I decided to return / rebuy at Best Buy this afternoon. The new one is better, I can just barely make out one small bump at the top right corner of the screen and that’s it. Really weird assembly issue, hopefully it won’t affect the screen long term.
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Phones Google Pixel 8/8 Pro
- Thread starter BMox81
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I was in town today with some free time after meeting with friends, I went into a phone store (we don't have Google stores here in the UK) and saw the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. I really like the feel of the 8 Pro, especially the matt back. The Blue is REALLY nice 😍
I'm so tempted to hit the buy button on the Google Store, with £100 off (via my discount) it would cost me £899 but I would also get the £100 Google Store credit. The only reason holding me back at the moment is that Samsung will be announcing their 24 Ultra line in January (17th apparently). If I buy a Pixel and then want to get the S24 Ultra, I can't return it. This is the problem with being such a tech person and living in a world with so many different choices 😫
I was talking with the sales guy in the store and he was saying that for an everyday phone the Google Pixel is great, but Samsung has the best camera because of the 200mp. It got me thinking, I wonder if Samsung will improve the 200mp with the S24 Ultra.
Google Pixel 8 Pro fits great in the hand, so much better than S23 Ultra with its boxes design, plus that blue colour is 😍
The only thing I wasn't able to see in person was the software, the screens weren't on because they were dummy units and not working models. It's the software I'm not too sure about.
I'm so tempted to hit the buy button on the Google Store, with £100 off (via my discount) it would cost me £899 but I would also get the £100 Google Store credit. The only reason holding me back at the moment is that Samsung will be announcing their 24 Ultra line in January (17th apparently). If I buy a Pixel and then want to get the S24 Ultra, I can't return it. This is the problem with being such a tech person and living in a world with so many different choices 😫
I was talking with the sales guy in the store and he was saying that for an everyday phone the Google Pixel is great, but Samsung has the best camera because of the 200mp. It got me thinking, I wonder if Samsung will improve the 200mp with the S24 Ultra.
Google Pixel 8 Pro fits great in the hand, so much better than S23 Ultra with its boxes design, plus that blue colour is 😍
The only thing I wasn't able to see in person was the software, the screens weren't on because they were dummy units and not working models. It's the software I'm not too sure about.
🙄. Typical phone sales people who know nothing about phones. More megapixels does not equals better.
Try taking a photo of a dog moving with a Samsung phone 😂😜. Impossible.
I have s23 plus and p8p, I'm going to sell the s23 I think as camera esp zoom, is so much better on the p8p, and the gap widens with the zoom camera's, the p8p takes better imo pics of my dog inside than the 3 x 10mp (same as on ultra I think??) on the s23, and it's a crop on the pixel. Main 50mp camera is ok on the s23+, the zoom is grainy IME.
my s23 plus struggles with my dog's fur, which is why I went back to pixel. That and the much better (IMO) UI
I remember taking a picture of our dog at home while moving, it was a blurry mess. I also tried taking a picture of my best friends kid, again blurry mess. Both were with my S23 Ultra at the time (before I sold it).
The one thing I did like about the 200mp on the S23 Ultra, was when the dog was asleep and I took a picture it looked great. I could zoom in and see all the detail.
The sales guy was certainly trying to push me towards to the S23 Ultra, why I don't know, im sure they get commission all the same 🤷♂️
I don't have a pet or kids but I'd definitely not take their advice haha. Typical phone sales people who know nothing about phones. More megapixels does not equals better.
Try taking a photo of a dog moving with a Samsung phone. Impossible.
. Typical phone sales people who know nothing about phones. More megapixels does not equals better. 
. Impossible.
Yes P8P ..it's currently on standby as I have my SIM in the Fold the last few days ..
I will say this. Everybody is different and i dont worry about new tech like some do and the camera on the Pixel is good, as imo they are as well on Galaxy and iPhone.I dont get technical with them as im not a photographer. The Pixel camera has good features that others dont.
I dont worry about the Megapixels numbers. Its just a gimmick number. I prefer features over a MP number and even then i dont use the features a lot because im not an avid photographer. I just take basic pics and do a little editing if needed. I like the erase feature and other editing features.
And still cant beat the call screen on Pixel 8's. Ive read that isnt the issue in the UK it is here though.
Yes sir ...it's running the latest beta quarterly with no complaints here ...I use both phones daily if one doesn't have the SIM I use it at home and take the other when out and about ..
I’d really like to start taking astrophotography photos. It’s a hobby of mine to use my telescope, I’d like to start taking pictures tho, I’ve heard both the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung phones are good for doing that.
I’ve just noticed on Googles website that they are now extending the Black Friday offer to 28th of this month.
I’m not sure if we can get the screen calling feature here in the U.K, I know there are some features that are US only.
Also you get free VPN with a Pixel purchase through Google 1. Not sure if that's for just USA or everyone.
They push people towards an expensive unit that they think will have enough bells and whistles to impress the average Joe and get them to buy. The sales people generally have less knowledge than many of us on this forum no matter their background.
If overall picture quality is most important to you then the Pixel 8 Pro is the best option. Samsung has technically better specs but that doesn't necessarily equate a better photo.
The S24 ultra will probably be one of the best phones of the year again. It will have some of the best hardware on any phone. So there is nothing wrong with waiting out to see what you want to do. Don't worry there will be a Christmas sale if last year is any indication of this year and so far it has. Buy at the latest date of the Christmas sale which should be around the 30th and then if you get it around the 3rd to 5th of January which should give you enough time to return the Pixel 8 Pro and get the s24 ultra.
