Google Pixel 8 could stick with old-fashioned storage options to keep prices down
Google may buck trends with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, as recent leaks suggest the new flagship range is sticking to smaller storage capacities.
This information comes from German tech news site WinFuture with the sources claiming that the standard Pixel 8 model will be available in two options: 128 GB and 256 GB. The Pixel 8 Pro has the same configurations but also offers a 512GB option. This means the company is sticking to the exact same storage units it has been using for the past two years Pixel 6 And Pixel 7. It’s surprising to see Google go down this road because, like 9to5Google points out in their reportthe industry in general is shifting to putting larger storage drives in flagship smartphones.
For example the Galaxy S23plus And S23 Ultra do not offer sizes smaller than 256 GB. Only the standard Galaxy S23 has the 128GB option. In addition, we should point out a leak from April 2023 a hint that Samsung will soon have 256 GB as standard for most models.
Keeping the price tag low
So now the question is why is Google opting for smaller sizes? Of course, it is difficult to say for sure, since this is all leaked information without official confirmation, but there is a theory. WinFuture believes that keeping the older storage capacity could be a bid by Google to keep prices down. If they increased the size of the drive, the Pixel 8 line could go up in price, and in these tough economic times, it could kill interest in the phone.
9to5Google also raises the idea that Google may be purposely holding back the Pixel 8’s hardware from achieving this. The publication points to another leak stating that the flagship devices will be equipped with a Tensor G3 chip. Without going into too much detail, all you need to know is that the chip supports UFS 4.0, a technology that enables faster and more efficient storage. This feature is not “generally available in 128GB sizes” according to 9to5Google. So the idea is that Pixel 8 will pare down UFS 4.0 support to have smaller storage sizes, resulting in a lower price tag, but keep the Tensor G3 to use its power elsewhere. Namely, in providing high-quality graphics and processing for on-device gaming.
Potential colors
Of course this is all speculation. Take these leaks with a grain of salt. In addition to the storage capacity, WinFuture lists some of the colors that both phones will be available in. The Pixel 8 will come in Licorice, Peony, and Haze, which we believe means black (since licorice candy is black), pink, and gray. The Pixel 8 Pro is said to be coming in licorice, porcelain, and air as well. Porcelain is supposedly white, while Sky could refer to a shade of light blue.
The Google Pixel 8 is rumored to be out in October, so pretty soon. Stay tuned for our launch coverage. Check out in the meantime TechRadar’s list of the best Pixel phones for 2023.