I honestly had low expectations for the Pixel 8 Pro — so much so that I largely didn’t pay much attention to all the leaks in the build-up to the phone's release this week. However, my mind quickly changed once the Pixel 8 Pro was officially announced at the Made by Google event, and I got to check it out in person during my hands-on time.
It's an impressive phone, but there was one odd thing that flew under the radar and got under my skin. The Pixel 8 Pro features a godawful 128GB of storage in its base model.
For the last few years, 128GB has been the industry standard for most high-end smartphones. But as we’ve seen this year, that’s all changed. Google spent a lot of time talking about all of the Pixel 8 Pro's cool new features, like the enhanced Call Screen capabilities that actually make Google Assistant sound and act more like a real assistant. Then there’s also the new Pro Controls and Magic Audio Eraser with the cameras — but while they all add greater depth to the phone’s utility — I’m still shocked that Google neglected to up the storage of the device.
Making 128GB as the starting storage option is unacceptable for a high-end flagship phone in 2023. Here’s why.
Other flagships start with 256GB of storage
Like I mentioned, the Pixxel 8 Pro's two biggest rivals both start off at 256GB of storage. What’s even more astounding was that Apple decided to give the iPhone 15 Pro Max the upgrade treatment, going from the previous 128GB starting storage of the iPhone 14 Pro Max to 256GB. I didn’t expect that to happen because Apple usually waits longer than other phone makers to increase capacity on its phones.
Then again, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra arrived earlier in the year and Apple probably didn’t want its main rival to take the storage spotlight. That's why it really doesn’t benefit the Pixel Pro 8 to start off with 128GB. I understand that it makes sense for the $699 Pixel 8 to go that route, but the extra $300 Google charges for the Pixel 8 Pro demands greater capacity.
Camera-centric phones deserve more storage
Google talked big about the cameras of the Pixel 8 Pro. All of the new Google AI experiences powered by the Tensor G3 are motivating people to use their phone's cameras more than ever before. The Pixel 8 Pro's main 50MP camera is a strong contender in catapulting the Pixel 8 Pro as one of the best camera phones this year, especially when it can stitch together the perfect family photo shot with Google's new Best Take feature.
Pixel 8 Pro owners would be inclined to shoot a lot more photos due to these new features, along with editing them to perfection — leading me to my point that 128GB is yet again insufficient storage. I understand that Google Photos should help offset some of the load by backing up media to the cloud. However, that also comes with an added cost that could add up quickly.
Take for example one of the Pixel 8 Pro’s exclusive features, Video Boost, which will come to the phone later this year. Video Boost lets you upload RAW videos to the cloud where you can enhance them with the processing muscle of Google’s data centers. The ideal result is an even better -ooking video for you to download later.
These videos have the potential to add up and take up storage space, especially when they’re captured at 4K 60fps. I’m a videographer and know how much these files can be crush your storage.
Low cost storage upgrade options
My frustration about a 128GB Pixel 8 Pro could’ve easily been remedied with an expandable storage option. But you know what? It’s been years since a microSD slot was included in a Google-made smartphone, so there’s no practical method of expanding its paltry starting storage — unless you’re willing to pay more.
Pixel 8 Pro models with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities cost $1,059, $1,179, and $1,399 respectively. At least, these options actually give you better storage bang for the buck than the 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max, which sets you back $1,599 .
These are great alternatives to solving my unquenchable storage thirst, but it’s still mind-boggling that Google thinks it’s appropriate to start out at 128GB. I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for more than a year now, and when I take a quick peek at its storage tally, I’ve already used up 81% of the 256GB of internal storage — so there’s no way I could properly transfer everything to the Pixel 8 Pro.
