We put the Google Pixel 8 through our rigorous SBMARK Display test suite to measure its performance across six criteria. In this summary of test results, we’ll break down how it performed in a variety of tests and several common use cases.
Overview
Key Display Specifications:
- 6.2-inch, 109.8 cm2 OLED (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
- Dimensions: 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm (5.93 x 2.79 x 0.35 inches)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels (~428 ppi density)
- Aspect ratio: 20:9
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
Pros
- The device is readable under all tested conditions.
- Colors are well rendered in most conditions tested.
- Brightness and contrast are suitable for watching HDR10 content.
- The device feels smooth and responsive when scrolling.
Against
- A pinkish tint may be evident in a bright environment, depending on the direction of the light source.
- You may experience unwanted palm touches on the edges of the device when holding it with one hand.
- Aliasing is evident in video games.
The Google Pixel 8 showed strong performance in all attributes, but especially in terms of readability, color and video, placing it just behind its bigger brother, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, at the top of our current rankings. With improved specifications and strong tuning, this versatile smartphone offers a flagship experience in all lighting conditions and in almost all use cases.
Test summary
About SBMARK display tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphones and other display reviews, SBMARK engineers perform a series of objective and perceptual tests under controlled laboratory and real-life conditions. Please note that we evaluate display attributes using only the device’s built-in display hardware and its still image (gallery) and video apps with default settings. (For in-depth information on how we evaluate smartphones and other displays, see our articles “How SBMARK Tests Display Quality” and “A Closer Look at SBMARK Display Tests.”
The following section brings together key elements of our comprehensive testing and analysis performed in SBMARK laboratories. Detailed performance evaluations in the form of reports are available upon request. Do not hesitate to contact us.
How the display readability score is composed
Readability evaluates the ease and comfort with which users can read fixed content (photos and web) on the display in various real-life conditions. SBMARK uses its display stand to recreate ambient light conditions ranging from total darkness to bright sunlight. In addition to laboratory tests, perceptual analysis is also carried out in real-life environments.
Like the Pro version, the Pixel 8 is readable outdoors and in direct sunlight. We measured its peak brightness when viewing typical photo content at 1600 nits in real-world outdoor conditions.
The Pixel 8 is slightly dimmer than the iPhone 15 when viewing photos, but when it comes to viewing a web page, the Pixel 8 gets brighter than the iPhone. The iPhone 15 showed a 50% drop in brightness at 900 nits versus a 7% drop at 1500 for the Pixel 8. As with previous generations of Google smartphones, the Pixel 8 also achieved a solid performance in terms of readability angular and uniformity.
Readability in an indoor environment (1000 lux).
From left to right: Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, Honor Magic5 Pro, Apple iPhone 15
(Photos are illustrative only)
Readability in a sunny environment (>90,000 lux).
From left to right: Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, Honor Magic5 Pro, Apple iPhone 15
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Readability of a web page in an environment exposed to sunlight (>90 000 lux).
From left to right: Google Pixel 8, Apple iPhone 15
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Measurement of luminance uniformity
This graph shows display uniformity with a gray pattern at 20%. The more visible the green color, the more uniform the display will be.
How the display color score is composed
The color attribute evaluates the device’s ability to accurately reproduce colors. The measurements taken concern fidelity, white point color and gamut coverage. We perform color evaluations for different lighting conditions to see how well the device can handle color in its surroundings. Colors are measured using a spectrophotometer in a controlled lighting environment. The perceptual analysis of the color rendering takes place compared to the reference model displayed on a calibrated professional monitor.
Broadly keeping up with the Pro version in terms of color performance, the Pixel 8 delivered very pleasing colors and particularly good skin tone rendition. While it avoided the yellowish rendering seen on its Apple competitors, the Pixel 8 displayed a slight pink cast outdoors when there was a strong light source coming from the top corner; otherwise, it showed a more pronounced yellow-green angle shift compared to the Pro version.
White point under D65 illuminant at 1000 lux
Indoor color rendering (1000 lux)
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, Honor Magic5Pro, Apple iPhone 15
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Color rendering in sunlight (>90,000 lux)
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, Honor Magic5Pro, Apple iPhone 15
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Color fidelity measurements
Google Pixel 8, color fidelity at 1000 lux in the sRGB color space
Google Pixel 8, color fidelity at 1000 lux in Display-P3 color
space
Each arrow represents the color difference between a target color model (arrow base) and its actual measurement (arrow tip). The longer the arrow, the more visible the color difference. If the arrow remains inside the circle the color difference will only be visible to expert eyes.
Color behavior on the corner
This graph shows the color shift when the screen is tilted. Each point represents a measurement at a particular angle. The dots inside the inner circle show no color change in the corner; those between the inner and outer circles have changes that only trained experts will see; but those that fall outside the outer circle are noted.
How the Display Video score is composed
Our video attribute evaluates each device’s Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR10) video handling in indoor and low-light conditions. We measure the tone mapping, color gamut, brightness and contrast of the display. We perform perceptual analysis Cons our professional reference monitor (Sony BVM-HX310) to ensure rendering meets artistic intent.
Showcasing HDR10 video playback performance, the Google Pixel 8 (along with the 8 Pro) offered video rendering that closely matched that of the Sony reference screen in our lab. The Pixel 8 had a great brightness level in a dark viewing environment and pleasant color rendition.
Video rendering in a low light environment (0 lux).
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, Honor Magic5 Pro, Apple iPhone 15
(Photos are illustrative only)
Clockwise from top left: Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S23, Honor Magic5 Pro, Apple iPhone 15
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Gamut coverage for video content
Primary colors are measured in both HDR10 and SDR. The extracted color gamut shows the extent of the color area that the device can reproduce. To meet artistic intent, the measured gamma must match the primary color space of each video.
How the Display Motion Score is composed
The motion attribute evaluates dynamic content handling. Dropped frames, motion blur, and playback artifacts are examined using games and videos.
The Pixel 8 showed no frame drops during testing; however, some slight discrepancies between frames were observed when playing video games.
Dropped video frames
These long exposure photos have the number of frame irregularities in a 30 second video. Good performance shows a regular pattern (a flat gray image or a drop-down pattern).
How the Display Touch score is composed
To evaluate touch, SBMARK uses a touch robot and a high-speed camera to play and record a series of scenarios for evaluating smoothness, accuracy and response time.
The Google Pixel 8 got great marks for touch, with great touch response time and very smooth web browsing (thanks to its 120Hz screen). However, it wasn’t always smooth when playing video games.
This response time test accurately evaluates the time that elapses between a single touch of the robot on the screen and the displayed action. This test is applied to activities that require high responsiveness, such as gaming.
How the display artifact score is composed
Evaluating artifacts means checking for performance, image rendering, and motion defects that can impact the end-user experience. SBMARK precisely measures device reflectance and the presence of flicker, and evaluates the impact of residual aliasing when playing video games, among other features.
The Pixel 8’s flicker level is similar to that of Apple and Samsung smartphones. Unwanted touches may occasionally occur when holding the device with one hand.
Aliasing (foreground)
GooglePixel8
(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
Google Pixel 8 – Crop 1
Google Pixel 8 – Crop 2
Google Pixel 8 – Crop 3
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