Is the Google Pixel 8 Pro a great smartphone? Absolutely! It’s arguably the best smartphone Google has ever made, and we didn’t hesitate to praise it in our reviews. Google Pixel 8 Pro Review. While the battery life isn’t anything special and the temperature sensor is a bit annoying, the excellent camera quality, great design, solid specs and promise of seven years of updates mean this is a phone that won’t get lost.
But while the Pixel 8 Pro is a very powerful cell phone, it’s far from the only option. In fact, if you’re looking at the Pixel 8 Pro right now, there are five other smartphones you should consider instead of Google’s more expensive flagship.
Google Pixel 8
The Google Pixel 8 Pro may be the best Pixel Google has ever made, but that’s just a “maybe” because the Google Pixel 8 exists. Pound for pound, given the sheer price, it’s hard for the Pro to claim a complete win over its cheaper sibling, and that’s why the Pixel 8 is a solid alternative to the Pixel 8 Pro.
We’re not here to glorify it: You won’t get as many advanced features on the Pixel 8 as you do on the Pixel 8 Pro. But these are definitely features you can do without. Most noticeable is the lack of a 5x optical zoom lens, which is definitely a shame. But be honest with yourself; How often do you even take photos at 5x zoom? Everything else is just a slight downgrade: it all comes down to a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 6.2-inch screen instead of 6.7 inches, and fewer large storage options. You still have the option of 256GB of internal storage, which is plenty for most people, and the smaller screen means the phone itself is smaller (a plus for those who don’t want a phone as comically large as the Pixel 8 Pro).
The best part is that much of the Pixel 8 reflects what makes the Pro variant so good. You get a processor G3 Tensioner from Google, a stunning OLED display with a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz and the same seven years of updates. The Pixel 8’s battery life should last about a day, but probably no more. And yes, the camera is just as good, and there are AI tricks here too.
Whether you buy the Pixel 8 over the Pixel 8 Pro largely depends on your budget. The Pixel 8 costs $300 less than the Pixel 8 Pro, making it an extremely tempting deal. Is the extra camera lens and larger screen worth $300? For some this may well be the case. But it’s clear to us that the Pixel 8 represents phenomenal value for money, making it an extremely good phone compared to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
For many people, Samsung is synonymous with Android, so it makes sense that one of the Pixel 8 Pro’s strongest competitors is Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus. Both devices have the same price, but there are smaller and less powerful options. But it would be a mistake to assume that they are essentially the same, since in many ways they are two diametrically opposed devices. In fact, if you put a pen on the S24 Plus, it could pass for the Pixel 8 Pro’s mirror universe doppelgänger.
Where the Pixel 8 Pro falls short, the S24 Plus excels, and vice versa. Battery life is a prime example of this; The S24 Plus has a two-day battery life, while the Pixel 8 Pro is a one-day smartphone. In fact, on bad days, you may find it difficult to sleep while listening to the latest news from Google. Plus, charging is much faster than the comparatively slow Pixel 8 Pro (30W). Snapdragon 8 3rd generationIt’s also faster than the Tensor G3 Pixel 8 Pro and also runs cooler. They even have the opposite design; The Pixel goes for soft curves, while this year’s Galaxy Plus model opted for flat edges.
The S24 Plus does have some downsides. Samsung’s One UI software is still based on Android, but it’s noticeably busier and comes with plenty of additional Samsung-themed apps. The camera, while excellent, is not as good as the Pixel 8 Pro. While you do get an extra camera lens, the overall performance isn’t as strong, so you’re sacrificing quality for versatility.
It all comes down to what you value in a smartphone. If you want long battery life with an equally powerful processor, faster charging, and don’t mind more cluttered software and a slightly less powerful camera, you should consider the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus at the same price.
OnePlus 12
Hard not to recommend OnePlus 12 every time one of these recommendation articles appears. The flagship killer has moved away from simple flagships and set its sights on the ultra-flagship line. Simply put, the Pixel 8 Pro is out of your league in terms of raw power, although there are still some reasons to choose Google’s newest version over OnePlus.
In terms of its strengths, OnePlus 12 is an absolute leader. The latest OnePlus phone has been designed to compete with some of the most powerful flagships in the world, meaning it uses Qualcomm’s stunning Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to 512GB of internal storage, and up to an incredible 16GB of RAM. These specs alone beat the Pixel 8 Pro, and then It adds a massive 5,400mAh battery that lasts two days on a full charge and supports up to 80W fast charging, starting at $800.
So this is a blow for OnePlus, right? Not necessary. To achieve all this, OnePlus had to get rid of all the extra stuff, which means there aren’t many extra features worth paying attention to. It lacks the AI found in the Pixel 8 Pro, and while the OnePlus 12’s camera is good, it’s nowhere near Pixel level. Plus, when it comes down to it, all that extra power doesn’t do much good. Sure, it’s more powerful, but will it really be more powerful in everyday life? For some people, probably not.
However, it’s hard to argue with the price you get for $800, and for that reason alone I really you should consider buying OnePlus 12 instead of Pixel 8 Pro.
Motorola Edge Plus (2023)
Yes, Motorola still makes flagship phones and you should care. absolutely because they’re pretty good.
He Motorola Edge Plus It came out in mid-2023 and, as a result, doesn’t have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor that many of the alternatives on this list have. However, it has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, still a very powerful chip that powered last-gen flagships without issue and will still hold its own against the Tensor G3. A particular highlight is the OLED display, which has an incredible 165Hz variable refresh rate and simply beautiful display technology. The battery lasts for another two days, and 68W fast charging leaves the Pixel 8 Pro’s charge in the dust. Even the software is pretty close to Android Pixel, with some Motorola gesture controls thrown in for good measure.
He falls into the same places as most of the other contenders. The camera is not as good as the Pixel 8 Pro and is perhaps the weakest on this list. There’s also no always-on display, and the speakers don’t match the screen’s excellent quality, making watching movies on it a little disappointing. However, at $800, it’s still a very strong competitor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a great smartphone, but you can go further. If you want the most powerful, feature-rich and most… additional it exists, well, you need a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
At this point, it’s no surprise that the S24 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and, like all the other phones, it’s incredibly powerful. There’s little you can add to this phone that will confuse it, especially when you add 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. But it is not So Well, yes? Well, Samsung isn’t done there. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also features a huge 6.8-inch display equipped with Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, with a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. Combined with top-notch specs, this means you get a phone that’s fast, responsive and incredibly smooth.
The camera system is one of the few that can match the Pixel 8 Pro and growth. Considering Google’s dominance in phone camera manufacturing in recent years, this is a major achievement for a Samsung phone. Add the included S Pen and Samsung’s new Galaxy AIand you will get a truly excellent smartphone.
Of course, there is a rather big caveat here, and that is the price. The Pixel 8 Pro is already an expensive phone at $999, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $300 and is priced at $1,300. That’s a lot of money to spend on a smartphone, but it’s really the only option if you want the most advanced Android smartphone you can buy in 2024.
Source: Digital Trends
