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Google may have just released its latest flagship phone, the Pixel 9, but that doesn’t mean its predecessor is obsolete. On the contrary! Google’s last generation of Pixel, the Pixel 8, was released just under a year ago and still has plenty to offer anyone looking to upgrade from their outdated mobile device, including a stunning camera, a brilliantly lit display and a solid battery life that the company and many users claim can last well over 24 hours.
The good news with every new phone release is that older models get a deep discount. In the case of every Pixel 8 variation currently listed on Amazon, that means you can grab the budget-friendly Pixel 8a for $400, grab the base Pixel 8 for $500 and nab the Pixel 8 Pro for $624 — its lowest price ever. Those are deep discounts at 20%, 29% and 38%, respectively, for some of the most powerful smartphones out today.
Every Pixel 8 phone currently on sale offers 128 GB of storage, the ability to take wide and ultra-wide photos and comes unlocked and ready for any mobile phone carrier. They all also use Google AI to assist in tasks like fixing blurry images, reducing background noise during audio recordings and phone calls and even removing people and subjects from photographs. Of course, each model has its own pros, too.
Google’s budget-friendly Pixel 8a is available in various bright colors but uses plastic instead of Gorilla Glass Victus protection for its back case. It also offers a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, so loading apps and programs can be a little sluggish. Its screen is also the smallest of the trio at 6.1 inches.
The Pixel 8, meanwhile, has a 6.2-inch display, uses Gorilla Glass Victus on its front and back case for drop- and scratch-resistance, has a slightly faster refresh rate between 60 and 120Hz, and has a slightly better camera.
The Pixel 8 Pro is the biggest and best of the bunch, with a lightning-fast refresh rate between 1 to 120Hz, a stronger Gorilla Glass Victus 2 matte protectant for its casing, a larger 6.7-inch display and a much sharper camera for taking high-quality photographs.
If you’re unsure what to grab, we recommend the base Pixel 8. One user says it best in their review: “Thankfully, technology and smartphones have reached a point that is so high that it’s achievable to be a great phone if the manufacturer is willing to invest in its product, and Google has done that here; anyone that requires more, there is no pleasing you… This is a phone to hang onto for the long run. This phone works better than other people’s PCs!”
If you’re looking for a new smartphone, consider grabbing one of these Pixels at a deep discount ahead of October Prime Day. If you need some testimonials, read on for promising reviews from happy Pixel 8 users.
Read on for more promising reviews of the base Google Pixel 8 smartphone:
“Thankfully technology and smart phones have reached a point that is so high that it’s achievable to be a great phone if the manufacturer is willing to invest in it’s product and Google has done that here; anyone that requires more, there is no pleasing you…. This is a phone to hang onto for the long run which was the main reason I bought this. Goes great with a leather wallet case and privacy glass screen protector. It also has wireless charging but I don’t think I’ll ever use that feature, and it gives the option to wirelessly charge other devices. This phone works better than other peoples PCs IMO. Well worth the investment. Also, it has a feature to use “normal” screen color shades or “vivid” color shades and its beautiful. Probably the best Android phone on the market. I also bought this phone refurbished and it’s like a brand new phone(don’t think people understand someone could open & close a box and thats what makes it “used” for becoming refurbished), sold and shipped by Amazon for 50% off the full price. My previous phone was from 2018.
Pros: Water resistant, comes with Google photo editing for free, loads of actual useful security features, amazing camera, nice weight, feels like high quality, AMAZING stereo speakers(sounds like it has a bass speaker inside too and it sounds nice), awesome screen, customizable battery saving mode to disable/enable apps(very nice).
Cons: its not invincible, battery only lasts 1.5 days without battery saver mode on, can’t extract moister from the air to give me a sip of water?….idk, cant imagine what more I need a phone to do at this point.” — j
“I upgraded to this Pixel 8 from my old Samsung S9 phone. It went smoothly. Almost all the apps got transferred over without effort, all I had to do was reenter some app passwords. The camera takes really clear shots at good res. The fingerprint sensor is in the middle-lower part of the screen and works great. Best of all, no Bixby, and little or no bloatware. Minor annoyance that it feeds ads for Google phone products, but I found where to turn it off. That’s a good thing about Google flavor of Android, notifications have a little menu button built in so you can quickly find how to turn off those you don’t want to be bothered with. BTW this does fit in my 2020 Tesla Model 3 wireless phone charger, but with a protective otterbox case on it, the phone shelf cover won’t close, but that’s not a deal breaker for me.” — Anonymous Shopper
“I upgraded to this phone from my Samsung s10e. I was in between this s24 and the pixel 8 during my research. I eventually chose the pixel 8 because of the camera quality and the stock android software experience. I was hesitant at first because of the chipset and heating issues but I am not a heavy gaming phone user so I decided to go the pixel route. After using it for a couple of months, I definitely do not regret the purchase. The camera quality, battery life, and the software experience are all ideal. I usually end the day with around 30% of battery remaining. While the phone does sometimes get warm, every phone brand also gets warm after some usage. The 120hz screen also feels very smooth. Yes, in terms of hardware and benchmark results it’s not the highest, but in real life usage the overall experience isn’t noticeable at all and sometimes I feel like it’s a marketing tactic from other brands. Yes it’s not ideal for gaming, but there are other phone brands that specially make gaming phones. I definitely recommend this phone for people that want a decent phone for everyday browsing, streaming media, and a high quality camera.” — Ken
“I needed to switch to a cell phone that was compatible with some new hearing aids that I recently got. I discovered that only a few brands and models would work with the new ASHE hearing aid compatibility standards. This phone was on the approved list. I did some research and found some very positive reviews on the Google Pixel phones so I purchased it from Amazon. Shipping was super quick and the phone arrived new in the Google box with seals intact. This phone has a huge battery that charges super quickly. The phone copied everything from my old phone pretty much by itself with only a few button pushes. It now looks almost exactly like my old phone setup and it copied almost all of the programs so everything was easy to find and use from the start. This phone is super fast. I have had quite a few cell phones over the years and this was the easiest upgrade I have ever had and I am 74 years old. I am super pleased with the Google Pixel 8 Pro.” — Rick
“Best phone out there so far, I’ve owned multiple pixel phones in the past and each year the phones have improved drastically. Picture and image quality are excellent as well as the specs and storage. Recommended if looking to upgrade to a new android smartphone” — Jeremy
“Been using Google phones since the original Pixel, so it was no suprise for me to love this phone. Good call quality, amazing sound for audio and video files, picture quality in video chat is crystal clear (so I’m told by people on the receiving end). Worked right out of the box, after switching over my SIM card. No issues whatsoever with it being unlocked.” — Jeff Peters