Google Pixel 8 - Long Term, REAL WORLD Review!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- I bought the Pixel 8 on day one, and have now been using it for over 6 months! In this video, I cover any issues I've had (including one major one with the camera), and my general thoughts about how the phone has held up over the last 180 days.
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 What we are going to cover
0:34 Physical Design
1:42 Camera
2:35 Camera Issues
3:56 General Performance and Software Glitches
6:26 AI Features
8:04 Other Pixel and Android Features
8:34 Optical Fingerprint Reader
9:05 Battery Performance
10:32 Competitors and Price
13:14 Should you buy this phone?
#pixel8 #googlepixel8 #longtermreview #6monthslater #pixel86monthslater #pixel8longtermreview #technology #smartphones #budgetsmartphone #pixel #google - Наука та технологія
You can pick up the Pixel 8 for yourself here (Amazon affiliate link - I may earn some commission): geni.us/cn8ArA
What are your thoughts on this phone?! Thanks for watching! 🙌
Have you tried clearing data on the Camera App?
Yeah, it doesn't make a difference unfortunately, so I think it might actually be a hardware issue!
This is the video I was looking for, real world examples rather than just reading the product specs!
Cheers man! 👌
What's your conclusion?
Excellent review! Comprehensive and balanced to help you decide if this phone suits your needs.
Moving away from the Snapdragon processor was a big mistake. I used to be a Pixel fan, but I simply cannot deal with bugs and poor battery life. I would pick the S23 or S24 over the Pixel 8 every time. Great video btw, subscribed!
Totally fair - you've got to get a phone that works best for you! I haven't had an outrageous amount of bugs to be honest, but the ones I have experienced have been fairly annoying! I do think there were less blatantly obvious bugs with my S22 to be fair. Thanks for the sub and the kind comments - I appreciate you! 👌
I feel the same way I went from nexus to pixel phones then to oneplus and back to pixel with the 8 pro and the processor just isn't cutting it for me with battery and gaming on the go and now with Google giving away pixel Ai features I feel this phone is overpriced. My next phone will either be a Samsung or back to oneplus.
Fair enough - it all comes down to what you value from your phone and it sounds like the Pixel 8 isn't doing that for you! Thanks for the comment.
I had a pixel 3a and loved it. Worked great right up until a month ago when I saw a deal for pixel 8 on half price with Voxy. I've had zero problems with it so far.
its funny how everyone is saying the pixel 8 is full of bugs and that when i have had no real problems what so ever apart from it freezing a few times thats it and i have always been an apple user although i got the samsung s23 last year had it a month and gave it away as absolutely hated it i would 100% say the pixel 8 is better than samsung but thats just my opinion everyone has an opinion im just voicing mines as i really havent had any real or bad issues with my pixel 8 its been absolutely great it only froze a few times and its not done that in a while so yea its a brilliant phone with a brilliant battery and brilliant camera i actualy like the battery life on my pixel 8 better than my iphone 15 i think it lasts longer if im honest but each to their own i guess
Great Vid. Really Interested in that video on how to use the pixel 8 as your sole UA-cam camera. For this reason i am subscribing :)
Thank you! Awesome - I'm working on that video, so keep an eye out for it coming in the next month or so! 😃
Awesome review! Keep up the great work
Thanks so much!!
Thanks for the review. I had the 3, 5 and now the 8. Never encountered the issues you had. I have face unlock on with finger print for either or and it is very snappy. Its a bit heavier than the 5. I set it up in january and took it to Australia for 6 weeks. Just brilliant.. really like delightly, uncomplicated software experience and all roundedness. I am a moderate user and the battery really has not been the issue. Very happy and then I'll look forward in a few years time to the 12.
Thanks for the comment - glad to hear you've had a really smooth experience with the Pixel 8! As I mentioned in the review, the glitches that I experienced aren't dealbreakers for me, but are slightly annoying, so I definitely wanted to mention them. My overall experience with the phone has been really good though and the battery life, while not exceptional, has been good enough for most cases I've used it for! Thanks for the comment and sharing your thoughts! 😁
I love this review because it's a real experience. I see a lot of negative comments either on UA-cam or on Reddit and it's refreshing to see a positive one. Had my pixel 8 pro since launch and im completely in love it. Coming from the 6 pro, you can definitely see the refinements are done with 8P. It's my go to phone when wish to get fresh UI experience rather than Apple(nothing against it btw)
Thank you so much man! I just want to go outside and take some pictures right now 😆
Thanks so much for the nice comments man - I really appreciate it! Glad you're loving the Pixel 8 Pro - I've heard a lot of people say it's a great phone and it definitely has superior battery life to the Pixel 8 (not that the Pixel 8 is bad!). Yeah, the UI on stock Android is so nice - something I really love about this phone! Cheers for watching!! 🙌
Very good review. On point.
Thank you!
Thanks, Ramesh! 😁
Absolutely surreal video! And it is definitely not expected from such a big software company.
Yeah, for sure! Thanks for watching 😁
Looking forward to the pixel 8 as a youtube cam video. Nice one here 👍
Thank you! It should be coming next weekend, so keep an eye on your feed for it 😁 thanks for the comment!
waiting for the pixel UA-cam camera and great review good job
Thank you! It's in the works at the moment 😁
@@arranpbrownIt might be rude,but do you have a possible date for the video?I really can't wait!
Likely to be at least a couple of weeks I'm afraid - I'm extremely busy with other things at the moment! No worries if you can't wait though - I understand 🙂
Great video 🤜🏻🤛🏻
Thank you!! 😁🙌
Really fair and unbiased video. Loved it.
I'm a happy owner of a Pixel 6a, after owning a Pixel 3a). I'll probably upgrade to Pixel 9/9 Pro this October if they improve on:
- Modem efficiency
- Tensor chip efficiency with G4
I'm happy with my Pixel 6a battery with G1 but I work from home and I don't have 5G in my location, and the Pixel 6a doesn't have 5G support with my internet/SIM provider anyways (I don't miss it). But it would be great to get more battery life for sure.
