Google Pixel 8 - A Long Term User Review

Summary

The video script reviews Google's Pixel 8, highlighting its compact size and AI capabilities. It notes hardware improvements like a smaller, brighter display and enhanced battery life but criticizes performance issues with the Tensor G3 chip. The camera system receives praise for quality, especially in low light, and new software features are discussed, such as repair mode and Magic Compose. Despite the high price, the Pixel 8 offers a good camera and battery life, making it a compelling option at a reduced cost.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Google Pixel 8 is praised for its small form factor, making it convenient to carry and use.
• 🔍 The device has a smaller 6.2-inch display with rounded corners, enhancing ergonomics and comfort.
• 🎨 The design maintains a glass sandwich style with a camera bump that tends to accumulate dirt.
• 🔒 The optical fingerprint sensor is still used but can be blinding at night and less accurate than ultrasonic readers.
• 📲 The display has been improved to be brighter with a 42% increase in peak brightness compared to the Pixel 7.
• 🔄 The 120 Hz refresh rate is not set by default and can be inconsistent with third-party apps.
• 📈 The Tensor G3 chip's performance lags behind competitors, impacting the camera app and other intensive tasks.
• 🔋 Battery life has improved with a larger battery size and the Tensor G3 chip contributes positively to power efficiency.
• 📸 The camera system delivers high-quality photos with good low-light performance and a wide field of view.
• 🤳 The selfie camera has a wider field of view and captures accurate skin tones.
• 📱 The Pixel 8 comes with several software features like Magic Eraser, Magic Compose, and improved lock screen customization.

Q & A

What is the main appeal of small form factor phones for the speaker?

The speaker is attracted to small form factor phones because they are convenient to carry, easy for one-handed use, and have a discreet profile in their pocket.

What is the speaker's history with Google phones?

The speaker's first Android smartphone was the Google Play edition HTC1, chosen for its top-notch hardware and pure form of Android without any skins.

How does the speaker describe the design of the Pixel 8?

The speaker describes the Pixel 8 as having a smaller 6.2-inch display with rounded corners, a familiar glass sandwich design, and a camera bump at the back that tends to accumulate dirt.

What is the speaker's opinion on the Pixel 8's fingerprint sensor?

The speaker finds the optical fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 8 to be only about 90% effective and prefers an ultrasonic reader for superior accuracy and responsiveness.

What improvements does the Pixel 8 have over the Pixel 7 in terms of display?

The Pixel 8 has a display upgrade from 90Hz to 120Hz OLED and is significantly brighter, with a peak of 2000 nits compared to 1400 nits on the Pixel 7.

Why does the speaker feel that the Pixel 8's performance is inconsistent?

The speaker believes the inconsistency in performance is due to compatibility issues with third-party apps on the open-source Android platform.

What is the speaker's view on the Tensor G3 chip's performance?

The speaker feels that the performance of the Tensor G3 chip lags behind competitors like Samsung and OnePlus, resulting in a sluggish camera app and other performance issues.

How does the speaker rate the Pixel 8's battery life and charging capabilities?

The speaker praises the Pixel 8 for its improved battery life, achieving close to 6 hours of screen-on time, and for having faster charging speeds.

What are the speaker's thoughts on the Pixel 8's camera capabilities?

The speaker is impressed with the Pixel 8's camera capabilities, particularly the rear-facing cameras' quality and the front-facing camera's stabilization and speech enhancement features.

What new software features does the Pixel 8 introduce?

The Pixel 8 introduces features like repair mode, Circle to search, document cleaning using AI, the ability to use the camera as a webcam, and Magic Compose for generating responses in the messenger app.

What is the speaker's final verdict on whether Google has succeeded or fallen short with the Pixel 8?

