Google Pixel 8 & 8 Pro hands-on review

13 October 2023


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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 0p}
  • 14 Oct 2023

YUKI93, 14 Oct 2023Judging by the benchmark scores as of this writing, while t... more" I see some improvement in the colour science. It does look more vibrant than the 7 Pro. "

That is downgrade, not improvement.

    • N
    • Nikojas
    • 6t8
    • 14 Oct 2023

    Just reported elsewhere, “
    In a highly unusual move, it has been revealed that Google has blocked reviewers of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro from installing popular benchmarks including Geekbench and 3D Mark…In a perhaps even more extraordinary move, Google extended the block to new owners of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, preventing them from installing benchmarks as well.”

      [deleted post]Luckily, this is only a hands-on preview. I'll wait for the full review to see if they're any better.

        Judging by the benchmark scores as of this writing, while the CPU is more than fast enough, the GPU performance is somewhat questionable, especially when it shares the same GPU as the MediaTek Dimensity 9200/9200+. Even with MIUI, the Xiaomi 13T Pro leaps ahead of both Pixels. I only guess that Google focuses more on overall efficiency because of Samsung's fabrication process.

        As for the camera, I see some improvement in the colour science. It does look more vibrant than the 7 Pro. But between the Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro, it's an easy win for the Pixel.

          alski10, 14 Oct 2023The performance issues are pretty surprising to me. My pixe... moreYup every other review basically states still the fluidity king in the android universe

            Not a phone for me. I need batterylife and fast charging.

              • G
              • GrahamD
              • nIY
              • 14 Oct 2023

              The design is really ugly, it looks like a cheap periscope.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • gDf
                • 14 Oct 2023

                Nick Tegrataker, 14 Oct 2023It's good to know that Google walked back on hideous n... moreSorry, I don't see a difference in this gsmarena comparison between 7 Pro and 8 Pro. Also note that the 8 Pro chose a longer exposure time in the 1x example, this improves the signal to noise ratio, so noise reduction doesn't need to be that aggressive.

                The "2x" shots look different, but one can't compare them because the field of view is different. For example, Google uses data from the periscope camera at 2.5x. Surprisingly, even the exif data doesn't indicate a different field of view. Seems to be a bug.

                And regarding the periscope camera: As I wrote previously, I compared my 7 Pro's periscope camera with the 8 Pro in a store and the image quality was nearly identical at 360mm (though the 8 Pro didn't have the latest camera update). I even sometimes had the impression that the 8 Pro was slightly more aggressive regarding sharpening/noise reduction. I have also seen other sample images on the internet (I believe it was android authority) where the 8 Pro was more aggressive regarding sharpening (which produced artifacts) than the 7 Pro

                  I already have mine, but I had not proper time to test it.
                  I just swapped my SIM and data to a newer model. Pixel 7 Pro to 8 Pro upgrade feels like going Android 13 to 14 - some minor new things, but barelly noticable, nice but familiar.

                    • P
                    • PREDATOR
                    • 7t}
                    • 14 Oct 2023

                    Atleast cross verify your facts before posting something.
                    Like, In India the pixel 8 has the 256 gb version available also.
                    I now very much doubt rest of the review too.

                      The performance issues are pretty surprising to me. My pixel 7 is really smooth like 98% of the time so that makes me think this is more of a software issue than an underperforming SoC issue.

                      The camera comparison put into words why I don't want to go back to Galaxies or iPhones. The pixels are so darn reliable when it comes to color reproduction. You take a picture and you know it's not gonna look overly saturated or too dark or too bright. It just looks very close to what I want almost every time.
                      My only complaints are: - no manual mode; - slow and unreliable AF in the dark; - grainy contours in slightly dark environnements with moving subjects; - no macro mode
                      So I basically need to upgrade to P8P
                      Kind of a shame the main sensor isn't larger on the 8, though. It could have been so freaking good

                        Team Gsmarena, I have a request. Please review and put video boost in your video comparison tool whenever Google release this feature. Thank you in advance.

                          Damn, incredibly harsh preview.
                          I haven't seen GSMArena trashing a phone so hard in years!
                          If only, if only, they kept such hard review standards for other smartphone manufacturers... now that would be the GSMArena I used to know

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • XMF
                            • 14 Oct 2023

                            Anonymous, 14 Oct 2023🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Golden Reviewer Genshi Test (max settings) ... moreeven sd870 still far superior
                            google pixel is doom

                              Hands on review? Bit late to the party,.. odd that from all the other online reviews and yt not a one mentions stuttering/ lagging iu. Quite the opposite..also most have noted the improvements with the g3 chip over last years models yet even the reviewer here for the 7 series for the most part states mostly positive things now all of a sudden numbers matter.. sheesh some consistency would be good.

                                • V
                                • Viv
                                • 4nH
                                • 14 Oct 2023

                                I really can't take this sites reviews seriously. I have a 6p and my experience is great. The only issue I notice when using a 5G network in another country. The heat and reception issues were definitely a thing. But after getting back to my country (we are on 4G LTE), I have no issues with heat or reception.

                                  • V
                                  • Viv
                                  • 4nH
                                  • 14 Oct 2023

                                  Who are these reviews for, the average Joe or nerds?

                                    • P
                                    • P0ma
                                    • CBa
                                    • 14 Oct 2023

                                    GSMarena team,
                                    I have a request. Please review video boost when it will come and put it in you video comparison tool. Thanks.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 0p}
                                      • 14 Oct 2023

                                      Anton., 14 Oct 2023ah but google said that it is not a phone for gaming (lame ... moreSnapdragon is more than $100 more than tensynos.
                                      Zero chance google goes back to qualcomm.

                                        If using these subpar chips is inexcusable then so did Huawei prior to the release of Kirin 980. Kirin 950 was handily beaten by sd820 on GPU, and Kirin 960 was beaten by sd835 while runs a lot hotter. The same applies to any Kirins before Kirin 950 as well.
                                        (Except Kirin 935, which faces the SD810).
                                        But now we have Huawei as a precedent. No matter how crap Tensor is, as long as Google have balls to put it in their flagship it will eventually be a success.

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