Google’s Pixel phones have carved a niche for themselves in the smartphone market. They’re lauded for their exceptional cameras, clean Android experience, and timely software updates. While the latest Pixel models offer cutting-edge features, Google’s approach of keeping older generations on the market means there’s a surprisingly wide range of Pixel phones available.
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly phone for under $500, or a flagship experience nearing $1000, there’s a Pixel phone to suit almost every person and price point. This guide will help you navigate the extensive Pixel lineup and find the perfect phone to meet your needs.
The best Google Pixel devices today
Best overall
Google Pixel 8 Pro
A Pixel that does it all — for a price
The Pixel 8 Pro is Google’s premier flagship product. It comes with a large display that is beautiful to look at, a triple camera setup, and the same great seven years of software support. The caveat is, to get all of these great features, you are going to have to spend a thousand dollars or more.
- Large, bright display
- Excellent camera versatility
- Seven years of software support
- A bit pricey
- Gets a bit warm
If you want the best Google offers, the Pixel 8 Pro is your phone. It’s powered by the Tensor G3 chipset with 12GB of RAM, which is more than enough power and performance for your daily needs. It also features a 48MP telephoto camera, giving the 8 Pro a level of camera versatility that the non-pro version can’t match, including the ability to zoom up to 5x optically and hit 30x with Super Res Zoom.
Read our review
Google Pixel 8 Pro review: Living up to its name
If you want to see the future of Google, the Pixel 8 Pro is the phone to buy
Design-wise, Pixel 8 Pro is the company’s most refined design yet. Google eliminated the curved display, instead opting for a flat 6.7-inch display. The 120Hz display is plenty bright and beautiful to use daily. It also gets the same fantastic seven years of software support as its smaller sibling. Like the Pixel 8, the Pixel 8 Pro saw a price increase this year, making it $1000, but it’s totally worth it for those who need the absolute best Pixel experience currently available.
Best compact Pixel
Google Pixel 8
Premium features in a small package
The Google Pixel 8 is hands down the best device for those who want a flagship product but don’t want to spend a thousand dollars to get one. The Pixel 8 is an amazing device that is incredibly close in performance and features to its more expensive sibling, the Pixel 8 Pro. Its smaller size is also fantastic for those who prefer smaller devices.
- Takes amazing photos
- Snappy overall performance
- Seven years of software updates
- Can get warm when gaming
- More expensive than previous generations
- No telephoto lens
While Google is finally introducing a compact Pro Pixel later this year with the Pixel 9 series, the Google Pixel 8 makes a good case for itself as a compact flagship. Not to mention that it offers much of the functionality and features of its big brother, but for about $300 less. It’s powered by the same Tensor G3 and sports Google’s Super Actua display, providing a great viewing experience in any lighting.
The Tensor G3 chipset may not burn through the various benchmarks, but it can capably provide a snappy experience. The new camera sensor utilizes a 50MP main lens and a 48MP ultrawide lens that takes some great shots. Daytime photos are stunning, too, but the new sensor really excels as the lights begin to dim. Google even extended its software support with seven years of Android and security updates. The Pixel 8 isn’t for everyone, though. It lacks a telephoto lens, and its 6.2-inch display may be too small for some people.
Read our review
Google Pixel 8 review: The Pixel for the masses
The Pixel 8 doesn’t need every feature the 8 Pro offers, it’s packing more than enough
Unfortunately, some of the latest Gemini and AI-Sultra1news features might remain restricted to the Pixel 8 Pro. You’ll still get seven years of software updates on the Pixel 8, but understand that higher-end AI functionality is reserved for more expensive Pixels. If you’re comfortable with a little less AI on your device, the Pixel 8 is excellent for those looking for flagship features at a mid-range price.
Best bang-for-buck Pixel
Google Pixel 8a
The most premium A-series Pixel ever
The Pixel 8a further blurs the line between the A-series and flagship Pixel devices. It features the same chipset as its flagship siblings and has the same 120Hz, super-bright display as the Pixel 8. And with seven years of OS upgrades, it’s the longest-lasting $500 smartphone you can find today.
