Editor’s note: This article was rewritten in October 2026. An earlier version presented the Pixel 8 series as new. Google announced it on 4 October 2023.
Google launched the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro at its Made by Google event in New York on 4 October 2023. They were the first phones with the Tensor G3 chip and the first Pixels with seven years of OS and security updates.
Key facts at launch
- Prices: Pixel 8 from $699, Pixel 8 Pro from $999 (128GB)
- Chip: Google Tensor G3
- Updates: seven years of OS upgrades, security patches and Feature Drops
- Pro-only extras: Video Boost (cloud-processed video enhancement) and on-device Gemini Nano
The AI features, in plain words
- Best Take: combines a burst of group photos so everyone looks their best, for example by swapping in open eyes.
- Magic Editor: uses generative AI to move, resize or remove a subject after you take the photo.
- Audio Magic Eraser: lowers unwanted sounds such as wind or traffic in video clips.
- Video Boost (Pro): sends video to Google’s servers for heavier processing. It is off by default.
Should you still buy one?
With seven years of support counted from October 2023, both phones are covered until around 2030, which makes a used or discounted unit a reasonable buy. Newer Tensor chips run cooler and faster, so the Pixel 8 makes most sense if the price gap to a current model is large.
