Google Pixel 8: Prices, Specs, and Release Date

Max McCaskill Sr. Staff Writer

Updated 16 October 2023

*Google Pixel 8 Pro models. Image Source: Google*

Contents

In this guide:

Release date
Prices
Processor
Camera
Design
Features
Recap

The Google Pixel 8 is here! It's available for purchase now and launched on October 12, 2023.

The series includes a base model Pixel 8 and the beefed-up Pixel 8 Pro. The Pixel 8 starts at $699. It offers a 50MP main camera and the new Google G3 Tensor processor. It also includes improved low-light photography and fancy AI image editing features like Magic Eraser and Best Take. Plus, Google is claiming the phone will offer seven years of updates, so you can feel confident the phone will last for years.

Read on to learn more about the new Google Pixel 8 series.

Buy the new Google Pixel 8 now!

The Google Pixel 8 series is available now from most of your favorite carriers. The Pixel 8 starts at $699 while the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999. Check out our top trade-in deals to save big on a new Pixel 8.

Description	Google's 2023 model featuring the most advanced Pixel camera using Google AI with 50MP + 12MP dual rear camera system, 6.2" display, Google Tensor G3, Android 14 and a built-in VPN by Google One
Screen Size	6.2"
Available On	16 Plans from 2 carriers
Available From
Priced From	$563.99 upfront
	View Full Details

Google Pixel 8: Release date

The Pixel 8 series was released on October 12, 2023. You can currently order it from select carriers and Google itself.

This date matches the yearly Pixel phone-release calendar. Every smartphone company has months when they like to announce new devices. Apple likes September for iPhones, Samsung prefers February for the Galaxy S series, and Google almost always targets October for the new Pixel launches. Of the past seven Pixel series, only the Google Pixel 5 was not announced in October. That said, the Pixel 5 was announced in late September and still went on sale in October.

Google Pixel 8: Prices

Google increased the Pixel 8 series prices over last year's Google 7 series. This was expected with potential price increases leaking earlier this summer.

Google Pixel 8 series pricing

	Pixel 8	Pixel 8 Pro
Price	$699	$999

Customers looking to save a bit of money can consider purchasing the Pixel 7 series. These phones are already priced lower than the new Pixel 8. They may also receive an even deeper discount from some carriers and retailers since they are last year's phones.

Google Pixel 7 series MSRP

	Pixel 7	Pixel 7 Pro
MSRP	$599	$899

Google Pixel deals

Google Pixels are typically cheaper than most devices from Apple and Samsung. That said, you can usually find a good deal on one to save even more. Check out our list of the best Google Pixel deals and save on your next phone.

Google Pixel 8: Processor

The Pixel 8 series uses the Google Tensor G3. This is one of the most powerful processors in a Pixel phone yet and handily beats the Google Tensor G2 of the Pixel 7.

Google claims that the Tensor G3 will allow the Pixel 8 to harness powerful AI features in photography, speech, and language. The chip is twice as fast as the original Tensor G1 and was custom-designed to run this lineup of Pixel phones.

Google Pixel 8: Camera

Here is how the camera specs for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro stack up:

Google Pixel 8 series camera specs

	Pixel 8	Pixel 8 Pro
Main camera	50MP	50MP
Ultrawide camera	12MP	48MP
Telephoto camera		48MP

Google didn't make a ton of major changes to the camera system for the Pixel 8 series. Both phones offer a 50MP main camera. The aperture is slightly larger in the new series, so there is some improvement in the phone's low-light photography. The base-model Pixel 8 also offers macro photography too. That said, the most exciting changes are with the new photo editing features.

Best Take

Best Take is a new image editing feature that allows you to digitally correct faces in photographs. By taking a rapid series of pictures, Google's AI can select the best facial expressions from each image and combine them so you end up with the perfect photo.

Magic Editor

Magic Editor allows you to adjust images after they've been taken. It's basically an editing program built into your phone. It goes past simply adding filters to your images. You can do things like increase the size of objects, adjust the lighting, or even adjust the background to make the image exactly how you want it.

Audio Magic Eraser

Audio Magic Eraser works in your videos. It identifies sounds in the background of your videos and moves them into distinct layers. You can then adjust each layer individually to remove distracting sounds.

Google Pixel 8: Design

Pixel 8 Pro leaked design from 91mobiles

Pixel 8 Pro design from leaked video. Image source: 91mobiles.

The Pixel 8 Pro leak from 91mobiles gave us a good idea of the design of the new series earlier this year.

As you can see from the leaked photos, Google is keeping the iconic camera bar, but all the camera lenses and sensors have been combined into one cutout.

The Pixel 8 is 6.2 inches, which is slightly smaller than the Pixel 7's 6.3-inch screen. Still, it's doubtful a screen adjustment that small will be a deal breaker for most people.

The Google Pixel 8 comes in three colors:

Hazel
Obsidian
Rose

The Pixel 8 Pro also comes in three colors:

Obsidian
Porcelain
Bay (blue)

Google Pixel 8: Features

This year did not include a major redesign for the Google Pixel series. That said, there are a few new features to be aware of.

Face ID

The Pixel 8 series offers the same fingerprint scanner that previous models have used. However, the new model also uses Facial ID technology to unlock the phone and can be used with banking and payment apps.

Language and voice

Another big feature of the Pixel 8 is updates to the language and voice translating capabilities. The keyboard and Recorder app can transition between languages during transcription. It can also translate websites from other languages and read them aloud.

Google Pixel 8: Recap

Overall, there aren't many major changes for the Google Pixel 8. There was a slight price increase to $699, making it more expensive than the Pixel 7. The design of the phone is also similar to previous Pixel devices and it comes in three colors.

The phone runs on the powerful Google Tensor G3 processor. Both models include a 50MP main camera and offer improvements to low-light photography. Plus, there are powerful new photo editing features like Best Take and Magic Editor so you end up with the perfect photo every time.

Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

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