark simulates real-world usage with a combination of both web and social media browsing, video and photo editing, parsing data with various file formats, writing (on documents), and more. 

The Pixel 8 offers 4,485mAh of battery capacity while the Pixel 8 Pro has 5,050mAh (those are minimum values, typical mAh are slightly lower). 

In real-world use, both phones offer average uptimes, draining ~7% if idling with a display at full brightness for an hour, about ~15% during an hour’s photography, and anywhere from 15-20% for an hour of high framerate gaming. 

Our benchmark scores also seem to agree, with the Pixel 8 Pro likely consuming more juice because of the larger display and higher resolution. Pixel 8 seems to be the better performer if you want something that lasts the greater part of the day (in exchange for a smaller screen).

Despite their mild differences in fast-charging wattage, both phones take about 1h30m to achieve 0-100% when charging. You’re going to want to have Google’s 30W USB-C Charger (an additional purchase) to take advantage of their strange wired fast-charging profile, given that the two phones have voltage/ampere that can give us both 27W and 30W, despite its PD 3.0 compatibility.

The phones are also capable of wireless charging (Qi-certified), making them true flagship offerings from Google.

Pristine phones, predatory pricing

Both Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro are excellent flagship phones with good processors, great features, and decent battery life. They will make their owners happy, with plenty of mileage to offer if they’re already deep in the Google ecosystem.

It’s hard to fault the devices given that Android smartphones are already competent handsets in capable hands. Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro take it up a notch by rewarding users willing or excited to experiment with AI tools for creativity, and can appreciate good imaging chops.

That, and its improved brightness, battery, and processor from its previous generation, meant a pure Android phone that’s even more refined. 

Where Google stumbles — oddly — is their price tag. Despite all these perks, we still don’t see why the Pixel 8 needs to cost S$100 more than the Pixel 7 at launch, and S$250 more for the Pixel 8 Pro when compared to the Pixel 7 Pro’s starting retail cost. Google would’ve been perfectly fine sitting at the S$999–S$1,299 mark, and it would’ve easily bested most of its Android competition at that price range.

Also, a price difference of S$450 for an extra telephoto, better ultra-wide, and lower refresh rate display for power savings seems more like a math error than a smart pricing strategy.

With the Pixel 8 Pro venturing into premium flagship territory at S$1,549 for 128GB, the phone becomes yet another option among other handsets offering impressive imaging and displays, but with others touting better battery uptimes and more capable processors. Just about most phones above the S$1,500 mark also come with impressive telephoto cameras, so Google has to do more to make its Pro variant attractive in the face of premium-tier competition.

That said, the S$1,099 for 128GB Google Pixel 8 is one of the best Android phones in the high-end category, propped up by its display clarity and refresh rates, a highly competent main camera, and all the software features other Android phone makers wish they had (or had first). 

It’s actually a tough choice between Pixel 8 and the S$999 for 256GB Nothing Phone (2), since both devices offer competent performance in core areas. At the same time, the trade-offs don’t impact their excellent user experiences.

You could go for Nothing’s higher storage 512GB, at the same S$1,099 price as Pixel 8’s 128GB, but you lose out on pure Android, a higher IP rating for resistance, class-leading photography, and seven years of security and firmware support. In return, Nothing offers you a sexier rear, more storage, and a more powerful chipset. For these reasons, Google Pixel 8 also deserves a spot for Editor’s Choice.

However, we feel 128GB isn't really sufficient for most users who eat, live, and breathe on phones. The Pixel 8's 256GB storage alternative at S$1,199 is a more practical purchase, and it's worth that extra S$100 to continue experiencing its great display, greater imaging, and reasonable battery uptime. Its only drawback is the steeper-than-usual prices, which goes back to our thoughts about Google and their confusing pricing strategies for both devices.

That said, both Pixel 8 flagship handsets are built to please. We’re happy to see Google feeling confident about having its phones in Singapore (perhaps a little overconfident), and we hope they continue to set great standards for all other Android phones out there. 

	Design	Features	User-friendliness	Performance	Value	Overall
Google Pixel 8	8.5	9.0	9.0	8.0	8.0
Google Pixel 8Pro	8.5	8.5	9.0	8.0	7.0

The Google Pixel 8 starts from S$1,099 (128GB), whereas the Google Pixel 8 Pro starts at S$1,549 (128GB). 

Both phone models are available on the Google Store (Singapore), Amazon, Challenger, Courts, Shopee, and two new retail partners: Singtel and Sprint-Cass at Changi Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3.