pixel sailboat review

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Meet the Pixel, Kirby’s Latest

• By John Burnham
• Updated: June 9, 2005

pixel review

Bruce Kirby is at it again. The 76-year-old former Olympic sailor, International 14 champ, and raceboat designer has always had a thing about light and sound designs, notably his international success stories, the Laser and the Sonar. Now comes the Pixel, named for one of those dots of color on your computer screen. Kirby says the 13’8″ doublehander is his 15th dinghy design. The Pixel is a light, stable transition dinghy for youth sailors learning about jibs and symmetric spinnakers when they graduate from Optimists or other beginning boats. It also aims to be a boat on the recreational track, for kids not so fired up about racing or sailing solo. Kirby’s target crewweight is 200 to 250 pounds, so it should fit for kids who aren’t ready for more powered-up dinghies like the Laser and Club 420. I went for a sail with Lightning champ Jim Crane on one of four fiberglass and epoxy prototypes built in China for Nearwater Boats (Kirby and partner Wes Oliver). Considering that the wind was light, maybe 4 to 8 knots, and that we were 100 pounds over the target weight, we had a fun sail. The helm balanced easily, and the boat accelerated well in puffs, moving nicely through the chop. The bottom is flat so a little heel going over a bigger wave didn’t seem like a bad idea. The side decks were wide enough for comfortable hiking, and at its windiest, maybe 9 knots, we both were on the rail. I imagine two lighter youth sailors would’ve been sitting together on the rail in 6 or 7 knots of breeze, hiking comfortably in 8 to 12, and getting a good workout when the wind is over that. We set the spinnaker-the first time Kirby had had one up-and had some pleasant little scoots on a few small waves. I think the Pixel would plane easily with a modest amount of wind. It did for Crane’s brother Bill, who sailed the boat without the spinnaker in 20-plus and found that it planed upwind. Even without a trapeze, the boat has enough horsepower. Sailing in light winds as heavy adults, we could’ve used more sail area, but that means it’s probably about right for lighter sailors. Besides being relatively quick, there are other attributes worth noting: The double bottom and the shape of the side tanks makes lounging on the floor of the boat as comfortable as on the side, which for rec sailing is a plus. In combination with an open transom, these design features should make the Pixel easy to self rescue after a capsize. Even better, the boat is extremely stable to start with and has several good anti-turtling details including a sealed (carbon) mast, foam in the top of the mainsail, and inboard cutouts in the sidetanks to make it less stable upside down. I have to confess, due to the raw weather for our test sail, we saved the capsize test for another day. One smart feature of the Pixel related to its stability is its open bow, which makes it easy to step aboard from the float. While rigging the topping lift, Jim Crane stood in front of the mast and had no concern that the boat would flip the way many dinghies would. The absence of a foredeck kept his center of gravity low, and the light carbon spar couldn’t have hurt. Other factors contributing to stability are the flat bottom, relatively hard chines, beamy waterlines, and wide transom. In keeping with this, we noticed that a hard hike was needed to effectively roll tack the boat. The original idea of the Pixel came from Kirby’s partner, Oliver, who says the time has come for a new, modern dinghy that can teach all the basics of spinnaker sailing to lightweight sailors. He also thinks there may be a larger market for the boat, but his focus at the moment is entirely on sailing programs with transitioning sailors. Oliver wants to keep the price at $6,000 or less, and hence the construction in China. At press time in December, a fifth prototype was underway with a few modifications, such as two foam stringers to minimize flexing in the bow sections, and carbon spars (the Pixel’s first spars were built in New England). Oliver intends to deliver complete glass/epoxy boats, direct from the builder, including sails by Neil Pryde of Hong Kong. Production boats should be available for spring delivery. Pixel LOA 13′ 9″ LWL 12′ 6″ Beam 5′ 6″ Disp. 185 lbs. (hull) 220 lbs. (all-up) Sail area 94 sq ft. (upwind) Price $5,950 Nearwater Boats, LLC 203-855-8923

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• Sailboat Guide

Pixel is a 13 ′ 8 ″ / 4.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Bruce Kirby and built by Flying Eagle Boat Co. (CHINA) starting in 2003.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Pixel General Information

This 13.75ft / 4.19m dinghy designed by legendary marine designer Bruce Kirby, combines stability and performance and is ideal for a wide range of crews and skill levels.

Neil Pryde Sails has worked closely with the builder of the PIXEL, Nearwater Boats in developing these new sails.Technical Director Bob Pattison had this to say, "The sails for the Pixel feature contemporary thinking in terms of plan form and 3-dimensional design, while maintaining an ease of use through selected sail controls. This combination of traits along with a conventional spinnaker and pole will ensure enthusiasm amongst the juniors and fulfill the goal of Nearwater Boats in providing a boat that will fulfill the needs of junior programs and clubs alike.

New and replacement sails can be purchased directly through Nearwater boats

Neil Pryde Agents

Pixel class sails.

• General Information
• Class Sails
• Pixel Home Site

Translation

PIXEL Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of PIXEL. Built by undefined and designed by Bruce Kirby, the boat was first built in 2003. It has a hull type of Centerboard Dinghy and LOA is 4.19. Its sail area/displacement ratio 46.36. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

PIXEL has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about PIXEL and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, contributions, who designed the pixel.

PIXEL was designed by Bruce Kirby.

When was PIXEL first built?

PIXEL was first built in 2003.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

Review of Pixel

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Sorry, we have no sailing characteristics available for this boat.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Sorry, we do not have sufficient statistical information available for this boat to provide a significant reliable analysis.

Maintenance

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Pixel it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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Marine Electronics Test: Garmin Touchscreen vs. Raymarine Network

Two big-screen multi-function navigation displays go head-to-head..

Bigger is better when it comes to a navigation display screen. On a small screen, important details can be hard to see from even short distances. The differences in viewability of detailed navigational data are significant when comparing 5-inch and 6-inch displays with the big 8- to 12-inch displays that are riding a wave of popularity today.

We rounded up four network-capable big-screen multi-function displays (MFDs), two from Garmin and two from Raymarine, for a head-to-head evaluation.

What We Tested

From Garmin, we looked at the touchscreen-controlled GPSMAP 5208 and GPSMAP 5212. And from Raymarine, we tested the E120 12-inch MFD and E80 8-inch MFD. These high-end units are aimed primarily at the owners of large boats who are building or upgrading a networked navigation system. This evaluation focuses exclusively on the basic chartplotter functions, not the other network capabilities.

Garmin GPSMAP 5000-Series

The front panel on the Garmin 5000-series multi-function displays offers a very clean look. Each has only one button on the screen bezel; it turns the power on or off. Everything else is controlled via touchscreen buttons, keys, or prompts.

These 5000-series units can interface with radar, a black-box fishfinder, a weather receiver, or an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver through a Garmin Marine Network connection. Video, NMEA 2000, and NMEA 0183 devices interface with dedicated connectors on the back of the display. Power is supplied through a twist-lock connection on the back, too.

The two Garmin 5000-series MFDs we reviewed both came preloaded with Garmin Bluechart g2 U.S. coastal cartography. They also support Bluechart g2 Visions chart cards. Visions adds 3D views above and below the water’s surface as well as extensive satellite and aerial photo coverage. These chartplotters are also available without preloaded cartography. (Without the preloaded cartography, the 5208 carries the GPSMAP 5008 designation and the GPSMAP 5212 is the GPSMAP 5012.) Any current Bluechart on an SD card will run on the 5000 series. Each Garmin 5000-series display ships with an external GPS antenna.

The GPSMAP 5208 display screen is 6.7 inches wide by 5 inches high, and measures 8.4 inches on the diagonal. Resolution is a very respectable 640 x 480.

The even larger GPSMAP 5212 takes up some serious real estate. With a diagonal measurement of 12.1 inches, it has a very high 1024 x 768-pixel resolution. Drawing 1.3 amps, the 5212 uses a bit more power than the 5208 but still less than both Raymarine MFDs.

Testers rated day viewability on both Garmin displays as Excellent. The only screen darkening noted was when viewed through polarized glasses at a severe angle. No screen fogging occurred in either display.

Both Garmin units are rated IPX7, meaning they can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. By comparison, the Raymarine units carry the slightly lower, but still adequate, waterproof rating of IPX6—dustproof and capable of withstanding salt spray and a direct jet of water.

The Garmin MFDs can be set so they dim and change color palette automatically. We tried the auto system and found it worked well. We also manually set the brightness level and the color palette. The night color palette uses darker coloration to enhance night-time viewability. The Garmin displays do not dim as low as the Raymarine units. We rated both Garmins Good for night viewability.

All functions on the Garmin MFDs are controlled with menus or buttons displayed onscreen. This is the first plotter design we’ve seen or used with touchscreen operation. Testers liked it and found it easy to use, but time will tell how well it holds up to real world use. (See accompanying article “Tech Talk”) The only issue testers reported with the touchscreen system was the multiple button touches sometimes required to complete a task.

For example, activating the MOB function in the Garmin units is a three-step process from the navigation chart page. You’d have to hit “Home,” then “MOB,” then “Yes” to create and navigate to the MOB position. Practical Sailor testers prefer a one-touch MOB button to activate MOB navigation. This should be a dedicated button on the unit itself, or—in the case of a touchscreen—a key that is always in the same location of the screen no matter what view is in use.

According to Ted Gartner, Garmin communications manager, the new software update for the 5000-series MFDs, now in beta testing, will have a “Mark” field on every page for quick entry.

The Garmin units can hold up to 20 routes with 250 waypoints each. Routes are created easily by placing a finger onscreen to locate and create a waypoint. Selecting the field “Add Turn” lets you add another leg to the route. When you finish, tap “Done.”

For data entry, a full alphanumeric keyboard with large numbers makes it the best data entry system we’ve seen on any chartplotter.

Screen redraws on the 5212 can be slow. If you pan or range the chart a long distance, it can take up to five seconds or more to redraw all data. This unit automatically varies the amount of data displayed onscreen depending on the range setting. The user can set the amount of data to be displayed at any of five levels.

Split-screen combinations can be customized by the user. Up to 4 data sources can be displayed simultaneously with a data strip. Commonly used split-screen combinations like chart and sounder have been preset at the factory for easy selection.

Even on networked displays like we were using, setting the chart orientation on one unit doesn’t change the orientation on the other unit.

Bottom Line: Garmin’s foray into touchscreen technology is impressive. Testers liked the intuitive interface and the pre-loaded software. Screen brightness was excellent. Base pricing is attractive, but still significantly higher than the non-touchscreen versions. A longer warranty would be a real plus.

Raymarine E Series

Raymarine’s E-series multi-function displays are available in two screen sizes, 8.4 inches and 12.4 inches, and are designated the E80 and E120, respectively. E-series displays can connect to and display a variety of information from numerous sources. Several radar options are available—from a 2Kw, 18-inch dome style to units with a 6-foot open-array antenna and 10Kw of power. They also display data from a black-box sounder, the Raystar GPS module, an AIS receiver, and a Sirius weather and radio receiver. E-series MFDs can use the Raymarine SeaTalk network, NMEA 0183, and NMEA 2000. They can run Navionics Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus cartography. Platinum was rated highest in our 2006 test.

The E80’s display screen is 6.7 inches wide by 5 inches high and measures 8.4 inches on the diagonal. Resolution is a respectable 640 x 480. It draws a bit more power than the large Garmin MFD: 1.7 amps.

The E120 measures 14 inches wide, 10.4 inches high, and 6.1 inches deep. Resolution is 800 x 600 pixels, and the unit draws more than 2 amps.

We found that the E120 performed exceptionally well in daylight viewability, earning an Excellent. The Raymarine screen was bright and sharp. Only when viewed at severe side angles with polarized sunglasses, did testers note a moderate amount of darkening.

The E120 screen brightness controls are accessed with a short press of the on/off button. A bar graph appears, showing the current level of brightness and a soft key with day/night palette selection. Screen backlight level adjustments can made quickly in up to 64 steps with the rotary enter knob. The color change between the day and night palette is minor on the E-series.

In the night palette mode, testers noted that the screen becomes unreadable at very obtuse angles. Keypad lighting on the E120 is linked to the screen brightness level and is not separately adjustable.

The test unit had very intuitive software (Version 3.31). (A newer version, software update 4.29, became available during the course of testing.)

Hitting the “Page” button toggles between selected split-screen combinations. Holding it down brings you to the select-page set menu, where you can pick from a variety of pre-configured pages or build your own custom page. Up to four windows and a data bar can be displayed simultaneously.

A waypoint can be saved at the present position with one push of the “WPTS/MOB” key, or you can use a soft key function to save at the cursor, ship, or at a lat/long, or access the waypoint list. Waypoint lists can be set up in separate groups for quicker access based on user criteria. The waypoint list includes the group name, lat/long, bearing/distance, a 16-character name, and a 32-character comment for each waypoint. All this should make obscure waypoints in a large list much easier to identify and use. We rated the plotter interface Good for the Raymarine E120. An alphanumeric keypad is optional.

The route menu is accessed with two soft-key pushes. Once there you can build a route onscreen or by using the waypoint list. To build onscreen, you simply move the cursor to the desired point then hit the “place waypoint” soft key.