You really can't go wrong with either phone but ask yourself what kind of user are you? Will you use the s pen? Or will it just sit there for months at a time? Do you care about One UI vs Pixel UI? You didn't get a chance to see it in the store but there is a pretty big difference between the two. With a Pixel you get every Google app under the sun and some you can't uninstall. However there are no 3rd party apps installed and since Google is well, Google there are no duplicate vendor apps either like there are in a Samsung phone. All of those extra apps can get annoying and in some cases like the Gallery app counter productive. Some people prefer the simplicity of Pixel UI and some people prefer the enhanced customization of Samsung. Despite the app situation Samsung One UI has come a long way. I personally prefer Pixel UI by a lot. Since you interact with the software every day it is important to like it. So I would highly recommend that you use both a current Samsung Galaxy and Pixel 8 Pro and see how they feel in your hand and how the software experience feels between the two. The feel of the device is also a big deal and this year the Pixel 8 Pro feels great.
I really like Samsung. They have been a decent company to deal with over the years. I don't have the same warm feelings about Google. In fact, it has taken me a while to try Google devices again. But I have to give credit where it is due. The Pixel 8 Pro is the best phone Google has ever made. Will it be better than the s24 ultra. My guess is that the s24 ultra is going to be a better phone but at a much higher cost and it still may not have as good a camera as the Pixel.
You have to ask what is more important to me? The cost of the phone? How do I use the phone? Will I use everything in both devices? Is battery life and performance most important or is better pictures, advanced AI features, call screening, photo editing, or is s pen, OneUI customization more important?
I think if you take price out of the equation and ask yourself if they cost the same which device would I prefer, why? Then go for the one you wanted if cost was not an issue. I could go on and on why the Pixel is best but it doesn't really matter if you have a desire for something. We may not know what our desire is until we uncover it.
I know I like having the best of the best. I am a power user so I can justify it but I don't really need to have it. It is a desire. One of the things I like about the s23 ultra is that I know just like an iPhone it is the best quality of everything you can get in a phone. Whether that actually equals a good experience or not doesn't always matter. Sometimes it is just about having the best and sometimes it is about what actually works best for you.
I personally prefer what works best to what may be considered the best. Not always. Very rarely because generally the two line up naturally but this year things are different and for me the Pixel 8 Pro despite not having the very best of all hardware is still the best phone.
The design of the phone is unique and stands out in a good way. The color choices this year, specially in the Pro were great. The screen, speakers, processor are all greatly improved. You will not find a better combination of hardware and software in any phone of any brand right now than the Pixel 8 Pro. That might change in a few months but for now my statement is true. I have the privilege of owning the s23 ultra and the Pixel 8 Pro and I enjoy using the Pixel 8 Pro a lot more day to day than the S23 ultra and a lot of that has to do with the design. The flat screen is so much better. The lighter device and rounded design just feels great. I actually really like the rectangular shape of the s23 ultra but there is just no denying that the Pixel 8 Pro feels better when holding it, specially after a long period of time. You have to hold and use both phones to understand.
Good luck whatever you decide. If you do get either phone please update us and let us know what you think of your decision!
From what i've read in this article, it supposedly is in Beta testing.
Google Call Screening Finally Lands In The UK For Pixel Beta Testers.
Just as I was preparing to be let down by Google again, they only went and surprised me by releasing a feature in the UK that I thought would never happen. Pre
Apparently it is here now, beta I think. There are features that we don't get tho, like summarise. I'm not sure if that will be coming at a later date. The same with Bard, is that just a US feature too?
"As for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, you only get the latest, AI-enhanced version of the Call Screen feature (which includes a more natural sounding voice and better spam call prevention) if you’re in the US (and have your phone’s language set to English). This similarly is a major feature of the Pixel 8 line."
Outside the US? Then you’ll be getting worse versions of the Google Pixel 8 and iPhone 15
An unequal approach
I had call screen on my p7p since I got it end of dec last year, I knew it was limited compared to the US.
All mobile phone cameras have limitations (especially when compared to DSLR's!). The Pixel's I've had tended to be best for point and shoot (focused very fast too!) and somewhat better in low light conditions. In other situations both my old OnePlus 8T 5G and to a greater extent, S23+ have done fine once I figured out their camera configuration's strengths and weaknesses.
I've had an S23+ for more than a month now and have got its nuances sorted out for the most part. I use the regular camera app for candid and quick shots most of the time. I also have the Expert RAW camera icon situated nearby to use that for more complex shots and composition. The integration Samsung has wired up with Adobe Lightroom is really convenient/efficient too (don't really do heavy modding of my photos).
I was in SF and Napa, CA last week with a group of folks and obtained excellent photography results during outdoor day/dusk and various dining activities. No one had a P8/Pro though many had all sorts of iPhone models. Others were blown away by the photos I took.
I took my s23+ to budapest and got amazing photos, however 90% of my pics are of my puppy, and point and shoot asap is the name of the game, and the pixel gets good results 99% oif the time compared to 60-70% with Dylan, and the s23+ struggles with his fur. I get that it's a phone and I won;t get dslr pro photographer results, but the pixel trounces it when it comes to my puppy. I just don't have time to open the expert raw app, I need the double click to open without having to unlock because he doesn't hold a pose for long... I'm happy with what my p8p gave me with this pic, and I think the s23+ would be a bit grainier
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I have the P8P and S23U and 15PM and all 3 phones can produce blurry pictures of moving kids and animals. I just posted a picture of my wife's horse and some of them are blurry using the P8P.
I am like you you...i just point and shoot with very little editing if ever.