DxOMark has now put the Pixel 8 through its paces, a few weeks after it analysed the strengths and weaknesses of its Pro-branded sibling. Surprisingly, the Pixel 8 only sits 5 points behind the Pixel 8 Pro in the website's overall leaderboard, despite the latter having a technically superior ultra-wide-angle camera and a dedicated telephoto sensor.
Unsurprisingly, the Pixel 8 struggles at high zoom levels compared to the Pixel 8 Pro. As the comparison image below shows, the Pixel 8's reliance on digital zoom beyond 1x magnification prevents it from capturing as detailed shots as a dedicated telephoto camera could. Conversely, the Pixel 8 delivers better portrait shots than its Pro sibling.
Moreover, the Pixel 8 offers accurate white balance, fast autofocus and a consistent experience between what it shows in its viewfinder and the end result. The device suffers from shortcomings in other areas, though, including occasional image noise inconsistencies in videos and underexposed photos. Overall, the Pixel 8 is good for 9th in DxOMark's smartphone camera leaderboard, putting it ahead of the Pixel 7 Pro, both iPhone 14 Pro models and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.