Holding the MOB key takes the unit into man-overboard mode. An audible alarm sounds, and the chart switches to minimum range. Data boxes will show range and bearing to the MOB position. If you were not displaying the chart, you will only get MOB position from the data boxes.

Chart redraws on the E120 were fast, taking less than a second to fully redraw the chart after a map range change. Minimum range can be set as low as 1/32 of a mile.

The E120 has an easily accessible ruler to measure the bearing and distance to any point between a pair of user-selected points.

Bottom Line: The E-series MFDs are good performers with very intuitive software and a two-year warranty. Raymarine’s wide suite of proprietary hardware and software products make it easy for someone to build a network starting from scratch.

Conclusions

If you’ve got the money and space, the 12-inch units are worth paying more for. All four MFDs rated Excellent for day viewability, but Garmin’s 5212 and Raymarine E120 appeared brighter.

In terms of night view, Garmin’s automatic system and night palette made for easier viewing, but the Raymarine units dim all the way to black, allowing for very low-light settings to preserve night vision.

With regards to ease of use, both makers received Good ratings for user interface. Testers liked the Garmin’s touch screen keyboard for data entry, but some functions required too many screen taps. The Raymarine has plenty of dedicated function keys and very intuitive software, and testers much preferred its dedicated MOB button. The lack of a keypad, however, made entering data more of a chore.

The Garmin big screen has higher resolution than the Raymarine, is waterproofed to a higher standard, ships with a GPS sensor, has top-shelf pre-loaded cartography, and uses less power. It also cost about $500 less than the Raymarine.

Things are even tighter in the 8-inch division. With prices hovering within a few dollars of each other for comparable hardware components, only a few items separate the Raymarine E80 and the Garmin GPSMAP 5208. The Garmin has pre-loaded chart software while the Raymarine does not. Raymarine uses Navionics charts and a two-year warranty.

Which system is right for you will depend to some degree on where you are bound and what kind of equipment or digital charts you have on board already. Garmin’s bold move to a touchscreen command center deserves credit, but the product line is still in a stage of maturation. If a bright weather-tight cockpit plotter is what you need, the Garmin deserves a look. But if you’re looking for something to build a complete networked system around, the scale tilts to Raymarine E-Series. The fact that it uses Navionics charts, which rated highest in our last comparison, also works to its advantage.

• Trying Big Screens on for Size
• Practical Sailor Value Guide: Garmin 5000 Series vs. Raymarine E Series
• Touchscreen Technology Comes of Age

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Julian Chokkattu

Which Google Pixel Phone Should You Buy?

Google's Pixel phones are our favorite Android phones here at WIRED, and they have been for a few years. They have industry-leading cameras, get speedy software and security updates directly from Google (like iPhones do from Apple), and are priced competitively. But choosing the right model can be tricky. Should you get the Pixel 7A? The Pixel 8? What about the crazy-expensive Pixel Fold ?

Don’t fret—here we break down the differences between the best Pixel phones and sort out the right one for you. We also have Pixel-exclusive tips to help you get the most out of your new phone, and we recommend some cases and accessories we’ve tested if you want protection.

Updated January 2024: We've added new features from the latest drops, including Circle to Search and Photomoji.

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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The Pixel 7A ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our top choice for most people because it has pretty much everything you need, setting a new standard for mid-range smartphones. (Though it is a little pricier than the Pixel 6A from 2022.) This iteration includes wireless charging , which is uncommon for phones under $500. You also get a 90-Hz screen refresh rate , which makes the on-screen interactions look and feel more fluid, as there are more frames per second than before.

Its design and build are similar to its predecessor, though Google claims the aluminum mid-frame is slightly more durable. There's Gorilla Glass 3 on the front 6.1-inch screen, which isn't as scratch-resistant as the glass on pricier Pixels, but at least the rear is a plastic composite that won't crack. This model comes in Charcoal, Sea, and Snow, but a Google Store-exclusive Coral has caught my eye.

You won't run into any problems with performance. It's powered by Google's Tensor G2 chipset, the same that's inside the Pixel 7 series . It's plenty fast for everyday tasks and most mobile gaming, and it also allows for a few new software tricks, like Photo Unblur, which can use machine-learning algorithms to unblur people's faces in those late-night pics. (It did this well when I tried to capture a photo of a bride and groom on the dance floor!)

Louryn Strampe

Adrienne So

Boone Ashworth

Speaking of the camera system, a 64-megapixel sensor leads the pack joined by a 13-megapixel ultrawide, and while these are not as good as the cameras in the Pixel 7 , the results are nearly imperceptible (you have to look closely). It's easily the best camera phone for the money, whether you're using it in low light to capture the stars or shooting a landscape on a sunny day.

One reason we recommend Pixel phones is that they include many great software features that are genuinely helpful. We've collected most of them below , but my favorites are Assistant Voice Typing for much faster and more accurate voice transcriptions using the built-in keyboard; Now Playing to find out what music is playing around me; and Call Screen, which has stopped all spam calls coming my way. You'll also get five years of security updates, so your Pixel 7A will be supported for quite a while. Unfortunately, Google only promises three OS upgrades for it.

The only things that are iffy on the Pixel 7A are the battery life and the fingerprint sensor, which isn't as snappy or reliable as I'd like. The 4,385-mAh cell can take you through a full day of average use, but on busy days you will most likely need to top up before the sun goes down. There's also no microSD card slot or headphone jack, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you want a phone with those features.

Works on all three major US carriers.

If you want the latest and greatest, then go for Google's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ). These flagships are slightly more expensive than before, but they're the only Pixels to receive a software commitment of seven years . That's right, Google is finally promising seven years of security and Android OS upgrades to these phones, outclassing all its Android peers (save the new Galaxy S24 series ). The commitment even includes stocking up on spare parts for repairs to the hardware.

The Pixel 8 series has the brightest OLED displays ever on a Pixel, which means no need to squint when staring at the screen on a sunny day. They have a more rounded design that makes 'em comfy to hold, though this is more evident on the 6.2-inch Pixel 8, which is smaller than its predecessor. It has a glossy glass back, whereas the 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro has a matte soft-touch glass back. Both have 120-Hz screen refresh rates , but only the Pro model can adjust this from 1 Hz to 120 Hz depending on what's on the screen, which is more battery-efficient.

These phones now have secure Face Unlock, making them the first since the Pixel 4 to have a biometric authentication tool like Apple's Face ID. You can use your face or the in-display fingerprint scanner to access sensitive apps like your banking app. It just doesn't work well in darkness, so you'll still have to rely on your thumbs.

Inside is Google's Tensor G3 processor, which hasn't given me any trouble with any of the apps or games I threw at it. It notably powers new smart imaging features, like Magic Editor, which lets you move subjects around in your photos and even change the type of sky; Best Take, for fixing people's faces in case they blinked; and Audio Magic Eraser, to remove unwanted sounds like a fire truck's siren from video clips. I go into more depth about these features in this story .

The cameras have been upgraded all around, too. The Pixel 8 has a 50-MP main camera that crops into the center to offer a high-quality 2X zoom. There's also a 12-MP ultrawide now with autofocus, allowing it to utilize Google's Macro Focus for close-up shots.

The Pixel 8 Pro has the same main camera but an upgraded 48-MP ultrawide that lets you go even closer to subjects for Macro Focus, and it's overall more effective in low light. You still get a 48-MP telephoto 5X optical zoom camera, and the Pro also exclusively has a front-facing camera with autofocus, allowing for sharper selfies. It's the only one with Pro camera controls in case you want to have more control over your photos, and it has an exclusive new feature called Video Boost, which will send your clips to Google's cloud servers for processing—you'll be sent back footage that is brighter with better stabilization, less noise, and brighter colors.

The 4,485-mAh and 5,050-mAh batteries in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro aren't anything to write home about. With average use, you can expect them to last a full day, but anyone using their phone heavily will want to carry a power bank . At least they can recharge slightly faster. In January, Google announced a mint-colored Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, available exclusively on the Google Store .

Photograph: Google

The Pixel 6A from 2022 ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is on its way out, but if it's available at a reputable retailer, it's still an excellent buy. Like the Pixel 7A, you get a sharp, 6.1-inch OLED screen that gets just bright enough to read in direct sunlight (not as bright as the Pixel 7A). Unlike most devices on the market right now, it's a wonderfully compact phone and feels well-made. The front is Gorilla Glass 3, so you’ll want to use a screen protector to keep it free of scratches, but there’s an aluminum frame with clicky buttons and a plastic composite back that is deceptively luxurious. It comes in sage, too. Hooray for green phones!

Inside is Google’s first-gen Tensor chip , which is the same one powering the company's 2021 flagships: the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro . Even today, it means you’re getting some of the best performance for the price. I rarely noticed slowdowns, even while playing games like Apex Legends Mobile. This also brings all the top software features debuted in the Pixel 6 series to this phone, like Magic Eraser in Google Photos (to erase unwanted objects in the background of your images) and Assistant Voice Typing (to send messages with just your voice).

The 4,410-mAh battery cell lasts a full day, and there’s IP67-rated water resistance so the Pixel 6A can survive being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. You might be annoyed by the in-display fingerprint sensor—like the Pixel 7A, it's fine but not snappy. It'll also get three OS upgrades and five years of security updates (from the launch date).

You’ll find the same main 12-megapixel camera sensor Google has been using on the Pixel 5 and prior Pixels, and it’s joined by a 12-megapixel ultrawide. It’s a reliable system that manages to beat out much of the midrange competition even now. However, the camera hardware is starting to show its age. Some newer budget and midrange phone cameras pull more detail, particularly in low light with their larger image sensors, and the Pixel 6A’s images can come out grainy. I’m mostly being nitpicky here. It's still a good camera for the price.

The Pixel Fold ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is the most expensive Pixel ever, at $1,799. But it's also the only one in the lineup that folds in half like a book. Do you need a folding phone? Probably not. Should you pay this much for a smartphone? Definitely not. Trade-in offers from carriers like AT&T , Verizon , and T-Mobile can bring the price down, but the Pixel Fold is a first-gen folding phone that showcases the direction smartphones are heading.

I don't think folding phones are a gimmick. I've genuinely found them to be an improvement over traditional rectangular smartphones for specific power-user tasks. There are still a few hurdles that prevent me from recommending them to just anyone. The first is price. This is just too much to pay for a phone. Next is durability. The Pixel Fold is IPX8 water resistant , so it'll be fine if you drop it in a pool, but it's not rated for dust protection. Dust is notoriously bad for these devices, as it can damage the display. The Fold should be OK in most situations, but you'll want to be much more careful than you are with your current phone.

If you can stomach those problems, I've had a lot of fun using the Pixel Fold over several months. It doesn't introduce never-before-seen features on a booklike folding phone, but the wider 5.8-inch front screen makes it far more comfortable to use than, say, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 . Open it up and you're treated to an expansive 7.6-inch OLED panel that's excellent for multitasking with split-screen apps. That's the main draw here. It makes all the everyday phone tasks a little easier, whether you want to check an email and your calendar at the same time or message a friend a few restaurant recommendations as you peruse Google Maps.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will get seven years of Android OS upgrades and security updates. They are the only Pixel phones with such a lengthy software support policy. The Pixel 7A, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel 6A will receive three years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates from the date of launch. Google has a page you can check to see exactly what month your Pixel phone will stop receiving updates. Security updates reduce the risk of malware, keep your phone bug-free, and make it more secure. Android version updates introduce new features—cosmetic and functional—that improve the OS as a whole.

Pixel phones also happen to be the first to receive any kind of Android update, so as soon as Google releases a new version, like Android 14 , you can download it immediately by heading to Settings > System > System Update > Check for Update . You can also test beta versions of Android, but you'll need to enroll your device . (Make sure to back up your phone first!) Pixels are also privy to the feature drops Google issues every few months, which include features from newer Pixels coming to older models and brand-new features for the latest devices.

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

With the Pixel 6, Google introduced a new way to purchase its phones from the Google Store, and it later continued this with the Pixel 7 series. For $55 a month for the Pixel 7 Pro, $45 a month for the Pixel 7, and $37 a month for the Pixel 6A, you got the respective phone, plus the option to upgrade to a newer Pixel after two years. This program also included Preferred Care, with coverage for screen repairs, replacements, and accidental damage over the two-year time frame, plus 200 GB of Google One cloud storage, YouTube Premium (no ads), and YouTube Music Premium. It also added Google Play Pass, which offers access to apps and games with zero ads or in-app purchases, plus other unspecified offers on the Google Store down the road.

Unfortunately, Google ended the Pixel Pass program right before the first two-year mark. You can trade in your Pixel to get a discount on the Pixel 8 as usual, but existing Pixel Pass subscribers will get an extra $100 toward their next Pixel purchase as recompense (available for two years). It's pretty ridiculous that this program didn't even make it to its first two-year window when customers would've been able to take advantage of the Pixel upgrade. Google has a FAQ you can read through here that answers more questions.

Pixel 6 Pro

There are two other Pixel phones worth considering if you don't want the above choices for some reason: the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro . You can read more about them in my review ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). Google is continuing to sell these phones until supplies last. However, they are not worth their MSRP of $599 and $899. Both phones have dipped well below these prices. Try not to pay more than $450 for the Pixel 7 or $650 for the Pixel 7 Pro since they have previously dipped to these prices at retailers like Amazon.

