Android @lemmy.world

1y ago

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro released. Thoughts?

Google Pixel 8 (128GB): $699 / €799 / £699
Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB): $999 / €1,099 / £999

146 comments

I'm excited to see pixel grow but why are we accepting this storage bullshit? 128GB in 2023? Why do we tolerate this storage extortion. Hard drive space costs almost nothing yet they give this unacceptable starting model to sell more cloud bullshit. Apple is even worse at this. Disgusting stuff.
- I'm not arguing against your point at all because that seems like a personal matter. However, I am interested in knowing how the typical person uses more than 128GB of storage space. Aside from people with interests that require more space (eg a photographer or traveler), what do people have on their phones that take up more than 128GB of storage space?
  
  Dude android games these days are 10gb+
  My point being is that the production cost between 256gb and 128gb driver is almost identical and the phone manufacturers purposefully gimp the product to upsell some random bullshit.
  
  Photos (I like to shoot RAW+JPEG), videos and music. Pixels don't come with micro SD card slots, and other manufacturers have been getting rid of it as well.
  Even apps these days are at least 100-200 MB.
  
  I mainly agree with you, i have enough of 128gb. But i know a lot of people that take a ton of pictures and struggle with storage space
  
  I have almost 40 GB of music alone.
  
  Pixel 7 pro 256gb model checking in. I don't take a bunch of pictures and videos but I also hardly ever delete anything and I take pictures and videos in the highest possible quality I can. My phone has 100gb of storage left between apps and media.
  
  Loads of FLAC music, track / map storage for offline camping / offroad, offline music downloads from Deezer (Hi-Res) for playback without network.
  
  Here's one example: An Insta 360 camera for a single 10 minute video can produce upwards of 10gb of data.
  Those video files can only really be transferred to your phone for editing and sharing.
  That's ONE example that doesn't include gaming (a highly mainstream community) that also requires gigabytes of storage.
  
  I personally like to go camping, offroading, sometimes hiking. The camping can be for days at a time in places with marginal cellular signal. So I personally like having GBs and GBs of mp3s loaded onto my device to listen to.
  Probably not a typical use case, but 64+ GB of music isn't out of the question at all for me
  
  I dont know how, but i have currently 68gb of App data on my phone. Im a photographer and traveler and i already try to push photos to cloud. But sometimes its not possible. So im happy about 256gb, so i dont need to care.
  I want to switch to a Pixel 8 Pro, but im considered with that price tag and i need to pay 70€ for additional 128gb of storage...
  I mean they promoted it with more MP cameras and better video, that will all take up storage.
  I think its fair to call it BS not starting with 256gb as a basis.
- You don't have to accept it, just buy something else. That's the beauty of Android. I'm using an Xperia 1 IV and really like it. The Mark V is better with heat and a few other things but not enough to switch right away. 512 GB internal, SD card slot, headphone jack... basically everything phone buyers complain about getting removed are all available in one package.
  
  It's a dark pattern and a trend. It has nothing to do with "accepting it"
  
  How's the heat with your phone? Was looking at a 5 IV but the potential heating issues has me worried.
  And apparently the 5 V isn't coming to the US.
  
  They could also spend an extra $50 for the 256GB one.
- Two of the reasons why I chose a Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) over a Pixel 6a with much better other specs was that it has 256GB internal storage and that it has a MicroSDXC slot vs 128GB and no slot. This stuff matters to me.
  
  SD warriors be like
- I guess I'm the only one who uses phone storage like slow motion swap.
  Stuff gets migrated off my phone to my own backup a few times a month
- I wouldn't be opposed to 128GB if the price made sense for it. I'm only using 64GB on my current phone, and it also had 128GB.
- Google wants you to use cloud storage.
  
  Obviously yeah. Apple even has a monopoly on their cloud solution so it's even a more extreme example.
  I love Google Photos but it makes me feel dirty when they do me like that.
- Would seriously consider an iPhone if they offered the 1tb on the non pro model and didn't skyrocket the price.

