A year with Google Pixel 8 Pro: same old story

I’ve used almost every Nexus and Pixel phone released since the Nexus 4. I’ll admit, I was a Nexus and Pixel fan at the time and would eagerly upgrade to the latest Google phone every year, even if my current device was working fine. With each new Pixel, I wanted the company to address the issues that plagued the previous generation; this typically included longer run times, fewer errors, and smoother overall performance.

Twelve years after the release of the Nexus 4 and a year of use Google Pixel 8 ProI’m disappointed that not much has changed, it’s still the same old story.

The Pixel experience has always been flawed

There’s always a compromise

Using a Google phone means compromising on some aspects. Problems with Nexus phones typically ranged from poor battery life to subpar performance and poor camera performance. They excelled at software, but the hardware always lagged behind in one way or another.

I remember being disappointed with the camera and battery life of the Nexus 4, hoping Google would fix this issue with their next phone in 2013. The Nexus 5 corrected one of the major shortcomings of its predecessor; Its 8-megapixel rear camera could take amazing pictures, but the phone again lacked battery life.

Over the next few years, Google Nexus phones cycled through these issues. They had poor build quality, average performance, or an unsatisfactory camera. The Nexus 6P came very close to delivering the “perfect” Nexus experience, but was let down by flimsy build quality.

Considering the affordable price, the Nexus’ shortcomings were easy to overlook. While they weren’t perfect, they provided a smoother experience than other Android phones on the market at the time. Also, being the first to receive a new Android update was a big deal back then.

Being a true Google fan, I upgraded my Nexus or Pixel phone to the latest version every year until I purchased the Pixel 3 XL in 2018. The terrible battery life frustrated me so much that I switched to a Samsung flagship. I sold this Pixel a few days after I got my hands on it due to bugs and terrible battery life; I felt cheated and decided not to buy a new Pixel phone in the future.

Google has turned a new page in its smartphone development with the launch of the Pixel 6 in 2021. It features impressive internals, superior camera hardware with bigger and better sensors, and higher build quality.

On paper, it looked like Google had finally accomplished its goal. best Android phonebut reality could not be different; poor battery life, poor performance, overheating issues and connection problems These are just some of the problems faced by Google’s updated Pixel phone. Over time, reports emerged about The front cover glass breaks spontaneously also surfaced.

I was tempted to buy the Pixel 6 when it first came out, but after a terrible experience with the Pixel 3 XL, I decided to wait a few months before making a decision. In the end, delaying Google’s flagship Pixel in 2021 turned out to be the right decision.

Google continues to disappoint me with Pixel phones

Nexus or Pixel, the experience is disappointing

The following year I gave in to temptation and got Pixel 7 Pro. Again, it seemed like Google had fixed all the problems with the Pixel 6 Pro and delivered a better package. When I received the phone, I was happy with its performance and camera, and the icing on the cake was the clean Android experience. This made me realize why I have preferred Nexus and Pixel phones over other Android phones in the past.

However, over time, the same problems arose. The Pixel 7 Pro had strictly average battery life; it couldn’t last a day when pressed hard, and battery life quickly dropped when using mobile data. While overall system performance was solid, the Tensor G2 chip wasn’t powerful enough to run heavy games or do quick video editing. Worse, it easily overheated even when performing relatively simple tasks.

After a few months, I regretted spending money on the Pixel 7 Pro, as the biggest source of disappointment was the substandard Exynos modem and poor battery life. I used this phone for a few months because of its amazing cameras before I finally switched to Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Once again, I felt cheated by Google by releasing a phone that couldn’t even handle basic tasks.

Pixel 8 Pro glitches like previous Pixels

Poor battery life, connectivity issues, and overheating issues.

Despite the disappointing experience with the Pixel 7 Pro, I ordered the Pixel 8 Pro on day one, even though Google initially only released the 128GB variant in India. It looks like Google has addressed all the shortcomings of the previous two generations of Tensor with Tensor G3. The phone also has an improved display, great build quality, and some great camera upgrades.

But the same story repeated itself again. I was initially happy with the Pixel 8 Pro, enjoying Android’s clean, smooth interface and its cameras. However, once the honeymoon period passed, I was disappointed to realize that Google’s 2023 Pixel flagship suffers from the same issues as its predecessor: inconsistent battery life, connectivity issues, and overheating issues.

A year later, I regretted that Google cheated me again and spent money on the Pixel 8 Pro. Despite all the praise the phone received, it was nowhere near worth its $999 starting price. At around $600 (which is what the phone currently costs), its shortcomings are easy to overlook.

Google has burned me enough

Pixel 9 series It seems to deliver the perfect Pixel experience. There are no overheating issues and Google has replaced the bad Exynos modem with a newer version that offers better connectivity. Battery life is also good enough to last a day, with fast charging speed finally got better.

However, Google has burned me so many times that I’m wary of spending money on Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL. And while the Tensor G4 is a step up from previous Tensor chips, it still lags behind offerings from Qualcomm and MediaTek. And I don’t even compare it to Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC from Qualcommwhich will be used in future Android flagships. There is a multi-generation gap in performance and efficiency between these two chips.

Pixel 10 series will be it reportedly uses a Tensor chip developed by Google. and are manufactured from TSMC’s superior and efficient components. We hope this will help Google’s chip catch up with the competition, at least in terms of efficiency and battery life. Even if that happens, based on my experience with Pixel phones and how difficult it is to design a new mobile SoC, I won’t be ordering the Pixel 10 series on launch day. Google has disappointed me enough.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 Pro boasts a Tensor G3 chip, a brighter screen, and a set of cameras that can capture even more light than its predecessor. As usual, the real power lies in Google’s Tensor chip, which offers even more photo enhancement and image editing features.