Otherwise, I'll probably wait for Pixel 10 series with G5 based on TSMC instead of Samsung node process.
I would like more parity of features with the US here in Europe but it's not a deal breaker for me cause I love the Pixel and Google software design language, focused in UX, simplicity and friendlyness.
I also got a Pixel Watch 2 and I'm extremely happy with it.
Thank you for the kind comments - I really appreciate it!
That sounds great - I've heard a lot of people in my comments saying they have the 6a and are really happy with it. I'm also hoping for some substantial improvements to both the modem and CPU efficiency with the Pixel 9 series!
Yeah, the Pixel 8 is very similar in that it can achieve some great battery when operating on WiFi only.
I'd love a Tensor chip created using the TSMC process instead - would solve a lot of the current Tensor issues I think.
I agree about the feature parity, and also agree that it's not a dealbreaker for me, but I had to mention it as paying the same price for a phone that gets less features depending on the location is not really fair from a consumer point of view. But I agree that the stock Android experience is really nice on the Pixel!
Nice one - I keep getting sent emails from Google with codes for £150 off the Pixel Watch 2, so it sounds like they are struggling to sell it 😅 I'm honestly not surprised when it retails for £350 here in the UK! Looks like a nice product though!
Thanks so much for the detailed comment - really great to hear your thoughts and experience! 👌
@@arranpbrown those won't happen until they start using Snapdragon
Yeah, you could be right unfortunately!
Shout from Vancouver! You are my fav tech reviewer now. No regret of owning a Pixel 8!
🇨🇦 Thanks so much for the kind comments! Glad you are enjoying your experience with the Pixel 8 😁
Pixel 5 user here & strangely I've, had the same issue you mentioned about having a previously opened app freezing when going back into it. Everytime it's happened I've had to swipe up like you said you do to get it back to normal.
Thanks for the comment! From the other comments (and yours), it definitely sounds like a software issue that Google needs to fix. Thanks for sharing your experience, and for watching! 👌
Pixel 6 haver and can confirm this happens to me as well, just happened to me last night. It's not all that frequent, but I've had it happen enough to be bugged by it.
Great review. I'm also considering the OnePlus 12R.
Thank you! I think both are good choices - I think go for the Pixel if you want stock Android, and the better camera, but if you want better battery life, general performance, and the super fast charging, then the OP is the way to go. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching 😁
I have pixel 6 pro right now and I have encountered the app freezing and app loading issues you mentioned. These are definitely sw issues. One of the most honest reviews and the reviews I like with examples of every day usage. I am torn between upgrading to pixel 8 pro or wait or take iphone instead
Thanks for your comment - it's good to hear someone else's experience and that helps confirm that it sounds like it's a software issue! Thanks for your kind comments - I appreciate them. I think an iPhone is quite a different experience, so it might be worth watching a load of reviews, before making that kind of decision. I've heard good things about the battery life on the Pixel 8 Pro compared to the Pixel 8, so I think it's definitely a better phone overall, however I still can't get over the massive size difference. I think either Pixel 8 Pro or iPhone are a good choice for most people, but it all comes down to how you use your phone at the end of the day. Cheers for watching!
@@arranpbrown Well I would have already upgraded by now even with these bugs. But what I am thinking is not to buy another pixel phone until they use a proper modem. There is huge inconsistency also resulting in poor/no signal and decreased speed situation. So far I was using phones with SD so couldn't be happier. As soon I got the pixel 6 pro I have encountered these issues I guess the same would be with exynos and samsung.
@user-mj8gn5ul7n yeah, totally fair - only get the phone that you are happy with, especially if you have had a bad experience with a phone from a brand in the past!
I just got my pixel 8 a week ago and I must say that I really love this phone
Very glad to hear you're having a good experience with it! Thanks for the comment 😁
Thanks, answered a few questions for me. I'm using a Xiaomi phone that's over 5 years old & was thinking of upgrading to this but as I suffer none of the glitches you mention I guess I've saved some money 😂
No worries at all - I don't want people to buy something if it's not right for them, or doesn't do what they need it to, so happy to be able to help here! 😁
The sales + trade in is why I upgraded to the 8 from the 6a even tho I didn't need to. Got a brand new 256gb P8 for around $250 after everything, a complete steal for a brand new flagship and 7 years of updates. I've definitely noticed a fair share of bugs that are kinda annoying like u mentioned but nothing too major. The faster charging is probably my favorite upgrade that I recognize on the daily basis as it's changed my charging habits since I don't need to leave it plugged in as long or charge it to 100%. Idc about any of the AI features either lol, overall great phone, especially for the price since it's always on sale.
$250 is unreal for this phone 😁 nice job! Yeah, exactly - like I said, I understand that the review seemed to focus on the negatives, but my overall view of this phone is overwhelmingly positive because fundamentally it does everything I need it to, just with the occasional jank haha. Glad to hear it's not just me who's not really interested in most of the AI features - it's funny, because I use Gemini literally every day, but the AI features in the Pixel 8 (and that I have access to being from the UK) are just the features that don't really interest me haha. Thanks for the comment - great to hear your opinion!
I switched from my iPhone 12 to the pixel 8 last month and I agree with you. While I do love this phone, the transition was smooth mainly because I noticed a lot of similarities in the software. I'm thinking I'm going to get great battery life, I was a bit disappointed on the battery life. I don't use Google maps or game on it. It'll be 100 percent around 8am and by 2 to 3 it'll be around 50 to 55 percent. Sure, it's a one up from my iPhone 12 but the pixel 8 is new. The difference wasn't that big in battery between them. Hopefully they'll fix that in an update
Yeah, I get what you mean with the battery life - your results with about 50/55% around 2pm are similar to mine! I've heard other Pixel's battery performance really improved over time with software optimisations, so I'm hoping that will be the case with the Pixel 8 too - fingers crossed 🤞 thanks for the comment!
The app freezing issue is genuine...I face it very often in my pixel 6a.
