Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 8

The Google Pixel 8 duo brings a handful of improvements this year over its predecessors despite recycling the same design for a few generations now. The new generation offers new camera hardware, nicer displays, faster charging, and a more powerful chipset with improved AI capabilities. These are the first Pixel phones to offer seven years of full software support. In theory, they should receive Android 21.

However, if you’re still not sure which one you should get, we’re here to help. Besides the obvious differences in size and price, there are a few nuanced distinctions between the two that require further analysis. The feature disparity is greater than you think.

Contents:

Let’s start by comparing the full datasheets here.

Size Comparison

Size and weight are the main differentiating factors when looking at the Pixel 8 duo. Those looking for a compact flagship phone will obviously opt for the vanilla Pixel 8 – it’s even smaller than its predecessors. On the other hand, taller flagship users are better off with the Pixel 8 Pro.

In terms of size and weight, both flagships are competitive in their own categories without going overboard or standing out.

There’s no denying, however, that the Pixel 8 feels considerably more comfortable in the hand, fits in every pocket, and is a pleasure to use one-handed. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro may prove unwieldy for some users.

Display comparison

Besides the glaring difference in display size, there is also a technology gap. Although both devices offer better displays than their predecessors, the Pixel 8 Pro definitely wins in this department.

While both phones now offer a 120Hz refresh rate, the 8 Pro uses an LTPO OLED panel capable of granular refresh rate control between 1 and 120Hz, depending on the scenario. This saves some battery life in the long run. The Pixel 8 Pro’s screen may also be a bit brighter in direct sunlight, reaching 1,600 nits compared to 1,446 nits for the Vanilla 8. In the real world, however, it won’t make much difference. Additionally, the 8 Pro has a slightly higher screen resolution to match the larger diagonal.

Their HDR capabilities are the same – HDR10+, but the level of protection is slightly better on the 8 Pro. It offers the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheet, while the 8 makes do with the previous generation Victus.

Battery life

Surprisingly, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro offer similar overall battery life, according to our active use score. However, some small differences can be observed in the individual tests. The Pixel 8 is better at video playback, while the 8 Pro has higher call and web browsing runtimes, making the Active Usage score slightly higher than the Vanilla.

It’s not what you’d expect from a bigger phone with a bigger battery, though. The Pixel 8 has a 4,575 mAh unit, compared to 5,050 mAh inside the 8 Pro. Either way, the difference is marginal.

Charging speed

The Pixels’ charging capacity has always been the series’ Achilles’ heel, and while it’s not ideal, this year’s upgrade to both handsets is a step in the right direction. The Pixel 8’s fast charging is rated at 27W, while the larger one can go up to 30W. Wirelessly, the smaller Pixel makes do with 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 slightly edges out its bigger brother on all checkpoints – 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and up to a full charge. The difference is extremely minimal, however, and likely won’t make any difference in normal use. The Pixel 8 is only 8 minutes faster to complete charging and leads throughout the test by just 2-3%.

Speaker testing

In our speaker test, the two phones performed very similarly in terms of volume: 26.6 LUFS versus 26.0 LUFS in favor of the smaller Pixel. However, their audio setting couldn’t be any different. The Pixel 8 Pro leans more on the bass side, at least by smartphone standards. This ensures fuller music and a warmer ambiance for most tracks.

While the Pixel 8 produces flatter sound with clear vocals but somehow lacks depth. And while this is largely a subjective matter, we preferred the larger Pixel in this regard. Most tracks sound better on the Pixel 8 Pro.

Performance

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro use the all-new Google Tensor G3 chipset based on Samsung’s 4nm manufacturing process. The chip offers enhanced AI capabilities and higher raw performance compared to its predecessors.

Still, because both devices share the same hardware, performance is pretty much identical, with a few caveats. For example, in on-screen 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. Off-screen GPU tests show no statistical difference, as one would expect.

Google
Pixel 8 Pro

AnTuTu 10
1,151,243

Geek bench 6
1,766 single-core

Geek bench 6
4,492 multi-cores

Google
Pixel 8

AnTuTu 10
1,158,631

Geek bench 6
1,668 single-core

Geek bench 6
4,404 multi-cores

Another thing to keep in mind is memory. The Pixel 8 Pro offers a wider variety of storage configurations, up to 1TB and 12GB of memory across the board. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, only has two storage variants: 128 and 256 GB and only 8 GB of RAM, regardless of configuration. And while that might seem like enough by today’s standards, in a few versions of Android, 8GB might not be enough. We just hope Google has thought about this.

Camera comparison

This year, only the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera department is getting the big promotion, as the smaller Pixel makes do with 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.

Of course, the main cameras of both phones are identical and offer identical quality; even 2x zoom photos, which Google says are almost lossless, are the same. In both cases, you will benefit from excellent photo and video quality day and night.

Pixel 8 Pro: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 8: 0.5x • 1x • 2x

However, the 8 Pro’s auxiliary cameras are what you pay extra for. The larger Pixel has a considerably better ultra-wide camera thanks to its more powerful 48MP sensor, and the dedicated 48MP telephoto camera delivers excellent lossless 5x stills. Something you can’t get from the smaller Pixel.

Low-light ultra-wide samples also look better on the Pro, although those taken on the main cameras look identical.

Pixel 8 Pro: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 8: 0.5x • 1x • 2x

But it does not stop there. For some reason, Google decided to omit some software features from the smaller Pixel that might spark interest in the larger Pixel. Either way, with the smaller flagship you’ll lose the Pro controls (i.e. no manual control over stills and videos), access to the full 50 MP resolution of the main camera and Night Sight video recording.

Here’s a look at how the Pixel 8 Pro’s main camera compares to the Pixel 8’s image quality in our photo comparison tool.

And here’s how the Pixel 8 Pro’s main camera compares in video quality to the Pixel 8 in our video comparison tool.

Verdict

As you can see, the technical sheet is not the ultimate solution to choosing the phone that suits you. Especially if you’re deciding between phones in the same family, like the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. And in case you’re still wondering, then maybe dimensions, weight, and screen size aren’t deciding factors because you would have chosen the Pixel 8 if portability is what you’re looking for . Conversely, the Pixel 8 Pro, if the big screen experience is your thing.

But things are more nuanced. For example, the Pixel 8 Pro has better-sounding speakers, while the Pixel 8’s charging speed and battery life are comparable to its bigger brother. Performance is also identical, although the Vanilla 8’s memory choice is limited.

When it comes to camera, the Pixel 8 Pro is the clear winner here. Sure, the main camera and 2x zoom performance are identical, but you get a more capable ultra-wide camera and a proper 5x telephoto lens with the Pro.

That said, we also need to put our findings into perspective. The small Pixel’s MSRP is €800/$700, while the Pixel 8 Pro’s price is €1,100/$1,000. That’s a difference of $300, which will probably lean you one way or the other.

Does the €300/$300 difference justify the Pixel 8 Pro’s additional hardware and software features? We’ll let you decide for yourself, but if you’re strictly looking for that Pixel experience, it could be argued that the vanilla Pixel 8 gets you there for less.