Google Pixel 8 Pro Vs Pixel 8

 Google Pixel 8 Pro Vs Pixel 8

The Google Pixel 8 duo this year brings a handful of improvements compared to its predecessors despite using the same design for a few generations. The new generation offers new camera hardware, nicer displays, faster charging, and a more powerful chipset with improved AI capabilities. They are the first Pixel phones to offer seven years of full software support. Practically, they should receive Android 21. However, if you are still determining which of the two you should get, comparison is given here. Aside from the obvious differences in size and pricing, there are a few distinctions between the two, requiring a deeper dive. The feature disparity is more than someone might think.

Size comparison

Google Pixel 8 Pro

213 g

162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm

(6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)

Google Pixel 8

187 g

150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm

(5.93 x 2.79 x 0.35 in)

Size and weight are the main differentiating factors when looking into the Pixel 8 duo. Those looking for a compact flagship phone will obviously go for the vanilla Pixel 8 - it is even smaller than its predecessors. Full-sized flagship enjoyers may be better off with the Pixel 8 Pro. Size and weight-wise, the two flagships are competitive in their own categories without going overboard or standing out. However, Pixel 8 is considerably more comfortable in hand, fits into the pocket, and is a delight to use with one hand. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro may prove unwieldy to some users.

Display comparison

Google Pixel 8 Pro

6.7"

LTPO OLED

120Hz

1344x2992

pixels

489

ppi

Google Pixel 8

6.2"

OLED

120Hz

1080x2400

pixels

428

ppi

Aside from the glaring difference in the display size, there's a technological gap as well. Both devices boast better displays than their predecessors, the Pixel 8 Pro is definitely better. While both phones now offer 120Hz refresh rate, the 8 Pro runs an LTPO OLED panel capable of granular refresh rate control ranging between 1 and 120Hz, depending case to case basis. This helps save some battery life in the long run. The Pixel 8 Pro's display can also be a tad brighter under direct sunlight, reaching 1,600 nits as opposed to the vanilla 8's 1,446 nits. Additionally, the 8 Pro has a slightly higher screen resolution to match the bigger diagonal. Their HDR capabilities are the same - HDR10+, but the protection level is slightly better on the 8 Pro. It offers Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheet, while the 8 is good with the previous generation Victus.

Battery life

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro offer similar overall battery life. Some small differences can be observed in the individual tests. The Pixel 8 is better in video playback, while the 8 Pro has higher call and web browsing runtimes, bumping up the Active Use score slightly higher than the vanilla's. The Pixel 8 has a 4,575 mAh unit, compared to the 5,050 mAh cell inside the 8 Pro. Either way, the difference is marginal.

Google Pixel 8 Pro, 5050 mAh

11:14h

25:24h

10:34h

12:18h

7:03h

Google Pixel 8, 4575 mAh

11:17h

22:36h

9:55h

13:56h

7:09h

Active use score

Charging speed

 The Pixel 8's fast charging is rated at 27W, while the bigger one can go up to 30W. Wirelessly, the smaller Pixel settles for 18W charging, while the 8 Pro offers 23W. Both phones support reverse wireless charging. When it comes to real-world testing, the vanilla Pixel 8 outpaces its bigger sibling by a small margin to all checkpoints - 15 minutes, 30 minutes and to a full charge. The difference is extremely small, and probably won't make any difference in normal usage. The Pixel 8 is just 8 minutes faster to complete charging and leads throughout the whole test by just 2-3%.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

30W

15min

28%

30min

53%

Full

83min

Google Pixel 8

27W

15min

30%

30min

56%

Full

76min

Speakers test

In our speaker test, the two phones scored very similarly in terms of loudness - 26.6 LUFS vs. 26.0 LUFS in favor of the smaller Pixel. However, their audio tuning couldn't be any different. The Pixel 8 Pro leans more to the bass-heavy side, at least by smartphone standards. This ensures fuller-sounding music and a warmer vibe to most tracks. Whereas the Pixel 8 produces a flatter sound with clear vocals but lacks depth. However it was observed that the larger Pixel better in this regard. Most tracks sound better on the Pixel 8 Pro.