Thanks for the comment - good to have some clarification that it's not an issue that just I'm having! Hopefully Google can fix it soon. Thanks for watching! 👌
Same! Also Pixel 6a
I suffer this often on the UA-cam app on my Pixel 7, just by scrolling through it.
I have a pixel 5a and have never had this issue
Your channel is underrated thankfully you showed reek world examples instead of just specs and features
Thank you! I appreciate the kind comments! 😁
Canada P8 here. Never experienced any of the app issues you indicate. Latest update as well.
Thanks for the comment! It seems like some people have definitely experienced them too and others haven't.
I have the same problem with the camera focus. The simplest and fastest way to fix this is to shake the phone a little. That always fixes it. I imagine it is a hardware problem why it happens to me from the beginning. I can't send it for warranty since Google is not officially present with phones in my country, but you should try doing it.
Thanks for the suggestion - I'll definitely give that a go. And I will have to look into sending it for a warranty repair! Cheers!
I just bought a Google pixel 5 second hand..and it suits me fine! I'm waiting for the pixel 9
Nice! As long as it meets your needs then that's good! Hopefully the Pixel 9 is a banger 😁
Excellent video - I really enjoy your review style! How do you find signal reception (4G and 5G)? I have heard some face connectivity issues (mostly in the US), but I haven't heard the perspectives of many UK based folk. I commute so ideally looking for this phone to not chew through the battery too much using data for my 40 minute commute (I mostly browse social media and use spotify - I do hope they optimise spotify to prevent it being a drain as you've described).
Thanks for the comment! I find the signal reception to be no different to my previous phones (as in I haven't noticed it being worse, at least where I live, just outside Edinburgh). It does run down a lot faster on mobile data, but I reckon for a 40 minute commute using Spotify/social media on mobile data, your looking at about a 15%-20% battery drain as a rough estimate. If that sounds terrible to you, then definitely don't buy this phone! I hope this helps, and thanks for the kind comments!
Thanks, great video. I'm still using the Pixel 4 and have stuck with it because I prefer the natural colours and contrast of the camera images, though the HDR is often too obvious; whereas my wife's 6A is awfully contrasty and over-saturated. I'm hoping that these later generation phones have a better balance in image processing than the 6A did!
Thank you! Always good to be able to use a phone for that long if you can, and it still works for you. In my opinion, I love the photos that come straight out of the Pixel 8's camera. They have a good balance of contrast and detail which is great! However, photography is very subjective, so they could still be overly contrasty/saturated for your taste. Thanks for the comment!
I've had the same issues on my OnePlus 11. It's definitely a software issue and not a Tensor issue or hardware.
Interesting - thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for the comment! Glad to hear it's not just me!
Hi, great video! As far as I'm concerned, the huge drawback of this model is the lack of a good processor. They're a couple generations too late. But judging by the system optimization their own processor is quite enough.
Fair point! Although in practice, I've not had any issues with slowdowns etc. with the Tensor G3. I think it may be the source of the little bugs and glitches that keep arising though, which is a bit frustrating. It would be quite interesting if we had a Snapdragon version of the phone to compare it to, like we do with EU-basee Samsung phones using the Exynos chip instead of the Snapdragon chips.
5:16 - I think this is a way of google preserving performance for unused apps. I have the same thing going on but I don't mind it much and it doesn't freeze completely (sometimes but it doesn't take long to load back)
Yeah, I suspect that's the case too! Possibly something with how they store the apps in RAM that is glitching out every now and then. Thanks for the comment!
A great video that can help me 🎉
Cheers for watching! 😁👌
Apps freezing can happen to any phone, my iPhone 12 Pro Max also had that occasional App freeze. The Pixel experience is second to none.
Yeah, for sure, but it was noticeable enough on my Pixel 8 (compared to other phones I've used), that I had to mention it. I agree that the software experience is generally excellent! Thanks for the comment!
Almost felt like you reviewed my pixel 7 cause those are also my issues (except the blurry camera) plaguing my pixel 7. The only time I experience the unresponsive app issue is with UA-cam or UA-cam music. I can't help but notice that it was your YT studio that had the issue too.
Interesting - I do think they are software issues, so I doubt it's just the Pixel 8 that is affected! I also have definitely had the same issues with multiple apps (banking apps, for example), but the UA-cam Studio app was just the first one that I managed to capture 😅. However, I've seen quite a few other people in the comments saying they have also experienced it specifically with the UA-cam suite of apps, so I think there is definitely an issue with those apps! Thanks for the comments and sharing your experience!! 😁
s21 ultra, unresponsive youtube happens a lot
I have a Pixel 5A; yes it is older but works very well. I have the same software glitches as mentioned in this video. Seems like they start and end with software updates. I feel that recent (last 24 months) have included more glitchy issues, some of which continue to this day.
Interesting - thanks for sharing! Not good that they seem to have become worse recently!
Great video. I've got a Pixel 5 that is starting to show its age and been looking to upgrade. I'm still torn between the P8 and the S24. I like the UI of Pixels, but the size of the P8 and lack of camera features compared to the P8P are rather annoying. The S24 shares a similar size and weight to the P5, but doesn't have the always on identify app or the voice recorder, which I use frequently. grrrr
Yeah, they are both great phones, so it is certainly a difficult choice. I think if you are based outside the US, it's a bit of an easier choice though as the S24 uses their Exynos chip which has proved to be worse in terms of power and efficiency that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Pixel 8's Tensor G3 chip is also built on the Exynos architecture, but if there is not much of a difference in power and efficiency between the two phones, I would personally choose the Pixel as I love the stock Android experience and the cameras are generally better (albeit you miss out on a telephoto option like you get on the S24). If I was in the US, I would strongly consider the S24 over the Pixel as I loved almost everyone about my S22 when I used it apart from the absolutely terrible battery life due to the crappy Exynos chip that was in it! Hope this helps!
Which one should i pick being an Indian?@@arranpbrown
I'm not sure what the deal is with the features that you get in the Indian market as opposed to the other markets I'm afraid, so it might be worth you looking into that for both the S24 and Pixel 8 and basically see which one affords you the most features! Both are going to be excellent phones in my eyes, but you often get a much worse experience depending on the region you are in - hope that helps!
