Best Google Pixel 8 plans in Australia (December 2024)
Does Telstra, Optus or Vodafone have the best deal? We found out
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are now available to buy from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, but which of these telcos has the best plan? We wanted to find out, so we’ve analysed every available offer from the major providers and we can confidently say that Vodafone has the best Google Pixel 8 plans. Vodafone’s cheapest plan currently comes with 80GB of data, and there’s some extra perks if you’ve also got an older phone to trade-in.
Those looking to buy the Pixel 8 or the Pixel 8 Pro outright will be able to from either JB Hi-Fi or directly from Google, though we haven’t spotted any deals currently available on the new devices. If you buy outright, we’ve rounded up the best SIM-only plans which are cheaper than the major telcos. If you want to learn more about Google’s latest devices, you can head to our in-depth Google Pixel 8 review and Google Pixel 8 Pro review pages.
Best Google Pixel 8 plans: our picks
Best overall Google Pixel 8 plan
Google Pixel 8 (128GB) | 80GB data | 24 months | AU$94.95p/m
Vodafone is easily our top pick for best Google Pixel 8 plan. Not only is it the cheapest you can get from a major telco at AU$94.95 a month, you’ll also get a AU$300 bonus credit if you’ve got a handset to trade-in for it. The extra credit comes on top of any credit you’ll receive for the actual trade-in, too. We recommend most people sign up to Vodafone’s AU$45 Small plan, as it’ll get you 80GB of data a month.
Total cost over 24 months is AU$2,278.80
Best overall Google Pixel 8 Pro plan
Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB) | 80GB data | 24 months | AU$115.79p/m
Vodafone is once again the winner, but this time it’s our choice for the best Pixel 8 Pro plan. We recommend most people sign up to the AU$45 Small plan on a 24-month contract, which will cost AU$115.79 a month when paired with the Pixel 8 Pro. If you’ve got an older device to trade-in for it, Vodafone will give you a AU$450 bonus credit, which is on top of credit you’ll receive for the actual trade-in.
Total cost over 24 months is AU$2,778.96
Compare Google Pixel 8 telco plans
Google Pixel 8 plans are available from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone – you can compare prices here for the standard Pixel 8 on a 24-month contract.
Outright Google Pixel 8 deals
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are available to buy outright from these major retailers:
Storage | 128GB | 256GB |
---|---|---|
Price | AU$1,199 | AU$1,299 |
Colours | Black, grey, pink | Black, grey, pink |
Storage | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB |
---|---|---|---|
Price | AU$1,699 | AU$1,799 | AU$1,999 |
Colours | Black, white, light blue | Black, white, light blue | Black, white, light blue |
Google Pixel 8 at a glance: what you need to know
Google Pixel 8:
- Tensor G3 chipset
- Magic Editor photo software
- Wider aperture on main camera
- 120Hz 'Actua' OLED display
- 7 years of Android updates
Google Pixel 8 Pro:
- All of the above
- 6.7-inch adaptive (1-120Hz) display
- 48MP ultrawide lens
- 5x optical zoom
- 12GB of RAM (vs 8GB on the Pixel 8)
The most predominant upgrade on the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is the new Tensor G3 chip. This chip is the centerpiece supporting new features such as ray tracing, improved photo processing, and most notably, a new Audio Magic Eraser tool.
This tool is a strong counterpart to the original Magic Eraser tool seen on previous Pixel phones, with Audio Magic Eraser able to separate music, vocals, and background noise in videos and remove areas according to your needs.
This tool is just one of the ways the Google Pixel 8 range sets itself apart in the AI tools department and makes the new devices a great choice for those looking for strong editing capabilities on their photos and videos, without needing the usual complex tools that would normally perform it.
For those looking for a phone with a longer lifespan, a Pixel 8 pre-order may be on the cards too, as the Pixel 8 range will launch with Android 14 and will receive a whopping 7 years of Android updates including feature drops, security updates and AI innovations, meaning your phone will still be perfectly capable as late as 2030.
Other notable improvements on the new Pixel 8 range include 12GB RAM on the Pro model, and upcoming feature drops including Assistant with Bard, a new AI-based improvement to the Google Assistant currently seen on Pixel phones, which enables a seamless journey from request to actionable respond all through the use of the Google Bard AI tool.
Google Pixel 8 | Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
---|---|---|
Dimensions: | 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm |
Weight: | 187g | 213g |
Display: | 6.2-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2400) 60Hz to 120Hz 'Actua' OLED | 6.7-inch 1344 x 2992 adaptive 1Hz to 120Hz 'Super Actua' LTPO OLED |
Chipset: | Google Tensor G3 | Google Tensor G3 |
RAM: | 8GB (LPDDR5X) | 12GB (LPDDR5X) |
Storage: | 128GB, 256GB (UFS 3.1) | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (UFS 3.1) |
Rear cameras: | 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide | 50MP wide, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP 5x zoom |
Front camera: | 10.5MP | 10.5MP |
Battery: | 4,575mAh | 5,050mAh |
Charging: | 27W wired, 18W wireless (2nd-gen Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (Qi) | 30W wired, 23W wireless (2nd-gen Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (Qi) |
Colors: | Obsidian, Hazel, Rose | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay |
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Jasmine Gearie was previously an Ecommerce Editor at TechRadar Australia, with a primary focus on helping readers find the best mobile and NBN plans. During her time with TechRadar, she also reported on important telco news in Australia, and helped track down tech deals to help readers save money.