I purchased the Pixel 8 after the launch got me excited, but I will return the device.
I am in the market for a compact flagship.
However, just the few hours I spent with the phone irritated me suffiently to not even want to try to keep it. It's a shame, but I guess next year or so should be better.
My problems are:
1. the OS - extremly inflexible, to the point that you cannot move or delete the google search bar on the homescreen. It's where every other phone has phone and message apps and such. Basically, while every other OS adapts to you, this one requires you to adapt to it.
2. the processing "speed" - or lack thereof, really. Opening apps, moving around etc doesn't feel as fluid as I am used to and several times the phone froze or struggled with opening an app. That's not what I expect from a flagship device.
Other than that it's pretty nice. Decently looking, feels very nice in my hands, photos are indeed good.
Compared to the S23, which is my other option, the screen isn't as impressive. Photos are better (the S23's camara is abysmal), it's more comfortable to hold, but simply a pain in the butt to use.
I'm looking forward to a compact Pixel with a better processor and hopefully a more flexible OS.
Regarding the annoying haptic feedback - just turn it off... I dislike any and all sounds, most phones have it activated when you start them for the first time but it takes at most 5 minutes to get into the settings and change it. No big deal.
I also have a comment on the review here.
It's true that certain features are limited to a handful of countries, but these are the countries the phone is sold in. Google is pretty transparent about the availability. I dislike this approach but if you're going to test the phone, it would be much more useful to do so in a market where it is sold and features are available. It would also be a very good idea to specify which functions are not available everywhere, and ideally to information on where they are available, or at least a link to the google webpage listing the functions and markets. In the end, as a reader I want to know if a phone is suitable for me or not, and a vague critique which does not inform me on whether it applies to me at all is not helpful.
Googles Android is not integrated with Google Pixel phone, Google should enhance his Android to integrate with pixel devices or phone specially or make a Smart or separate or smooth Android to integrate with Google devices only to work finely as iOS. Pixel 8 has Camera Issues it doesn't work with other apps and All OS has some glitches. The AI feature is for Camera ONLY, no AI feature in Notifications arrangement, no AI feature in keyboard, no AI feature in other Daily apps. AI features should be so important that all Android and iOS users become its fans. not just in the camera only.
Dilip Golder , 20 Nov 2023More problems issued with in 5 days,no service center,not returnable...don't buy Sure. Thanks for the advice.
More problems issued with in 5 days,no service center,not returnable...don't buy
Don't buy 5g net work very week,hanged when at a time 2 call comes, sound also hung, waste of money..
Ravenowl, 01 Nov 2023I am EXTREMELY sensitive to noise and it does not bother me on the P8P. Comparing it to other ... moreWell I bought the 8, and have been setting it up for the last 4 hours or so. Gone back to my Xiaomi 12x.
From the moment I pressed the power button (hollow and cheap sounding) I sort ot guessed what was coming.
The screen noise when tapping is extremely irritating to the point where I will probably try the Zenfone 10, which is a real shame as everything else is great.
Thought about trying to mod the phone (some tape or foam between the screen and body) but a bit reluctant to try prying off the screen on a brand new phone
Other nitpics are while the haptic feedback is ok, it is nowhere near the quality of the Xiaomi, and single tap to wake is shite.
Anonymous, 26 Oct 2023Exactly. My 6a had bad standby times for about a week, then it goes really good. I think all p... moreThis is an issue they're having here, but I don't think is fair for them to keep testing phones 2 to 4 weeks in order for batery optimization to stabilize on each device... They said several times they're revamping the battery tests, hopefully they'll come with something akin to real world usage.
Bug with USB DAC is terrible. With USB DAC and a earphone, it gave me overloud static noise and surly poor music. The same DAC and earphone worked perfectly with my old Pixel 5. This made it impossible to enjoy any music/sounds in such way with Pixel 8. I googled it, surprisingly I found the exactly issue reported on Pixel6. Two years later, two android updates, the issue still there. That gave me very little hope that google is going to fix this. Also wondering if Google aware this issue.
Anonymous, 31 Oct 2023Some people are more sensitive to the noise then others.
