But while the Pixel 8 Pro is a very strong smartphone, it’s far from the only choice. In fact, if you’re looking at the Pixel 8 Pro right now, there are five other smartphones you should consider buying instead of Google’s most expensive flagship.

he Google Pixel 8 Pro may be the best Pixel Google has ever made — but it’s only a “may” because the Google Pixel 8 exists. Pound-for-pound, and considering pure value, it’s difficult for the Pro to claim a total victory over its cheaper sibling — and that’s why the Pixel 8 is a strong alternative to the Pixel 8 Pro.

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: You won’t get as many advanced features on the Pixel 8 as you do on the Pixel 8 Pro. But they’re undoubtedly features you can live without. The most prominent is the loss of the 5x optical zoom lens, which is definitely a shame. But be honest with yourself; how often do you take 5x zoom pictures anyway? Everything else is just a slight downgrade — dropping to a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 6.2-inch display instead of 6.7-inches, and fewer large storage options. You still get the option of 256GB of storage, which is plenty for most people, and the smaller display means the phone itself is smaller (a bonus for those who don’t want a phone as comically large as the Pixel 8 Pro).

The best part is that much of the Pixel 8 mirrors what makes the Pro variant so good. You get Google’s Tensor G3 processor, a bright OLED display with a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and the same seven years of updates. The battery life on the Pixel 8 should last you about a day, but likely no more. And yes, the camera is just as good, and the AI tricks are here, too.

Whether you buy the Pixel 8 over the Pixel 8 Pro is largely a question of budget. The Pixel 8 is a full $300 less than the Pixel 8 Pro, which makes it an extremely tempting proposition. Is an additional camera lens and larger screen worth $300 to you? For some, it may well be. But for us, it’s clear the Pixel 8 represents phenomenal value for money, making it an extremely good phone to grab over the Pixel 8 Pro.

For many people, Samsung is synonymous with Android, so it makes sense that one of the Pixel 8 Pro’s strongest competitors is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus. The two devices have a similar price point, with smaller, lower-powered variants beneath them. But it would be a mistake to assume they’re basically the same, as in a lot of ways, these are two diametrically opposed devices. In fact, put a goatee on the S24 Plus, and it could pass for the Pixel 8 Pro’s mirror universe twin.