I owned Pixel 6 Pro for last two years and last week I bought Galaxy S23 - I wanted small phone but I'll not pay for Exynos in S24 (EU Region). I love Pixel but I think One UI is really good software with many features and I'm happy with it 👍🏻
@vrbicm nice one! I think the S23 is the way to go if you want Samsung in Europe to be fair. I had a terrible experience with the Exynos chip in my S22! I do prefer the Pixel UI to be fair, but Samsung's OneUI isn't terrible - really liked everything about my S22 apart from the battery life! Cheers!
I've encountered a similar issue with my Pixel device. Occasionally, it resolves itself over time or after a complete restart. However, one persistent issue I face is the delay in focusing and processing when using the portrait mode. Even during activities like attending meetings via video calls, the device tends to warm up. Given that I purchased this phone primarily for its photography capabilities, I find this delay disappointing. I'm hopeful that Google will address these concerns through upcoming updates. as you said brother " IF GOOGLE FIX ONE THROUGH THEIR UPDATE, ANOTHER ONE ARISES" 😅😅
Thanks for the comment! Sorry to hear you've had some issues with the camera too. It is quite frustrating! And yeah, that does seem to be the case, there always seems to be a new annoying glitch with each one that they fix 😅 thanks for watching!
Got the pixel 7 i generally like to upgrade often when the deals are good for trade in and offers. Just can't make up my mind 8 or 8pro as the 7 is size wise in the middle do I need bigger and heavier or will smaller be frustrating just can decide.
If you are considering the upgrade between the two, I would reckon the Pixel 8 would be the one to go for from a size perspective, as there is only one inch difference in the screen size whereas the Pixel 8 Pro is 4 inches larger than the Pixel 7, which is pretty substantial. Basically, it depends on whether you currently like the size of your Pixel 7, as the Pixel 8 really isn't going to be that much different. I hope this helps! Thanks for watching!
Wait wait wait. You're telling me a lot of these AI features are ONLY available in the US? That's some serious BS and they should be more upfront with that since it would be easy to buy this phone off of US based reviewers
Yeah - it's not great! To be fair to US reviewers, if their main audience is in the US, then I don't think their first thought is going to be about what the situation is outside the US, but i guess this is why it's good to have a non-US perspective in this case! Thanks for the comment 🙌
Yeah i got a Pixel 6a and i was pretty excited to try their screen call feature (which i found to be very interesting and kind of useful) only to be very disappointed. It's a nice phone for the price i paid but there's no reason to get a Pixel over any other Android in it's price range, apart from recieving faster Android updates. (Which is something i do care about)
Have been considering getting a Pixel 8a for those 7 years of software updates...
I like how quickly stock Android boots up
I agree!
P8 in France here. I had issues with the focus right after release. It was sometimes even up to 10-20 seconds withtout focusing. I sent for repair and it came back working fine. Seems to be a hardware issue.
Thanks for the comment! Sounds like it is a hardware issue then 🤔 may have to look into getting it fixed! Thanks for the comment!
Would you consider resetting the phone to see if that fixes the focus issue at 2:45? Also, any comments on sound quality from the speakers? I still use the Pixel 5 as it does everything I need, plus battery life is good although ear speaker is a bit weak, certainly compared with the Pixel 3, also I never stream music. I totally agree that 5g continues to seem unnecessary. The discount information was fascinating. Storage space is important to we non-streamers too and I think the pixel 8 at (I think) 256gb is not really what I'm after and don't get me started on Google photos 😀 If I see an s23 ultra (512gb) for around £600 2nd hand, and they're nearly there, I'd probably go for that. Nice critical but fair assessment of the flaws btw 👍
I would - I'm planning on possibly picking up a Pixel 8a to review when that is released, so that could be a good time to try the reset when I have another phone to lean on in the meantime haha. If I do end up resetting it, I'll definitely update my pinned comment and let you know if it made a difference! The speakers on the phone are quite odd - they don't get overly loud, and the volume curve is quite strange in that it feels like it's about 25% actual volume at 50% volume setting, and then quickly reaches 100% volume in the remaining 50% volume setting - quite difficult to explain, but it doesn't feel like the volume setting is linear. I talk about the speakers in my 1 month review actually, so might be worth checking that out!
I think if you don't stream music, you'll probably have a much better battery experience with the Pixel 8 than me - streaming over data seems to eat battery so quickly! Good point about the storage space - equally important if you take a lot of photos or videos. Ooh, I think the S23 Ultra is an excellent option to be fair - still a super powerful phone and has insane specs for £600!
Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate you taking the time to write that 😁👌
I realized that I don’t need a 3x zoom camera on my iPhone 13 Pro when I tried the pixel 7a.
I much prefer 2x zoom for my photography which on the Pixel is better than 2x zoom on the iPhone (because the dedicated iPhone zoom lens only starts at 3x).
And even though I like my iPhone I LOVE the Pixel software.
Nice! All about finding the combination of specs that works for you - sounds like you have found that. I also agree that the Pixel software feels super nice!
I like the video, so I had a question, I got iPhone 13 Pro and thinking of P8, what do you think?
I like pixel phones but it is over 3 or 4 years since I used any once I changed to iPhone
Do it! Pixel seems smoother and overall a bit more speedy, modern and fresh compared to iOS
I'd say it's up to what you value in a phone. As I mentioned in the review, you may get a slightly less buggy experience with the iPhone, but the overall software experience on the Pixel 8 is super nice. I love my Pixel 8 tbh, so I would recommend it!
Right on point review of fingerprint scanner. My right thumb also doesn't work
Interesting that specifically your right thumb also doesn't work - most likely just a coincidence, but it does seem to be less accurate on that digit specifically for me haha. Thanks for the comment!
Hey really good video was great that You focused real life use. I have to say I sold my pixel 8 because of the battery life, for me because I’m a contractor. I’m always in new area so maybe the signal strength was worse than maybe for most people so my phone wouldn't make it through a day.
