A Google Pixel 8 pro phone is displayed during a product launch event for the Google Pixel 8, and … [+]
Perhaps the only upside of Android phones rapidly devaluing as they age, especially in comparison to the stable prices of Apple’s iPhone, is that buyers can get a great deal on relatively new phones. Nowhere is this more clear than with Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
The Pixel 8 series is perhaps one of the best smartphone ranges to buy right now if you are on a tight budget for two clear reasons: extended software support and future second-hand pricing.
Let’s start with software support. Google unveiled its new seven-year policy last year with the Pixel 8 series, which means it will receive a mix of Android updates and security patches until 2030.
This was a major improvement on the previous offer of five years for the Pixel 6. It is also a world better than most other Android devices, including the Pixel 5’s three-year promise. That decision has changed the value of Google’s phones.
That level of support, alongside regular AI feature drops, means there is less pressure to sell or trade-in the device because it’s no longer safe to use without regular security updates.
There’s also the possibility that Google will bring many of the Pixel 9’s currently exclusive AI tools to the Pixel 8. Android Authority discovered some evidence that AI-powered camera tools such as Auto Frame and Reimagine are filtering down to last year’s flagship Google phone. More will follow over the months.
Only hardware separates these handsets as Google passes more features down to the Pixel 8 series. Are the improved speeds and efficiency of the Tensor G4, the new design, brighter display and marginal camera upgrades worth spending potentially hundreds of extra dollars on? If you’re on a tight budget then, no. Also, these differences may only be obvious if you’re testing both handsets.
The price difference between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 phones is stark. Refurbished Pixel 8 Pro units are selling for $500 on Amazon, while a brand-new device will cost $750.
On the secondary market, the 2023 Google flagship is retailing for around $500, compared to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL’s $999 and $1,099 respective price tags. The Pixel 8’s price will drop further over the next couple of weeks as the glut of auctions that hit eBay and Swappa after the Pixel 9 launch passes.
There’s another benefit to buying the Pixel 8 right now, Google is offering high trade-in prices for older Pixel phones. The company is currently running a Pixel 9 deal that has increased trade-values for select phones. The Pixel 6 Pro, for example, is priced at $450. While the Pixel 7 Pro is worth $540. On the secondary market, they’re selling for under $200 and $300 respectively.
If you trade in your Pixel 8 Pro in two or three years it will likely net a decent chunk of change towards a new phone. But only if you buy directly from the Google Store, all other manufacturers offer very little for old Pixel phones.
With Google’s seven-year software support guarantee, hand-me-down AI features, and cratering prices for new, refurbished and second-hand devices, the Pixel 8 Pro is one of the better value-for-money smartphones to buy right now.