Unless you can find the Pixel 6 series for $300 or less, you're better off buying one of the newer phones we recommend above. Any older Pixel is not worth buying anymore. (The Pixel 5's support window ended.) You can still find some of them at various retailers, but unless they're practically free, stick with any of the models above.

This silicone case lets you match your Pixel phone's color. It's durable, nice to touch, and there are raised edges on the front to protect the screen. The Pixel 8's case is made with more than 42 percent recycled plastics, and the polycarbonate shell uses 75 percent recycled plastics. I just wish they didn't attract lint and dust so easily.

Totallee is known for its uber-thin cases , and the one I tried for the Pixel 8 almost feels like you have nothing on the phone. It won't really protect the phone from anything other than everyday scratches. I suggest you go for the clear case instead. It offers up clicky buttons and decent raised lips around the edges of the screen. Plus, the color of the Pixel phone shines through quite well.

This is hands-down the best case if you frequently attach your Pixel to the handlebar of a bike or an electric scooter. Peak Design's mounting system lets you magnetically affix the phone to its Universal Bike Mount ($50) , and it stays put. After nearly a year of testing, I've yet to have a phone fall off my ride using this mounting system. It makes use of Apple's MagSafe system , so it works with plenty of MagSafe accessories , even wireless chargers. The company also has several other magnetic accessories , like a car vent mount . The case itself is nice; I just wish the edges were raised a bit more for better screen protection. It comes in more colors than ever before.

This is one of the best clear cases you'll find for the Pixel, especially at this price. The buttons are clicky, the Pixel's color comes through clearly, and the rear doesn't feel too sticky like some other clear cases. Totallee's clear case offers a bit more protection, but it's nearly double the price.

Caseology Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Pixel phones don't have a great track record with screen durability—they scratch easily. We first tested this protector for the Pixel 5A, and it held up well. Installation is easy, and it includes a squeegee to get rid of air bubbles. You get two screen protectors for the price (some only include one, check the product page), plus a microfiber cloth, a wipe, and dust-removal stickers.

This screen protector was really simple to apply and barely gave me any air bubbles. You only get one protector, but there's an alcohol wipe to clean the screen beforehand, a microfiber cloth, an application tool, and a squeegee. The problem? It's not tempered glass, but rather a mix of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a cheaper material that's typically not as impact-resistant.

You get only one screen protector here, and it's expensive . Zagg claims that the protector is five times as strong as traditional screen protectors, and I haven't seen many scuffs on the Pixels I've applied it on, but take this with a grain of salt. It's straightforward to apply with the included application tool, but Zagg doesn't include a squeegee, so you'll have to use your fingers to push the air bubbles out. It comes with a dust sticker, a wet wipe, and a microfiber cloth. For the Pixel Fold, the screen protector is only for the external display.

This is another pricey protector from Zagg that's easy to apply. It's noticeably thicker than any other screen protector in this guide, so if you're frequently dropping your phone, it might be worth shelling out for this kind of screen protection. You get a wet wipe, microfiber, and dust-removal stickers, plus an application tool to easily put the protector in place.

Google Pixel Stand (Gen 2)

Of the Pixels we recommend in this guide, wireless charging is available only on the Pixel Fold, Pixel 7A, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel 8 series (plus the Pixel 6 series). Google's very own Pixel Stand is one of the best wireless chargers around because it's simple. The base doesn't slide around, the phone stays put, and it enables some fun features, like the ability to turn the screen into a digital photo frame and quick access to Google Assistant. It's made of 39 percent recycled materials, with mostly eco-friendly packaging too. Our Best Wireless Chargers guide has more options, including the original and cheaper Pixel Stand .

This charging adapter is all you need to recharge your Pixel, whichever model you have. The newest high-end Pixel phones don't come with chargers in the box, so if you don't have any spare USB-C chargers, it's worth picking one up. This one's prongs fold up, so it's great for travel too.

These cases are pricey, but they have raised lips and offer decent protection around the edges. The buttons are clicky, and you can choose from a few design options for the rear, including walnut, leather, bamboo, silver pearl, and aramid fiber. (I love the walnut.) What makes this case special is that it supports MagSafe —yes, Apple's magnetic system for accessories. I've used the Mous Limitless 5.0 successfully with a few MagSafe accessories , like a Belkin wireless charger.

This is a two-shell case—there's a silicone soft interior and a hard shell exterior. The buttons are a tiny bit hard to press but not terribly so. There's a slight bump for the camera module, and the edges are slightly raised around the screen. I don't think it's quite worth $50, but what might make it worth it is the sheer number of designs you can choose from.

Spigen Liquid Air Case

It's slim, has a nice texture, retains clicky buttons, and has accurate cutouts for the ports and speakers. What's not to love? Well, it's a bit dull, squashing the unique design of the Pixel, but I still think this case is one of the more attractive in Spigen's lineup. The edges aren't raised drastically, so don't expect much screen protection. The Thin Fit case is even more dull , but it does the job.

Want a kickstand to prop your Pixel up? This Spigen case has a built-in stand that does the trick, though it unfortunately only works in landscape mode—not great for hands-free TikTok. Its thick bumper offers nice protection around the edges, though there's not much of a lip sticking out, so you'll still want to pair it with a screen protector.

I have used Pixel Fold cases from OtterBox and Speck , but the one I keep coming back to is the official case from Google. The soft silicone is much nicer than the hard plastic on the others, and it doesn't add too much bulk. It's two separate pieces, and there's a dip on the side so you can access the buttons and fingerprint sensor.

Casetify is where you'll want to go if you want your Pixel phone to stand out even more. There are zillions of designs to choose from, and the Impact cases have rigid bumpers, grippy sides, and responsive buttons. The edges around the screen are decently raised too.

I only tested the Grip case with the Pixel 7 Pro, but it had clicky buttons and incredibly grippy edges (hence the name). I don't think I've ever felt a grippier case. It feels robust yet fairly slim. You can choose a snazzy design, but you'll have to apply this “skin” yourself on the back of the case. There's a lot of room for error here so be careful, and watch Dbrand's installation video for tips . The Pixel 8 series version of this case adds MagSafe support , so you can use your Pixel with MagSafe accessories , but I have not tested it yet.

The Denali case for the Pixel 8 series has graphene embedded inside, which Zagg claims improves durability. I found graphene to do a better job of spreading heat during demanding tasks, so if you're frequently pushing your Pixel to the limit, then this might be a good case to try, even if it is a bit boring in the design department. For the older Denali case models, Zagg says the D30 material “hardens on impact” for better drop protection. The camera bar has raised edges all around it, and the buttons are clicky, but edge protection is a little lackluster on the front.

OtterBox Defender Pro

It takes some effort to install this case on the Pixel, but once you do, it's arguably the most protection you'll find. There's an inner two-piece polycarbonate shell that snaps over and under the Pixel, and then a thick synthetic rubber slipcover goes over for extreme durability. The buttons are surprisingly clicky, though the whole phone will be thicker, wider, and heavier. It's made of more than 50 percent recycled plastic, and there's a holster you can pop it in to carry your Pixel with pride on your belt. (The holster can double as a kickstand.)

This is another nice clear case for the Pixel series. I like the textured power button, which makes it easy to find when you're not looking, and there are spots on the case to attach a lanyard (not included). It's not as smudge-resistant as Ringke claims, but it's easy to clean.

I like the soft-touch material on this case, and it fits the Pixel well, with accurate cutouts and clicky buttons. It's a bit dull, but it's slim and the edges are raised a decent amount to protect the screen. It's just a little pricey for what you get.

Wait Times.

There are some key features on Pixels that you won't find on any other Android phone. Some of these are only available on select Pixels—those powered by Google's Tensor chips are more capable. Here's a quick breakdown:

Spam and Call Screen: When you get a call from an unknown number, Google Assistant will scan and flag it if it's suspected spam or a robocall. If it’s simply a number you don't recognize, you can have Assistant take the call. You'll see a real-time transcription of what's happening, so you can end the call right away if it's a telemarketer or answer if it turns out to be a long-lost high school friend. If it's someone important, you can give Assistant responses to recite if you're unable to take the call—it offers up contextual replies now too. Remember to turn it on by opening up the dialer app and heading to Settings (three dots on the top right) > Spam and Call Screen .

Wait Times and Direct My Call: When you call a business in the phone app, you'll see an estimated wait time until someone real picks up (it doesn't work with every business). Google's Direct My Call feature also transcribes the entire call and separates the menu options so you can see them without having to listen intently to the call. More recently, for some numbers, Direct My Call will cache responses so you'll immediately see menu options without needing to wait for the automated response to go through every number. You can turn this on by going to the phone app's Settings > Direct My Call . It's available for Pixel 4A and newer.

Hold for Me: If you've been placed on hold with a business number, you can ask Google Assistant to take over. It will play a loud chime when the person on the other end is back. No need to listen to hold music! Toggle it on in the phone app's Settings > Hold for Me . This feature is available on Pixel 3 and newer devices, but it only works in the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, and Canada .

Clear Calling: If you have a Pixel 7 or newer, you can turn on this feature to enhance the other caller's voice and reduce their background noise. Head to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Clear Calling to toggle it on. It also works on Google's Pixel Buds Pro .

Live Translate.

Live Translate (Tensor only):  In select messaging apps, Pixels will automatically know when someone sends a message in a language other than your default. It'll translate it (if you wish), and you'll be able to respond in that same language. More than 50 languages are supported, though you'll need to download the languages you want to see translated by heading to Settings > System > Live Translate .

Live Caption: Pixels can automatically transcribe any video playing on the screen. You can quickly toggle this on by tapping one of the volume buttons and tapping on the square button below the volume slider (or head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Live Caption ). If the video is in a different language, you can even see it translated (only on Tensor-powered Pixels), though you'll need to download one of the supported languages. It can even caption phone calls.

Circle to Search (Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro only): This is Google's new way to run a Google Search on practically anything—whether you're reading a news story on the web, looking at a photo on Instagram, or watching a video on TikTok. Just press and hold the home button (the pill-shaped bar if you are using gesture navigation), and circle anything on the screen you want to search. An overlay menu will pop up with search results, and you can add text to add to the search query.

Now Playing: Ever hear a song at the coffee shop and wonder who it's by? Now Playing uses on-device machine learning to figure out what the music is in your background, and it will display the artist and title on the lock screen (or in your notifications). It doesn't require an internet connection, so there's no data shared between you and Google. This isn't turned on by default, so head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Now Playing and toggle it on. You can even turn on Now Playing History in case you forgot to write down an artist's name when you saw it earlier. Google added a button you can press in case Now Playing doesn't automatically identify a song, sorta like Shazam.

Assistant Voice Typing.

Assistant Voice Typing (Tensor only): Tap the mic button on Google's Gboard keyboard and you'll be privy to the much-improved voice typing experience enabled by the Tensor chip. It's really fast, pretty accurate, and knows to automatically add punctuation. It understands when to send a message if you say “Send,” and commands like “Next” will move the cursor to the next paragraph. You can make sure this is enabled by heading to Settings > System > Language & Input > On-Screen Keyboard > Gboard > Voice typing > Assistant Voice Typing .

Quick Phrases (Tensor only): When the alarm goes off, you can just say “Stop” or “Snooze” instead of fumbling for your phone. This applies when you get a phone call: Just say “Answer,” “Decline,” or “Silence.” You can make sure this is toggled on by launching Assistant and saying “Assistant settings.” Then scroll to Quick Phrases. It works in select other languages too.

Photomoji (Pixel 3a and newer): You can create sticker reactions out of any picture in Google Messages. Just press and hold on to a message and tap the Create button. Choose a photo or take a new one, and it'll automatically crop out the subject. Now you can use that as a sticker reaction to any message!

Magic Compose in Messages: You can get a different draft of something you've typed up in Gboard in case you're unsure about your message's tone. It only works in select apps, like Google Messages. Start typing and you'll see a pencil icon with a star next to it near the text box. Tap it and you can now cycle through versions of your sentence in different tones and you can even choose genres like Shakespeare in case you want to harken back to the past. This feature is available on Pixel 6 and newer, but on the Pixel 8 Pro, it works on-device.

Hands-Free Photos (Tensor only): If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, you can take a hands-free photo by showing your open palm to the camera. Once the camera detects your palm (it'll show a square icon over it), it'll trigger a timer.

Voice Message Transcription:  If you frequently get audio messages in the Messages texting app, then you'll be happy to know that these messages will automatically transcribe so you won't have to listen to the audio message. The transcription can be hit or miss, but it's still handy. It only works in Google Messages and is available in select languages; it's available on the Pixel 4A and newer. Turn it on by heading to the Messages app and tapping on your profile icon. Then tap Messages Settings > Voice Message Transcription , and toggle it on.

Magic Editor.

Magic Editor (Tensor G3 only): This feature shows up when you press edit on a photo in Google Photos. It's the little multicolored icon on the left. Tap it, and you're given free rein to change up the photo in a variety of ways, like generating a new sky (maybe add a golden hour for those warm glows of sunset). You can select subjects and move or erase them too. It's pretty magical.