- Flagship display
- Same performance as the Pixel 8
- Seven years of software support
- Slower charging speeds
- No upgrades to camera setup over the Pixel 7a
The Pixel 8a offers all the convenience you’d expect from a flagship phone. It supports wireless charging, it’s IP67 rated, and despite its unchanged camera setup, it can still deliver the same Pixel-looking photos that made the series popular in the first place. Plus, Google confirmed the Pixel 8a will get a taste of Gemini nano in the future, so you’re not missing out on anything important.
Read our Review
Google Pixel 8a review: A great phone that I’m not sure you should buy
Google’s hardware lineup is in a tricky spot, and the Pixel 8a only makes things more confusing
That being said, the Pixel 8a is still stuck at 18W wired charging speeds and its wireless charging speeds are also much slower than the flagship Pixels. If aesthetics are important to you, the Pixel 8a’s uneven, more prominent bezels might be an eyesore for you. But the biggest deal-breaker against the Pixel 8a is the fact that Google’s discounts often bring the Pixel 8 down to the same price as the 8a.
Pixel expereince on a budget
Google Pixel 7a
A flagship experience for a midrange price
$411 $499 Save $88
The Pixel 7a delivers all the essentials of the Pixel experience at a price that keeps getting better with time. It’s 90Hz OLED display, Tensor G2 chipset and 64MP primary camera still make it one of the best phones you can buy for the price.
- Has a 90Hz display
- Fantastic image quality
- Amazing value
- Average battery life
- Same price as Pixel 8a
Even after being out for so long, the Pixel 7a offers flagship-level camera performance and robust features at a midrange price. It utilizes Google’s Tensor G2 chipset and 8GB of RAM, which gives it plenty of power to get you through your day.
Like all Pixel devices, it also provides brilliant photo capabilities, using a 64MP main lens and a 13MP ultrawide lens. While the camera may not be as capable as the Pixel 8 series, it’s still one of the best Android camera phones on the market.
Read our review
Google Pixel 7a review: If déjà vu were a smartphone
This year’s A-series is more like its flagship counterpart than ever before — for better and for worse
Just remember that the Pixel 7a launched before Google implemented a seven-year update promise for its phones, so it’ll miss out on the long-term software support the Pixel 8 series gets. Plus, it’s very likely that hardware limitations and the older Tensor G2 chipset means the 7a won’t get a lot of Google’s latest AI goodness.
Best foldable
Google Pixel Fold
The only foldable Pixel
If you love foldable phones and want all the benefits of having a Pixel device, then look no further than the Google Pixel Fold. As the only foldable device in Google’s stable, this tablet-sized device does a lot right but suffers from some first-generation quirks.
- Good camera system
- Great outer camera
- Inner display doesn’t hold up against the competition
- Questionable durability
If you love the idea of having a Pixel phone that can double as a tablet, the Google Pixel Fold is your default choice on this list. Powered by a Tensor G2 chipset and 12GB of RAM, the Fold can easily get you through a typical day. It has a beautiful outer 5.8-inch display, but a bit of a lackluster 7.6-inch inner display. At 0.5 inches thick, the Pixel Fold is one of the thinnest foldable phones out there, but it’s hefty at 283g.
Read our review
Google Pixel Fold review: An $1,800 rough draft
Google’s first foldable fails to live up to its full potential
Of course, if you’re after a Pixel foldable, you’re better off waiting for the Pixel Fold 2, which should arrive in October. The Tensor G2 on the Pixel Fold is an old horse now, and while the Fold’s cameras are good, they can’t quite keep up with a device like the Pixel 8 Pro.
Yesterday’s flagship
Google Pixel 7
A great device if you find it on sale
The Pixel 7 was a great device when it launched in 2022, and it’s still a great device for those who already own it. Unfortunately for the 7 series, multiple Pixel devices have launched since and are a better alternative than the Pixel 7.
