Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8 – Which One Should You Buy?

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The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are now available to buy, but I’m guessing you’ve found this guide because you’ve got one simple question.

Which one of Google’s latest smartphones is for you?

On the face of it – bar some design flourishes and a larger display on the Pixel 8 Pro – these are largely the same device. They share the same chip, many of the same AI features, an incredibly similar camera system, and identical audio hardware.

However, as always with smartphone comparisons, dig in a little deeper, and you discover that the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are two very different devices.

 

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: Pricing and storage

Firstly, all of the prices I’ll be quoting in this guide are in dollars, but if you’re based in the UK, the pricing is identical (good ol’ exchange rates, eh?).

At the base level, there’s a price difference of $300 between the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. For that, you get 128GB of storage. The Pixel 8 can be upgraded to a maximum 256GB of storage for $759, but the Pixel 8 Pro goes all the way up to 1TB for $1,399 (although that option is curiously absent from the UK store at the time of writing).

So, immediately, if storage is your thing and you have a decent budget – the Pixel 8 Pro is the device to go for.

If your budget is at the lower end of the scale and you rely more on the cloud than you do local storage (I sit firmly in the camp for the latter these days), then the Pixel 8 is a brilliant buy.

However, before you hit that ‘check out’ button, there’s a lot more to this comparison.

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: Tensor G3 chip and RAM

Both devices are powered by the brand-new Tensor G3 chip. The only difference in terms of raw power is the fact the Pixel 8 has 8GB of RAM, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro has 12GB.

The G3 has had all of its internal components upgraded over the G2 chip it replaces. However, there’s one area in particular in which Google has focused most of its efforts: AI.

This delivers some very exciting new features to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro – many of which really differentiate these smartphones from competing devices.

For instance, Call Assist (which navigates phone trees for you) and Clear Calling (which removes unwanted background noise) have both been significantly improved. Call Screen has also received an upgrade thanks to the G3 chip and can now fend off around 50% more spam calls on average without you lifting a finger. Contextual replies are also on the way, which will enable you to quickly respond to appointment confirmations and such with the tap of an AI-generated reply.

Google Assistant is also better at understanding the nuances of human speech and will wait for you to finish a sentence before responding – no matter how many times you ‘um’ and ‘err’ your way through the request.

One of the most useful AI features I’ve found on both devices is the ability to long-press the power button while viewing webpages to have that web page read out to you by Google Assistant. It works without fail and with the most engaging, human-like intonation I’ve ever heard.

However, the real power of that AI – and some bigger differences between these two devices – arrive with the new camera systems.

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: Camera

Let’s take a look at the camera hardware, first.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro share the same main camera, which is a 50MP unit with an 82-degree field of view, f1.68 aperture, and optical image stabilisation.

The differences in camera hardware become clearer when we move beyond that main camera. The Pixel 8 has one additional camera, which is a 12MP ultra-wide with an f2.2 aperture and, for the first time, autofocus for macro photography. The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a 48MP ultra-wide with an f1.95 aperture and a 48MP telephoto with an f2.8 aperture, 5x optical zoom and a Super Res Zoom of 30x.

The front cameras on both devices are identical, although the 10.5MP selfie snapper has now been upgraded with autofocus.

So, the Pixel 8 Pro has further optical reach and deals better in low-light situations across the entire focal range. That said, it should be noted that the differences in terms of image quality between these two are largely indistinguishable – until you start shooting in super low light or when you need additional reach. They both feature the Pixel ‘look’, which is my favourite of any smartphone camera system.

Do these camera upgrades on the Pixel 8 Pro justify that additional $300? On their own, and for the avid smartphone photographer – yes, absolutely. But if you need a bit more of a push, we come straight back to the topic of AI.

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: Camera AI features

This is where it gets really interesting.

Firstly, both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro offer some of the coolest AI image trickery on the market, which has received another boost in performance thanks to the G3 chip.

Best Take is the first new kid on the block, which enables you to superimpose the best expressions from multiple group photos onto one image. So, if Dave blinks and Sarah is looking at the floor when the shutter clicks, you can fix it. And it works very well indeed.

Next up is Audio Magic Eraser which is game-changing for anyone who wants to use one of these devices for content creation. It essentially provides a virtual mixing desk for the audio in any video. So, if you were talking to your Pixel’s selfie camera in a nature reserve that was full of tourists during a windy day, you’ll gain volume controls for the nature sounds, the background chatter, and that pesky wind. A tap of the ‘auto’ button works wonders, but you can get creative by adjusting the individual levels yourself. It is incredible – and it’s available on both devices.