I ended up getting the Galaxy s24 and for me much better battery life as the modem I think is much better than the pixel. The way I got it cheaper was I bought a S 21 ultra for $350 in used market and traded it into Samsung and got $550 for it and so there are ways to lower the price if you wanna get a galaxy phone.
Anyway, a really good review and I think for many people to pixel eight would be a good choice but for me with the battery life and it would heat up I guess because the modem was struggling. It wasn’t a good choice but hey, that’s the beauty of android there’s choices .
Thanks for the comments - I appreciate it! Yeah, I think for your specific case, the Pixel 8 probably wasn't the right fit, but it's difficult to know that until you are actually using it, I guess. Glad you managed to find a phone that works for you! Great tip about buying and trading in the S21 Ultra - that's a fantastic idea - great way to save some money on a new phone!! Cheers!
Hey mate - I had the Pixel 7 and found the top heavy weight of the camera annoying. Is the weight of the camera visor on the pixel 8 any lighter?
I can balance the phone on one finger with my finger right in the middle of the phone, so it's quite well-balanced. Don't know if that answers your question, but I hope it helps 😅
My Pixel 8 has none of the issues which you mentioned (out of focus camera, apps freezing). Battery life is very much ok for me but I'm not a smartphone addict so the battery would usually last 1.5 days if I forget to charge it
Glad to hear you haven't had any of the same issues! And great to hear you are having a good experience with the battery too - thanks for the comment! 😁
Have you been using Screen protector ? and if yes which one fitted perfect with you please because as we pixel 8 users by now know that the dispay around the edges not flat that is why all screen protectors does not fit around the phone edge .
I'm afraid I haven't been using a screen protector at all since I got the phone, so I can't really help here!
i changed from my iphone 15 to my google pixel 8 and i absolutely love it just as good as my iphone15 the battery lasts a bit longer i prefer the camera to the ip15 so my ip is kept away in my drawers as a back up as i my everyday phone is my pixel 8 ive never had any problems with my pixel its been great actualy i lied🙈😂 mines has froze on me a couple times thats about it lol also i must add ive always been an apple user but the pixel 8 changed my mind lol
Nice one - glad you like the phone and it's been (pretty much) perfect for you 😅 iPhone 15 isn't a bad back up phone to have too! Thanks for the comment 😁
Picking this up for 415 Euros used in 'Rank A' condition - waiting for shipping now!
Very nice! I'm sure you'll enjoy it! 😁
Never had that focus issue. That's crazy
Yeah, pretty sure it's a hardware issue!
A little related question: do I go for 7a or do I wait for 8a which google will announce at their IO event at may 14/15 (according to sources)? Great video btw!
I would probably personally wait for the 8a if your current phone situation will allow you to wait! The rumours suggest that the Pixel 8a is going to be an absolute banger! I'm considering buying it to make some videos about it, so might be worth keeping an eye out for them when it comes out. However, if you're happy with the specs that the 7a offers, go for that, as there is no guarantee that the Pixel 8a will live up to the rumours! Hope this helps!
@@arranpbrown how to do the website read out thing. I'm not finding it on my 4a
You go on to an online article, hold the power button to get Google Assistant to come up, and then the Read Aloud option should be above the assistant (or you can ask it to read aloud)!
@@arranpbrown that's a cool feature man. Used it for the first time 😁 been using pixel phones past 4 years I'm like "Eureka" I found out an useful feature lol
@@arranpbrown alright thanks!
Great review, I am using a pixel 8 and had the same glitches while using the apps. But the most outrageous issue with no solution is the hotspot that never turn on, you cannot share internet in a 2023 phone, and Google is not responding!
Thank you! Oh, that's odd - I haven't had that issue before. I think it's possible for your carrier to block use of a hotspot if it's not allowed on your data plan, so it might be worth checking if it's from your carrier's end? Hotspot has been working fine on my Pixel 8!
@@arranpbrown l had the same sim card on a Samsung phone and hotspot was working fine. I searched on the internet and found other people having the same issue. Anyway I will keep searching for a solution, thank you for your feedback, keep up!
@ELHAOUARIAbdelhalim hmm, strange - what a weird issue! Hope you manage to find a fix for it! No worries 🙂
I used the Pixel 6 Pro before. Picked up the regular 8 now and I really like the size and it was on a huge discount I got it for 389,- in euro's 🔥
Nice one! Can't beat that kind of discount 👌🔥 that's a great price for this phone!!
Where did you get the discount please?
I love the magic editior and use ist soooo often. Nearly in every pic is something that should not been there :-) And all my iPhone friends are so envious! PS: I use a Pixel 8 Pro in Germany and i have no Probs that you have. I love it!
Glad you've had a good experience with it and Magic Editor is useful for you! Good stuff! Thanks for the comment 😁
interesting.... i am considering this one and i find it to be a good review. my current phone is an iphone 8+ and it's ok but i think this pixel 8 is better, and plus i am just more interested in no longer using apple. i do not really experience glitches that often but i've had a similar unresponsive one at times.
my battery life is also pretty bad (and also extremely inconsistent). on low battery mode i usually start my day around 7 and when i get home around 4 it's anywhere from 30-1% and sounds so bad without that. so the pixel 8 seems like a very good upgrade for those reasons.
i do however not care about camera that much or ai features at all plus i am a US resident so i think i'm good on that front!
i also hear it supposedly has some built in vpn options which i find pretty good
good video :D
Nice! I think the Pixel 8 would be a great upgrade in your case and it's good you are based in the U.S. as you won't miss out on any features 🙂 thanks for watching and for the comment!
@@arranpbrown i really appreciate this video and i appreciate how you are so active in the conversations around your video :)
Thank you! I try to answer all my comments 😁 thank you for watching! I appreciate you!
@@arranpbrown your video is very helpful and informative
What about thermals? Does it also burn in your hand even in normal tasks? Also do you have the European or us version?