I'm disappointed that so many features seem locked to the Pro and not the regular P8, and a lot of them don't make sense to me.
A lot of the AI stuff they talked about towards the end of the keynote seem to be locked with the P8P, even though the regular P8 shares the same chip so it has no reason not to be able to do the same things. Why?
Video Boost also seems to be locked to the P8P, which is more disappointing since half of it is run in the cloud and not on device, along with manual camera controls, which I think should be a basic feature every phone camera should have.
I was originally eyeing the P8P already, but I'm going to wait for reviews before making a decision. I currently have the P6a, and I already feel frustrated that a few software features like motion mode do not get updated to the earlier models. I feel the same frustration for people who want a regular P8 but are going to be missing out on software features not limited by hardware.
- There's just so much dark patterns and price gaming. It's so exhausting to just buy a phone. Do you want this 128gb that stores 50 photos or you actually spend +80usd for slightly more usable option of 256gb? Its all artificial bullshit.
- Was considering P8, but I feel like they neglected it for P8pro.

Yuck. Minimal upgrades from last generation yet they increase the price. Artificially limiting software features to the pro.
And those prices are for 128gb? Just so they can overcharge you for more memory upgrades.

Honestly? Really disappointed. Once again Google has done a decent job on the software and AI side and totally phoned it in on the hardware.
There is nothing interesting at all happening on the hardware side. Identical design, no increase in storage or ram, no maglock Qi2 charging, STILL no DP-Alt for display out so no Dex like feature, I could go on. To do such a minimal refresh then have the gall to charge $150 CAD more than last year while locking extra features behind the Pro model?
I struggle to see how this could be considered a good launch. They are trying to command premium prices based on software improvements alone, but with mediocre hardware that will never work. Pixel phones do not hold their value for this reason, and the price will fall with the 8a comes out and has all the identical software features at a fraction of the price.
I will give koodos on the one big thing though, and that's the 7 years of OS updates. That really makes it hard to consider buying a 7 or 7a when the 8 comes with support like that. It will be very interesting to see if the 8a has the same guarantee (same chip so it should) or if they gatekeep that artificially to sell the higher tier.
I also would have liked to see something novel here for repairability. If they had come out with a new design where the battery was easily accessible that would have gone a long way to prove sustainability and comply with the upcoming EU legislation. As it stands I'm not sure 7 years of OS updates are really that important because the phone will not last that long due to already middle of the road hardware and poor repairability.
TL:DR Google has yet again released a mediocre phone with a high price tag.
- Design wise they are following apple Samsung keeping same-ish design for brand recognition
  
  I think that's giving them a bit too much credit. Also, when I say design I don't mean they have to ditch the visor, which honestly is the only unique thing they have. I'm saying do something different with the camera punch hole like Samsung did when they put a screen in front of it, or add repairability features, or mag charging, etc.
  You're right that we're in an era of every phone being a flat slab so you want some visual differentiator, and I honestly think the visor (back when it was all black like the pixel 6) looks better than the exposed grouping of cameras the iPhone has. They can keep that overall look for all I care, just... try. Try to do something interesting or novel, or don't ask flagship prices.
- I think there could be a big hardware change for people who are interested in the photo area. I want to see how that bigger sensor and AI performs. Currently there are not many brands who stand a chance sgainst the Pixel photo quality. Smartphones resching a goof point for a second camera.
  But besides this, i also agree that locking Software features is BS and they should not copy Apple with that.

7 years of updates is incredible. A good step towards actual, meaningful sustainability.
- The best thing is that it'll push other Manufacturers to do 7 years as well.
  
  I'm hoping Samsung would be pushed to top this when they're releasing the S24 series and some of the older devices will also get upgraded to a longer software upgrade period. I just upgraded to a Fold5 after using Asus ROG Phone II for four years and messing with custom ROMs (the ROG Phone II just have one year of OS updates) just to stay up to date in regards to security and software updates is not as fun as it was a dozen years ago.

Pixel 8 is still too big for me. If they would release a Pixel 8 Mini I would love to buy that, even at the same price. Even at the Pro price if it had the same features.
Instead I'll keep holding out with my current phone.
- I didn't realise it at the time but the Pixel 5 is the perfect size for me at 6". I really hoped the 8 was going to be no more than 6.1" but sadly not.
  