Astrophotography mode: Set your Pixel on a tripod ( something like this will work ), point it at the sky, open the camera, and go to Night Sight mode. Once the phone detects that it's completely still and on a tripod, you'll see Astrophotography mode kick in. Tap the shutter button, and within three to five minutes you'll have a photo of the stars. Ideally, you should be in a dark area with little light pollution, but it'll work wherever you are. Don't touch the phone—just let it do its thing until the timer ends.

Body Temperature Sensor (Pixel 8 Pro only): The Pixel 8 Pro has a thermometer you can use to take the temperature of an object, but an update has enabled the ability to take the temperature of a person. Just open the thermometer app, point the sensor at the forehead, and scan. You can save the results to the Fitbit app. Google received the FDA's De Novo classification for this feature, though you should know that the results might not be all that accurate.

Best Take (Tensor G3 only): If you snap a series of photos of a group of people within a short time frame, you will get the option to switch their faces! This is weird but truly helpful if folks are blinking, not smiling, or not looking right at the camera. Perhaps one of the other frames from the photos will have captured the right face you want. You can use this feature by pressing edit on a photo, and head to Tools > Best Take .

Super-Res Zoom: If you're taking a picture of something far away, use two fingers to pinch and zoom in, then snap the photo. Google uses software wizardry to upscale the quality of digitally zoomed-in photos so you see a lot more detail. On the Pixel 7 series and newer, this process has improved further, as Google is fusing the images from the main camera and telephoto.

Device as a Webcam: You can use your Pixel phone as a webcam if you connect it to your laptop or desktop via a cable. This only works on the Pixel 6 and newer.

Audio Magic Eraser demonstration.

Audio Magic Eraser (Tensor G3 only): Have an annoying sound in the background of your video clip? Pixels can now erase unwanted audio! It works with only a few types of sounds, like crowds, sirens, and animals, but you can access this and give it a try by hitting Edit in a video, and head to Tools > Audio Magic Eraser .

Video Boost (Pixel 8 Pro only): This feature is exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro and allows you to improve the quality of your videos. In the video tab of the camera app, press the gear icon on the left and toggle on Video Boost . Now take a video; you'll have to wait for this clip to be processed in Google's cloud. Once done—it could take an hour or you may have to wait overnight, depending on the size of the file—the clip should be brighter with better stabilization, less noise, and more vivid colors. It's particularly useful in low-light settings. You can still utilize the original clip if you want to share it immediately.

Portrait Light: You can change up the lighting in your portrait selfies after you take them by opening them up in Google Photos, tapping the Edit button, and heading to Tools > Portrait Light . This adds an artificial light you can place anywhere in the photo to brighten up your face and erase that 5 o'clock shadow. Use the slider at the bottom to tweak the strength of the light. It also works on older Portrait mode photos you may have captured. It works only on faces.

Magic Eraser.

Magic Eraser: In the Google Photos app, you can remove objects in the background of your photos (even those not captured on Pixels). Just tap the Edit button and head to Tools > Magic Eraser . It will automatically suggest things to remove, or you can highlight the object with your finger. You can also change the color of a distracting object instead of removing it entirely. It's available on all Pixel phones.

Quick Tap: Head over to Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Tap to enable it. It lets you double-tap the upper back of your Pixel (Pixel 4A 5G or newer) to trigger a function. That includes flipping the camera for a selfie, turning on the flashlight, sliding down the notification bar, or, exclusive to Pixels, starting a Snap on Snapchat.

Dual Screen Interpreter Mode (Pixel Fold only): When you trigger this mode in the Google Translate app on the Pixel Fold, the person you're speaking to can read your translated words on the exterior screen. They can also tap the screen to start speaking, and you'll see their translated words on the inner screen.

Photo Unblur.

Photo Unblur (Tensor G2 and newer):  You can unblur old (or new) photos in your library with the tap of a button. The results will vary, but it's impressive and might make that unusable photo something you'll want to share. It'll work with cats and dogs. On the photo you want to unblur, press Edit > Tools > Unblur .

Car Crash Detection: Hopefully you never have to use this feature. As the name suggests, Pixel phones can tell when you've been in a serious crash with the help of mics and motion sensors. Turn it on in the Personal Safety app (or Settings > Safety & Emergency ), and if a crash is detected, your phone will check to see whether you're OK. If there's no response, it can share your location with emergency responders and emergency contacts. It works in select countries.

Google's Recorder app.

Google Recorder: If you record interviews, meetings, calls, or anything else, you'll love the Google Recorder app. It's exclusive to Pixels, and it offers real-time transcription so you don't need to take notes. You can open these notes in a Google Doc to edit them later or tap on a word to jump to the point it was spoken in the recording. Google has added speaker labels so the transcription will try to detect when different people are talking and indicate as such. Recordings can be shared with anyone, even if they don't have a Pixel. Better yet, you can automatically back these up to your Google Account to access them anywhere (or find them here ). You can also summarize these transcripts with Assistant. It works in several languages.

Cough & Snore Detection (Tensor G2 and newer): On the Pixel 7 and newer, you can have your Pixel detect if you cough and snore when sleeping, provided you place your Pixel near your bed before you nod off. This will work only if you use Google's Bedtime Mode function, which you can turn on by heading to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls > Bedtime Mode .

Guided Frame.

Guided Frame (Tensor G2 and newer): For blind or low-vision people, the camera app can now help you take a selfie with audio cues (it works with the front and rear cameras). You'll need to enable TalkBack for this to work ( Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack ). Then open the camera app. It will automatically help you frame the shot.

With the Pixel 7 and newer, you have access to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) by Google One . This is already included on iPhones and Android phones if you pay for Google One storage (usually $10 per month) and have the app installed ( Android , iOS ), but it's included for free for these Pixels. It'll encrypt your traffic to give you peace of mind. This VPN is also available on desktops for Windows and Mac. You can access it for free for as long as the phone receives updates .

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Pixel Piracy Review: What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor?

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After more than half a year in Steam Early Access, Pixel Piracy finally made the transition to full-fledged release, but I'm not sure the final build of Pixel Piracy offers enough content to hook even the most pirate-obsessed PC gamer on the planet.

Developed by Vitali Kirpu and Alexander Poysky, collectively known as Quadro Delta, Pixel Piracy casts players as an unknown pirate captain who must take his meager starter ship and set out in search of new crew members, untold riches and (if you care about the game's "story") on a quest to defeat four legendary pirate captains. All of the action unfolds in two dimensions, regardless of whether you're sailing, taking on rival pirates or exploring a new island, and Pixel Piracy players are given near-complete control over the size and capability of both their ship and its crew.

Unfortunately, while Pixel Piracy offers all of the freedom you'd expect from a title hoping to simulate the life of a privateer, the game fails to offer players any real incentive to keep playing after their first couple of sessions. While I'm still not convinced there couldn't be some joy to be found in leading a crew of bandits --especially in an age when the world wasn't under constant surveillance -- I can say the Pixel Piracy dev team was impressively effective at sapping any remnant of luster from the idea.

Like many gamers who grew up in the 90s, I'm still a bit of a sucker for well-produced games that attempt to mimic the 8- and 16-bit art textures found in my childhood favorites. So it shouldn't come as much of a shock that Pixel Piracy 's blend of nostalgia-inducing artwork and freedom to commit mischief seemed particularly appealing on paper.

Pixel Piracy 's rather vibrant aesthetic lends itself well to the subject matter, giving you crisp blue seas to sail across as you hop from one densely-forested island to the next. The game's color palette also lends itself well to the islands themselves, with bright sandy beaches and lush green forests awaiting the player and his/her crew anytime your band of pirates is fortunate enough to make landfall.

Aesthetic appeal isn't the only thing Pixel Piracy has going for it, either. The game features a surprising amount of voice-over work. For the most part, players shouldn't expect much more than squirrel-ish conversation between pirates and shop owners; however, the Pixel Piracy dev team made an excellent decision to include one of the more popular features from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

Sea shanties.

Though there doesn't appear to be any sort of collection mechanic in Pixel Piracy , your crew can be counted on to pipe up with a song or two pretty much anytime they're at sea or basking in the warmth of a tavern's roaring fireplace. Not to mention a couple pints of ale.

Taverns also double as the closest thing to a base of operations that you'll be afforded in Pixel Piracy , with an apparently endless (and free) supply of food and drink ready to quell hunger, boost morale and (somehow) tend wounds whenever needed. In addition to all of the above services, you can also count on each tavern to have about a dozen able-bodied men ready to take up the privateer's life. For a fee, of course.

The composition of your crew represents one of the most randomized elements of the Pixel Piracy experience, especially in the minutes/hours before you get a chance to improve each pirate's abilities, and it will be up to you to mold each person into an efficient member of your ship's crew. That includes finding and/or purchasing a variety of skill books, which can be used to teach your crew everything from swimming and cleaning to parrying and counter-attacks.

It'll also be your responsibility to keep adequate food stores, to ensure nobody starves to death while you're out at sea, and to increase the size of your vessel as your crew begins to grow. Eventually, you'll even need to make room for cannons, which are absolutely vital to surviving high level pirate ship encounters.

All things considered, my first few hours with Pixel Piracy were pretty enjoyable. The basic mechanics outlined above offer just enough distraction to pass a few hours and, for whatever reason, pirates haven't found themselves the focus of video games nearly as frequently as you might imagine. So the change of pace offered by Pixel Piracy helped extend its life, too.

Pixel Piracy also moves at a pace that's conducive for multi-tasking; more specifically, it was the sort of game that (in most situations) I could play while watching television or live streams. Except for the handful of situations where quick timing was of the utmost importance, like pulling up the map and charting a new destination after realizing you haven't yet found a new tavern to feed your starving crew.

So, for a time, it was nice to be back out on the high seas, searching for new ships to plunder and rival pirates for me to send to the bottom of Davey Jones' locker. Within a couple of hours, I even had a pretty sizeable ship and a collection of rogues capable of taking on crews with twice as many fighters.

But holy crap did Pixel Piracy get boring. And fast, too.

Part of the reason that I'd waited so long to check out Pixel Piracy for the first time is that, while the game has long shown potential to become a serious time sink, I wasn't sure that the Pixel Piracy dev team had put together enough content to keep the game engaging for more than a few hours. Sadly, the longer I played the truer this became.

After nearly two dozen hours spent playing the game, I've encountered a grand total of two enemy types in Pixel Piracy ; rival pirates and Vikings that have inexplicably wound up in the Caribbean. And there's not all that much diversity to be found among the various towns and islands generated by the game, either. Every island can be counted on to house one of the five animals included in Pixel Piracy , each of which can be killed for items of varying value, and towns will also offer some combination of the four shops included in the game. It's just enough content to keep you curious for an hour or so, and little enough to be boring after just a couple more.

While that might have been acceptable during the game's time in Steam Early Access, when future updates could still theoretically expand upon Pixel Piracy 's thread-bare campaign, it's not really the sort of thing you want to be saying about the launch version of a game. And that's especially true when that game is one of many entries in a genre that is built upon the idea of offering randomized worlds and more content than you could ever hope to see in a single play through.

What's worse is that current build of Pixel Piracy just might have more bugs than it does actual reasons to play the game. In fact, a quick perusal of the game's Steam forum shows an astounding number of threads being created for no other reason than to report bugs that Pixel Piracy players have yet to speak up about.

Pixel Piracy Review - Final Verdict

While Pixel Piracy absolutely nails most aspects of its presentation, the game fails to capitalize on its own visual appeal in any meaningful way; confusing a complete lack of game direction as the pinnacle of sandbox game design. The startling lack of enemy diversity and combat encounters also doesn't do Pixel Piracy any favors. And, to channel the former Iron Chef diehard in me, what's plating worth if the entrée you're trying to present doesn't taste like something any right-minded individual would enjoy eating?

The action on screen is just busy enough to keep your gaze from wandering, but never reaches the sort of feverish pace that one might hope for from a game that is (in no small part) about cutting down your enemies and stealing whatever valuables they'd collected during their travels.

Pixel Piracy offers an interesting take on open-world exploration, and marks only the second time in the last couple of years that a developer has successfully translated the common tropes of pirate life into a mildly entertaining single-player campaign. That said, given just how many fantastic games are already available on Steam these days, I just can't bring myself to recommend Pixel Piracy to the handful of friends and online acquaintances that have sought out my opinion on the matter.

Hell, I can't even convince myself to start the game again.

With that in mind, Pixel Piracy will actually become the first game that I give a sub-average score during my two years here at the International Digital Times . While the dev team might have assembled all the basic buildings blocks of a decent video game, the ensuing creation is simply too devoid of substantive content to warrant a recommendation. To anyone.

Score - 2/5

Have you spent any time playing Pixel Piracy since the game made its Steam debut earlier this year? Completely disagree with Scott's assessment of the game? Disappointed with an aspect of the game that wasn't mentioned in our Pixel Piracy review?

Let us know in the comments section!

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Google Pixel 8 review: The best Android phone for most people

The google pixel 8 wows with its ai-powered camera features and delivers a brighter display in a more compact design.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Google Pixel 8 wows with its AI-powered camera features, including Best Take, Magic Editor and Audio Magic Eraser. You also get a brighter display in a more compact and comfortable design. The seven years of updates makes this flagship nearly future-proof. The Pixel 8’s performance still trails the competition and the battery life — while improved — is not best in class. But overall this is a good value.

