FlashDim, Google One, and more

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro carry an improved digicam expertise, a sooner SoC, and a complete host of enhancements that may take your Android 14 expertise to new heights. Whether you’ve already pre-ordered your Pixel 8 or are simply curious, we’ve picked out the 5 finest apps for Pixel 8 customers. 

Google One

Price: Free / Subscription

Okay, so technically, the Google One app isn’t that essential. It’s a easy app that permits you to management your Google One subscription, see how a lot house you’re utilizing, and so on. That stated, we completely suggest a Google One subscription for Pixel customers. After all, you’ve got a superb digicam within the palm of your hand; it’s additionally nice at video. This all takes up cupboard space, and Google One ensures you possibly can really preserve unique pictures, although you too can select to compress them if you’re fearful about working out of room. A plan begins at simply $1.99 a month for the 100GB plan, $2.99 a month for 200GB, $9.99 a month for 2TB, and 5TB for $24.99 a month. You additionally get entry to the Google One VPN in any respect cost tiers as a pleasant bonus.

Google Opinion Rewards

Price: Free 

The Google Opinion Rewards app is ideal for Pixel house owners because it’s a straightforward option to get cash you need to use in direction of apps, video games, and even your Google One subscription. We already talked about how helpful Google One is for storing recordsdata, images, and video. But do you really need one other subscription it’s a must to pay each month? The excellent news is that Opinion Rewards usually offers you easy surveys that take only a few minutes and pay you for it. It’s straightforward to earn sufficient to pay for the subscription and actually have a little left over. I haven’t paid for my Google One subscription out of pocket even as soon as, all due to this app. 

Although Snapseed may use a significant design overhaul to assist modernize it a bit, don’t underestimate this app. This is an easy-to-use photograph editor and whereas the Pixel has restricted instruments of its personal, I nonetheless discover myself utilizing this to shortly resize pictures, enhance white stability, and a lot more. The expertise is straightforward to be taught and supplies you with fairly just a few choices for a free app. It’s additionally obtainable on iOS, making it an ideal cross-platform software for individuals who personal an iPad or one other iOS machine and desire a constant photograph modifying expertise. 

The Pixel 8 has an honest GPU and can deal with just about each cell sport with relative ease. Still, what in case you’re in search of a more console-like expertise? That’s the place Xbox Game Pass comes into play, providing you with entry to lots of of Cloud video games by way of streaming. This consists of current hits like Starfield, and even indie darlings like Plague Tale: Requiem. The catch is you’ll want a stable web connection, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Pass ($16.99 a month), and a Bluetooth gaming controller. If you don’t thoughts overcoming these hurdles, you’ll basically have a  cell Xbox of types, although clearly, you gained’t have full entry to each Xbox sport. 

One of my favourite issues about my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 was the power to simply improve or lower the depth of the flashlight mode proper from the short settings. If you’re in search of an analogous stage of management for the Pixel 8, you gained’t discover it baked in. However, FlashDim is an effective way so as to add the identical kind of performance. In addition to controlling brightness, you’ll additionally discover just a few additional options like a built-in SOS perform and the power so as to add a fast tile for sooner entry. This is an app I can personally suggest and use usually with my present each day driver, a Pixel 7. 

More nice Pixel apps price trying out

While the above have been 5 of the very best apps for the Pixel 8, there are various more apps price trying out on Google Play. Looking for more recommendations? We suggest trying out our guides to the very best Android video games and Android apps. As a little bit of a bonus, listed here are 5 different app recommendations along with the core recommendations above: 

• Google Keep: From making grocery lists to reminders and how-tos, Keep an easy-to-use resolution for all of your notes. 
• Spotify: Arguably the easiest streaming music participant, although it’s finest advantages require a subscription. One of my favorites is the advisable playlists and ‘radio modes’ for my favourite bands. 
• Microsoft SwiftKey: This might be the right match if you’re in search of a extremely customizable keyboard. Best of all it’s free.
• Pocket Casts: This is without doubt one of the hottest podcast apps and has an easy-to-use UI. This may make it excellent for Pixel customers, particularly with Google Podcasts being shelved.
• Streaming apps: Not only one suggestion however we suggest grabbing all of your favourite streaming apps akin to Netflix, Hulu, Paramount Plus, Peacock, and Max.