As part of the G3 chip update, the Magic Eraser feature (which enables you to remove objects and people from photos) has also been made less ‘smudgy’ thanks to the ability of the new Pixels to generate brand-new pixels in the spaces left behind by your edits.

The Pixel 8 Pro is getting more cool camera-related stuff, though. Firstly, out of the box, you’ll gain access to pro controls for ISO, focus, white balance, and more – and the ability to shoot 50MP RAW images. Later this year, the flagship Pixel will also receive an update that adds Video Boost, a part-on-device, part-cloud-based HDR+ image processing pipeline that promises to produce incredible-looking footage.

I’ll be testing that, of course, when it arrives – along with another promised feature drop – Night Sight Video, which should significantly improve the quality of low-light video on the Pixel 8 Pro.

The great thing about the G3 chip is that it has democratised a lot of the AI-based features on the new Pixels, but the 8 Pro is clearly getting some extra love, for anyone who takes their smartphone photography and videography seriously.

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: biometrics

This one is easy – both of the new Pixels feature the Titan M2 chip which provides fingerprint unlocking, facial recognition, and a free VPN.

And yes, both forms of biometric security work incredibly reliably on both devices!

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: Design and display

Another significant difference between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro lies in the designs of these new devices.

Google gets it just right, in my opinion. While the Pixel 8 Pro is spruced up with a flagship-worthy polished aluminium frame, the Pixel 8 settles for equally pleasing yet slightly less glamorous matt aluminium.

Both have Edgeless Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 matt rears that can be configured in three different colours. The Pixel 8 Pro gets Bay blue (my personal favourite), Obsidian (black), and Porcelain (nearly white), whereas Pixel 8 owners get to choose from Hazel, Obsidian, or Rose.

They’re both IP68 dust and water-resistant.

The Pixel 8 Pro is a considerably bigger device than the Pixel 8. It’s taller and wider – although a smidgen slimmer. This increased size is mainly down to the display, which is the next big point of differentiation between these two devices.

The Pixel 8 features Google’s new Actua OLED display in 6.2-inch form with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 and up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. The combination of that super bright display and dynamic 120Hz refresh rate makes the Pixel 8 Pro a serious contender for mid-range perfection and categorically trounces the iPhone 15 at this price point.

The Pixel 8 Pro is fitted with the Super Actua OLED display which is 6.7-inches with a resolution of 1344 x 2992 and up to 2,400 nits of peak brightness – one of the brightest on the market and capable of crushing both Apple and Samsung’s best efforts in direct sunlight.

The refresh rate on the Pixel 8 Pro also gets an upgrade over the Pixel 8 in so far as it can go right down to 1Hz (the Pixel 8 drops to just 60Hz). The result should be, in theory, improved display efficiency for slightly better battery life, but it’s the size of the Pixel 8 Pro’s display and that bonkers peak brightness that’ll grab the headlines and possibly tempt people away from the Pixel 8.

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 8: Battery

On paper, there’s nothing between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro regarding battery life, despite the former having a slightly larger 5,050mAh battery.

Both last beyond 24 hours and can achieve up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver enabled.

In my prior experience with Pixels, the Pro version does seem to be a little better in the battery stakes, probably because of that wider range of display refresh rates and the slightly increased battery capacity. But there’s not much in it – these are two stonking smartphones when it comes to battery life.

Conclusion

The choice between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will come down to one thing: budget. This lies at the heart of all buying decisions for smartphones. The trick lies in identifying any stand-out features that demand those extra pennies.

When it comes to the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, two upgrades over the regular 8 might attract you to the flagship.

The first is the camera system. On the 8 Pro, you get more reach, better low-light photography across the entire focal range and the promise of some very cool video enhancement features later this year.

The second is the Super Actua display which is, arguably, one of the best on the market, and the default choice for anyone who isn’t keen on the relatively compact 6.2-inch Pixel 8 display.

If you opt for the Pixel 8 Pro, there’s another bonus, too – you get a temperature sensor which can measure the surface temperature of pans, liquids, surfaces, and food. Google has even submitted a request to the FDA to have it approved for measuring human temperatures.

However, if you go for the regular Pixel 8, you will not be disappointed; those ‘deficiencies’ compared to its big brother are unlikely to make their presence felt day-to-day unless you’re an avid smartphone photographer.

This is another super year for the Google Pixel team and anyone who buys into this superb new hardware.

BUY THE PIXEL 8 PRO HERE

BUY THE PIXEL 8 HERE

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