- Snappy performance
- Great camera system
- Great build quality
- The Pixel 7a is almost identical for less
- Phone gets hot during heavy usage
- Battery life is alright
The Google Pixel 7 was, and still is, a great device. Its combination of performance and features was almost unheard of for $600 when it started hitting the shelves in 2022. The phone had a flagship Tensor G2 chipset, a camera system that still ranks as one of the best on the market, a 90Hz display, and fantastic build quality.
Read our review
Google Pixel 7 review: The most refined Pixel yet
The Pixel 7 stays true to Google’s new design language
Unfortunately for the Pixel 7, it doesn’t live in a bubble. Google has released various devices since the launch of the Pixel 7, which makes picking one up a bit of a head-scratcher. In comparison, the Pixel 7a is less expensive, but offers an identical feature set — including the chipset, RAM, camera setup, and build quality. Then there is the Pixel 8a, a device that has a comparable camera system, a stronger processor, and a better display for almost the same price. Unless you can find the Pixel 7 at a steep discount, it’s probably safer choosing one of the other Pixel devices.
Yesterday’s Pro
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Cheapest Pixel with a telephoto lens
$425 $899 Save $474
The Pixel 7 Pro was Google’s flagship product in 2022. It came with a triple camera setup, great performance, and a beautiful display. Google did make some gaffes with the 7 Pro, namely the use of a curved display, but overall, the device was fantastic.
- Snappy performance
- Great camera system
- Clean and fluid Pixel UI
- Tensor G2 can get hot when pushed
- Curved display isn’t for everyone
- Battery life is a bit hit-or-miss
Much like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro sits in a difficult position. On one hand, the Tensor G2 chipset and 12GB of RAM are more than enough for day-to-day usage. In addition, the camera setup includes a telephoto lens for enhanced photo capabilities, and it can take some stunning photos. The 6.7-inch LTPO display is beautiful and fluid as well.
Read our review
Google Pixel 7 Pro review: A showcase for Google
Some small design changes are welcome, but Google’s usual bag of AI-powered tricks are the real treat
On the other hand, it’s hard to recommend unless you can get one for a great deal. The Pixel 7 Pro is still a great device, with years of software support left, and recently it’s been spotted selling for under $500, making it a worthy consideration. But at its full price of $899, it’s better to go for the Pixel 8 Pro, which gets you a newer chipset, a flat display, a new camera setup, and four additional years of Android updates.
The best Pixel is the one that fits your needs
One of the coolest things about Google Pixel phones is there’s truly a phone for everyone. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast who always wants the latest and greatest, or someone looking for a reliable daily driver, the Pixel lineup has you covered.
If you’re the kind of person who loves cutting-edge tech, the Pixel 8 Pro is your dream phone and our top pick. It’s one of the best flagship phones of the year, packed with innovative AI features that make everything from photo editing to language translation a breeze. Plus, it’s the most powerful Pixel yet, has a gorgeous display, and a camera system that’s hard to beat.
For those who want a fantastic phone without breaking the bank, the Pixel 8 is the perfect choice. You’ll get the same level of performance and stunning display as the Pro, just with some fewer software extras. But don’t worry — it’ll still get all the latest software updates for seven years, so you can be sure it’ll stay up-to-date.
And if you’re looking for an even more budget-friendly option, the Pixel 8a is a great choice. It might not have all the bells and whistles of its flagship siblings, but it still delivers great performance with the same chipset, a camera that takes fantastic photos, and the clean, intuitive Pixel software everyone loves. Plus, it comes in a range of fun colors to match your style and will be supported for the same seven years as the rest of the Pixel 8 series.
At the end of the day, the best Pixel for you depends on what you need and what you’re willing to spend. No matter which one you choose, though, you’re getting a phone that’s known for its incredible cameras and intuitive software, so you really can’t go wrong.
Editor’s Choice
Google Pixel 8 Pro
All the features for all the money
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the company’s latest flagship, boasting a new Tensor G3 chip, a brighter screen, and a new camera array capable of capturing even more light. As usual, the real power lies in Google’s Tensor chip, which offers even more photo enhancement and image editing features.