I haven't had any issues with thermals personally - it can get warm when you are doing fairly heavy tasks like using mobile data with bluetooth headphones connected and gaming at the same time, but general day to day tasks are absolutely fine in my experience. I have the European version (if there are different versions of this phone) as I'm based in the UK. Hope that helps!
One issue I have on the 8 that I had on the 4a5g is my gesture bar getting stuck when I change my screen orientation. I change it to landscape and the bar gets stuck and keeps acting as the home gesture when I swipe at it. In between these two phones I used the moto g stylus 5g 2023 and did not have this issue at all, and I definitely miss that power button finger print reader lol
That sounds like a pain - that's not something I've experienced. Yes, the fingerprint reader on the Pixel 8 could be better!
I love my Pixel 8... amazing phone..
I'm glad you're enjoying it! 👌
Great video! Both my wife and i just got a pixel 8 pro and have loved it. We haven't had any issues with the camera like you were mentioning. So I'm not sure why you're having that happen. One of the things that is definitely underrated on the 8pro is the thermometer. As a parent with a baby, we have used that quite a few times and it has been really accurate.
Thanks so much! Yeah, from the comments, it sounds like I might have a faulty camera - good to get some clarification, so thank you for that! Ahh, super interesting about the thermometer - that is a really great use for it when you have a baby. That's probably the only good use case I've heard anyone say about it tbh, but that makes sense 😅 thanks for the comment!
Thermometer don't come on India spec 😒
Oh really?! I didn't realise there were physical differences between the phones in different regions!
@@arranpbrown yeah mate and it's more expensive than US or UK
The review is for the vanilla 8, not pro.
I'm a pixel 8 owner, and for me, this happens SPECIFICALLY with UA-cam, never anything else. it becomes unresponsive and if I try to swipe (I use gestures) it swipes to the other app, every app but UA-cam works completely fine and normally, I have never experienced this issue with any app but UA-cam, that's the only bug I've ever experienced, other than that, it's been an amazing phone to me.
That is bizarre that it only happens in one app! I've definitely experienced it in other apps too, but I have definitely also experienced it in the UA-cam app! Thanks for the comment!
fun thing about that phone's screen, is that its white color isnt really smooth\uniform. If you look close enpught, you'll notice that little grainy texture. And, when 120hz mode is on, on low brightness (when looking at it at night, for exaple) its screen flickers a bit, due to 60hz-120hz jumps, though it is noticeble only when there is alot of gray-is black colors.
AND there are literally no good protection glass for that phone =)
I saw the same thing you are talking about as well. The Pixel was a no go for me.
thank you.. you saved me
Glad to help!
I got the Pixel 8 a couple of weeks ago, upgrading from a Samsung Galaxy A70, and I'm really missing a lot of the Samsung features. I'm seriously considering swapping it for a Samsung A55 as the camera still looks great but I'd be back with all the Samsung features I'm missing and used to use every day. For example, I used Samsung notes every day but every notes app I've tried on the pixel is no match... and it's very annoying that I can't see all my photos, videos and screenshots in one place (I tried google Gallery and that didn't help).
That's fair - you're definitely best using something that works for you! Screenshots are stored in a 'Screenshots' folder in Google Photos, if you click on the Library tab within there, you should be able to see them. I came from an S22 to the Pixel 8 and I must admit it did take me a while to get used to screenshots not just being plonked in between my photos/videos. If those Samsung-specific features are very valuable to you, then I would recommend going back to a Samsung phone rather than suffering with a device that doesn't meet your wants and needs. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Just bought the Pixel 8 256GB new for €264 yesterday and couldn't be happier 😁
Wow, fantastic deal - that's a lot of phone for that price 😁👏 enjoy!!
@@arranpbrown Thanks! I was long due for an update and I will not be surprised if I manage to keep this phone going for the full support term 😁
Thank you for a great review! It was a big help in deciding 👍
@gnarr Very glad I could help! Would be super interested to see how this phone holds up in 7 years 😅
display tap to wake function just stopped working for a while now on my p8 , also faced apps loading for too long.
Thanks for the comment! That is a very annoying thing to stop working, as I use it all the time to check notifications etc!
Waiting for the video on how to use your camera, I got it for 440 USD and I think it is the best I could get for that price
Good stuff - it will be coming fairly soon 👌 440 USD is a great price for this phone!!
I do like my Pixel 8, but I feel like I settled for it. But that isn't the fault of Google but more about smartphones themselves. Smartphone designs have peaked more or less, we get the same slightly better communications rectangle every year and the wow factor of these have since faded. (To me at least)
I will say what the Pixel 8 does right is the size feels great to hold, the camera is quite good, battery life is decent but it can last the day at a full charge, and the promise of 7 years of updates is pretty nice.
I'm short it's a good all-rounder with room for improvement.
I know what you mean, I think folding phones are going to make it interesting again when they come down in price to the point that they are not out of reach for most people, and when they have become more refined!
I agree with all your points about the Pixel 8 there, and like you said, it is a good all rounder and does the job, but there is some room for improvement. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for watching!
I read somewhere that the problem with focusing appears only on the x1 zoom, if you change the zoom a little, then it focuses normal
I've found that if I shake the phone, the camera focuses super quick - a weird workaround, but one of the comments mentioned this and it seems to work! Thanks for the suggestion though!
Yeah, the pixel guys really needs to pull the finger out and offer everything across the board regardless of the country. The software experience is the only thing that makes a pixel worth having
I completely agree!!
The latest software update makes my phone freeze up sometimes, and the scrolling is NOT smooth at all compared to my Pixel 6A. The phone is definitely capable, however this is definitely a software issue.
Yes, that's not ideal. Thanks for sharing!
6:50 I agree, it is ridiculous that we pay more for a pixel (699 GBP>699 USD) but get less features.
Agreed! Such a pain! But without those features, I still think the Pixel 8 is a good phone - doesn't make the fact of the missing features any better though. Thanks for the comment!
You're not paying more for the US version, UK prices are quoted with all tax included, whereas the US prices are without tax as each state has it's own sales tax
Very good point!