Brighter 120Hz display

More compact design

Improved battery life

Awesome AI camera features

7 years of updates

Performance still trails other flagships

Some early bugs

$100 more expensive than Pixel 7

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• Price and release date
• Design and colors
• Performance and AI features
• Battery life and charging
• Android 14 and software
• Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8 Pro

Review Updates

• Bottom line

It’s pretty rare that a new phone feature compels people to gather around me to check it out. The Pixel 8 has several of them. For example, my colleagues marveled at how well the new Best Take feature works, synthesizing a better group photo by plucking the best looking faces from a series of shots. 

You can also remove background noise from videos, change a mid-day photo to sunset and easily move subjects around in pictures — no Photoshop required. And it’s all thanks to the AI on board the Pixel 8. 

Yes, I’m sick of hearing the AI word, too. But Google (mostly) backs up the hype with lots of Pixel 8 features that make your life easier and a bit more fun. The Google Pixel 8 also packs a brighter display and longer battery life. You even get seven years of software updates. Add it all up and you have one of the best Android phones yet. 

So what’s not to like? The $699 price is $100 more than the Pixel 7 and the new Tensor G3 chip still lags the competition on performance. So is this “AI phone” for you and does it belong on our best phones list? My full Pixel 8 review breaks down all the pros and cons.

Google Pixel 8 review: Specs

Google pixel 8 review: price and release date.

The Google Pixel 8 pre-orders started on October 4, with the phone going on sale October 12. 

The Google Pixel starts at $699 for 128GB of storage. That’s $100 more than what Google charged last year. At least that’s still $100 less than the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S23 . If you want 256GB of storage, you’ll need to pay $60 more for a total outlay of $759.

Google Pixel 8 review: Design and colors

As someone who has been walking around with the Pixel 8 in my pocket versus the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S23, I have to say that I prefer Google’s design in some ways. I really like the rounded corners and contoured design, which make the handset comfortable to hold. It also helps that the Pixel 8 is smaller than the Pixel 7, thanks to Google shrinking the screen on its flagship phone from 6.3 inches to 6.2 inches.

The Pixel 8 measures 5.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches and weighs 6.6 ounces, compared to 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches and 6.9 ounces for the Pixel 7. The only downside to the design is that it’s on the thicker side due to the huge camera bar on the back. But I still like the distinctive look. There is no mistaking that this is a Pixel phone.

The Pixel 8 comes in Rose, Hazel and Obsidian. I tested the Rose color and it’s a very subtle shade of pink that I like. The back glass is polished, unlike the matte finish on the Pixel 8 Pro . I prefer the latter treatment but the Pixel 8 generally did a good job resisting fingerprints.

Google Pixel 8 review: Display

The so-called Actua display on the Pixel 8 is one of the biggest upgrades to the phone by far. There’s a big brightness boost here, which is welcome news because I found the Pixel 7’s OLED panel to be too dim when viewed outdoors in direct sunlight.

The Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch screen is rated for 1,400 nits with HDR content and 2,000 nits of peak brightness, compared to 1,000 and 1,400 nits respectively for the Pixel 7.

In our lab testing, the Pixel 8 reached 1,349 nits when displaying HDR content and 1,224 nits with adaptive brightness turned on. We didn’t test HDR content on the older Pixel 7, but it reached only 961 nits with adaptive brightness. That’s a very big jump.

By comparison, the iPhone 15 reached a slightly higher 1,401 nits and the Galaxy S23 1,340 nites. The Pixel 8’s OLED display produced more of the DCI-P3 color space than the iPhone 15 but was behind the Galaxy S23. And the Pixel 8’s color accuracy score was very good if not quite best in class.

Google Pixel 8 review: Cameras

The Google Pixel 8 still packs dual lenses on the back, but it adds a new trick in the form of a new macro close-up mode via the ultrawide camera. And there’s a ton of AI camera features that are mighty impressive — if sometimes buggy.

The Pixel 8 features a 50MP main wide camera that offers more advanced image processing to deliver more vivid colors and details in your images. It’s paired with a 12MP ultrawide camera with a bigger field of view than the Pixel 7 (125.8° vs 114°). 

The Pixel 8’s front camera has a slightly lower resolution of 10.5MP, compared to 10.8MP before. But you do get a wider field of view (95° vs 92.8°) with the newer Pixel.

What really makes the Pixel 8’s cameras special are what you can do after you shoot. For example, Best Take can analyze group photos and use generative AI to produce the best-looking shot, which can really come in handy if someone was blinking or had an awkward look. I tested Best Take with a couple of colleagues, and the Pixel 8 picked the best smiling faces looking at the camera automatically.

You can even tap on the faces in the shot and choose a different pose if you want. The process takes a little while — and some of the faces look somewhat superimposed on bodies — but overall Best Take is quite clever.

I also had fun with Magic Editor, which allows you to manipulate subjects in new ways. For example, I had my son take a shot of me pretending to dunk and then I selected me in the shot and moved myself closer to the basket. The end result definitely looks Photshopped with a faint outline around my body, but it’s entertaining. When I tried the same thing with my son, Magic Editor chopped off one of his shoes.

Magic Editor can also change the way the sky and lighting looks in your photos, so you could have the Pixel 8 change that shot to look like it’s golden hour. After a few seconds, it turned a picture of a clear blue sky into something closer to dusk and even stuck a setting sun into the pic. It’s cool and creepy at the same time.

So how does the Pixel 8 fare in photos that aren’t manipulated? Very well, as you can tell in this shot of yellow, lavender and orange mums. The Galaxy S23 delivers the brightest and most oversaturated image (as per usual), which some will prefer. But I like the iPhone 15’s shot best because you get more of a gradation of color and more contrast. The Pixel 8’s shot is plenty colorful, though, and my second favorite of the group.

In this portrait of our U.S. phones editor John Velasco, I prefer what the Pixel 8 captures to the iPhone 15’s attempt. Google’s phone brings out more of John’s face and hair from the shadows, though the warmer skin tone on the iPhone’s shot is more realistic.

The Pixel 8 holds its own in this ultrawide shot of the Manasquan river shoreline in New Jersey. The blue sky, sand and relatively clear water all look crisp. I give a slight edge to the iPhone 15 here because of the warmer tone in the sand, while the Galaxy S23’s pic is way too punchy with a sky that looks lifted out of the The Simpsons intro.

Indoors, I give the nod to the iPhone 15 in this photo of a fruit tart. The strawberries and raspberries look sharper than they do through the Pixel 8, which seems a bit fuzzy by comparison.

Google may have invented Night mode on camera phones, but the Pixel 8 is a step behind the competition in this photo of Halloween decorations. The Pixel’s shot is dimmer while the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S23 deliver more vibrant looking pumpkins, mums and the scarecrow.

Things don’t look much better indoors as the Pixel 8 turns in the noisiest shot of this skull and magic books. The iPhone 15’s photo is a bit too dark, especially on the book spine text, and the Galaxy S23’s is the brightest.

It’s a close call in this selfie comparison between the Pixel 8 and iPhone 15. They both deliver plenty of detail in my black shirt and have an equally convincing bokeh effect, but my eyes pop more in the iPhone 15 pic and I prefer the warmer skin tone look.

Don’t expect the biggest zoom from the Pixel 8. It’s limited to 2x “optical quality,” which means a cropped 50MP photo. And you get 8x digital zoom, compared to a max of 10x for the iPhone 15 and 30x for the Galaxy S23.

In this photo of a statue, the 8x shot from the Pixel 8 offers an impressive level of detail in this statue of William Cullen Bryant. The 10x iPhone 15 pic is blurry and the Galaxy S23’s 10x and 30x zooms don’t impress.

Google Pixel 8 review: Video

The Pixel 8 has a video feature that blew me away during my testing. It’s called Audio Magic Eraser, and it can remove background noise from your clips so you can focus on what you want to hear, whether it’s music or someone talking.

For example, when recording a clip of myself talking on a windy day in front of rippling water, the Pixel 8 could remove most of the wind noise with just a tap. And I could decide how much of the background I wanted to remove with a slider control, including separate buttons for Speech, Wind and Noise.

To gauge the overall video quality of the Pixel 8, I shot this clip along the shoreline on a mostly sunny day during the late afternoon at 4K at 30 fps. I choose this frame rate because it allows you to zoom in; you can’t do that at 60 fps. And 10-bit HDR also isn’t supported at 60 fps on the Pixel 8.

I actually prefer the Pixel 8 footage to the iPhone 15 as I pan around. The water, sky and dock all look more vibrant, as do the green trees in the background. The Galaxy S23 overdoes everything, giving off a fake Caribbean-like vibe, though it offers the best zooming.

I’m not as impressed with the Pixel 8’s Blur video mode, which is supposed to put you in focus while blurring out the background. As you can see in the above footage, the iPhone 15 does a much better job with its Cinematic mode separating me from the trees; the Pixel 8 shows some blurry spots around me as I walk along a path.

Google Pixel 8 review: Performance and AI features

The Google Pixel 8 features a new Tensor G3 chip that promises better CPU performance and graphics, but the real boost comes with the Pixel 8’s AI capabilities. In fact, Google says the G3 runs twice as many machine learning models on-device as the Pixel 6’s original Tensor silicon did. However, I did come across one annoying hiccup during testing.

A good example of the G3’s brains is the improved Call Screen screen feature. Google Assistant can not only answer calls for you, but it does so with a more natural-sounding voice. I tested this feature, and it actually felt like a human was on the other end of the line, politely asking me what the call was about. From there I could see the other caller’s words in real time. Thanks to a future Google Pixel Feature Drop, you’ll even be able to tap on-screen options like confirming appointments without having to pick up the phone.

The Pixel 8 is also smart enough to summarize any web page you’re reading in seconds. You just long press the power button and tap or say summarize, and you’ll get a few key bullet points. The Pixel 8 effectively summarized a Tom’s Guide article on reasons to buy and skip the Pixel 8 Pro.

Even the keyboard gets an AI boost with a new proofread button. You just press the button after typing, and you’ll see highlighted suggestions you can accept. The keyboard effectively corrected my purposeful their vs there error. 

I did encounter some troubling performance bugs during testing. While using the Audio Magic Eraser feature in the Photos app, the Play button up top in the video window disappeared and then the app became unresponsive. I forced closed the app and opened it again but experienced similar issues. Only soft resetting the phone fixed the problem.

In terms of overall performance, the Pixel 8’s Tensor G3 chip is faster than the Pixel 7’s G2 but still trails competing flagship phones. The Pixel 8 did beat the Galaxy S23 on the single-core portion of the Geekbench CPU test but fell behind the Samsung and iPhone 15 on multi-core performance. 

The Pixel 8 is a distant third place in graphics performance based on the 3DMark Wild Life benchmark, mustering just 54 frames per second in the base Unlimited test. But I will say that gameplay on the Pixel 8 was smooth, both when playing Asphalt 9 and racing around the track and flipping in the air and when mowing down enemies in Diablo Immortal. 

We also timed how long it takes to transcode 4K video to 1080p. The Pixel 8 took the longest in its class, finishing the task in 45 seconds, but that's close to the Galaxy S23 Ultra's 39 seconds. The iPhone 15 Pro Max needed just 25 seconds. 

Lastly, the Pixel 8 turned in a solid score of 1,791 in the Geekbench ML test, which measures machine learning performance. That’s nearly triple the Galaxy S23’s score but les than half the iPhone 15.

It's not a performance issue, per se, but it's worth noting that the Face Unlock feature has been upgraded on the Pixel 8 so that it's secure enough to support mobile payments. That's great, but it doesn't unlock your phone in the dark, so I had to use the PIN or fingerprint unlock instead. 

Google Pixel 8 review: Battery life and charging

The good news is that the Google Pixel 8 battery life is much improved over the Pixel 7. The bad news is that it’s still behind the top flagships. On the Tom’s Guide battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits of screen brightness, the Pixel 8 averaged 9 hours and 59 seconds with its screen in 60Hz mode. In smooth mode (120Hz), the Pixel 8 endured for 9:43. 

Compare that to the Pixel 7, which lasted just 7 hours and 30 minutes with its adaptive smoothness off and 7:17 with it on. That’s a huge boost in endurance for the Pixel 8, and it’s pretty close to the average for the smartphones we test.

But other flagship phones last longer. The Galaxy S23 and iPhone 15 both held out for more than 11 hours in our testing, so the Pixel 8 is at least an hour behind the competition.

The Pixel 8 supports 30W charging, and we saw pretty good results. The phone reached 60% in 30 minutes, beating the iPhone 15 (53%) and Galaxy S23 (55%).

Google Pixel 8 review: Android 14 and software

The Pixel 8 is virtually future-proof. And that’s because Google is promising a whopping seven years of OS and security updates along with Feature Drops every few months. 

That’s a big improvement versus the three years of OS updates and five years of security updates on the Pixel 7. Samsung currently offers four years of full Android updates while iPhones typically get five years of updates.

The Pixel 8 runs Android 14 , which introduces a number of improvements. For example, there’s a custom lock screen picker along with generative AI wallpapers for customizing your experience. A new Health Connect tool keeps all your fitness and health data secure in one place, and there’s a new magnifier feature that makes things easier to read for the vision impaired.