0:00

5:16

Google Pixel 8 Pro

-26.6 LUFS

GOOD

LOUDNESS

Google Pixel 8

-26.0 LUFS

VERY GOOD

LOUDNESS

Performance

Both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro employ the brand new Google Tensor G3 chipset based on Samsung's 4nm manufacturing process. The chip boasts improved AI capabilities and higher raw performance compared to its predecessors.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Qualcomm Google Tensor G3

4 nm

12GB/128GB

base config

Google Pixel 8

Qualcomm Google Tensor G3

4 nm

8GB/128GB

base config

Since both devices share the same hardware, performance is pretty much identical. For instance, in the onscreen benchmarks, the Pixel 8 outperforms the 8 Pro due to its lower resolution, so expect a lower frame rate in some games on the 8 Pro. The off screen GPU tests show no statistical difference as might have been.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

AnTuTu 10

1,151,243

Geekbench 6

1,766 single-core

Geekbench 6

4,492 multi-core

Google Pixel 8

AnTuTu 10

1,158,631

Geekbench 6

1,668 single-core

Geekbench 6

4,404 multi-core

The Pixel 8 Pro offers a wider variety of storage configurations, going up to 1TB and 12GB memory across the board. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, has only two storage variants - 128 and 256GB and only 8GB of RAM. This may seem enough by standards existing, a couple of Android versions down the road, 8GB may not be sufficient. 

Camera comparison

Pixel 8 Pro's camera department gets the big promotion as the smaller Pixel settles for the same camera hardware as last year's Pixel 8. In short, the overall camera experience will likely be the deciding factor for many buyers. The main cameras of both phones are identical and offer identical quality; even the 2x crop zoom photos, which Google claims are the same. In both cases, you will be getting excellent photo and video quality during the day and night.

Pixel 8 Pro: 0.5x Pixel 8 Pro: 1x Pixel 8 Pro: 2x Pixel 8 Pro: 5x

Pixel 8 Pro: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 8: 0.5x Pixel 8: 1x Pixel 8: 2x

Pixel 8: 0.5x • 1x • 2x

The 8 Pro's auxiliary cameras are the ones you are paying extra. The bigger Pixel boasts a considerably better ultra wide camera thanks to its more potent 48MP sensor, and the dedicated 48MP telephoto camera delivers great 5x lossless stills. The low-light ultra wide samples also look nice on the Pro, although the ones taken from the main cameras are identical.

Pixel 8 Pro: 0.5x Pixel 8 Pro: 1x Pixel 8 Pro: 2x Pixel 8 Pro: 5x

Pixel 8 Pro: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 8: 0.5x Pixel 8: 1x Pixel 8: 2x

Pixel 8: 0.5x • 1x • 2x

For some reason, Google decided to omit some software-based features from the smaller Pixel, likely to drive up the interest for the bigger Pixel. Either way, with the smaller flagship, you will lose the Pro controls (meaning no manual control over stills and videos), access to the main camera's full 50MP resolution and Night Sight video recording.

Conclusion

The specs sheet is not all when picking the right phone for you. Especially if you are deciding between phones belonging to the same family, like the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. In case you are still wondering, then perhaps dimensions, weight and display size are not the deciding factors, because you would have picked the Pixel 8 if portability is what you are looking for. Conversely, the Pixel 8 Pro, if the big-screen experience is your choice. But the Pixel 8 Pro has better-sounding speakers, while the Pixel 8's charging speed and battery life are comparable to those of its bigger sibling. Performance is also identical, albeit the vanilla 8's limited memory choice. When it comes to camera, the Pixel 8 Pro is the clear winner. The main camera and 2x zoom performance are identical, but you get a more capable ultra wide camera and a proper 5x telephoto camera with the Pro. The MSRP of the small Pixel is €800/$700, while the price tag for the Pixel 8 Pro is €1,100/$1,000. So 300 bucks difference, which will likely sway you in one direction or another. Do the €300/$300 difference justify the Pixel 8 Pro's extra hardware and software features? But if you are strictly looking for that Pixel experience, one could argue that the vanilla Pixel 8 gets you there for less.

Get the Pixel 8 Pro for:

The bigger and more advanced display.

The 5x telephoto camera, better ultra wide and more camera features.

The better speakers.

The extra RAM for future-proofing.

128GB 12GB RAM

Deal

$ 799.00

256GB 12GB RAM

Deal

$ 859.00

Get the Pixel 8 for:

The more compact and lightweight body.

The considerably lower price.

The slightly longer screen-on battery endurance.

128GB 8GB RAM

Deal

$ 549.00

256GB 8GB RAM

Deal

$ 609.00