It looks like the happy days of getting a competitively priced Pixel smartphone will soon be a thing of the past. Google will launch the Pixel 8 series of phones in October, but they may come with a hefty sticker price.
Now, what we are going to discuss is the pricing structure for the European markets, and they may or may not be at par with the Pixel 8 Duo’s asking price in the US. It will depend on how aggressively Google wants to protect itself. thrifty share of the domestic market with attractive pricing, and how eager it is to expand its overseas hawking stalls.
Oh, and we now have official renders of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which you can see throughout this article.
There could be a big hike in the price of Pixel 8
Disclaimer aside, DLabs magazine claims to have got its hands on the EU-wide pricing of the Google Pixel 8 and its Pro variant. It adds that the Pixel 8 Pro price in Europe will start at 799 euros, which is $855 based on current conversion rates. That’s a decent 0f 150 euro hike over the Google Pixel 7 in Europe and almost a $250 hike over the Pixel 7’s $599 sticker price.
Even if one goes with the currency parity formula, the $799 asking price for the Pixel 8 would still be a massive $200 hike over its predecessor. The biggest highlights of the Pixel 7 were an exceptional design, feature-loaded vanilla Android experience, and great cameras. But above all, it was the sweet price of $599 that put it above the Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 on the pricing ladder.
The frequent price cuts and deals have made it an almost irresistible Android phone. But despite rumors of upgrades for the Pixel 8 that include a slightly refined design and faster chip, paying $200 or more, the premium for the upcoming phone doesn’t seem particularly attractive.
A closer look at the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
DLabs magazine claims that the 256GB storage variant of the Pixel 8 will go for 856 euros (around $915 based on current conversion rates). Even if Google reaches currency parity for this, $850 for the Pixel 8 will be closer to the price US buyers currently pay. Best for Pixel 7 Pro. HotUKDeals also confirms a similar pricing model for the Pixel 8 pair.
Our review of the Pixel 7 says, “It’s a great smartphone, and although it’s not a huge upgrade over the Pixel 6, the price makes it highly desirable considering the camera capabilities and the quality software installed Is.” Looks like Google is out to ruin it. Whatever goodwill it has earned over the years. The Pixel 7 Pro hasn’t been appreciated quite as generously, but it’s still a bargain compared to the Apple and Samsung flagships.
Talking about the Pro model, it looks like Google is finally entering the same luxe domain as Apple and Samsung. The leak claims a whopping 1,099 euro (about $1,180) premium for the base 128GB configuration of the Pixel 8 Pro. To recall, the Pixel 7 Pro price started at 899 Euros in European markets and $899 in the US.
Google will reportedly charge 1,299 euros (around $1,390) for the top-tier 512GB model. Even without currency changes taking into account, it would be hard to ask $1,300 for the phone in the US. For that premium, the general public gravitates toward Samsung’s “pro” iPhone or “ultra” Android, with all its great cameras, stylus, and charging tricks.
not the change we need
So far, the biggest upgrades we’ve heard about the Pixel 8 Pro are an upgraded ultrawide camera, a new temperature sensor, and Google’s third-gen Tensor G3 processor. It looks like the Pixel 8 isn’t due for any dramatic upgrades and certainly isn’t worthy of the rumored price hike.
But after all, all this information has been leaked, so process it as such. Given Google’s imperfect track record in protecting unreleased hardware secrets – and its tendency to leak its own phones on its own – we’ll surely get more key information ahead of the launch event that will also mark Android 14’s public release. Can be a witness.
Google increasing the price of Pixel 8 series will not be surprising. Apple is reportedly eyeing a similar distasteful surprise with the iPhone 15 Pro. Both brands are following a natural course that makes phones inaccessible to the masses while parading upgrades that aren’t always as meaningful in real life as the flashy stage presentations that sell them.
It’s unfortunate that right around the time the Pixel started to feel like the shining star that was the Nexus phones, Google apparently decided to jump into the big leagues where obnoxious sticker prices are a recurring trope. breath!
But hey, at least Google teased us with official renders of the Pixel 8 lineup. That’s something, isn’t it?
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Source: www.digitaltrends.com
