Opinion: Mint Pixel 8 and 8 Pro should also have higher storage options

Google recently unveiled a delightful Mint finish for its latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro flagship phones. I love it. I want it. It’s the perfect color for anyone who enjoys a hint of minty freshness…as long as those minty cravings don’t include a desire for ample storage space.

You see, while this new color option is tantalizingly fresh, the Mint Pixel 8 offers a measly 128GB of storage. I get it, especially for a phone currently going for as low as $499 on Google Store. But for Google to limit the 8 Pro to the same 128GB of storage is ludicrous. Meanwhile, all other colors get generous storage options all the way up to a whopping 1TB for the Pro model. It’s a perplexing move. Sure, we get it — sometimes you want to introduce a bit of excitement a few months down the line. Samsung and Apple have played this game too. But locking a head-turning new color behind a storage wall is where things get downright bizarre.

I mean, who doesn’t love a gorgeous mint-colored phone? I’d happily rock that with my avocado toast and matcha latte aesthetic. But 128GB? C’mon, Google! That leaves less room for spontaneous photo shoots and vital meme storage than I had back when camera phones were a novelty. Is Google trying to transport us back to the digital dark ages? Or is this Google telling Mint Pixel 8 buyers to get in with a Google One subscription for cloud storage? Looks like it, but that comes at an extra cost.

Let’s be real, Google. Even if the minty hue isn’t for everyone, the decision to limit it in this way feels like a slap in the face for those of us daring enough to embrace a little color in our lives. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on whether we can expect higher storage options for the Mint Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in the future. But for now, it seems Google’s made what is arguably the most eye-catching color option the least practical.