The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are Google’s most recent flagship smartphones, delivering revolutionary hardware and software while vying with premium rivals such as Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 (Ultra), and the Huawei P60 Pro for the attention of smartphone customers with deep pockets.
Both smartphones are powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G3 chipset in conjunction with a Titan M2 security coprocessor and run the most recent versions of the Android mobile operating system, although there are several changes between the two models, particularly in terms of image.
Let’s take a closer look at the differences to help you decide which of the two Google Pixel smartphones is better suited to your specific needs and preferences.
PIXEL 8 VS PIXEL 8 PRO: SPECS COMPARISON
The Google Pixel 8 shares many of the primary features of the Pixel 8 Pro, such as AI trickery, a 50MP main camera, a Tensor G3 chipset, and a 120Hz screen. However, it lacks a telephoto camera, and its screen and battery aren’t nearly up to par with Google’s flagship phone. The Pixel 8 Pro is Google’s ultimate smartphone, particularly if you value photography or screen quality. However, it is significantly more expensive than the Pixel 8, and just slightly better.
Google’s latest Pixel 8 boasts a plethora of blockbuster features at a midrange pricing. The Pixel 8 outperforms last year’s Pixel 7 in terms of display, battery life, and camera upgrades. However, the specifications do not exactly equal those of the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro edition. Google increased the price of the Pixel 8 Pro to match similar models provided by its competitors. Even so, the Pixel 8 Pro appears to be a terrific deal, with what may be the best camera system in a smartphone. It also receives an upgrade to the Tensor G3 chip and an extended battery life.
CAMERA
Casual photographers should be content with the Pixel 8, but there are compelling reasons for power users to choose the Pixel 8 Pro. Both phones have the same 50MP main camera, but that’s where their similarities end. The 8 Pro includes an improved 48MP ultrawide lens and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical magnification. Both phones contain a 10.5MP selfie camera, however, the Pixel 8 has static focus, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro’s front lens now includes autofocus.
Other Pro-exclusive features include the aptly called Pro controls, which allow seasoned photographers to customize various camera settings according to their preferences rather than what the phone suggests. It can also shoot in RAW format and will receive a Video Boost function later this year, which will optimize your clips in the cloud.
This tool allows you to upload your video to Google servers for enhancement, resulting in quality that your phone cannot match. This incorporates Video Night Sight, which is unique to this type of camera processing. Both phones receive Tensor G3-enabled editing tools like Magic Editor and Audio Magic Eraser. So, while the Pixel 8 Pro has more flashy features, the Pixel 8 retains the post-shot flexibility to employ AI and tweak photographs.
We haven’t done a direct head-to-head comparison with both cameras yet. However, we were really satisfied with the camera quality on both phones during our testing for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro reviews. It’s just that the Pixel 8 Pro has more hardware to support all of the software advancements.
DESIGN AND DISPLAY
The Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro share similar features, with a camera visor spanning across the back, a punch-hole camera on the front, and an aluminum frame. They also have an IP68 classification, indicating that they are similarly dust and water-resistant.
They both have glass backs. However, while the Pixel 8 Pro features robust Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the normal Pixel 8 has somewhat less tough Gorilla Glass Victus.
One of the most noticeable visual distinctions between these phones is their colors, with the Pixel 8 available in Hazel (green/gray), Obsidian (black), and Rose (pink), and the Pixel 8 Pro available in Porcelain (white), Obsidian (black), and Bay (blue). Whatever color you choose, the phone will have a silver camera block, which is matte on the Pixel 8 and glossy on the Pixel 8 Pro. The larger phone not only boasts extra cameras, but it also includes a temperature sensor, which the standard Pixel 8 does not.
Finally, the Google Pixel 8 is 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm and weighs 187g, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro is larger and heavier, measuring 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm and weighing 213g. The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch 1080 x 2400 OLED display with 428 pixels per inch, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch 1344 x 2992 OLED screen with 489 pixels per inch, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a maximum brightness of 2,400 nits.
As a result, the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen is larger, more detailed, and brighter. Also, while both phones feature a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, the Pixel 8 Pro can fall all the way down to 1Hz, whilst the normal Pixel 8 can only go as low as 60. That means the normal phone’s screen will refresh more frequently when it isn’t needed, burning more energy.
The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is a genuine highlight, with our Pixel 8 Pro review describing it as “the standout feature on the Pixel 8 Pro, this bright and sharp display is just as good as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and maybe better.”
HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?
Google unveiled a new Tensor G3 chip alongside the Pixel 8 series, claiming that it is the most powerful system-on-chip available on a Pixel phone. It enables new artificial intelligence features coming to the Pixel 8 series, such as Magic Editor and Audio Magic Eraser, which let you to manipulate audio and video in new ways. However, Google has a lot to prove with the Tensor G3 processor, and we won’t know if it meets our expectations until we can conduct our tests. The last-generation Tensor G2 chip was not only underpowered in comparison to its competitors, but it also overheated easily. Aside from additional capabilities, the Tensor G3 must have better thermal performance to be deemed a flagship processor.
The Tensor G3 CPU is also accompanied by a Titan M2 coprocessor, which is a security device. Google claims that this offers additional layers of security to your smartphone and is combined with a free VPN that comes with Google One on the Pixel 8 series. More crucially, Google has promised that the Pixel 8 series will receive seven years of security upgrades. This is an extraordinary security assurance, and coming from Google, it has the potential to establish a precedent for the rest of the business. If you’re searching for a smartphone that will last you a half-decade or more, the Pixel 8 series could be the answer.
Google also boosted the battery size of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to 4,575 mAh and 5,050 mAh, respectively. Google still claims that the Pixel 8 series has “beyond 24-hour battery life,” however our previous testing has proven this to be a touch overblown. Our testers consistently got a full day of battery life from the Pixel 7 series, and we expect the same to be true for the Pixel 8 series. Stay tuned for our comprehensive evaluation of the devices, and we’ll update this section after we’ve tested the smartphones ourselves.
GET THE PIXEL 8 PRO FOR:
- The larger, more advanced display.
- The 5x telephoto camera, improved ultrawide, and other camera functions.
- The best speakers.
- The extra RAM is for future-proofing.
GET THE PIXEL 8 FOR:
- The body is more compact and lightweight.
- The pricing is substantially lower.
- Battery life is somewhat longer while the screen is on.