Lossless USB audio is coming to Pixel 8 in a future software update , though we don't know when. Since it's part of Android 14 as well, we'll likely see other Android devices start offering support as well.

Google Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8 Pro

If you’re on the fence between the Google Pixel 8 vs Pixel 8 Pro , we have an extensive guide that breaks down all the differences, but here’s a cheat sheet. The Pixel 8 Pro sports a larger 6.7-inch display with a more dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate, and it has a matte glass design on the back that’s easier to grip. It also offers more RAM than the regular Pixel 8 (12GB vs 8GB).

The Pixel 8 Pro also gives pro camera controls in the camera app, letting you tweak the ISO, white balance and more; you also get a telephoto 5x zoom lens, while the Pixel 8 sticks with digital zoom. Lastly, only the Pixel 8 Pro supports Video Boost, an upcoming feature which optimizes videos you upload to the cloud. 

However, the Pixel 8 is the better pick for those who prefer a more compact design, and it’s the better value at $699 vs $999 for the Pro model. 

• Oct 17: We have updated this Pixel 8 review with additional battery test scores, which is now reflected in the new averages. And we have re-run our video transcoding test after performing Pixel 8 updates with better results. 

Google Pixel 8 review: Bottom line

The Google Pixel 8 is the cure for smartphone boredom. It demonstrates what’s possible when you have really smart hardware and software working together and try to leverage what AI can do. I was particularly impressed with the Audio Magic Eraser feature in videos and Best Take, even if it can take a couple of tries to get everything just the way you want it.

The Pixel 8 also benefits from a brighter display, a macro mode for the camera and really good looking HDR video. And while the camera bump on the back of the phone is still pretty big, the overall design is polished and easy to use with one hand. The Photos app could be a bit unstable at times though, which will likely be addressed with updates. 

Even at $100 more than the Pixel 7, I think the Pixel 8 remains a good value. It undercuts the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S23 by $100 while offering nearly everything the competition does. Overall, I prefer the iPhone 15 for its longer battery life and better performance, and the Galaxy S23 gives you a telephoto zoom lens. But the Pixel 8 is a pretty great camera phone and all-around flagship for the money.

Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar , Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.

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How to Make a Pixel Art Boat

In this easy pixel tutorial you will learn how to make a pixel art boat! We will go over the different steps it takes to make your very own boat made out of pixels!

Are you ready to make your own pixel art boat? Learning how to draw a cute pixel art boat is more popular than ever! No matter if you’re looking to create a simplle pixel art boat sprite for your 2D video game or perhaps you just want to share some new 2D art like a racing boat to your social media account this pixel art tutorial will help you make a pixel boat quick and easy.

These are the basic steps for how to make a pixel art boat inside of Mega Voxels:

• Select a Pixel Art Software such as Adobe Photoshop, Mega Voxels or Aseprite
• Create a 32×32 pixel grid
• Sketch out an Outline for the shape of the boat
• Fill in the color of the pixel art boat
• Draw a Shade on the boat to create depth
• Fill in the Background with Color

Now that you are familiar with the basic steps on how to create a pixel art boat, we will cover each step visually so that you can follow along on how to create it.

If you are completely new to pixel art we recommend reading our post How to Create Pixel Art: Beginner’s Tutorial

Select a Pixel Art Software

In this beginner tutorial we will be showing you the steps to create your own pixel art boat regardless of what pixel editor software you prefer to use. Before we begin you will need to know how to create a grid and use the pencil tool in the software of your choice. Once you create your pixel art boat, you can use the pixel art in other games such as Minecraft or software such as Unity Game Engine. We offer tutorials on the following pixel art editor’s so feel free to pick the one that you feel most comfortable with:

• Mega Voxels Pixel Art Tutorials
• Adobe Photoshop Tutorials
• Aseprite Tutorials
• Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

Want to see what pixel art software is best for you? Read our post  Top Free Pixel Art Software

Create a Grid

For starters we will be using a standard 36×36 pixel grid to draw a small pixel art boat. Making 32×32 pixel art is a common size when making pixel art, especially for projects like video games. Be sure that your canvas is set to the color White (#FFFFFF). This will be our canvas that we use to draw our pixel art boat. Your boat pixel art grid should have a canvas, also known as a spreadsheet, that looks something similar to this:

Sketch an Outline for the Boat

Next we will start by making the outline for the boat so we can get the basic shape. To do this choose the color Black (#000000) and activate the pencil tool in your editor. Since this determines the overall shape, feel free to adjust the outline to what match your game or art project. As a guide, you can use the outline we made below or like we mentioned before feel free to make your own.

Fill in the Color

Now that you have an outline for your boat, we will add some color to make it stand out. Fill in the sail section with a gray-white color (#EEEEEE). After that color the main section of the boat a dark blue (#2D81C0). Lastly, let’s color the flag pole brown (#B07F62) and the flag red (#F33900). Try matching our picture of our 8 bit pixel art boat below.

Draw the Shading

Now whenever you make pixel art there are essentially two parts to shading: the highlights and the shadows. We will start with the shadows. We will be applying a shadow to our 32×32 pixel art boat using a single color. To create a shadow color we will start with a darker blue based on the blue we used on the boat (#2873AC). To create a shadow effect, we will draw an outline along the bottom section of the boat to give it a more three dimensional feel. Check out how are pixel art boat after we added a shade to it.

So now that you got the basic idea we will continue adding some depth to our boat to give it a 3D feel. Let’s create a highlight using the same gray from the sail, but instead of going darker we will go lighter (#FFFFFF). Remember, this doesn’t have to be the exact color in fact this is an opportunity to make the boat look like your own. In our version we highlighted the top section of the sail. We also did this to the top of the boat as well (#328ED4).

Great! When you are happy with your shadows and highlights on your boat, be sure to view your final product. To see your pixel art boat go ahead and turn off the grid lines to make sure you like the way the boat came out.

Fill the Background Color

Finally, let’s change the background color of our boat sprite to really make our boat stand out nicely. Select the Bucket fill tool in your editor. For the color enter a very Light Blue (#BCEAFE). Then simply click on the white area outside of the boat sprite.

Where to Go From Here

Congratulations! You now know how to create your very own pixel art boat. Try making different boat pixel art by using other boat types and colors like a speed boat or a cargo boat.

Bonus: Make a 3D Pixel Art Boat

Now that you have drawn your own pixel art boat, you can turn it 3D with Mega Voxels. Simply download the free Mega Voxels app for iOS or Android.

Then import the pixel art you just made using the Add File button inside of the My Gallery page. And that’s it! Mega Voxels automatically transforms you pixel art boat into a 3D pixel art boat. You can now create 3D turntable videos of your 3D pixel art boat and even view your boat in Augmented Reality!

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About the author: megavoxels.

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The Google Pixel 8 has been given a secret second discount

• springdeals24

Amazon’s Spring Deals event is here, and we’ve spotted an excellent double discount on the Pixel 8 – one of our favourite phones on the market.

Amazon has slashed 21% off the original £699 RRP of the Pixel 8, bringing it down to £554.99. A good price, but far from the best we’ve seen.

However, another discount – which won’t be visible until checkout – actually chops another £50 off, bringing the total to a very tempting £504.99. Easily one of the best prices we’ve seen this device go for.

Amazon has slashed 21% off the original £699 RRP of the Pixel 8, bringing it down to £554.99. A good price, but far from the best we’ve seen. However, another discount – which won’t be visible until checkout – actually chops another £50 off, bringing the total to a very tempting £504.99. Easily one of the best prices we’ve seen this device go for.

If this deal isn’t for you, our best Amazon Spring Deals Day live blog features some of the best discounts on everything from phones to air fryers and our expert deal finders will be updating it constantly throughout the sales event.

An undeniably strong camera-focused smartphone with charming AI features and exceptional long-term software support.

• Impressive camera performance with unique AI features
• Solid 6.2-inch OLED display
• All-day battery life
• 7 years of OS upgrades
• Dated design
• No telephoto lens
• Raw performance is behind other flagships

The Pixel 8 is one of our favourite Android smartphones and with these multiple price reductions, it’s now an even better deal. From the excellent camera which easily outpaces its price tag, to the good OLED screen to the exceptional 7 year upgrade promise there’s very little our expert reviewer didn’t like.

There are plenty of AI skills in this phone, from the smart translator to the epic transcribing tech to the Magic Eraser in the camera. These are constantly getting updated too.

The Best Amazon Spring Deal Days Offers

We’ve rounded some of the top Amazon deals below.

• Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer –  Now just £179.99 (was £249.99)
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 1TB –  Now just £1299 (was £2049)
• Xbox Wireless Controller –  Now just £36.99 (was £54.99)
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic –  Now just £291.60 (was £399)
• Sony ZV-1F Vlogging Camera –  Now just £449 (was £549)
• Apple Watch Series 8 45mm –  Now just £293 (was £379)
• Samsung Galaxy A54 5G –  Now just £324 (was £449)
• Microsoft Surface Pro 9 –  Now just £799 (was £1099)
• Garmin Forerunner 745 –  Now just £209.99 (was £399.99)
• Hisense 43-inch 4K QLED TV –  Now just £269 (was £328)
• Meta Quest 2 VR Headset –  Now just £199.99 (was £249)
• Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones –  Now just £199 (was £350)

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Amazon Spring Deal Days Live: Day 2 of Amazon’s massive sale

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The Sony Alpha 7 C has had its first big price drop in ages

The Meta Quest 2 has never been cheaper thanks to this Amazon bargain

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are almost budget earbuds at this price

Amazon’s dropped a whopper of a deal for the Asus ZenBook Duo

Max is the Editor of Trusted Reviews, and has been a mobile phone and technology specialist for over nine years. Max started his career at T3 straight after graduating from Kingston University. Max ha…

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Dynamic Type 1 dolly for the Pixel Proudly made in the USA by Dynamic Dollies and custom sized for your boat, offering a great fit ease of maneuvering. Shipped in an easy to assemble kit.

• Dolly style suits a large number of boats up to 250 lbs., e.g., 470, Tasar, Pico, smaller inflatables, tenders and many more.
• Boat-specific tube and sling lengths provide a custom fit for each boat, enabling a balanced handle load and easy maneuvering.
• All joint fittings are through-bolted and designed for increased torque stability.
• Strong, 3 inch non-stretch, polyester sling provides wrap-around boat support.
• Adjustable, flexible V-fittings on bow and tongue tubes provide boat support forward of the sling and prevent boat and aluminum contact.
• Eyelets on sling and handle fittings facilitate securing boat to dolly in storage, on trailers or in racks. Tie-down with the handle fitting eyelet helps prevent slippage on steep ramps.
• Easy dolly breakdown using the snap buttons on wheel shaft and tongue tube, as well as wing nuts on axle tube cross fitting.
• Pneumatic, non-corrosive, 16 inch x 4 inch wheels can be secured on wheel shaft with provided screws for added security. For soft sand conditions, tire pressure can be reduced to increase tire footprint.
• Ships in an easy to assemble kit.
• Proudly made in the USA by Dynamic Dollies and Racks.

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Sail1Design

pixel sailboat

July 30, 2016 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

The Pixel is a boat for the new century. It is stable, roomy, fast and self-bailing – a giant step into the future of small boat design. It is designed as a junior trainer, but has the legroom and capacity for adult enjoyment as well.The 13′ 9″ sloop was designed by Bruce Kirby, who also designed the Laser, a series of highly sucessful International dinghies, the Sonar and the Ideal 18. As a fun, fast boat that has the best that modern technology and design can offer, the PIXEL appeals to a wide range of sailors. The stable, self –bailing open cockpit is comfortable and easy to move around in keeping sailors feeling safe and in control. The epoxy hull is both lighter and stronger than traditional polyester fiberglass giving better performance and greater longevity. The carbon fiber mast means lighter weight aloft for better performance without reducing sail area. It also makes it easier for smaller sailors to rig and de-rig. Whether a “seasoned salt”, beginning sailor or somewhere in between, the PIXEL has something to offer everyone! “The PIXEL was designed to teach kids how to sail together, how to work together, and how to interact in making the boat sail at its best.” Bruce Kirby Learn more about the Pixel HERE

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Pixel Boat Rush

Pixel Boat Rush is a little more than you might expect. At first glance it looks like a simple one-touch racer, something to pass the time without really being challenged.

But scratch the surface and you'll find a surprisingly intricate system of pattern recognition and reaction timing. It's more like a don't-touch racer, with guns and super explosions.

Of course the flip side of that complexity is that this isn't a game you can pick up and play instantly. And while it manages to straddle arcade playability and racing depth, some might be put off by just how inflexible it can be.

The aim of the game is to pilot a powerboat through a series of races. You're driving against up to six other opponents, bouncing over waves that look remarkably like rolling hills.

Or, more accurately, you're trying not to bounce. Pushing on the right side of the screen sees you accelerating, and if you keep your finger pushed down as you hurtle over the crest of a wave you'll fly into the air.

But if you release your finger at just the right time, the downforce of your boat will suck you down and make sure you don't take off.

Sometimes you'll want to fly, to avoid tricky sections of waves, or to grab a power-up or some coins. Most of the time the fastest route is the one that keeps you on the sea though.

The races are the same each time, and you need to remember when to fly and when to stick. There are rocky obstacles to avoid, and after a sedate start the second race sees you and your opponents toting weaponry.

