The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are official, promising the usual design, camera and performance refinements we’ve come to expect from any annual phone update. But Google handsets are all about the software, and the Pixel 8’s suite of AI-powered image editing features are some of the most groundbreaking we’ve seen on a phone — in ways that range from useful to a bit eerie.
Google has launched the Pixel 8 series on October 4. promising the usual design, camera and performance refinements we’ve come to expect from any annual phone update. But Google handsets are all about the software, and the Pixel 8’s suite of AI-powered image editing features are some of the most groundbreaking we’ve seen on a phone — in ways that range from useful to a bit eerie.
Google’s launch comes weeks after Apple launched its new iPhone 15 series of devices. That’s why we wanted to compare the specifications of these new devices from Apple and Google.
The Pixel 8 range is available for preorder now and will launch on Oct. 12, starting at $699 for the Pixel 8 and $999 for the Pixel 8 Pro. Preordering the Pixel 8 through Google will net you a free pair of Pixel Buds Pro, while doing the same for the Pixel 8 Pro will get you the brand-new Pixel Watch 2.
That support promise will no doubt pressure other manufacturers, too. Samsung only promises four years of OS updates and five years of security fixes for the Galaxy S23 line, which starts at around $800, and its much pricier Z Fold 5. And Apple, despite having a great track record for ongoing OS updates, makes no promises at all. (Google’s only real competitor here is Fairphone, which promises a solid five OS upgrades, but it’s far from a major player in the phone market.)
For a better match between the entry-level and higher-end models, notably in terms of screen size, we have left out the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro. The Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro were chosen to be compared alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max, respectively.
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Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15
Display:
- Pixel 8: 6.2-inch OLED display; 1080 × 2400 pixels resolution; 428 pixels per inch
- iPhone 15: 6.1-inch OLED display; 1179 × 2556 pixels resolution; 460 pixels per inch
Processor
- Pixel 8: Google Tensor G3
- iPhone 15: A16 bionic
RAM
- Pixel 8: 8GB
- iPhone 15: 6GB
Battery
- Pixel 8: 4,575mAh
- iPhone 15: 3,349mAh
Rear Camera:
- Pixel 8: 50-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.7 aperture; 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture (126° field of view)
- iPhone 15: 48-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture; 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture (120° field of view)
Front Camera
- Pixel 8: 10.5-megapixel main camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture
- iPhone 15: 12-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.9 aperture
Main Port
- Pixel 8: USB-C connector with USB 3.2
- iPhone 15: USB-C connector with USB 2.0
