Leading tech publications name Pixel 8 or 8 Pro as best Android phone of 2023

The dust has settled on the Android phone race for 2023, and Google’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have emerged as the undisputed champions, sweeping top honors from leading tech publications across the board. From The Verge‘s list of “The best Android phone to buy in 2023” accolade to “Android Police Awards 2023,” the Pixel twins have captivated critics with their refined design, camera prowess, and software mastery. Heck, even MKBHD’s Smartphone Awards 2023 ranked the Pixel 8 as the MVP of the year, which isn’t a surprise considering the Pixel 7 also won the category last year.

The Pixel 8 might only be a minor upgrade over the Pixel 7 and even lacks some of the advanced features found in the 8 Pro. But according to The Verge, its attractive blend of affordability, features, and the commitment to seven years of OS updates positions it as the top choice for the best mainstream Android phone in 2023. In his review, Allison Johnson says the Pixel 8 has “a screen that’s worthy of the flagship class, a highly capable camera, and a likable form that’s unusually comfortable for a big phone.”

However, the folks at Android Authority think the Pixel 8 is the second-best Android smartphone of the year after the Samsung Galaxy S23+, especially now that it packs better cameras, AI smarts, and seven years of support. On the contrary, although now costlier than the Pixel 7, these same features also make the Pixel 8 the publication’s best value phone of the year. Unsurprisingly, AA ranked the Pixel 8 Pro as the smartest Android flagship of 2023. Considering all the AI smarts the phone packs, I’m in complete agreement. Besides the amazing cameras and A-level screen, AA says “no other smartphone can boast the breadth of software features found on Pixel [8 Pro] smartphones, and the gap will only grow over seven years of updates.”

Over at Android Police, the Google Pixel 8 Pro ranked as the best smartphone in 2023. According to AP’s Phone Editor Will Sattelberg, the excellent marriage of hardware and software is the major selling point of the phone. “From the AI-powered tools like Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser to the unprecedented seven years of promised support, this is a phone that could — and should — last you the rest of the decade.”

These sentiments have also been echoed by Android Central, which argues that “the Google Pixel 8 Pro earns our top spot as the best Android phone thanks to its outstanding cameras, Tensor G3 processor, and a bounty of useful software features,” among them Audio Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, and Night Sight Video. And XDA Developer‘s senior editor Ben Sin agrees, but with respect to the Pixel 8 Pro’s point-and-shoot capabilities. While there isn’t much difference between the Pixel 7 Pro and 8 Pro in terms of features, the latter offers a better camera system thanks to all the new generative AI features. According to Ben, “all of these features are scarily good, and they allow you to tweak the photos after the fact, meaning you can tweak and make a shot better even after capturing it.”

There’s a mixed bag of takes over at 9to5Google. Senior editor Ben Schoon ranked the Pixel 8 Pro as his second favorite smartphone of 2023 behind the OnePlus Open while Abner Li, who is the current editor-in-chief, ranks the vanilla Pixel 8 as his favorite phone followed by the Pixel Fold and Pixel 8 Pro. The Pixel 8 Pro is also first and second, respectively, on Andrew Romero’s and Max Weinbach’s lists of favorite smartphones to come out this year. As for Kyle Bradshaw, the Pixel 8 is his third favorite phone while Jordan Floyd has the Pro model completing his list of top 5 best phones in 2023.

But the Pixel’s triumph isn’t solely based on technical prowess. Many reviewers, like Ars Technica‘s Ron Amadeo, who ranked the Pixel 8 Pro as the best Android phone to be released in 2023, emphasized the phone’s software as a key differentiator. “Seven years of major OS updates are also best in class and makes the Pixel feel like the one true Android flagship. For the first time ever, you can hold a Pixel phone up against an iPhone and not feel like you’re getting a worse deal.”

This near-unanimous praise from the tech press marks a significant victory for Google, highlighting the company’s renewed focus on delivering a premium Android experience. The Pixel 8 series represents a refinement of the formula that made earlier Pixels successful, addressing past pain points while maintaining the clean software and intuitive design that Android enthusiasts adore.

Of course, no phone is perfect, and some reviewers like Stephen Shankland of CNET pointed out minor shortcomings with the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera like shadow noise and slow shutter speed when shooting raw photos at full resolution. For these reasons, the publication picked the Pixel 7 Pro as the best Android phone of 2023. However, these critiques haven’t dampened the overall enthusiasm for Google’s latest flagships.

With the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Google has delivered a masterclass in Android phone design and execution. By addressing user concerns, pushing the boundaries of camera technology, and staying true to its software vision, Google has earned its place at the top of the Android pedestal. Whether you’re a die-hard Pixel fan or simply looking for the best Android experience available, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are undoubtedly the phones to beat in 2023.