Annual phone upgrades are usually minimal, and the jump from the Pixel 7 to Pixel 8 is no exception. Google’s new entry-level Pixel phone has a fresh processor, more AI tricks to help with photo edits, macro photography mode and a slightly improved camera. Taken together, these changes underscore Google’s increased focus on artificial intelligence, further signaling the technology will play a big role in future Pixel devices.

But if you’re just looking for a reliable new phone with a medium-sized screen and a good camera, you may be wondering if it’s worth buying the $699 Pixel 8 or last year’s Pixel 7, which is $100 cheaper at $599. The answer is tricky. Although I loved the Pixel 7 when I reviewed it last year, there are better choices in Google’s lineup.

The pricier Pixel 8 may not be very different from the Pixel 7, but Google promises software updates for seven years. That’s a big deal because it means the Pixel 8 shouldn’t feel outdated until 2030 since it will continue to receive new Android version updates, security updates and special Pixel updates that Google calls «feature drops» until then. If you’re already spending hundreds of dollars on a new phone, it’s a good idea to invest in the one that will last longer. 

But if you’re looking to save some cash, go for the $499 Pixel 7A instead of the Pixel 7. It has a lot in common with the Pixel 7 by offering the same processor and a similar camera, but for $100 less.

Here’s a closer look at how the Pixel 8 compares to the Pixel 7.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Design, display and software

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 look and feel similar, with each featuring a glossy back finish and a matte aluminum frame with a bar-shaped camera module that runs horizontally across the device. But the Pixel 8 has flatter edges and weighs less, which along with its more compact size make it easier to hold and use with one hand. 

The Pixel 7 is available in lemongrass (yellow), snow (white) and obsidian (black) color options, while the newer Pixel 8 comes in hazel (gray), obsidian (black) and rose (pink) choices. Both devices are rated for IP68 dust and water resistance, which means they should be dust-tight and able to withstand some water immersion.

Where the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 start to differ is in their screens. The Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch display, so it’s slightly smaller than the 6.3-inch Pixel 7. The Pixel 8’s dimensions are also physically smaller than the Pixel 7’s, making it a more ideal choice for those seeking a petite phone.

The Pixel 8’s screen is also brighter since it can peak at 2,000 nits of brightness compared to the Pixel 7’s 1,400 nits. In addition, the Pixel 8 can boost its refresh rate up to 120Hz compared to the Pixel 7’s 90Hz display, although the difference may not be noticeable and depends on what you’re doing on your phone.

Both phones run on Android 14, the newest version of Google’s mobile operating system. The Pixel 8 comes preloaded with Android 14, and it’s available for the Pixel 7 as an upgrade. But as mentioned above, the Pixel 8 will get seven years of new Android versions, new Pixel features and security updates. If you want a phone you can hold onto for years to come, the Pixel 8 is the better choice.  

The Pixel 7 will only receive new Android updates for three years following its launch, meaning it’ll stop getting new versions of Android after October 2025. That alone gives the Pixel 8 a big edge over the Pixel 7. 

While the software experience is largely the same, the Pixel 8 has some new AI-powered features — many of which are photography-related. The Pixel 8’s Google Assistant is smarter and can summarize web pages. It also sounds more natural when screening incoming calls on your behalf. 

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Camera

On paper, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 have similar camera systems. They each have a 50-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra wide camera, but the Pixel 8 also has a macro photography mode and a newer sensor that’s more sensitive to light. 

The difference is noticeable; photos taken with the Pixel 8’s main camera generally looked a little brighter than those shot on the Pixel 7. And some shots looked more colorful too.

In the images of my colleague Bridget Carey below, which I shot using Night Mode in a dimly lit room in the CNET offices, the Pixel 8 did a better job at capturing the purple lighting more accurately. However, her face does look a bit noisy in the Pixel 8’s photo. 

Pixel 8

Pixel 7

While photos generally looked the same between both phones, the Pixel 8’s images sometimes looked slightly more colorful. Take a look at the photos of the fish market in Wegmans below, and you’ll notice the reddish color in the fish’s scales looks a little bolder, especially in the tail.

Pixel 8

Pixel 7

Macro mode also makes it easier to capture closeup details on the Pixel 8. The photo of an artificial flower below was taken on the Pixel 8 in macro mode, and below it you can see the same photo without macro mode taken on the Pixel 7.

Pixel 8

Pixel 7

My colleague Patrick Holland, who reviewed the Pixel 8, also said photos looked generally similar between both devices. However, he did notice more shadow detail in the Pixel 8’s photos when looking closely, which you can see in his review. 

The bigger difference between the two phones comes down to their photo editing features. The Pixel 8 has a handful of new AI-powered editing tools that aren’t available on the Pixel 7, like Best Take and the Magic Editor. The former lets you change a person’s expression in a group photo after you’ve taken a bunch of shots, while the latter makes it possible to move and resize people and pets in images. 

Best Take is meant for moments when you can’t get everyone smiling or keeping their eyes open in a group photo at the same time. While it works impressively well and I can see the appeal behind it, Best Take also feels a little inauthentic to me. It’s easy enough to ignore this feature if you don’t want to use it, but it doesn’t feel as practical as previously introduced photo editing tools like the Magic Eraser and Face Unblur. 

The photo below was edited with Best Take. CNET’s Jessica Fierro (left) and Abrar Al-Heeti (right) weren’t smiling in the original image.

My opinion on the Magic Editor is largely the same, although I’m sure some people will have fun customizing their images and finding creative use cases for it. With the Magic Editor, you can resize people, delete certain objects and move people and pets. Patrick has a great example of the Magic Editor at work in his review. 

After capturing a photo of two of our CNET colleagues jumping off of a giant rock, he used the Magic Editor to remove the rock entirely, making it look like they were just jumping in the air really high. However, these edits aren’t as smooth as Best Take; you can clearly tell the image was altered. As my colleague Sareena Dayaram points out, tools like the Magic Editor also raise questions about the authenticity of the photos we snap on our phones and potentially share on social media. 

While the Pixel 7 doesn’t have these new features, it does have other handy editing options like Face Unblur, Photo Unblur and the Magic Eraser. 

Overall, the cameras on both phones are similar enough, although the Pixel 8’s generally feels like a small step up.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Performance and battery

The Pixel 8 runs on Google’s newest processor, the Tensor G3, while the previous-generation Tensor G2 powers the Pixel 7. Both phones are responsive enough when scrolling around the operating system, swiping through social media posts, launching apps and the camera and playing games. The new chip’s benefits really kick in when it comes to those AI-powered features mentioned earlier.

I also ran two benchmarks on each phone: one for testing general performance in everyday use (Geekbench 6) and another for measuring graphics power (3DMark Wild Life Extreme). In both tests, the Pixel 8 scored higher, especially on 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, as you can see in the table below.

Both phones offer roughly the same battery life, even though the Pixel 8 has a slightly higher battery capacity. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 can each last for around a day on a single charge, and they performed very similarly during CNET’s three-hour battery test. During this test, we stream a YouTube video with the screen brightness turned up to its maximum level for three hours and note the battery percentage at each hour. 

Despite its brighter screen, the Pixel 8 delivered results that almost matched those of the Pixel 7.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Which should you choose?

The Pixel 8 is a better investment overall for the simple reason that it will last longer. Its modest camera and display improvements are a step up, and the Pixel 8’s new AI features make it a bit smarter and therefore more convenient to use than the Pixel 7. But it’s really the long software support that makes the Pixel 8 the better choice. However, I’d only recommend upgrading if you’re coming from an older device like the Pixel 5 or earlier.