The Google Pixel 8 is Google's compact 2023 flagship, now a strong value buy since the Pixel 9 arrived. One of the smaller premium Android phones on sale, it pairs Google's camera processing with a promise of seven years of OS, security and feature updates, so even bought today it stays supported for years.
Pixel 8: Display
The 6.2-inch OLED runs at 120Hz with a 1080 x 2400 resolution and quotes 1400 nits in high-brightness mode, with GSMArena measuring 1,446 nits in its lab test and a 2,000-nit peak reserved for HDR.
Gorilla Glass Victus protects the flat front, and at 6.2 inches this is one of the few premium phones that suits smaller hands.
Pixel 8: Camera
The dual camera pairs a 50MP main sensor with OIS and a 12MP ultrawide with autofocus, backed by a 10.5MP ultrawide selfie camera. There is no telephoto, but Google's processing and features like Best Take keep results among the best in class.
Video reaches 4K at 60fps with 10-bit HDR, and the lack of a dedicated zoom lens is the only real gap.
Pixel 8: Battery
The 4,575mAh battery returned an active use score of 11:17 hours in GSMArena's lab, solid for a compact phone, with 27W wired charging at 50% in 30 minutes, plus 18W wireless and reverse wireless.
Charging is slow against the 80W-plus systems on rivals, so charging speed rather than endurance is the weak point.
Pixel 8: Size, Weight and Build
At 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm and 187g with Gorilla Glass Victus on both faces, an aluminium frame and IP68 sealing, the Pixel 8 is a compact, premium phone in colours including Hazel and Rose.
There is no microSD slot and no headphone jack, the usual flagship trade-offs.
Pixel 8: Performance
The Google Tensor G3 with 8GB of RAM drives the phone's AI and camera features and handles everyday use smoothly, on Android 14 at launch and since updated, with the seven-year commitment leaving years of support.
Tensor chips prioritise AI over raw speed and can run warm under sustained load, so this is not the fastest silicon at the price, though it remains capable for daily use.
Pixel 8: Who Should Buy
Buy the Pixel 8 at a discount if you want a top-tier camera and years of guaranteed updates in a compact body without paying current-flagship money. Buyers who want the newest chip and camera hardware should compare the Pixel 9. Buyers comparing contract terms will find current network pricing in the table above.