In October, Google made a big deal about the longevity of the newly announced Pixel 8 Buyers were promised not only seven years of software support, but also that spare parts would be available for the same period

This was a big step forward for repairability, allowing users to freely perform DIY repairs under Google's approval and direction At the time, however, it was not clear how much each part would cost, given that the Pixel 8 costs $100 more than the Pixel 7

Today, spare parts are available on the iFixIt site, along with a 200+ page repair guide However, as 9to5Google discovered, prices have risen above what Google had initially charged for the previous generation, especially in the camera department

For the basic Pixel 8, the wide rear camera jumped from $8999 to $14299 The ultra-wide module also increased in price, albeit slightly, from $4299 to $6299

This is interesting: as a comparison of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 shows, there is actually not that much difference between the two camera arrangements On paper, the ultra-wide lens has the same 12MP, f/22 specs on both models, and the 50MP main sensor has a wider aperture (f/165 vs f/185), but that is not a significant difference

The Pixel 8 Pro's camera has also increased in price, but it doesn't seem as expensive, as the triple sensor array is sold as a single part; it was $15299 for the Pixel 7 Pro, but jumped to $19999 for the Pixel 8 Pro

Moreover, as a comparison of the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro shows, the camera upgrades here are more substantial: not only is the aperture of the 50MP main camera similarly wider, but the 48MP telephoto lens is improved (f/28 vs f/35), ultra-wide sensor was significantly upgraded (48MP, f/195 vs 12MP, f/22)

Screens also see price increases on both models, albeit more modest ones: up $20 to $15999 for the Pixel 8 and up $17 to $22999 for the Pro model

However, these changes do not reflect an overall price increase; the batteries for both models remain unchanged at $4299 Additionally, more components are available this time around The rear case will be $14299 or $17299 depending on whether the Pro model is repaired, and the replacement front camera will be $4299 for both

Regardless of the camera price increase, it is good to see Google keeping its promise and offering replacement parts Repairing electronics is not for everyone, and of course there are those who would prefer to outsource to a third party