The speaker believes that Google has fallen short in terms of performance and pricing, but if the Pixel 8 can be purchased at a lower price, it offers a good value with its camera and battery life.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Introduction to the Pixel 8

The speaker expresses their fondness for small smartphones, highlighting the convenience and discreet profile they offer. They recount their history with Google phones, starting with the Google Play edition HTC1, and their preference for pure Android over skinned versions. The introduction of the Pixel series and the speaker's anticipation for the Pixel 8 is discussed, with a focus on its size and AI-powered software enhancements. The speaker plans to scrutinize the Pixel 8's performance post-updates, starting with hardware improvements like a smaller display with rounded corners for better ergonomics and a familiar glass sandwich design. They mention the camera bump's tendency to collect dirt and the variety of color options available. The speaker also points out the inconsistency in design aesthetics between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, particularly regarding the back texture. The fingerprint sensor's reliability and the preference for an ultrasonic reader are discussed, along with the display's upgrade to a brighter 120 Hz OLED panel. The speaker notes the initial setup at 60 Hz and the smooth experience with native apps, contrasting it with the jittery performance in third-party apps, which they attribute to Android's open-source nature and the challenge of optimizing for a wide range of devices.

05:01

🔍 Deep Dive into Pixel 8's Performance

The speaker discusses the Pixel 8's performance, noting the camera app's sluggishness and the feeling of having to work to keep up with the phone's capabilities. They mention their workflow in Lightroom and the Pixel 8's inability to efficiently keep up. Google Maps' laggy performance during navigation is highlighted, questioning the value for money given the high price tags of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The speaker also expresses a desire for a more powerful processor to justify the cost, suggesting that using Qualcomm's Snapdragon could address performance issues. They discuss the Tensor G3 chip's impact on battery life, which is a positive aspect, and the improved charging speeds. The camera capabilities are tested at the Canadian International Auto Show, with the front-facing camera's stabilization and speech enhancement receiving praise. The rear-facing cameras' video quality is deemed impressive, with good stabilization and support for 10-bit HDI recording, although noise is expected in low light. The speaker also discusses the camera's ability to handle still photography well, despite the app's laggy performance, and the main and ultra-wide sensors' performance in various lighting conditions.

10:02

📸 Camera and Software Features of Pixel 8

The speaker reviews the camera capabilities of the Pixel 8, noting the main camera's faster lens for better low-light performance and the ultra-wide sensor's excellent dynamic range and field of view. They mention the default photo size being downsized to 12 megapixels for storage efficiency, and the lack of RAW format support in the base model, which is reserved for the Pro version. The speaker also discusses the software features of the Pixel 8, including the new repair mode for protecting data during repairs, the Circle to search feature for quick search results, and the clean feature for scanning documents. They mention the ability to use the phone as a webcam, the Magic Compose feature for generating responses, and the Best Take feature for group photos. The speaker appreciates the lock screen's glanceable information and the customization options, including creating wallpapers with AI. They also note the file management system's superiority over iOS and the commitment to seven years of Android OS updates for the Pixel 8 series. The speaker concludes by questioning whether Google has succeeded in the smartphone market, suggesting that the Pixel 8 needs to improve in performance to compete effectively, but at a lower price, it offers a good value with excellent cameras and battery life.

Keywords

💡pH Factor

The term 'pH Factor' is likely a metaphorical or playful take on 'factor', suggesting that the speaker is particularly fond of small phones. In the context of the video, it implies a significant personal preference for phones with a compact size, which is a central theme as the speaker discusses the appeal of the Google Pixel 8's size.

💡Google Pixel 8

Google Pixel 8 is a smartphone model by Google, which is the main subject of the video. The speaker discusses its features, improvements over its predecessor (Pixel 7), and its performance. It's highlighted for its size, software capabilities, and AI integration, making it a central focus of the review.

💡AI

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is a key feature of the Google Pixel 8 as mentioned in the script. It's used to enhance various functionalities like the camera, user experience, and software features. AI is integral to the phone's appeal, as it's touted to improve performance and efficiency, exemplified by the software wizardry thanks to AI.

💡Hardware Improvements

Hardware improvements refer to the physical or tangible enhancements made to the Google Pixel 8 compared to its predecessor. The script mentions a smaller display with rounded corners and an optical fingerprint sensor as examples. These improvements are significant as they contribute to the phone's ergonomics and user experience.

💡Software Wizardry

Software wizardry in the context of the video refers to the advanced and innovative software features of the Google Pixel 8. It's used to describe the impressive capabilities of the phone's software, particularly those enhanced by AI, which are a key selling point and a major theme of the review.