You collect coins and tools to upgrade your vehicle, and there's a silly story running through the game that's all about regaining your place at the top of the powerboat rankings.

And it's quite a lot of fun. It's certainly tougher than that first glance suggests, and it can be a little frustrating as you learn the ropes.

But Pixel Boat Rush is worth persevering with. There's a fizz to the ideas here that makes them slightly intoxicating, and while it loses a little of its spark as you get further in, there's still a lot here to like.

Google Pixel Tablet review: It’s all about the dock

A so-so slate is greater than the sum of its parts with the addition of a bundled smart home dock.

No need to sugarcoat it, the history of Android tablets is rough. There are some exceptions. Samsung, for one, has managed to carve out a decent market for itself in the space, courtesy of nice hardware and heavy Android customization. The Galaxy maker has secured a consistent No. 2 behind Apple — accounting for nearly a quarter of all shipments in Q1 2023, per IDC .

Things drop off precipitously from there. Huawei is actually in third at around 7% of the market. That’s not surprising on the basis of hardware quality, but the company’s much-publicized struggles with the U.S. government have left it in a lurch. They’ve also pushed the company off its Android dependence into its homebrew, HarmonyOS.

Lenovo is the other major Android tablet maker in the top five; Amazon is in fifth, but Fire OS doesn’t really qualify by most measures. The company excels in good, innovative hardware, while its tablets are split between three operating systems: Android, Windows and Chrome.

We won’t relitigate why the operating system has struggled to catch on with tablets the same way it has handsets — but we can definitely say it’s not for lack of trying. After an initial reluctance around hardware makers porting the mobile OS to a larger form factor, Google began trying its own hand at Android tablets a little over a decade ago.

In 2012, the company partnered with Asus on the Nexus 7 and Samsung for the Nexus 10. An HTC-built Nexus 9 arrived in 2014. The Pixel C was released the following year, amid a shift to first-party hardware after years of partnerships. A Pixel Slate arrived in 2018, with a shift to Chrome as Google’s preferred tablet operating system. Much like its predecessors, that didn’t last long.

When the Pixel Tablet was first teased in 2022, one major question loomed over the rest: Why should this time be any different? In addition to standard adoption problems, Google’s approach to the tablet category has been defined by intense indecision, above all. Consumer electronics adoption is often a slow burn, one that requires commitment. Over the years, one has the unshakable sense that the Google hardware team was throwing up its hands in frustration after each subsequent swing.

Image Credits: Brian Heater

When the Pixel Tablet was fully unveiled at I/O, the answer seemed to be: This time will be different because the approach is different. The dock is the thing. Make no mistake. The dock is what makes the Pixel Tablet interesting. In fact, I’m more inclined to refer to it as a Nest Home with a detachable screen than a Pixel Tablet with a dock — though I’m sure Google wouldn’t be thrilled with that particular classification.

To be fair, when the Home Hub initially launched, I wrote, “From a design standpoint, the product is best described as a seven-inch tablet resting atop a speaker at ~ a 25 to 30 degree angle.” More than any other smart screen on the market at the time, Google’s resembled a small tablet grafted onto a speaker base. I can’t be the only one who felt momentarily compelled to see if I could remove it.

The Pixel Tablet is the clear logical extension of that design. Whether it’s ultimately a tablet or smart screen first is ultimately in the eye of the user. But Google made a canny decision bundling the two together. In fact, at present, the tablet can only be purchased as a bundle. Perhaps at some point down the road users will want to buy the slate separately, but it’s currently difficult to get excited about the device as a stand-alone.

It’s a solid piece of hardware. The device feels premium enough, and it bests the standard iPad on multiple accounts. The display is 10.95 inches with a 2650 x 1600 resolution — versus the 10th-gen iPad’s 10.9-inch, 2360 x 1640 screen (the Pixel has a slightly higher pixel density). Its battery is rated at 12 hours, to the iPad’s 10. It ships with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, to the iPad’s 4 GB and 64 GB, respectively. The front- and rear-facing cameras are both eight megapixels, down from 12-megapixels on the iPad.

In many ways, the Pixel Tablet is best understood as Google’s equivalent to the base-level iPad. It’s a flash-free utilitarian device that will do the things you need a tablet to do. It’s a product that Google could have hypothetically started producing a decade or so back, rather than waffling in its approach to the space and letting hardware partners like Samsung, Huawei and Lenovo eat its lunch.

But, then, the Google of the past always seemed to have an uneasy relationship with the notion of first-party hardware. It preferred letting existing hardware firms do the heavy lifting. When it released its own device, it generally lacked follow-through. But a few key things have happened in the meantime:

1. Google bought Nest for $3.2 billion in 2014 and has spent the intervening years building out its smart home offering, including various Home Hub devices. 2. The company went scorched earth on the Pixel division, bought a chunk of HTC IP and rebuilt from the ground up. 3. The company developed Android L, a variation of the operating system for larger screens — not unlike iPadOS.

That last one is, in some ways, the most essential. The company wasn’t entirely clear with messaging when it dropped in late 2021 (as evidenced by the clear befuddlement in this post by my exceptionally rational colleague, Frederic). Android 12L was introduced, in part, to embrace growing interest around foldables. It also gives developers a native way to bring Android to a tablet. It was quickly embraced by the likes of Samsung, Lenovo and Microsoft.

It brings some key features, like a multitasking split screen accessible through the taskbar. With that enabled, you can more easily drag and drop media from Google Photos into apps. Showcasing new software features has always been a fundamental underpinning of Google’s consumer hardware play, and there’s no reason to believe the Pixel Tablet isn’t a direct outgrowth of that philosophy.

But coming out with a fine — if largely unexceptional — tablet in 2023 isn’t going to be the magic bullet that finally reverses a decade of attempting to establish yourself in the category. A combination tablet/smart display/home hub, on the other hand, is a compelling proposition. Same goes for the price. Offering the Pixel Tablet alone for $499 would have been a hard sell, as well. Unless you’re Samsung, you need to price your system far more aggressive than Apple (the standard iPad starts at $449). Adding the speaker dock and Nest Home Hub functionality, on the other hand, sweetens the deal significantly.

Suddenly you’ve got a device that straddles Google’s two primary consumer hardware divisions (Pixel, Nest) quite nicely. Google’s not the first to try this, of course. Amazon is probably the best example, with Fire docks that double as Echo devices courtesy of “Show Mode” for FireOS. Google’s equivalent is Hub mode.

By default, the system shows a rotating gallery of wallpapers. Once connected to the rest of your smart home devices, you can access a panel that centralizes monitoring and controls over lights, thermostats and the like. This can all be done without unlocking the device, though more sensitive things like security cameras still require the unlock.

Image Credits: Google

Hub Mode automatically turns on when you dock the system, magnetically snapping it in place, so the charging pins line up (the system can also be charged via USB-C when the dock isn’t on hand). You’ll see a brief animation letting you know it’s working as planned. If you’re playing music on the tablet, the song will then be transferred to the dock’s speakers, which are significantly fuller than what you get with the slate. As with the Nest Hub, it’s a nice way to watch quick things like YouTube videos.

I certainly wouldn’t make it my primary movie watching or music listening device, but I’ve always found Nest hubs to be a great companion to better smart speakers like the Google Home Max (RIP?). It’s a great little visual media control for the music as it plays. You can use it with a variety of services, including Spotify and Apple Music.

That’s one of the nice things about using an Android tablet versus a smart display: access to a huge app library. That means the docked tablet also services as a handy little teleconferencing device for things like Google Meet and Zoom. The front-facing camera and speakers are more than enough to get the job done.

When it came to launching a new tablet in 2023, Google had an intensely difficult task ahead of it. It’s an extremely mature category with established players. Much like smartphones, tablets have largely improved to the point of being a bit boring, frankly. Convertibles have made a somewhat compelling case for continued creativity, but the slates themselves have fallen into a similar iterative spec race. For the first time, however, Google understood the assignment. Any new hardware it was going to introduce had to be more than just a tablet. The Pixel isn’t the first tablet to feature smart home docking functionality, but it’s the first where that functionality feels more primary than afterthought.

The Pixel Tablet isn’t going to set the world on fire, but in some ways, Google has done the impossible: made a standard, entry-level slate interesting in the year of our lord, 2023.

Pixel Boat Rush Review

There aren’t enough aquatic racing games these days. With Wave Race and Kelly Slater Pro Surfer both sleeping with the fishes, those with the need for speed have unfortunately been landlocked. But with Pixel Boat Rush players can race on the high seas once more, and even if all of its systems don’t succeed, they still create a distinct and entertaining combination.

Those basics will get players through the first few races, but to really go for the gold in Pixel Boat Rush 's fair amount of events players will also need to go on the offensive. Certain levels give players access to their boat’s guns. By holding the fire button, they can mow down competitors in front of them. Of course this also means they're vulnerable to shots from behind, and this is one area where the game stumbles a little bit.

But even if Pixel Boat Rush doesn’t completely coalesce, it’s still a unique racing game with weirdness that just makes it even more wonderful. Check it out before it’s lost at sea.

iPhone Screenshots

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iPad Screenshots

Google's Pixel 8A Will Be Similar to the Pixel 8, Leak Suggests

The latest leak provides further evidence that there will be more crossover between Google's A-series and regular Pixels.

Google's Pixel 8 Pro (left) and Pixel 8 (right).

Google's Pixel 8A will have a lot in common with its more expensive sibling, if a recent leak turns out to be accurate. The search giant's next budget phone is expected to run on the company's Tensor G3 processor, similar to the Pixel 8 . It may also have a higher 120Hz refresh rate, according to Android Authority , further bridging the gap between Google's flagship and lower-tier phone.

If the report turns out to be correct, it would continue the approach Google took with last year's Pixel 7A . As I wrote when reviewing the phone last year, the Pixel 7A essentially felt like a version of the Pixel 7 that was $100 cheaper. 

A Google representative did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment regarding the leak.

Read more : iOS 18 Wish List: Everything We Want Apple to Add to the iPhone

Other potential similarities between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8A could include design and screen brightness. The report says the 8A will get a boost to 1,400 nits to match the Pixel 8. It sounds like the biggest difference between the two devices would be the Pixel 8A's camera, which is expected to have a 64-megapixel main camera, 13-megapixel ultrawide camera and 13-megapixel selfie camera just like the Pixel 7A, reports Android Authority. The Pixel 8, by comparison has a 50-megapixel main shooter along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 10.5-megapixel selfie camera.

That might make the Pixel 8A's camera sound superior to the Pixel 8's on paper. But when I compared the Pixel 7A against the Pixel 7 -- which has a similar camera setup as the Pixel 8 -- I couldn't really tell the difference. Google also told me at the time that the Pixel 7's camera sensor is larger and more light sensitive, which should result in better image quality despite the difference in resolution. The case could possibly be the same for the Pixel 8A. 

The Pixel 8A will also include DisplayPort support, meaning you'll be able to connect it to a monitor, says the report. That feature also appears to be coming to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro as indicated by an Android beta software release, which Android Authority also reported. 

Among the biggest questions about the Pixel 8A is whether Google will provide Android version and security software updates for seven years like it does with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. That would make the Pixel 8A an even better value and could give it an advantage over Samsung's recently announced competitors, the Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G , both of which will only receive four years of such updates.

Google introduced the Pixel 7A during its Google I/O conference last year, so it's possible we'll learn more about the device in the coming months. 

We won't know concrete details until Google announces the Pixel 8A. But the company typically prices its A-series phones around $100 to $150 below its standard Pixel phones. 

Making quality smartphones more affordable is always a good thing. Still, as I wrote ahead of the Pixel 8's launch last year, it also makes it more difficult for Google's mainline smartphones to stand out. It feels like Google is targeting the same audience with both its standard Pixel phones and its A-series phones, which could dampen the Pixel 8's appeal. 

If the Pixel 8A turns out to be a scaled-back version of the Pixel 8 as the leaks suggest, it'll certainly raise the bar for the Pixel 9.

See the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Up Close and Personal

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Get up to 29% off the Google Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro

If you just happen to need a new smartphone and you’re a fan of Android phones , you should check out the offers that are available in Amazon’s Google Pixel unlocked phones sale, where prices start as low as $374, and discounts can go as high as 29% off. All of these bargains are limited-time Google Pixel deals though, so you better hurry in deciding what to buy. Move quickly with your purchase to be able to pocket the savings, because we’re not sure if they’ll still be online as soon as tomorrow.

What to buy in Amazon’s Google Pixel unlocked phones sale

To get a Google Pixel phone for cheap, you should shop the offer for the Google Pixel 7a with a 6.1-inch OLED display in Amazon’s Google Pixel unlocked phones sale. From its 128GB model’s original price of $499, it’s down by 25% to for savings of $125. The latest versions in Google’s line of smartphones are available too — the 128GB Google Pixel 8 with a 6.2-inch Actua display is , following a 29% discount that slashes its sticker price of $699 by $200, and the 128GB Google Pixel 8 Pro with a 6.7-inch Super Actua display is , which is 25% off its original price of $99 for savings of $250. If you need help choosing between them, consult our Google Pixel 8 versus Google Pixel 8 Pro comparison.