  People think they want an 8" phone but when you get right down to it, 5" is plenty
  
  Interesting, I was curious to see how the 8 compared to my 6a, which is perfect for me, and it's actually a tiny bit smaller with a tiny bit larger screen.
- What is your current phone?
  In todays world the Pixel 8 is a small phone. It has nearly the same size as the IPhone 15Pro which is also a small phone.
  Is there any flagship phone with smaller dimendions?
  
  There's not any current flagship phone with (significantly) smaller dimensions, which is my main complaint.
  My phone is an S22, for the singular reason that it was literally the smallest (Android) flagship phone available at the time. But it's still too big.
  However my actual phone is irrelevant, even if it would be a ZFold the point is that i will not change from it until I see a proper small option.
  For me "small" would be 4-5.5", and i don't consider the iPhone 15 Pro (or Pixel 8) to be small. I consider that to be a "standard" size these days (6"), where everything larger is "large" and anything in the missing segment of smaller would be "small".
- And the Pixel 8 is too small for me. If it would be bigger, I would take it. Now I have to get the Pro.
  
  At least you have that option.

I have a Pixel 6 Pro and looking at the raw specs, there is no justification for an upgrade.
The prices differences are weird as well. For my upgrade, it would be $549 for the Pixel 7 Pro and $599 for the Pixel 8 Pro?
Aside from some camera differences, these phones have flat-lined.
- Phones in general flatlined. There's hardly any real life improvement, and the improvements in spec numbers are eaten up by unjustifiably resource hungry apps.
  I have a Nexus 4 in my drawer. Roughly 10 years old, but did everything just fine back then, almost the same apps I use today. But even just starting a reasonably recent Android version on that phone results in 5 fps.
- P6P is a solid phone and I've had great luck with it. I haven't maxed anything out so wondering why I should get a faster chip with more memory so I can take photos of my dog and message my friends. Google Fi is doing just $400 off a 8P which I may take because I don't want their watch or buds. I'm not sure what I'll do.
  
  I jumped on that deal. Will see how it works out.
- There should be improvements in the idle battery life department along with the camera. Probably not earth shattering. Pixel 6 Pro is still a completely competent device and likely will be till the end of its update lifespan and beyond.
- I also have a Pixel 6 Pro, and agree with your arguments. The specs look almost the same. However, the differences that do stick out to me are that the 8 comes with a Pixel Watch 2, better camera software, and 7 years of OS updates. With the trade-in, it seems like it might be worth the upgrade for me.
  
  Ok, I didn't see the offer for the watch. Interesting!
  The update issue seems artificial, but I could be wrong. There are different hardware components (requires different kernel drivers) and also a big CPU update, so that could be part of maintaining updates for an older Pixel phone. (Game performance is a non-issue for me since I don't game on my phone at all.)
  While I get that it is problematic for manufacturers to stop updating old hardware, it doesn't make sense to me why they would stop in this case. (Oct 2024/Oct 2026 for the Pixel 6 Pro)
  (Just a little questioning/rant, s'all. Please excuse it.)
- I'm in the same boat and remember seeing reports that the chipset is not expected to run much cooler which is my main reason for wanting to ditch the P6P.
  
  I don't recall them mentioning anything about efficiency or battery life improvements in the presentation, and you know they know they would've made a big deal about it if they had any progress to show :(

I'm disappointed that the Pixel 8 is 6.2" instead of 6". I really wanted to support the smaller form factor, but since it's not as small as I wanted, I may end up going for the 8 Pro.
- But I always ask myself, do I really need all these features? Am I really going to use them?
  After this introspection, I realized that one-handed use is much more important to me than many futures companies suggest.
- on the other side, they're reducing 0.1 inches every year
  6-6.4" 7-6.3" 8-6.2"

128GB? Really?
I bought my OnePlus 8T 256GB 3 or 4 years ago! Who seriously sets a flagship phone in 2023 to go with 128GB? That's nonsense. Hard pass.
- Can't sell Google Drive storage subscriptions if everyone has tons of storage on their device
- They sell Pixel 8s with more storage space.
- It's not nonsense, many people simply don't need that much storage on a phone. I'm currently at 53% of my 128gb, most of that is Spotify cache.
  Why would I want to dump tons of data on my phone?
  
