Google Pixel 8

Impressive camera performance with unique AI features ; Solid 6.2-inch OLED display ; All-day battery life ; 7 years of OS upgrades

Dated design ; No telephoto lens ; Raw performance is behind other flagships

The design looks a bit dated, but the Pixel 8 otherwise represents a great buy with impressive camera performance, AI-infused features that remain unique amidst increased competition, and all-day battery life that makes it a joy to use.

Excels in photo and video capture, as usual ; A compact, stylish and well-built phone ; Software updates for seven years

The Pixel 8 Pro has better cameras ; Some of the new AI features are a bit odd ; Battery life still isn't all that brilliant

Google's new Pixel for 2023 has more camera tricks than ever before, and is seriously appealing for Pixel and Android fans – though there are some flaws as well. It's not quite as capable as the bigger Pixel 8 Pro, but it's better value for money if...

New Tensor chip ; Refreshed design ; AI camera tricks

Design changes are minor ; Minimal camera upgrades over Pixel 7 ; No temperature sensor

While it lacks a few of the Pixel 8 Pro's high-end features, the standard Pixel 8 shares a refreshed design, the company's latest Tensor G3 chipset, and a number of new AI features that the processor facilitates. The dual rear camera setup is...

Fitbit is the big selling point here, it's fantastic ; Beautiful design and build ; Fluid, responsive performance ; Lightweight and comfortable to wear (even at night) ; Water and dust resistant to high levels

No iPhone support ; Needs a bigger screen ; Battery life isn't competitive

There's no denying Google has made improvements with the Pixel Watch 2. The fitness and health tracking, as well as the fluid, simple interface, is superb. The design is great, too, but there's definitely a sense that battery life still needs...

Outstanding main camera ; Impressive performance ; Excellent Android 14 software ; Six more years of updates

Underwhelming battery life ; Slow charging ; No telephoto camera

The Pixel 8’s price hike compared to the Pixel 7 has been reversed in the UK, making it a much better buy than at launch. With the Pixel 9 even more expensive, this older model is definitely worth considering, especially with software updates...

Compact body built to a high standard ; Finally, a bright display with a high refresh rate ; Cameras remain brilliantly capable

Performance, battery a step back from class leaders ; Some software being Pro-exclusive feels arbitrary ; Even wider gulf in ability to Pixel 8 Pro than previous years

Physically and functionally the best ‘standard’ Pixel phone Google has ever made – but the gulf between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro also feels larger than ever.

Great main camera Amazing AI photo editing tools Two-day battery life Slick, fast Android 14 Tensor G3 is cool and efficient Seven years software support

Wide-angle camera disappoints Average charge speed

“The Google Pixel 8 packs amazing AI tools, great cameras, and long battery life into a pretty, compact body.”

Compact and premium build, easy to handle, dust- and water-resistant.

Some software features are limited to certain countries.

Bottom line, the Pixel 8 is an easy recommendation because, despite its issues, it's a significant upgrade over the previous generation and manages to pack competent hardware into a compact body.