Google’s latest flagship phones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, have been launched in India and other markets this week, but they are already facing some backlash from users and reviewers over their battery life. According to Google’s own fine print, the Pixel 8 series has worse battery life than the Pixel 6, which was released last year.
Pixel 8 vs Pixel 6: What’s the difference?
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are powered by Google’s new Tensor G3 chipset, which promises faster performance, better AI features, and more security. The phones also feature a brighter 120Hz OLED display, a 50MP main camera with 8x Super Res Zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with macro mode, and a 10.5MP selfie camera. The Pixel 8 Pro also has a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom and pro-level camera controls.
However, these improvements come at a cost. The Pixel 8 has a 4,575 mAh battery, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 5,000 mAh battery. These are slightly larger than the Pixel 6’s 4,500 mAh battery, but not enough to compensate for the higher power consumption of the new chipset and display. As shown in the official fine print above, the latest Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro’s battery lasted an average of 31 hours from Google’s own internal testing, which makes both devices on par with the Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro from last year.
How does the Pixel 8 compare to other flagships?
The Pixel 8 series is not only lagging behind its predecessor, but also behind its competitors in terms of battery life. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, for instance, has a slightly smaller battery of 4,352 mAh, but it can last up to 40 hours on a single charge. The Samsung Galaxy S23 also has a similar battery size of 4,500 mAh, but it can last up to 36 hours on average.
The Pixel 8 series also lacks some features that other flagships offer to extend their battery life, such as wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The phones only support wired charging at up to 30W, which is slower than the iPhone’s 45W and the Galaxy’s 65W. Moreover, the Pixel 8 series does not come with a charger in the box, unlike the iPhone and the Galaxy.
What are the benefits of the Pixel 8 series?
Despite the criticism over their battery life, the Pixel 8 series still has some advantages over other flagships. One of them is the software support. Google promises to provide seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 8 series, making them more future-proof than any other Android phone. The iPhone also offers long-term support, but the Galaxy only guarantees four years of updates.
Another benefit of the Pixel 8 series is the AI camera features. The phones have a new Magic Editor mode that can automatically enhance photos with various effects and filters. They also have a Best Take mode that can capture multiple shots and suggest the best one based on composition, lighting, and focus. The phones can also record videos in 4K resolution at up to 60 fps, and edit them with tools like Cinematic Pan and Director’s View.
Should you buy the Pixel 8 series?
The Pixel 8 series is not for everyone. If you value battery life above all else, you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for a fast and smart phone with a great camera and software support, you might find the Pixel 8 series worth considering. The phones start at Rs.69,999 for the Pixel 8 with 128GB of storage and Rs.89,999 for the Pixel 8 Pro with 256GB of storage.