💡Tensor G3 Chip

The Tensor G3 Chip is the processor used in the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. It's a critical component that affects the phone's performance, as discussed in the video. The speaker mentions that despite the new chip, there are performance lags, indicating that the chip is a central element in evaluating the phone's capabilities.

💡Battery Life

Battery life is a significant aspect of any smartphone review, and the script highlights the improvements in the Google Pixel 8's battery compared to the Pixel 7. The increased battery size and the positive impact of the Tensor G3 chip on battery efficiency are mentioned, which are important for users looking for a phone with good longevity.

💡Camera System

The camera system of the Google Pixel 8 is a focal point in the review. The speaker discusses the quality of the front-facing and rear-facing cameras, the features like 10-bit HDI recording, and the impact of Google's AI processing on image quality. The camera system is a key selling feature of the phone and a major part of the video's narrative.

💡Android OS Updates

Android OS updates refer to the software updates provided by Google for its Pixel devices. The script mentions a commitment to providing updates for seven years, which is a significant factor for users concerned about the longevity and security of their devices. This commitment reflects Google's support for its products and is an important consideration for potential buyers.

💡User Experience

User experience encompasses all aspects of how a person interacts with and perceives the Google Pixel 8. The video discusses various elements that contribute to the user experience, such as performance, camera quality, battery life, and software features. It's a central theme as the speaker evaluates whether the phone meets or falls short of expectations in terms of user satisfaction.

💡Google's AI

Google's AI refers to the artificial intelligence technologies developed by Google that are integrated into the Pixel 8 to enhance its features and performance. The script mentions AI in the context of software capabilities, camera enhancements, and power efficiency, positioning it as a key differentiator and a significant part of the phone's appeal.

Highlights

The Google Pixel 8's compact size and discreet profile make it convenient to carry and use.

The Pixel 8 features a smaller 6.2-inch display with rounded corners for enhanced ergonomics and comfort.

The design maintains a glass sandwich style with a camera bump that tends to accumulate dirt.

The build quality is excellent with tactile buttons and no signs of rattling.

The Pixel 8 comes in various color options, including a new mint green.

The optical fingerprint sensor is still used but can be blinding at night and less accurate than ultrasonic readers.

The display has been upgraded to a 120 Hz OLED, offering a 42% improvement in brightness over the Pixel 7.

The phone's refresh rate is set at 60 Hz out of the box, requiring manual adjustment for the full 120 Hz experience.

Third-party apps may experience performance issues, even with the 120 Hz refresh rate.

The Tensor G3 chip's performance lags behind competitors like Samsung and OnePlus.

The camera app can be sluggish, with prolonged processing times for each shot.

Google Maps navigation can be laggy on the Pixel 8.

The Pixel 8's battery life has improved, with up to 6 hours of screen-on time.

Charging speeds have improved, and the phone supports wireless charging.

The front-facing camera has good stabilization and quality, with speech enhancement to eliminate background noise.

The rear-facing cameras offer impressive video quality, supporting 10-bit HDI recording.

The Pixel 8's camera system replicates the dual camera setup of the Pixel 7 with a 12 MP Ultra wide sensor and a 50 MP standard wide sensor.

The main camera on the Pixel 8 is slightly faster, leading to better low-light performance.

Google has introduced a feature called Super Res Zoom, which enhances digital zoom quality.

Portrait mode is available for artistic focus in photography.

The selfie camera has a wider field of view and captures accurate skin tones.

Google has added new software features like Repair Mode and Circle to search for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will receive Android OS updates for seven years, ensuring they stay current until 2030.

The Pixel 8's price increase to $700 does not justify the user experience, making it less competitive in the market.

At a lower price point, such as $550, the Pixel 8 becomes more enticing due to its camera quality and battery life.

