Google Pixel 8 Review

The Pixel 8's most important spec was a number on a support page: seven years of OS and security updates, through October 2030, when Google's own previous promise was three and five, and no Android maker offered more than four. Samsung matched it within three months on the Galaxy S24 and the whole industry's support floor moved.

The phone itself was a tidy $699 flagship, $100 more than the Pixel 7. The 6.2-inch Actua display hit 2000 nits and finally ran at 120Hz on the non-Pro model, up from the Pixel 7's 90Hz, and the rounded, smaller body was easier to hold than any Pixel since the 5. Face unlock was upgraded to the security class that lets it sign into banking apps, not just the lock screen.

The 50-megapixel Octa PD main camera was the same sensor as the Pro and produced the same photos; the 12-megapixel ultrawide gained autofocus for macro shots. There was no telephoto, but Super Res Zoom held up to 2x. Best Take swapped faces between group shots and Magic Editor moved subjects around, features that drew attention out of proportion to how often anyone used them. Tensor G3 was quicker than G2 and still ran warm through a long camera session, and the Samsung Exynos modem still trailed Qualcomm's for signal. The 4575mAh battery gave a comfortable day and charged at 27W wired. A good phone that changed the terms every rival sells on.