Top 5 Gaming Flagship Android Phones in Canada, 2026

• “Bursting with clever AI-infused software, the promise of software updates for many years to come and a camera and screen that thoroughly impress, the Google Pixel 8 Pro does a fantastic job at offering prospective buyers something a little different.”

• “The Google Pixel 8 Pro isn’t a perfect Android phone, but it’s absolutely the closest Google has ever gotten to making one — and I love it.”

• “ReviewGoogle Pixel 8 Pro Review: Genuinely Impressed! (youtube.com)”

• “If Google had simply released a generic smartphone with the Pixel 8 Pro’s cameras, display and design, it would have had a simple winner, capable of making an argument against not-quite-flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.”

• “I often tell people that it’s difficult to assess a phone’s worth after using it for a couple of weeks. Instead, you really get to understand a phone’s worth when you use it for a much longer period.”

• “Super Res Zoom at 30x works well as long as you've got a tripod or a very steady hand, but subjects shot at the 5x optical range are surprisingly sharp.”

• “I can now access my banking apps using Face Unlock, which has made paying for things while on the go easier and quicker. This is possible thanks to Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor chip, which uses machine learning advancements that meet Android's highest biometrics class.”

• “And don’t forget that most other Android phones don’t offer Face Unlock with this level of security. Aside from some outliers that still include that extra camera hardware (such as the HONOR Magic 6 Pro), Class 3 support is something you’ll only get with the Pixel 8 and...”

Loved20

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  Premium materials and matte finish refresh the Pixel design

  — TechRadar
• +

  Call screening is natural and very useful

  — TechRadar
• +

  Incredible seven-year commitment from Google for major updates

  — TechRadar
• +

  I also need to praise Google for the stunning Bay blue color you’ll see throughout this review. It’s a gorgeous baby blue shade that’s warm and calming in a way that’s difficult to describe.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  Beyond the better refresh rate and brightness, everything else about the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen is excellent. The display is plenty sharp, colors look fantastic, and — unlike the Pixel 7 Pro — all of the display bezels are perfectly symmetrical.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  Those are a lot of numbers, and in practice, they translate to the Google Pixel 8 Pro taking exceptional photographs.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  The 50MP primary camera on the Pixel 8 Pro is outstanding. It shouldn’t be surprising in 2023 that a Google Pixel device takes great photos, and the Pixel 8 Pro ensures that won’t be changing any time soon.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  Whether I’m taking pictures of my dog in broad daylight or capturing the ambiance of a dimly lit bar, the Google Pixel 8 Pro makes me confident that I’ll end up with a photo I’m happy with. And the best part is how effortless it is to get these great-looking shots.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  The Pixel 8 Pro also performs strongly with its 5x telephoto camera. No, it’s not a 10x optical zoom like you get on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but the quality of the sensor is outstanding.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  While it would have been great to see Google increase the optical zoom range, I think the upgraded light sensitivity easily makes up for it. Photos from the telephoto camera look fantastic.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  People often say that Pixel phones are more about software than hardware, but the Pixel 8 Pro apparently didn’t get that memo. The Google Pixel 8 Pro has some of the best smartphone hardware I’ve used all year.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  These changes don’t sound like much on paper, but by holding the Pixel 8 Pro side by side with the Pixel 7 Pro, you can really feel the difference a year has made for Google’s hardware team.

  — Digital Trends
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  2. Best Take is...well, the best.

  — Google
• +

  3. It's got a friendly look and feel.

  — Google
• +

  4. It’s screen protector-friendly.

  — Google
• +

  5. Video and photo modes are easier to access.

  — Google
• +

  6. It has more aesthetic options.

  — Google
• +

  7. Face Unlock gets me to my money.

  — Google
• +

  8. I can get a preview of an article.

  — Google
• +

  1. I love the simple setup.

  — Google

Criticised10

• −

  No one really big standout new feature

  — PhoneArena
• −

  AI tricks/gimmicks like Magic Editor, Best Take, and Audio Magic Eraser

  — PhoneArena
• −

  In a similar move to recent phones from Apple and Samsung, Google has tweaked an existing design for the Pixel Pro 8 rather than completely reinventing it. Google has been using this look since the Pixel 6, and while it felt modern before it is starting to get a little stale.

  — Trusted Reviews
• −

  Images taken with the 50MP and 48MP sensors are quad-binned to produce 12.5MP and 12MP images, respectively, but you can shoot full-resolution images if you wish. A little lens distortion is visible when using the ultra-wide camera, but that's expected.

  — PCMag Canada
• −

  Android settings and features are confusing and hard to find

  — TechRadar
• −

  Some AI features feel a bit creepy and impersonal

  — TechRadar
• −

  Cameras don’t beat the iPhone 15 Pro without editing help

  — TechRadar
• −

  This is a decidedly Android phone, for better but mostly, these days, for worse. It can be a confusing mess. You’re faced with setup screens that never seem to go away for good, notifications that never seem to disappear, and Settings menus that are layered deep enough to...

  — TechRadar
• −

  It’s a slippery phone, though, often sliding off flat surfaces and taking a tumble. The basic black version I’ve been testing has none of the Bay blue version’s character and is rather boring to look at; plus, I don’t like the way the flat screen looks and how the sharper...

  — Digital Trends
• −

  The Pixel 8 Pro is very good, but the price increase over the Pixel 7 Pro is now beginning to hurt it.

  — Digital Trends

Buyer voices3

• “GeneralPixel 8 Pro review - What no ones tells you from an iPhone perspective: (self.GooglePixel)”

  AbdelilahOuchani— reddit

• “Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Genuinely Impressed! (self.GooglePixel)”

  Goku-Sun— reddit

• “What is your experience with Pixel 8/8 pro? (self.GooglePixel)”

  Moggot— reddit