Last years base model is in a strange place. Yes, the Pixel 8 is still a great buy, but it might not be easy to recommend as Android and, in particular AI, plays a more integral role in the OS over the coming years – here’s why.
Mixed messaging means a false start
The idea of a distinct base model isn’t new. It exists in practically every industry, and having an entry-level version of your phone is a great way to get people to upgrade or to even use it as a de facto sales pitch for the bigger, better phone.
Back in 2023, the idea that the Pixel 8 would become a tough sell due to factors beyond the scope of the core offering seemed a bit odd. However, we’ve seen a steady change since Gemini and some other functions were added, making it an odd part of the past couple of launches.
At least Google consistently said the Pixel 8 wouldn’t get some things. By default, there is no Zoom Enhance, Gemini Nano, Summarize for Recorder, next-gen Magic Eraser, improved Smart Reply in Gboard, and a few other little things that bubble under the surface of the phone. All of that was sold as exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Some of the major confusion seems to have come from the messaging around the 7-year update promise. Defining what should be considered part of an “update” is why lots of owners grew frustrated as the Pixel 8 Pro gained Gemini Nano as part of the December 2023 Feature Drop. The Pixel 8 fell at the first hurdle because it missed some headline AI additions right after launch.
Terrance Zhang, developer relations engineer at Google even stated that the Pixel 8 wouldn’t get Gemini Nano due to some “hardware limitations.” The theory was RAM, as the Pixel 8 shipped with 8GB of onboard memory versus 12GB on the Pixel 8 Pro.
Backlash ensued, and either to appease those complaints or just a u-turn for owners, the company added the option as a toggle in the Developer options section on 8 and 8a with the June 2024 Feature Drop. You have to seek it out and enable the AICore option in the developer area of your phone. It was never enabled by default like on the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 9 series. Credit where it’s due, Google addressed complaints and at least added the option despite some internal suggestions that the hardware wasn’t capable enough.
Will the Pixel 8 get left behind in an age of AI?
It’s been almost a year since the complaints have more or less died down, and there’s nothing to worry about, right? The short answer is: sort of.
Google set a precedent by enabling something that was said to not be possible due to hardware limitations. That means that the company consciously decided to limit the phone right out of the box, or keep certain AI tasks as a Pro-tier option only. If it’s the latter that makes business sense, but at the expense of user experience.
Here’s the big conundrum, though. If that decision was made prior to launch, why walk back so quickly? Everyone is pointing to the 8GB of onboard memory as the big limiter. The Pixel 9 now ships with 12GB of RAM, which likely accounts for any shortcomings on the Pixel 8. Google knew that this would cause problems for AI functions.
It’s also somewhat compounded because we’ve more or less been told we should settle for subpar performance with Tensor versus the top-tier Qualcomm chips, because AI tasks are set to be a core component. Shipping with the same chip on the base and the Pro tier means you can’t as easily hide behind some hardware downgrades without it feeling more than just an afterthought.
Why optimize the SoC to target AI, if onboard memory is still a limiting factor in whether certain phones will be able to even run Gemini-powered functions? The Google Assistant is almost 100% cloud-based and is also set to be replaced in the coming months. What will be the future of Gemini Nano on these older models, like the Pixel 8 and 8a, that lack the internals to do basic AI tasks?
Almost 18 months after launch, it’s hard not to feel like the Pixel 8 was being set up to fail in the long term. While we’re not putting words in people’s mouths, we’d wager A-series owners are likely more comfortable with missing out on some things because the entry cost is lower and less of a big deal. That said, if the experience of using your phone is clean and smooth, and you can do the basics without problems, these complaints do seem trivial.
You need to ask yourself if you care about all of this. If the answer is no, then continue to enjoy using what is still a great device and don’t fret about these silly additional AI options you have no intention of ever using. If you care about functions, then maybe you should be aware that things could change quite drastically over the next few major Android releases.
Where to now for Pixel 8 owners?
One of the strengths of a Pixel phone has ordinarily been how well the experience matures as updates arrive. Because of those aforementioned foibles, this might not be the case for too much longer as Gemini and AI become greater components of the core Android experience on Made by Google hardware.
Top comment by SF90
By the time they find a worthwhile use for AI on phones that isn’t just a showy gimmick, it’ll be out of updates anyway. They sold you a phone and delivered everything they promised. New features are never guaranteed.
The Pixel 8 – and by extension the 8a – are in a strange position. At least on paper, save for the latest Tensor chip, they are almost identical to the recently released Pixel 9a. That phone lacks a lot of features too, but will be in a similar position when Pixel Drops lack some of the AI content made possible with Gemini Nano.
We don’t expect older phones to get every single new feature that you’ll get on the new phone. The main thing is that we get clarity on what is possible or not coming from the very get-go. Better communication is needed regarding what constitutes an “update” versus the OS. Moving forward, it would go a long way to prevent this from becoming a perceived problem. The latest security patch and a new lick of paint is not the same as a brand new ability powered by something that feels intangible on your device.
It’s just a shame that the Pixel 8 feels like the first casualty, as Gemini and AI features are likely going to be where the real big changes are made to our favorite phone series moving forward.
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