Transcripts

so here's the thing I'm a sucker for

small pH Factor phones they're

convenient to carry easy for oneand use

and I adore their discret profile in my

pocket so when Google dropped the pixel

8 uh about 4 months ago I was

immediately drawn to its size and some

of its software Wizardry thanks to AI of

course you see I've always been a fan of

Google phones in fact my foray into

Android smartphones was with the Google

Play edition HTC1 not sure if you guys

remember that but I spe specifically

chosea because it had top-notch Hardware

back then and it ran the purest form of

Android I didn't prefer any of those

skins running on top of uh the open

source platform so over time Google

recognized the need to establish its

presence and compete with the big

players leading to the Inception of the

pixel series and it's been eight years

since introduction of the first pixel so

the question

remains has Google succeeded or fallen

short I'm hoping to address that by

closely examining the pixel 8 under the

microscope after the

updates all right so I'm going to

quickly start by going over some of the

minor Hardware improvements that the

pixel 8 brings to the table compared to

the pixel 7 a notable change is the

smaller 6.2 in display featuring rounded

Corners that not only enhance the

phone's ergonomics but it also provides

a more comfortable grip without digging

into my hand the overall design

maintains The Familiar glass sandwich

with the staple camera bump at the back

which unfortunately tends to accumulate

all sorts of dirt even with a case

installed build quality is excellent the

buttons feel nice and tactile with no

signs of rattling I've got the obsidian

black model but you can spice it up with

a few other options like this newly

announced mint green Hazel or Rose I

really wish that Google maintain

consistency in their design Aesthetics

throughout the pixel 8 lineup because

the Frosted texture on the the back of

the pixel 8 Pro feels much more premium

compared to the glossy finish on the

back which is naturally going to be a

huge fingerprint magnet but then again

it's nothing that a case can solve the

Aging Optical fingerprint sensor is

still in use for logging in but it tends

to only work about 90% of the time one

notable downside is how it can be

blinding at night when trying to log

into the phone personally I would have

preferred an ultrasonic reader like

what's found in the Galaxy s23 s24

series it's just known for Superior

accuracy and responsive

but you can always set up face unlock as

a backup the display has received a spec

bump as well from 90 HZ moled to 120 HZ

Oland now this isn't ltpo like the pixel

8 Pro or Samsung's s24 series but what

you will notice is that it's gotten much

brighter this time we're talking close

to 42% Improvement which is pretty wild

so 2,000 nits Peak versus 1400 nits on

the pixel 7 and this results in

exceptional visibility Outdoors content

looks Vivid and sharp with those Inky

blacks that we all love so visually this

is an awesome display and you'd also

think that the 120 HZ refresh rate would

add to a smooth navigating experience

right well firstly when setting up the

phone Google for some reason sets it at

60 HZ out of the box so you'll have to

manually go into the settings tab and

switch it to0 once that's done it's a

pretty it's a pretty smooth experience

with Google's native apps and the OS

gestures are somewhat fluid but sadly

that takes a turn when you venture into

third party apps like Reddit WhatsApp

Microsoft teams even some of my banking

apps heck even Google's own YouTube

studio just feels so jittery and I want

to emphasize that part highly guys

because it's super inconsistent when

you're switching between apps it almost

feels like the display reverted itself

back to 60 HZ despite me forcing it to

run at its peak refresh raate through

the developer settings now I really

wanted to investigate this disparity and

I think I found the problem or the

answer and no this hasn't to do with the

tensor G3 chip although I will get to

that in a moment but rather it's about

compatibility you might be wondering

well isn't this a Google smartphone

running Google's own operating system

yeah but you have to realize that

Android is an open- Source platform

running on a variety of devices out

there this can range from a $100

smartphone to a $2,000 smartphone and so

at the end of the day it's about

ensuring these popular apps run reliably

on these devices worldwide running

different versions of Android you can't

simply optimize an app for one

particular Android smartphone no

developer would remotely go that far

compared to iOS for instance which has a

pretty strict framework which is why

apps tend to run a lot smoother on those

devices and I feel like this complexity

alone is probably one of the main

reasons why you can never expect a

consistent experience on the pixel 8 and

trust me this applies to the pixel 8 Pro

as well to add to that I had high

expectations for tensor G3 on the pixel

8 and the pixel 8 Pro now over the

course of my testing period I still feel

like the performance lags behind that of

even Samsung or even one OnePlus devices

for instance the camera app Still

Remains sluggish in capturing photos

with prolonged processing times for each

shot I felt like I had to constantly

work to keep up with the phone's

performance rather than enjoying a

seamless and intuitive user experience I

like to be creative with my photos in

Lightroom and pixel 8 is just not enough

to keep up with my workflow efficiently

Google Maps was also super laggy during

navigation it it's just disappointing

that despite the $700 and $1,000 price

tags for the pixel 8 and pixel 8 Pro

they just aren't equipped with a

flashship level processor I just feel

like the price doesn't justify the user

experience Google emphasizes that these

devices are optimized for processing

Google AI faster and efficiently but

when it comes to intensive tasks like

hardcore gaming they just simply don't

match to qualcomm's or Apple's offerings

while performance might not be a top

priority for the average consumer I

actually wonder how that would get

affected over a year or two with

software updates I mean I I can't help

but think that maybe switching to

qualcomm's S so which currently not

boasts a built-in npu for faster llm

processing could potentially address

these

issues I don't know what are your

thoughts on that now if we set aside

performance and focus on power

efficiency you're going to love the

pixel 8 especially compared to the pixel

7 because they've increased the battery

size while maintaining a Slimmer and

more compact form factor I was

consistently achieving close to 6 hours

of screen on time which is way better

than my iPhone 15 Pro now granted

battery usage can vary from one user to

the other but for me on my typical work

days where I'm at the studio glued to my

computer I managed to go nearly two days

without needing to recharge so there's

one good thing that came out of tensor

G3 chip it's the positive impact on

battery life which is great news for

anyone looking for a small phone uh the

charging speeds have also improved

thanks to the increased power delivery

you also still get wireless charging and

if you know me I've always appreciated

Mac safe on iPhone so I did miss that

part on the pixel 8 when I switched to

this phone but you can easily get a

compatible case to address

[Music]

