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Google Pixel 8 at a glance

The Pixel 8 is a major upgrade on the Pixel 7.

It comes with a striking new polished metal design, with contoured edges that promises durability as well as sharp looks.

The dual lens camera has received a major boost, with new tweaks aimed at improving images shot in low light.

Under the hood, Google’s new Tensor 3 chipset keeps things ticking along, as does Android 14.

Google says the Pixel 8 will get software updates for a hefty seven years, making it a long term proposition.

Google Pixel 8 availability

The Google Pixel 8 is available from 12 October 2023.

At launch, prices start from £699 for a 128GB model, although you can also snare the device on contract and spread the cost if you don’t want to pay all that money upfront.

Google Pixel 8 design

The overall design of the Pixel 8 is a refined take on what’s gone before, with a new metal finish and contoured edges ensuring overall durability.

The display clocks in at 6.2 inches and packs OLED tech, with Google saying improvements to its internal tech meaning that it is 42% brighter than the Pixel 7, reaching a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. Resolution clocks in at 1080 x 2400.

The device itself is slightly smaller than the Pixel 7 and therefore sits a little easier in the hand. Google has also ensured that the ‘camera band’ doesn’t dominate the rear of the device, giving it a neat finish that stands up well against the best iPhones and handsets from Samsung.

Google Pixel 8 camera

This is where the Pixel 8 really takes things up a notch. It has a main dual lens camera, with the same top end 50MP main camera found on the pricier Pixel 8 Pro.

It can capture 21% more light than the older Pixel 7, with a new macro function allowing for better closeups. There’s a clever new ‘best take’ tool that lets you bring together faces from different pictures to ensure everyone is looking at the lens, while Magic Editor now has new AI-backed smarts for moving aspects of images and creating neat edits of your favourite pictures. You can even take background noise out of the videos you shoot.

There’s an additional 12MP wide angle lens, as well as the ability to reel off 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. The front facing selfie camera clocks in at 10.5MP.

What’s the difference between the Google Pixel 8 and the Google Pixel 7?

There are a few key differences between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7.

The biggest centres on the camera, which sees the Pixel 8 offer better low light smarts and have neater AI features than its predecessors. The design is slightly smaller and more refined.

Inside, the new Tensor 3 chipset is faster and works harder than that Tensor 2 found in the Pixel 7. The fact Google now offers a hefty seven years of support for Android and security updates with the Pixel 8 is a huge deal, especially as the Pixel 7 only came with a measly three. This makes the Pixel 8 much more enticing for those who don’t want or need to get a new phone every two years.

AI features also allow the Pixel 8 to summarise articles and even read them aloud, as well as translate them.

The Pixel 8 is more expensive than the Pixel 7 was at launch, but that price will fall over time and with so many new features, the rise is understandable.

Is Google Pixel 8 worth buying now?

The Google Pixel 8 marks a major step up from the Pixel 7 and offers much better value compared with the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S23, especially thanks to its class-leading camera.

However, if you want the very latest tech, you may want to opt for the more powerful Google Pixel 8 Pro. It has a better camera, larger screen and a slightly more impressive spec sheet. Either way, the 2023 Pixel range is undoubtedly Google’s best yet.

Can I get the Google Pixel 8 with poor credit?

If you want to buy a Pixel 8 and you have poor credit, then you may not be able to get a regular contract that spreads the cost of the phone over 24 or 36 months.

Instead, you can opt to buy a Pixel 8 SIM-free and then search for a SIM-only deal. While this may cost a lot upfront, it will keep monthly bills down. Most networks do not carry out credit checks on 30-day rolling SIM-only contracts.

Pixel 8 specs