  Because it's a 1000 flagship phone? If I have to pay crazy money, I want crazy specs, not last decade specs.
  That, and not everybody wants to store their stuff on Google services so that they can sniff though all your stuff

I'm coming from a 6 Pro and getting the 8 Pro. I'm pretty happy with what I've seen:
7 years of software upgrades!!!!
Incremental improvements in processor & cameras
Free watch
The display isn't fucking curved
- Do you think that you'll use the pixel 8 longer than 2 years?
  
  It depends on how well it holds up, but I like having the option to keep it longer and better support usually means higher resale value if I do decide to upgrade in two years
- A modem that isn't do do water.

The specs on the 8 look solid, but I wonder if they've improved cell radio performance and the fingerprint sensor over the previous models.

Love my 7 Pro but the screen scratches WAY too easily! It's hardly a year old and the screen is covered in scratches and even has a few deep gouges. This is from normal use, no keys/change in the pocket. From what I understand it's related to a choice for softer glass to avoid shattering.
- Bro what? My screen is spotless. I even take it biking and kayaking where it gets dirty on the screen.
  You must be really bad with your phone.
  
  Just sharing my experience. I've gone back and forth between galaxy phones and pixels since the galaxy s6 and I've never gouged a phone screen before this one.
- Isn't it gorilla victus? I thought they are supposed to be one of the toughest in market. In any case I always get a protector for every mobile I get so I don't have to worry about these that much.
  
  Usually with mobile glass, and I think this applies to victus 2, the glass is super resistant to breakage, so it's super tough. However it is not notably less resistant to scratching
  No one has quite perfected a display that is super resistant to scratches as well as breakage.
  Here's an article I found that mentions victus 2 isn't more scratch resistant than original victus, which aligns with what I mentioned above.
  I'll be putting on a tempered glass screen protector, especially since the 8 pro has a flat screen, finally.
  
  I thought so as well but there are quite a few reddit threads and support queries related to scratched displays. Maybe there's a few bad batches of gorilla glass floating around on the pixel 7.
- Yeah it's insane. I've had mine with a protector for months. Took it off and within two weeks I got a deep gauge
  
  It's wild! Never on a previous phone have I ever had a gouge.
- I've got a $10 Spigen jelly case on my p7 and very few light scratches. I'm impressed with the glass.
- i kept breaking glass protectors on my 6 and got annoyed so i stopped using a protector. got teeensy scratches on it now but i drop it all the time (on tile) and work a rough job. got an OB on it which goes above the edge of the screen so im sure that helps a bit, but ive never had a phone this durable. 8 is enticing but ill wait til i hit my 2 years and see how reviews are that far in.
  I've had it for a bit more than a year and a half now, stopped using protectors maybe 3 months in
- Same, but I keep dropping mine onto random metal things. I have two deep gouges.
- Using a 7 Pro same circumstances and I do not have this issue at all?

The new AI features they presented were pretty cool, but the European prices are just pure insanity.

It's time for me to renew my Pixel 4 XL for a Pixel 8 pro. 7 years for software update, it's just unbelievable! 🥳
- I think Google is a great company. They make very high quality products that I use daily.
  IMHO one of the hardest negative aspects of the company to argue against is their pattern of killing products and features with little to no notice regardless of previous statements. To their credit, my experience with the Stadia shutdown felt fair and reasonable, so it's not necessarily the end of the world when they do.
  Probably something to keep in mind when reading about multi year support statements.

Pretty expensive for the value usually provided by the Pixel line in my opinion.

Im due for an upgrade and was waiting for this since they announced 7 years of security updates (makes it such a better value than a used 7).
Any of you guys have experience with black friday sales on pixels? I researched a little, and it seems i wouldnt be saving much more than by selling the free buds that come with it rn.
Also damn google theyre offering $55CAD for my 4a 5G
- I feel like they don't offer too many deals until the new phone comes out.
  I usually get last year's model once the price drops some.