If you’re interested in folding phones , you should think about buying the 256GB model of the Google Pixel Fold from Amazon’s ongoing sale. For a , which is 28% off its original price of $1,799 for savings of $500, you’ll get a versatile and powerful device with a 5.8-inch OLED cover display and a 7.6-inch inner OLED display.

For those who are looking for phone deals , you should give Google Pixel smartphones a shot. These Android-powered devices are available with discounts of up to 20% off, but these limited-time offers may be gone as soon as tomorrow. You have to choose what to buy in Amazon’s Google Pixel unlocked phones sale as soon as possible because you may lose your chance at the savings if you move slow. You can’t go wrong with a Google Pixel phone, and you’ll be getting even more value if you can get one for cheaper than usual.

Editors' Recommendations

• Amazon is having a huge sale on Google and Samsung tablets
• Get 32% off the cellular model of the iPad Pro 12.9 this weekend
• Best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals: Save up to $800 on the phone
• Best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals: Get Samsung’s flagship for $300
• Google Pixel Fold deals: Save $1,000 on Google’s foldable phone
• Google Pixel

If you're thinking about buying Google's latest flagship smartphone, the Google Pixel 8, then you should take advantage of phone deals so that you can enjoy a discount when purchasing the device. There are offers from retailers, carriers, and Google itself, and we've rounded them all up below so you won't have to go anywhere else if you want to compare them. You're going to have to be quick if you want to shop these Google Pixel 8 deals though, as they may not stick around for long. Today's best Google Pixel 8 deals There are some great Google Pixel 8 deals around including direct discounts when you buy the phone unlocked and trade-in deals for anyone who wants to commit to a specific cell phone provider. With such versatility, there should be something for everyone here. Take a look below to find the best Google Pixel 8 deal for your situation.

If you just got yourself a new device from iPhone deals or AirPods deals, your next purchase should be on protection for your smartphone or wireless earbuds. Nomad's cases will not only prevent physical damage, but they will also provide a unique sense of style so that your iPhone or AirPods will stand out anywhere you go. There's an ongoing Nomad Overstock sale with discounts of up to 85% covering cases for the iPhone 14, AirPods 3, and more -- check out everything that's available, and hopefully there's something that will be compatible with your current device.

What to buy in Nomad's Overstock sale Nomad's Overstock sale includes cases for the iPhone 14 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, and iPhone XS series. For the largest discounts, the Modern Leather Case - Horween for the iPhone 14 Plus is 85% off,

While there are savings from phone deals on the latest flagship devices, you can also get discounts that will make previous-generation models even cheaper. For example, the Google Pixel 6a, which is already pretty affordable at its original price of $349, is down by $79 from Amazon's Woot to just $270. There are several days remaining on this offer to get the Android smartphone at 23% off, but you're going to want to finalize your purchase as soon as possible because there's a chance that stocks run out before the bargain's scheduled expiry.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel 6a The latest Google Pixel smartphones are the Google Pixel 8 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, but the Google Pixel 6a, released in 2022, is still a worthwhile purchase. It's an affordable smartphone with support for 5G technology for fast data speeds, and since it's unlocked, it will work with all the major carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. You'll be able to maximize the enhanced connectivity with the smooth performance provided by the Google Pixel 6a's Tensor processor, which is Google's first-ever chip that's designed for Pixel smartphones.

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro

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George 20 March 2024

Samsung Google Featured Versus

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is quite possibly the most complete Android smartphone on the market but where does that leave Google, Android's very creator, and its own Pixel phone? Out of lockstep, the two lineups are bound to be somewhat mismatched when it comes to having the latest hardware, but that doesn't mean that the Pixel 8 Pro, now in the middle of its lifecycle, doesn't have its advantages over the Galaxy. Let's try and find them.

Table of Contents:

• Battery Life
• Speaker Test

Performance

For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the text further down below.

Size comparison

Neither phone is anything close to compact, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is big even as big phones go. Its actual dimensions are only part of the story - in fact, the Pixel is both taller (if only just) and thicker than the Galaxy, but the S24 Ultra is wider (which is where the seemingly negligible 2.5mm difference can actually be felt) and heavier (by some 9-ish percent).

The thing is, though, that while the Pixel still maintains some sort of curvature on its back that makes it feel thinner in the hand, the Galaxy's blockiness means you'd be feeling every bit of how big it is. So even if you're well aware that you'd be getting a large handset, the Pixel is able to mask its size better.

The Galaxy does feature more premium materials in its build - the titanium frame and Corning's latest Gorilla Armor are both a step up from the Pixel's aluminum rails and Victus 2 sheets. But both phones carry the same IP68 rating (up to 1.5m for 30 min), so technically they should be equally well protected against dust and water ingress.

Design is subjective, of course, and both approaches probably have their fans, but we'll say that the Pixel has more character thanks to that visor-like camera strip. The Galaxy offers more color choices, and if you order one directly from Samsung, there are some more interesting hues, while the Pixel's Bay blue remains a favorite option in our office.

Display comparison

The latest Pixel makes few compromises with its display and features a really nice OLED panel, as does the Galaxy. You get an adaptive refresh rate on both, which can go as low as 1Hz or as high as 120Hz. Neither display has Dolby Vision support, so you'll have to make do with HDR10 and HDR10+, whichever phone you choose.

In our testing, the Pixel was slightly brighter than the Galaxy with adaptive brightness enabled ( 1,600nits vs. 1,447nits ) with a more pronounced difference when setting the brightness manually - 954nits vs. 755nits . We're not saying the Galaxy isn't bright enough; we're just pointing out that the Pixel is even brighter.

Now, the Ultra does have one advantage that's coming from the new glass it's using, and that's the reduced reflectivity. We've had some folks at the office hail it as a game-changer while others remain less excited, the fact is that there is indeed a noticeable difference.

The Galaxy's display is not without its imperfections, and it suffers from a certain graininess that can be observed at low brightness levels - how irked you are by this will likely vary depending on how often you use your phone in dark environments.

Battery life

The two phones have almost identical battery capacities, the Pixel's extra 50mAhs barely registering as a difference, but the Galaxy does make significantly better use of it. The Ultra has meaningfully longer endurance in three of our tests, and in the fourth, it still has an advantage, only a much smaller one. We'd count this as one of the major victories for the S24 Ultra.

Charging speed

Galaxies rarely win charging speed contests, so big thanks to Google for making a phone that charges slower still. At a time when others can go from zero to 100% in less than half an hour, the Pixel 8 Pro is barely over 50% in 30 minutes - the Galaxy's 69% result suddenly looks good.

The Pixel nets a small win for wireless charging, at least in theory - Google says the 8 Pro can go as high as 23W when placed on the Pixel Stand, while the Galaxy is only rated for up to 15W with compatible Qi pads. That said, the Pixel drops to 12W with third-party wireless chargers, so it's more like half of a win, really.

Speaker test

The two differ in that the Galaxy's speakers will only output their respective channels, while the Pixel's approach is to also play the opposite channel's track at a lower volume. We can't say we have a preference one way or the other.

The Galaxy proved louder in our testing, earning a 'Very Good' mark next to the Pixel's merely 'Good' rating. We'd also give the nod to the S24 Ultra for sound quality as well.

You can compare how the two phones sound in controlled acoustic conditions with the samples below. Just make sure you have your headphones on and the volume is at max level.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, as are most high-end Androids in 2024. The Pixel 8 Pro comes from last year, and its custom Tensor G3 chipset was already lagging behind in raw power against 2023 Qualcomm silicon, so comparing benchmark scores won't do the Pixel any favors. Google insists that benchmarks and brute force don't matter and that they've optimized for user experience and whatnot, but ultimately, it's not a good look for them.

One thing that's bugging us on the Pixel is the 128GB base storage - that's just not right for a true flagship in 2024, and no, it doesn't matter that it came out in late 2023. Both phones have 12GB of RAM across all versions, and both can be had with up to 1TB of storage, though the Galaxy does use faster UFS 4.0 chips (UFS 3.1 on the Google phone).

We're back to parity when it comes to software update policy, believe it or not - Google promised 7 years of updates for the latest Pixels and so too did Samsung for the S24 family. It's unclear how usable a 7-year-old phone will be with the latest software, but the long-term commitment is praiseworthy. It's, in a way, a bigger deal for Samsung, which was once heavily criticized for poor software support, while it's almost taken for granted on the Pixel - after all, it's Google's OS and Google's phone, of course they should support it indefinitely.

During the S24 announcement event, Samsung and Google demoed AI features exclusive to the S24 lot. The two companies are working together, and for better or worse, the Galaxies and the Pixels possess smarts that haven't been unlocked on other Android phones. Whether one lineup has a meaningful advantage over the other is hard to quantify, though.

While still on the subject of software, it's worth saying a few words about the S Pen - the stylus adds another layer of productivity that simply having a large screen and AI capabilities doesn't quite match. Jotting down notes, 'signing' documents, or just having a wireless remote for your camera always there with you - the S Pen remains a unique selling point for the Ultra.

Camera comparison

The Pixel has always been lauded as one of the best camera phones, and the Galaxy Ultra is not without imaging pedigree. The two take somewhat similar approaches in leaning heavily on the computational side of things and taking it easy with hardware - there are no one-inch sensors to be found here.

Both phones feature main cameras at around the 1/1.3” mark; only Samsung's sensor is 200MP, while the Pixel has 50MP on the badge. The Pixel's ultrawide uses a larger imager (1/2.0” vs. 1/2.55”), and both have autofocus. Both phones have 5x zoom telephoto cameras with similar specs too. The Galaxy has one extra camera, though - a 3x telephoto to bridge the gap between the main camera and the 5x telephoto.

Photo quality

Picking one over the other is mostly a matter of personal preference, though there are a few areas where the Galaxy is objectively better.

Finally, the Galaxy's 5x is also sharper than the Pixel's.

Selfies are also pretty nice on both phones, but there is one difference that can be of some significance. The Pixel's selfie camera has a focal length equivalent of 21mm, while the Galaxy stands at 25mm, so if you're after wider-than-most selfies, the Pixel is the way to go.

If you're out shooting at night, both phones will give you pleasing exposures and nice colors across all cameras. The Galaxy maintains an edge in sharpness and detail at all zoom levels, though - the differences may not be huge, but the Ultra is just consistently better.

Video quality

The Galaxy and the Pixel both have h.264 and h.265 codec options, but Samsung also gives you extra (higher) bit rate options. HDR10 video recording is also on the menu (well, both menus), and stabilization is available in all modes.

Video quality is generally great on both, though there are certain specifics in rendition - as usual. The Pixel's output is a bit more expressive - with higher contrast and saturation, next to a slightly more laid-back Galaxy (even accounting for the different time of capturing these). There's no meaningful advantage in video sharpness one way or the other, so this remains mostly a matter of which look you prefer. Well, that, and the Galaxy's wider feature set.

In low-light video recording, we'd say that the Galaxy is giving us better exposure and dynamic range making for lighter, more easily likeable output. It also has a bit of an edge in terms of detail on the main camera, while the ultrawides and the telephotos are mostly on par.

With the latest Galaxy Ultra, Samsung has once again made the 'have-it-all' Android smartphone. Google's approach to the matter isn't quite as comprehensive - the software company's vision for its hardware is simply different. In that sense, there's no wonder that the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Pixel 8 Pro diverge in many ways and will attract different customers.

The Pixel 8 Pro has a couple of esoteric advantages that are hard to quantify, but we know, for a fact, they exist. Google's own version of Android feels different from the rest, and no one else can quite match it. It's a similar story with the image processing which, if you're on #teampixel, may feel the only right way.

Of course, there are a couple of more objective reasons to pick an 8 Pro over an S24 Ultra - like the ultra-ish wide selfies and the lower price - in most places and most of the time.

But for most things measurable and observable, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has an advantage. The new materials promise better durability, while the less reflective display glass is one of few readily perceptible physical developments when it comes to your immediate interaction with your phone. The S Pen remains a staple of the lineup that you can't get elsewhere, the Ultra's chipset is vastly more powerful than the Pixel's, and the Galaxy has better battery life too.

Perhaps of most significant importance is the Galaxy's generally superior camera performance. It does intermediate zoom levels better than the Pixel, but tends to outclass it at the native magnifications too, particularly in stills. In video, on the other hand, it offers a wider feature set that makes it more appealing for serious use.

In summary, Google is indeed making the best Pixel phone - that is to say, if you're the type of person who likes the Google way of doing things, the Pixel 8 Pro is for you, and you'll be able to rationalize around its shortcomings. But if you're after the most full-featured Android smartphone, that would be the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for:

• The less reflective display
• The tougher build
• The longer battery life
• The much more powerful chipset
• The overall superior camera

Get the Google Pixel 8 Pro for:

• The lower price
• The Google software experience
• The Pixel camera look
• The wide selfies

Reader comments

• 2 hours ago

Producing over saturated, cartoonish colours isn't personal preference. Not able to produce true red isn't personal preference. These are all objective. Reviewer needs to take a rudimentary course on photography. The pixel camera for stil...

• Shamrock Sean
• 4 hours ago

Sorry GSM Arena but Samsung image processing isn't sharper or consistently better. You're blind

• its a smurf

Unfair and Unessessary comparison.

• Read all comments

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