that so I'm here at the Canadian

International Auto Show super excited

about this for February cuz you know

it's something exciting for the winter

here in Canada and better way to

actually test the cameras on the pixel 8

so we're going to go shoot some cars and

test out these amazing cameras cuz

they're actually pretty good so the

front-facing camera is a 10.2 megapixel

sensor that can shoot 4K 30 frames per

second and it has really good

stabilization the quality is nice

dynamic range is really nice uh and

Google is also built in speech

enhancement which is their full full

processor that uh essentially eliminates

all the background noise uh and focuses

on your speech so I think it's pretty

awesome uh I mean it was great on the

pixel 7 it's pretty great on the pixel 8

but what I'm really surprised or what I

was surprised was with the rear-facing

cameras because the quality as you guys

are going to see is pretty incredible so

as you can see the video quality from

the rear-facing cameras is truly

impressive this phone supports 10-bit

HDI recording and boasts excellent

built-in stabilization the active mode

ensures a smooth shot especially for

action shots albeit it is limited to

1080p I shot most of these clips in

standard mode which takes care of light

movements and it works in 4k I will say

in low light you can expect some noise

in the footage but honestly for stuff to

share on social media or even if you

want to get into content creation these

cameras are pretty impressive I really

wished if Google included video boost

for the pixel 8 instead of just leaving

that for the pixel 8 Pro since that

would have cleaned up the footage so

well also if you're planning to shoot a

ton of photos and videos on the pixel uh

I did notice that it does tend to get

warmer to the touch nothing to be

worrying but it's just something to be

mindful of now shifting gears to photos

if you're patient with the laggy camera

camera app you can actually end up with

some pretty amazing results but that

shouldn't be surprising considering how

good the pixel 7 was already in the

first place Google has essentially

replicated the same dual camera system

with a 12 mapix Ultra wide sensor and a

50 megap standard wide sensor The Only

Exception is the main camera is now

slightly faster meaning it leads to more

light resulting in good low light

performance the ultrawide results are

some of the best that I've encountered

on a smartphone it has a wider field of

view to fit as many subjects in a tight

space the dynamic range is great and

when you pair that with ois and Google's

AI processing images are well detailed I

will say that just like the pixel 7 the

white balance on the pixel 8 tends to be

a bit on the cooler side but that can

easily be addressed in post the primary

50 megap sensor consistently delivers

clean well-exposed and detailed images

Now by default these photos are

downsized to 12 megapixels for storage

efficiency if you're keen on Raw formats

where you need those massive 50 photos

you'll need to upgrade to the 8 Pro as

Google for some reason decided to

reserve Pro controls exclusively for

that model despite both the 8 and the 8

Pro sharing the same Hardware that being

said the 8 can still take Raw it's just

downside to 12 megapixels but regardless

the details coming out of this phone are

truly incredible Google has also

introduced a feature called super resum

which while not entirely new is actually

noteworthy so when you digitally zoom in

by adx you may notice some degradation

in the viewfinder image quality but

after you captured the photo Google

software and machine learning algorithms

collaborate to reduce noise enhance

Clarity and present you with a

surprisingly decent image now while I

may not use this feature all the time I

can see it coming handy for reading some

signs or tackling anything that's

difficult to decipher portrait mode is

still available if you need that extra

Touch of artistic Focus but personally I

prefer the natural depth of field

shooting in standard mode the selfie

camera is also fantastic it has a wider

field of view which is great for for

group selfies and it actually captures

my skin tones accurately now the

software experience on Pixel devices

