Google Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7: Is it worth upgrading?

Google recently announced its latest flagship phones - the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. These build upon last year's Pixel 7 series with some incremental upgrades. In this post, we'll compare the Pixel 8 to its predecessor and see if it's worth upgrading for most users. The Pixel phones are known for their excellent cameras, clean software experience, and AI-powered features. The Pixel 8 aims to improve on these strengths while adding some new capabilities. But are the changes enough to justify upgrading from the Pixel 7?

Google Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Key Specs at a Glance

Before we dive into the details, let's briefly compare the core specs between the Pixel 7 launched in October 2022, starting at $599, and the newly released Pixel 8 on October 4 2023 starting at $699. The table below summarizes the key hardware and features between Google's previous generation and new flagship phone models. The side-by-side view will give you a better idea of how the specs stack up.

 

Google Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7: Specs Comparison

Let's start with a high-level comparison of the key specs between the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8.

Design and Display

The Pixel 8 is slightly smaller than the Pixel 7, coming in at 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm versus 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm. It has a 6.2” OLED display compared to the 6.3” screen on the Pixel 7.

More importantly, it bumps the refresh rate up to 120Hz from 90Hz. The higher refresh rate allows for smoother scrolling and animations.

Processor

The Pixel 8 series is powered by the new Google Tensor G3 chip fabricated on a 4nm process. This is an upgrade over the 5nm G2 used in the Pixel 7. Google promises improved AI and ML capabilities with the Tensor G3, which should translate to better camera performance and smart features over time.

Memory and Storage

Both phones offer 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage options - the same memory configs as their predecessors. There's no upgrade in base memory or storage capacity.

Cameras

The Pixel 8 has the 50MP Samsung GN2 main and 12MP Sony IMX386 ultrawide sensor combo as compared to the Pixel 7 has a 50MP Samsung GN1 main and 12MP Sony IMX381 ultrawide sensor. So megapixel counts stay unchanged for the rear cameras.

However, Google has upgraded the lenses to improve light capture. The main camera aperture is now f/1.68 versus f/1.8.5 earlier. The company also promises software improvements in image processing powered by the Tensor G3 chip.

The front-facing camera has been bumped up to 10.5MP resolution with autofocus capability.

Everyday Performance and Camera

Daily Use Experience

In daily use, the Pixel 8 feels very similar to the Pixel 7 in terms of interface, speed, and fluidity. Android 14 with Material You provides a clean, responsive experience across both phones. Some may notice slightly faster app load times on the Pixel 8 but real-world usage is unlikely to feel considerably faster.

The higher refresh rate display does make scrolling and swiping a tad bit smoother. But otherwise, you are unlikely to notice a significant jump in day-to-day performance versus the Pixel 7.

Camera Performance

In most shooting conditions, camera performance is quite comparable between the Pixel 7 and 8 series. In side-by-side shots, it's hard to discern the difference in image quality without pixel peeping.

Some improvements in low-light shots are expected with the wider aperture and Tensor G3's image processing. But the camera hardware itself hasn’t changed drastically. More enhancements will come over time via software updates that leverage the new chip. But out of the box, the cameras feel very familiar.

New Features

The Pixel 8 introduces some noteworthy new features, even if not major game-changers alone.

AI-Enabled Capabilities

• Summarize webpages - This new Pixel feature uses advanced language models to analyze webpages and generate concise summaries of the key information. It can reduce long articles down to bite-sized chunks so you can quickly grasp the key points.
• Improved Call Screen - The updated Call Screen leverages Google's Speech-to-Text technology and language understanding models to better automatically detect spam calls and inform you upfront. It can now filter out 50% more spam compared to before.
• More natural voice commands - Thanks to upgrades in Google's speech processing algorithms on the Tensor G3, the Pixel 8 Assistant can now understand commands with pauses, interruptions, and "um"s and "uh"s. This allows you to speak more naturally instead of robotic commands.

Biometrics

• Face unlock for payments - Pixel 8's face unlock now meets the security requirements for verification with banking and payments apps. This means you can authorize transactions just by glancing at your phone, which is more convenient than fingerprint alone.

Camera

• Real Tone - Enhanced camera algorithms better capture different skin tones accurately in a variety of lighting conditions. This helps improve photography representation.
• Improved zoom - The telephoto camera on the Pixel 8 now takes clearer 8x super res zoom.
• Macro mode - You can now shoot macro photos with the ultrawide lens for artistic closeup shots.

Software Updates

• 7 years of updates - Google promises 3 years more software support than before, meaning you'll get OS and security updates for longer. This extends the usable lifespan of the phone.

While not revolutionary, these new capabilities build on Google's AI expertise to offer helpful improvements over the Pixel 7 experience across the board. For some, the additions may be worthwhile.

Verdict: Should You Upgrade to Pixel 8?

For Most Users

For most average users, the Pixel 8 brings minor improvements over the Pixel 7 but likely doesn't warrant upgrading, especially if you already own last year's model.

The core experience - camera, software, performance - is very similar between the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series. You gain some benefits from the Tensor G3 chip, battery boost, and higher refresh display. But the total upgrade is incremental rather than revolutionary.

Considering the Pixel 7 is $100 cheaper, upgrading to the Pixel 8 may not make economic sense either for casual users.

Unless you really want the latest Pixel or your Pixel 7 is acting up, it may be better to skip this generation.

For Power Users

Power users who want the latest processor, AI capabilities, and improved battery life are better positioned to benefit from the Pixel 8 upgrades. The Tensor G3 will likely keep the phone feeling faster and more capable for longer.

For camera enthusiasts, software enhancements will trickle out over the phone's lifespan too to take fuller advantage of the improved lenses and sensor.

If you care about having the best specs and camera, the Pixel 8 makes sense, especially since you'll be supported software-wise for 7 years. But it still isn't a dramatic leap over the Pixel 7.

The Verdict

While the Pixel 8 provides noticeable improvements in some areas like the battery, processor, and display, it isn’t a dramatic upgrade over the Pixel 7. Unless you demand the latest Pixel or want the incremental benefits, it may be better to hold off until the Pixel 9 or Pixel 8a rollout, which could bring more significant changes. The Pixel 7 still offers a highly competitive experience at a $100 lower cost. So for many, sticking with their current Pixel 7 may be the smarter option unless you really need the extras.

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