You can get round it to an extent ... moreI am EXTREMELY sensitive to noise and it does not bother me on the P8P. Comparing it to other phones, the sound ends up being a little higher pitch than on phones that aren't edge bond, of course. But unless you're typing with the softest fingers ever, gloves, or you simply touch it as lightly as physically possible, you'll always have noise that could be heard. Though in which situation would that be relevant? Neither is too loud nor too quiet for any particular scenario in which you'd use a phone. If your S/O hates the sound of you tapping your phone at night, honestly, any phone will do that.
Maybe there's also some differences in manufacturing and I got a better one. Hard to tell. When I tried in P8P in a shop, I could have sworn it had none of this. Or maybe I could just not hear it with literally any noise around.
Ideally we'd have this level of repairability but without any such hollow sounds, of course. Btw, little fun fact, you can see the hollow area when you shine an UV light onto it. Like a huge pill in the middle.
Ravenowl, 30 Oct 2023The hollow is actually a good sign. That's because of the edge bonding, which makes the p... moreSome people are more sensitive to the noise then others.
You can get round it to an extent by using haptic feedback, but even typing this on my Xiaomi 12X with them on, you can still hear a noise eveytime you tap the screen, and I don't think this phone is particularly that bad in this regard.
The Poco F1 wasn't that good, and the haptics were shite on that phone, so never used them which made the tapping noise more noticeable.
Jackbrazil , 25 Oct 2023This review missed a couple of things Scrolling is terrible, there is a constant delay in ... moreThe hollow is actually a good sign. That's because of the edge bonding, which makes the phone vastly easier to repair. I thought it was worse on the P7P when I tried it (probably because of the curve). Doesn't bother me anymore on the P8P, especially after I know why it is this way. You have to actively recall it and somewhat try to hit hard enough to mind it during use. I doubt it's really any different on the P8, they're pretty much built the same. Of course throwaway flagships from other brands, especially on the Asian side, don't really care for it. Not like you'll get any replacement parts anyway.
AnonD-1026503, 25 Oct 2023i dunno, if you have bought so many devices already, i dont see how just one more could hurtI only have one SIM card, and if I have too many phones, I can expect my Pixel 6 Pro will gradually become useless after buying a Pixel 8. The best solution is to trade it in or sell the 6 Pro, but in my area, second-hand 6 Pro can only be sold for $200.
Feels already old the laughed of ARM x4 have near the performance of m2 bad timing
Screen quality feels worse then redmi phones. Sounds like you touch plastic from happy meal . I would like to return it to shop
Zuzuz, 26 Oct 2023Exactly as I thought: Xiaomi 14 is over this phone on any parameter.Funny because all of the alternatives appear better than this curvy giraffe, at any price point
T, 26 Oct 2023You are right, im using pixel 8 in real life it gives me 7-8 hours SOT on wifi.That's good to hear
Anonymous, 26 Oct 2023Does GSM have to relook at their battery scoring? Alot of emphasis is placed on talk time and ... moreNo need because no amount of software update can get endurance rating from 90h to over 100h. For that you need better chipset if battery capacity kept same.
HubertSatheesh, 26 Oct 2023Could you please elaborate on what you mean by screen off tests? Does it mean standby time tes... moreThe only alternative those "professionals" and users understand is iPhone, not surprising since most of them are Americans. Smaller iphones have poor battery life and when pixels appear competitive when compared to them.
Super Android 22, 26 Oct 2023GSM's battery tests arent exactly accurate to most real life situations, more like a benc... moreThey aren't exactly accurate and no test can be. But out of all tests out there by reviewers, this seems much better controlled and reliable. Most importantly, all phones here undergo same tests so at least there's consistency. If pixel has gone through this "inaccurate" test, so did Samsung and Xiaomi etc. And that's where it cancels out. Using same "inaccurate" tests they're scoring 105hr or more endurance rating. What's so special about pixel that suddenly we have to disregard those tests?
It's too apparent that tensor is at fault but some people don't wanna confess.
Anonymous, 26 Oct 2023Time to stop whining about chargers not being included. You know very well why. Most people ha... moreI would like to see every review put it as a negative.
Along with no jack, sdcard and FM radio.
They are big, they should show some balls, maybe get the companys to think twice about removing stuff from smartphones.
I know I know, but one can dream
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