have mostly remained consistent for the

past few years they're always known for

amazing software capabilities than

hardware and this year they've added a

few cool tricks up their sleeve

especially with the pixel 8 and A8 Pro a

few nuances that I noticed uh is a new

repair mode with the latest version of

Android it's actually hidden underneath

the system settings but basically this

protects your apps and personal data

from being accessed uh when you give the

phone for repair and the future I just

hope you don't drop it Google has also

recently added Circle to search which

was debuted on the Galaxy s24 and

Samsung was going to town with marketing

that feature though it was just a matter

of time to get it rolled into the pixel

8 and the 8 Pro you basically long press

on the home button which highlights

what's on your screen and all you have

to do is circle highlight or tap

anything which will then bring up search

results instantly and it's fast and

stupid accurate this is great for those

who are glued to Pinterest for design

inspiration ation um I tend to do that a

lot so I love this feature there's also

a clean feature that once again uses AI

to remove any fingerprints smudges or

creases when scanning documents or

receipts you can also use the cameras to

double as a webcam all you have to do is

just plug in the phone to a computer tap

on USB options and then webcam and just

like that you can either use the rear

cameras or the selfie camera over the

potato ones built into your laptop magic

composes also another feature that

utilizes Google's latest LL to generate

and compose responses in different tones

within the messenger app but as of now

it's only available in the state so I

wasn't able to test that out best take

is also a pretty sweet feature that

combines multiple photos by swapping out

faces of those who blinked so everyone

looks their best if you want to get

creative with editing photos magic

editor lets you remove unnecessary

objects in the photo to emphasize a

subject by using generator fill but I

wouldn't rely on it 100% of the time

plus it also takes a while to process

especially when you're editing the

background and just pushing the image to

its limits I appreciate the glanceable

information on the lock screen that

helps me keep track of my schedule the

new lock screen animations and

customization layouts are pretty cool in

fact you can also create your own

wallpapers using AI with just a few

words and prompts customizability is

still the Forefront of Android and I

love that the file management system is

far better than iOS you still get

features like now playing that

identifies the music playing in the

background though keep in mind that you

have to manually enle that after setting

up the phone and finally Google has

committed to providing Android OS

updates for a mopping seven years on the

pixel 8 and the pixel 8 Pro so that

means these phones will stay current

until

2030 however I'm a bit skeptical about

how the underwhelming tensor chip will

manage these advancements but I guess

only time will tell if it's going to

make it or break it personally I did

wish if Google extended these updates to

include the pixel 7 Series

but what can I say it's it's it's a very

Google thing to do so to address my

question at the beginning of this video

has Google succeeded or fallen short in

the smartphone Arena you see from a

hardware standpoint not really since

they've initially made the mistake of

pricing this at $700 which is $100 more

than the pixel 7 and to me that price

increase just doesn't justify the user

experience Google needs to address the

performance inconsistencies with the

tensor chip I plot them for creating

something different but different

doesn't NE necessarily mean better the

pixel 8 just needs to step up in the

game to compete effectively in the

smartphone market that being said if you

can snag this phone for as low as

$550 it becomes an enticing proposition

because you're getting access to one of

the best smartphone cameras on the

market paired with impressive battery

life and Google's AI stuff it's

undeniably a sweet deal for those of us

in Canada and worldwide I would think

twice before paying full price

[Music]