In my country pixel 7 pro and pixel 8 have the same price, my main priority is camera, and software updates does not matter to me that much cause I'll be changing my phone after 1 or 1.5 years later so based on just camera performance,which phone should i get?
Interesting. I think the main differences to consider in this case then are the screen size and the cameras. If you value having a smaller screen, and don't mind not having a telephoto option for the camera, then go for the Pixel 8. If you prefer a larger screen and need a telephoto option for the camera, then choose the Pixel 7 Pro. I don't think things like performance or battery life are going to be hugely different between the two devices to be honest. I hope this helps!
@@arranpbrown I don't have any demand or screen size, i just want the best overall camera experience, soo which one should i go for? I mean having a telephoto camera is a big advantage but what do you think? Which is the overall good one considering every section of cameras?
I would recommend going for the 7 Pro then as you get a whole extra camera - it's going to be way more versatile! It's less about the camera hardware these days and more about the processing of the cameras - both will give you excellent results!
9:07 do you notice a difference between in battery life when using the phone on data Vs WiFi?
Yes, for sure - if I am only using WiFi one day, I can achieve a much higher screen on time (5/6/7 hours as opposed to 3/4 hours). So I think the modem on this phone is still pretty inefficient to be honest.
@@arranpbrown I notice the same behaviour on my p7. I was hoping they fixed it on the 8 but I guess not because the difference is significant. Thanks for confirming.
Yeah, it doesn't look like it, unfortunately! No worries at all - happy to be able to help. Thanks for watching!
The only issue I had was launching chrome. Sometimes it will glitch and I would have to force close the app (especially trying to launch a incognito tab). Oh, I purposely put it in 60Hz because at 120Hz it would get choppy scrolling on twitter and reddit. Supposedly that fix is coming in Android 15. I always put my phone to use 4G on all my phones cause I don't see much of a difference in a day to day use. So my phone really doesn't get that warm. Besides that everything has been working well.
Thanks for the comment - really interesting to hear about your experience! I've not had any issues with launching Chrome, so that's a new one 🤔I also don't use Twitter and Reddit all that often so I can't say I've noticed the choppiness there, but I have heard other people talking about issues with the smoothness of the scrolling too! Good to hear someone else has had the same experience with the 4G speeds being fast enough. Thanks for the detailed comment, and thanks for watching!
Side note, some carriers in the US (like AT&T) block the ability to turn off 5G... which is beyond infuriating, because it's basically just a battery drain that doesn't improve speeds in any meaningful way.
Wow - I wasn't aware of that. Yes, that's super frustrating!
Gemini now available in the EU and works just fine.
Interesting - do you mean to the app for your phone? Because that's not available in the UK yet unfortunately. We can access Gemini via a browser, but not the app or integration with Google Assistant.
@@arranpbrown app on the phone. Maybe cause ur outside eu. Just a thought.
@TomatenDK yeah, I'm pretty sure that's it unfortunately. Not sure if we'll ever get it at this rate!
I am interested in this phone
Could anyone try out Open Camera apps to see if it works fine a least for long exposure or iso
If shot the picture from non original picture can it still enjoy those AI features?
7a is currently 350 unlocked. Just picked one up on Amazon.
That's a nice deal for a nice phone!
@@arranpbrown Thank you for your review. It made the decision a lot simpler.
Not a problem - happy I could help 😁
I like your clock widget
I think it's the standard one - I like it too though! Big and obvious 😁
@@arranpbrown great. Thank you!
Used to have the Pixel 4a great phone,now Pixel is hit and miss software, im Samsung user now and Software experience is Stella ,wish Google would get their Sxxxx together ,roll on 2025 when TSMC will manufacture Tensor👍👍
Glad you're happy with your current phone - it does seem that way sometimes with the Pixel to be fair! I'm excited to see what TSMC manage to do with the Tensor! Cheers for the comment 😁
@@arranpbrown 👍👍
The 7a is selling for $350 right now. Would you recommend that instead of the $599 pixel 8? Currently using the OnePlus 6t
Wait and see how much the 8a costs when it drops next month
Yeah, I agree - if you can handle using the 6T for another month or so, then I'd wait to see what gets announced with the 8a, as the rumoured specs sound great!
Google sent me a 40% off promo on top of a $200 credit for my 6a so I got the phone for a bargain and love it. I have been experiencing occasional stalling of some apps but thankfully I never have an issue with my camera not in focus. I'm definitely going to keep this phone for a long time unless I get another promo for the Pixel 9😂
That's such a good deal! 😅 Glad to hear you've overall had a good experience! Yeah, sounds like the camera focus issue is definitely exclusive to my camera unfortunately. Definitely keep the phone for as long as it meets your needs! Thanks for the comment 😁
@@arranpbrown i have the 6a too and i like, it, i dont love it but i like it, id like to change tons of things on google phones but ... anyway i had another cam issue .. when an update for the cam came, all of a sudden the preview(b4 i press REC) when its set to 60fps ,it looked like 30 ... only when i hit REC u can tell its on 60fps .. pretty annoying cause u never know how its/you set it till u start recording .. but i tried to uninstall the cam app , it didnt let me..i dunno if it cant be or something..but what it did is that it reset it to the default version that came with the phone, and that im happy with cause that way i dont have the issue, + the cam app look looked better then it does with the newest app version
Sounds like a weird issue! I don't think you can delete the camera app unfortunately as it's baked into the phone. Sounds like you managed to find some sort of solution though, so that's good!
@@arranpbrown Yeah very strange but as you said at least I found a solution, and now I also set the cam app to not Auto update. So luckily or sadly it will be stuck forever with the native version. It came with the phone but in reality actually I like the layout better the way it was than it is with these updated versions anyway LOL.. I can't wait for 8a come out, see how much it will cost, and to see what would be a better buy the 8 or 8a.. or maybe even the iPhone SE 4 lol
Yes, as long as you're happy with the outcome, that's the main thing! I'm actually hoping to pick up a Pixel 8a to review, so hoping I'll be able to do that! 😁
4:41 that also happened with my Nokia X20
Possibly an Android-wide issue then rather than just being an issue on Pixel phones then. Thanks for the comment!
