Price and Specifications

The Google Pixel 8 was unveiled in October 2023 as part of the Pixel 8 series, alongside the larger Pixel 8 Pro. Building on the success of its predecessors, the Pixel 8 brings a refined design, cutting-edge hardware, and AI-powered features that continue to make Google’s Pixel lineup a standout in the Android smartphone market. With its updated Tensor G3 chip, improved camera system, and refined display technology, the Pixel 8 aims to deliver premium performance at a more affordable price point than the higher-end Pixel 8 Pro.

In this article, we will explore the price, key specifications, and standout features of the Google Pixel 8, providing a comprehensive breakdown of why it is one of the best smartphones in the mid-range to premium category.

Price

At launch, the Google Pixel 8 is priced as follows:

• 128 GB storage / 8 GB RAM: $699 USD
• 256 GB storage / 8 GB RAM: $799 USD

Compared to many flagship smartphones, the Pixel 8 provides excellent value for money, especially considering its advanced AI features, Google Assistant integration, and computational photography capabilities. While it shares many features with the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 8 is more budget-friendly, making it an appealing option for users who want a high-quality smartphone without paying the premium price of the Pro model.

As newer models continue to be released, the Pixel 8 may also see some price reductions, making it even more attractive to prospective buyers.

Key Specifications

1. Display

• Screen Size: 6.2 inches
• Type: OLED, FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels)
• Pixel Density: 429 PPI
• Aspect Ratio: 20:9
• Refresh Rate: Adaptive 120Hz
• Brightness: Up to 1,400 nits (peak brightness)
• Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (for durability)

The Google Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch OLED display, which is a bit smaller than the Pixel 8 Pro but still offers excellent quality. With a FHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, the Pixel 8 provides crisp, sharp visuals, and its 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and a responsive user interface, whether you’re browsing, gaming, or watching content.

The display is adaptive, which means the refresh rate can adjust between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on the content you’re viewing, helping to conserve battery life when a higher refresh rate is not necessary. Additionally, the display can reach up to 1,400 nits peak brightness, making it easy to read in direct sunlight and perfect for HDR content.

The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which offers better durability against drops and scratches compared to previous generations.

2. Camera System

The camera system is one of the standout features of the Pixel 8, with Google continuing to push the boundaries of smartphone photography through its computational photography and AI-powered features.

• Rear Camera System:
• 50 MP (f/1.85) – Main Camera (Wide)
  • Samsung GN2 sensor for improved light capture
  • Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS)
  • HDR+ for vibrant colors and enhanced details
  • Night Sight for exceptional low-light performance
• 12 MP (f/2.2) – Ultra-Wide Camera
  • 125.8° Field of View
  • Perfect for wide-angle shots and group photos
  • Macro Focus for close-up shots
• Front Camera:
• 10.5 MP (f/2.2) Camera
  • Wide field of view for group selfies
  • Supports HDR+ for natural skin tones and balanced lighting

The 50 MP main camera features the Samsung GN2 sensor, which captures more light, offering better performance in low-light conditions compared to earlier models. The OIS and EIS systems work together to provide steady shots even when the user is in motion or using the zoom. The HDR+ algorithm enhances details in shadows and highlights, delivering vibrant, true-to-life images.

The 12 MP ultra-wide camera offers a 125.8° field of view, which is perfect for wide-angle shots or large group photos. It also includes macro focus, enabling users to capture detailed close-up shots with clarity.

The 10.5 MP front camera has a wide field of view, making it great for selfies, especially when you want to fit more people into the shot. It also supports HDR+, which ensures that your selfies are balanced and natural-looking, with accurate skin tones and good contrast.

In addition to still photography, the Pixel 8 is equipped with advanced video recording capabilities, supporting 4K video at 30 fps for both the front and rear cameras. This makes the Pixel 8 suitable for content creators and vloggers who need high-quality video recording.

3. Performance

• Chipset: Google Tensor G3 (4nm, octa-core)
• CPU: 2x Cortex-X1 (3.00 GHz) + 2x Cortex-A76 (2.85 GHz) + 4x Cortex-A55 (2.0 GHz)
• GPU: ARM Mali-G715
• RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5

The Pixel 8 is powered by Google’s custom-designed Tensor G3 chip, which is optimized for AI tasks, enhancing the device’s machine learning capabilities. The Tensor G3 brings improvements over its predecessor (Tensor G2) in both performance and energy efficiency. The chip includes high-performance cores (Cortex-X1 at 3.00 GHz) and more energy-efficient cores (Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz), ensuring that the device can handle demanding tasks such as gaming, multitasking, and AI processing with ease.

With 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, the Pixel 8 offers smooth multitasking and seamless app performance. Whether you’re running several apps at once, switching between tasks, or gaming, the Pixel 8 is fast and responsive, thanks to the efficient Tensor G3 chip and the ample RAM. The ARM Mali-G715 GPU provides enhanced graphics performance, ensuring smooth visuals in gaming and media consumption.

One of the key highlights of the Tensor G3 chip is its ability to support AI-powered features like Magic Eraser for photo editing, Live Translate, and Real-time speech recognition, offering an intuitive and smart experience for users.

4. Battery

• Battery Capacity: 4600 mAh
• Charging:
• 30W USB-C fast charging (sold separately)
• Wireless Charging: Supports 12W Qi wireless charging
• Reverse wireless charging: Yes

The Pixel 8 comes with a 4600 mAh battery, which provides a full day’s worth of power under typical usage. With the Tensor G3 chip and optimized power management, the device is efficient enough to get you through a busy day with moderate use, including social media, media consumption, and light gaming.

The device supports 30W USB-C fast charging, which can charge the phone to 50% in around 30 minutes. However, Google no longer includes the charging brick in the box, so users will need to purchase the charger separately. The Pixel 8 also supports 12W wireless charging, offering a convenient way to charge your device without cables. Additionally, the device supports reverse wireless charging, which allows you to charge accessories like Pixel Buds or other Qi-compatible devices using your phone’s battery.

5. Storage

• Internal Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB (non-expandable via microSD card)

The Pixel 8 is available in two storage configurations: 128 GB and 256 GB. There is no microSD card slot, meaning users will have to rely on the built-in storage or use cloud storage to manage additional data. Google’s Google One cloud storage service makes it easy to store photos, videos, and other files, offering seamless integration across the Google ecosystem.

6. Software

• Operating System: Initially shipped with Android 14
• Google’s Clean Android Experience: The Pixel 8 comes with a clean, stock version of Android 14, with no bloatware or unnecessary apps.
• Google Assistant: Enhanced Google Assistant features for hands-free control, voice commands, and smart home integration.
• Security: The Titan M2 security chip provides hardware-level security, and the phone supports Face Unlock and Fingerprint Sensor under display for secure authentication.

The Pixel 8 comes with Android 14, which brings several new features, including improved privacy controls, enhanced widgets, and better multitasking. Google offers 3 years of major OS updates and 5 years of security patches, ensuring that the Pixel 8 remains up to date with the latest features and security improvements.