Is a $330 Pixel 8 Pro one of Android’s best deals right now? I used it for a week to find out

It’s not easy to buy a new smartphone in 2026 without spending a fortune. Carrier incentives and trade-in bonuses help, but prices are headed in the wrong direction, and it doesn’t appear we will see relief anytime soon. That’s why it’s important to take every opportunity you can to save money.

Thankfully, there are a ton of older flagships still worth picking up — with the Pixel 8 Pro at the top of my list. Its blend of current performance, extended software support, and excellent price makes it an ideal choice for people who don’t want to feel compromised just because they don’t want to spend over $1,000 on a device.