Waiting for 8a …🎉
That's what i have been waiting for since i bought the phone😅😅 but when it comes to focusing of camera on my phone (pixel 8) i didn't notice it. However, huge thing and really scary was that i recently was using it and listening music suddenly i decided to stop the music but the phone didn't let me to tap on screen it literally stopped working and i noticed on the battery question sign i thought my phone is dead all of a sudden. I decided to charge it but it didn't work neither, at least i thought there's no any option and left my phone for 15 or 20 min and came back it started working fortunately. When it comes to battery life it's quite disappointing because i use the very often because of work till the evening i have to charge it once otherwise it will die
if you have any ideas or some trick option related to battery life please help i would be grateful 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Glad to hear you didn't have any issues with the camera! That other issue sounds a bit scary though! I think to improve battery life, switch the modem to 4G like I show in the video, and also turn off mobile data when you have WiFi as I find it also saves a bit of battery! Hope this helps! Cheers!
Exactly to the point!!!
Thanks so much!!
the thing with opening an app that was already oppened is still here, touu happens really rarely
Yeah, exactly, should be stored in RAM - so I think it's something weird with the RAM possibly causing the app issues!
I really wanted the Pixel 8 sine it was released but I'm not looking for a phone that has weird hiccups quite frequently. It seems to me Google phones are really hit and miss in terms of quality. I'm staying with the I phone for a bit and I will wait till Google irons out some of these bugs.
Sounds like a safe plan to be fair! If you're happy with the iPhone then stick with that until it stops meeting your needs, I reckon. Cheers for the comment!
Hello! Planning to buy pixel 8, but what's the difference between Japanese variant and Us variant?
Not going to lie, I don't know the answer to that, but I did a quick search with Gemini and it kicked out the following possible differences:
"(1) Cellular connectivity: The US version may support mmWave 5G, a super-fast but short-range type of 5G not as common in Japan. However, not all US Pixel 8s have mmWave, so it depends on the specific model.
(2) Software: The Japanese version by law has a camera shutter sound that can't be disabled and may include additional features for the FeliCa chip, a popular contactless payment system in Japan."
You might want to try and verify those with some quick Google searches, but it might at least give you some indication of the differences. Thanks for watching! 👌
@@arranpbrown Thanks for being honest. Is it worth buying for daily and long-term use? 😁
No worries! I think it's a great phone to be honest, despite the bugs and glitches that I've come up against, none of them are dealbreakers and the phone is still going strong 6 months later. If Google keeps their promise of 7 years of software updates then this phone should be good for a long while yet! 🙂
Here in Canada I never use 5g. LTE+ here is at least 400mbps and 5g is at max 600mbps . For the battery bonus on my s22 ultra, I gladly take the small hit for an extra hour or so of battery.
Thanks for the comment - that's interesting! I've not actually tested the speeds between the two where I live, but anecdotally, they don't seem to make a difference for the things I use it for, so I guess that's what matters! But yes, agreed, I'd take slightly slower speeds for improved battery life any day!
I just wanted to add I always get the blurry warning asking me to backup. Can't even take a picture of a box. I'm experiencing this on pixel 6 also
Strange - I've not heard of that one before!
Think you have a faulty camera, mine is flawless, i had a 7a with a camera that would only focus after a full reset for 2 days at most then wouldnt work no matter what i did, clearing the camera cache can sometimes help if it is software related
Thanks for the comment - I think you're right! I've tried clearing the camera cache and that hasn't helped so I think I might just have a faulty camera. There are very few times where I have had to capture something in the moment to be honest, but it is super annoying. I may have to try the full reset at some point soon then too! Cheers!
Good review of it though, not many doing this, all just repeats of spec sheets, googles warranty system is not bad, do it all online and they send it to your door usually
@James-iw2mv thanks mate, I appreciate the comments - wanted to make it about the real world experience more than anything else. That's good to know about the warranty - might have to see if I can take advantage of that then! Cheers mate!
I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of green screen problem in pixel 8, because it is a problem Google doesn’t talk about, but people complaining about. I’ve also experienced green screen in Pixel 8 problem and now I’m about to send my device for repair. I hope you will read this comment, check this problem and maybe talk about this bc it’s a huge factory defect and I have an impression that no one’s talking about it, also Google.
I definitely haven't had this issue, but it does sound like an extremely frustrating thing to happen for anyone that does have it. Sorry to hear it happened to your phone and hopefully they can fix it for you, but I agree, this isn't something that should be happening in the first place!
I'm not ready to give up my Pixel 8❤, not even for a Pixel 9.
We'll have to wait and see what the Pixel 9 offers - I think it will be hard to persuade me to upgrade too!
overall i've been very happy with my Pixel 8 and it feels like a premium phone. saying that the lack of manual camera controls on the standard version is infuriating, especially as i got this version over the pro because the pro is too large. google shouldnt soft lock features like that for no reason
I completely agree with your comments! The Pixel 8 does feel premium to me too, but the software locking of features is very frustrating!
One thing i don't like on my Pixel 8 is how in so many phone calls (if not most of them) I notice the sound is bad as if from a broken speaker. But if I use bluetooth ear buds the sound is fine. Am I the only one with this issue?
I definitely don't have any issues with the call quality - it sounds like it might be a hardware issue with the speaker above the screen. Do you have the same issue when you put a call on speaker?
How have you.found the scrolling in 3rd party apps? I found it very janky and stuttering ! I returned mine as it was unbearable! Many thanks.
I haven't experienced any noticeable stuttering to be honest, but I've definitely heard other people highlight that as an issue! My experience with the scrolling has been pretty smooth. But thanks for the comment - good to have another perspective! Also, thanks for watching!
@@arranpbrown cheers for the reply Ive seen it seems to Only be affecting certain devices. I just got unlucky. Keep up the good work. Have been enjoying your content 🙏🙏.
Yeah, that's unfortunate to get a faulty device 😔. I appreciate the kind comments - thank you! 👌