Some Google Pixel 8 users report 'rear camera glass shattering' similar to Pixel 6 & 7 units

In the past, some Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series users experienced a bizarre and frustrating problem where the rear camera glass was shattering randomly. This severely affected functionality since the rear camera was rendered useless for the most part. Now something similar could be happening with the Google Pixel 8 series according to reports.

A major concern for Google Pixel users is camera malfunction, considering the high-quality cameras are a key selling point. The Pixel 6 and 7 series camera glass shattering generated significant buzz, but not all users received a satisfactory resolution.

Unfortunately, in recent weeks, reports have begun to emerge about the rear camera glass shattering for some Pixel 8 users as well. Some of those affected claim that the problem appeared out of nowhere, even after handling their devices with extreme care and avoiding dropping them on the ground.

There are cases, such as that of X/Twitter user fireisyummy, who experienced the issue even using a protective case and under conditions similar to the previous one (without the device suffering falls or drops).

Considering the background with previous generations of Pixel devices, it seems that the rear camera glass is more prone to breaking than that of other major brands. Some people even suggest that Google Pixel phones camera glasses do not have a certain native protection level that other OEMs do integrate, so using a protective glass would be almost mandatory.

Similar to what happened in previous Pixel generations, initially Google is not recognizing the situation as a manufacturing issue, so the warranty is not covering affected users.

However, in past cases, the increase in reports related to the issue forced Google to recognize it and take care of it through the warranty. But, some had to fight and wait for months for this to happen.

As if that were not enough, the repair of the Pixel 8 rear camera glass seems to be quite expensive, as Redditor Strong_Treacle_3791 claims that they was being charged up to $230. So, the Redditor was looking for alternatives or parts to repair it themselves, like the ones people can get on the iFixit platform.

It is still too early to say whether or not the issue with the rear camera glass shattering on the Google Pixel 8 series is widespread. However, how related events unfold in the coming weeks will help determine whether the current reports are just exceptional cases, or if we are in front of a latent problem that can explode at any moment.

Meanwhile, if you are a Pixel 8 series user, you can act preventively by purchasing a protective glass for the camera module, such as those sold by Google in their store (1, 2). After all, it seems that even using a case doesn’t help prevent it from happening, but the best thing to do seems to be to directly protect the camera glass.

Featured image source: User 10008290169776881440 / Google support forums