What’s the Best Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Color?

How do you decide which color of phone to buy when there are so many choices? You’ll have to come up with a process to figure that out in less than a week, if you haven’t already. Google is about to unveil the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, each featuring its own unique finish or combination of shiny and non-shiny surfaces. There's a lot that goes into making this decision.

According to various leaks, each phone will be available in three different colors, some of which may be matte and others that could be glossy. So, which color looks best for the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro? Unfortunately, I don't have the answer as I haven't seen any of the phones in person yet. However, we do have a set of images (shared by @evleaks) of all the Pixel 8 phones, which appear to be official renders. These images should help us narrow down our top choices.

Best Pixel 8 Pro Color: The Pixel 8 Pro is expected to come in Bay, Obsidian, and Porcelain, which essentially means blue, black, and cream or off-white. Previous leaks have described the back glass of the 8 Pro line as "matte," paired with a polished aluminum frame. It's difficult to determine the finish or level of matte-ness from digital images like these, but hands-on images of the Obsidian Pixel 8 Pro do show a dark matte backside, which looks quite elegant. We can try to mentally apply the matte finish to the Bay and Porcelain shades as well.

The polished frames of each phone appear to be tinted in a way that complements the main color. This means a bluish shade in the frame of the Bay model, a dark gun-metal shade paired with Obsidian, and possibly a light bronze or gold with Porcelain. Personally, if I were to vote or rank the Pixel 8 Pro colors from first to last, I would consider Porcelain and Obsidian at the top, with Bay as my least preferred option.

Pixel 8 Pro - Bay

Pixel 8 Pro - Obsidian

Pixel 8 Pro - Porcelain

Best Pixel 8 Color: The smaller Pixel 8 is rumored to be available in Rose, Obsidian, and Hazel. Early leaks did not mention the backs being matte, so we can assume they have a glossy finish. No real-world hands-on photos of the Pixel 8 have emerged yet, so we don't have a clear picture. The frame is described as having a "satin" finish, which means it won't be polished. This change aligns with what Google did last year with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Similar to the Pixel 8 Pro, the frame colors of the Pixel 8 match the backsides. This means a pinkish-tinted frame with Rose, gunmetal again with Obsidian, and a dark grey to complement Hazel.

If I had to choose a Pixel 8 color, I believe the top option would be Hazel. Assuming it resembles the greenish-grey color we saw on the Pixel 7 Pro last year, it should be quite beautiful. Additionally, Google made a smart move by matching the frame color to the back, rather than contrasting it with gold or other colors used in the 7 series. The Obsidian model makes me slightly apprehensive if it has a glossy back, as fingerprints would be difficult to hide. Therefore, I would probably rank Rose as my second choice.

Pixel 8 - Rose

Pixel 8 - Obsidian

Pixel 8 - Hazel

Now, I'd like to hear from you – what do you think is the best color for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and which way are you leaning?