Time to update to a Pixel 7, as they now get into a reasonable price range.
- But they are so damn huge... why? I love the size of mx 4a, the gesture navigation and all really help to use the space well.
  
  The Pixel 7a's size is pretty reasonable I think, very close to the Pixel 8 (which got a tiny bit smaller).

Thinking about trading in my P4a for a P8, was offered $200 off if I did. Should I pull the trigger or do you all think Black Friday will have a better deal?
Then I thought of a crazy scheme: trade in my 4a so the P8 is $500 instead of $700, then accept the free Pixel Buds Pro offer and resell them so it's ~$300 instead.
- You might have a hard time selling the buds at or near MSRP cos I suspect a lot of people will be doing the same

£1000 for the pro lmao no thanks

Are they going to bring the manual camera controls (shutter speed, iso, etc) to the Pixel 7 Pro?
Thats the one thing the camera app needs. 3rd party manual cameras can't seem to access the two other lenses. At least the ones I've tried. And they also don't have the nice AI processing.
For that matter, it looks like the 8 Pro can do 1-for-1 pixel raw files instead of pixel binning down to 25 MP like on the 7 Pro. That's just software, too. They need to bring that to the 7 Pro.
I can get $420 (maybe) as a trade-in credit, and get free Pixel Buds Pro which Ive been thinking of buying anyway. But thats still $380 for some better software.
At least it doesn't appear to have this crappy curved glass! Why google thought that was ever a good idea is beyond me.

I traded my pixel 6 for a pixel 7 for $20 in last year's black Friday sale. If they do that again, I'll upgrade. If not, I'll stick with what I got and see if next year's is any better.

The 8 pro is a fair upgrade from a 6 pro but the display is worse than the previous two generations. I'll be keeping my 6 pro
- How's the display worse?
  
  Lower resolution and PPI

Pre-ordered a Pixel 8 Pro with the watch. I've had this OnePlus 7 Pro since it launched and I want the new features and a really fucking good camera. I'd also like to get away from OnePlus' bullshit, but all in all it's been a fantastic phone. Still very fast.
- What OnePlus bullshit?
  
  You can't turn off their multi-press screenshot thing, and they install their apps and un-disable them, trying to figure out which messages or contacts app is the right one is annoying.
  Don't get me wrong, the phone is still impressively fast, but some of the newer tech, specifically camera, 5g, wireless charging, and the call screening style stuff is what I'm after.
- What do you don't like about OnePlus? It's been a while since I've used their original Android flavour on mine
  
  Their built in apps, the red cable stuff, the multi-press screenshot gesture that I can't disable.
  The phone is still crazy fast for it's age, but I wanted a no-compromise camera, and 5g, wireless charging, the call screening stuff.
  Basically it's just time for an upgrade.

They have still yet to make a new one that makes me even consider upgrading from my 3. They still haven't made a just as small one (except for the 4a, but that came out not long after I got my 3 so I didn't upgrade).
- I love the look of the 3. Not the big one, the small one. It’s awesome
  
  Yeah that's the one I've got, I've never been a big fan of big phones, No new (non specialist) phone has been as small or smaller since which also adds to why I'm still on the pixel 3.

Glad it has an actual display as compared to all those previous imposters /s.

I'd look at these just to take advantage of pKVM.

I could actually go look at the specs and early reviews but because its Google I automatically hate it just like every previous pixel lol
actual linux based OS for mobile when

At these prices, you're better off buying an iPhone. Check Google's trade-in price, it's a goddamn insult.
- Except an iPhone doesn't allow me to do any of the stuff Android does..
  
  I'm tempted by the iPhone 15 Pro. I'm not sure I can deal with iOS though after not using it since the iPhone 4S.
  It's only when I start to look around that there are actually a number of features the Pixel/Android has that I'd really miss.
  Call screen Now playing Using a different browser Google Assistant Proper widgets
- You mean a phone with a 60 hz screen like its 2019?

146 comments