Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro: Should you upgrade?

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are finally here after Google laid out its entire stash of alleged “leaks” cards on the table. In our article on Google Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8, we stacked up their specs and compared them. One of the big questions people have when a new version of a device is released is how to place the devices side by side. This article will discuss exactly that. Here’s a comparison between Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro and whether you should upgrade to the latest Pixel 8 Pro.

Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro: Display

The Pixel 8 Pro display has been “downgraded” in resolution from last year’s Pixel 7 Pro’s 1440 x 3120p to this year’s 1344 x 2992p, but it’s technically still a 2K panel. In any case, normal users won’t be able to tell the difference in sharpness between both displays. The 8 Pro’s display reaches a peak brightness of 2400 nits, compared to 2000 nits on the Pixel 7 Pro. This means outdoor visibility is better on the 8 Pro. While we’re on the topic, it’s also worth mentioning that the 8 Pro uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, not just the Pixel 7 Pro’s Victus.

Google went with a flat display on the Pixel 8 Pro compared to the rounded edges on the Pixel 7 Pro. Most often, we already feel discomfort from a certain room, because many consider it a special feature. The people in the other group must be very cheerful because there was no accidental contact. This also means that replacing a cracked Pixel 8 Pro display will be much easier if you value repairability.

Another great thing about the Pixel 8 Pro is its LTPO panel. The Pixel 7 Pro also uses LTPO ( Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide ), which lowers the refresh rate to a minimum of 10Hz to save battery, for example during always-on display. The 8 Pro’s display can reach just 1Hz, further saving battery power. The bottom line is that while the Pixel 7 Pro’s display is equally good, you shouldn’t upgrade to the Pixel 8 Pro just for the display, as it’s missing some small perks.

Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro: Build

The Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro both have glass backs and aluminum chassis that sandwich the display behind them. However, there’s one big difference with this year’s Pixel 8 Pro: the matte finish on the back glass. This results in far fewer fingerprints sticking to your device, like the Pixel 7 Pro’s fingerprint magnet. Both dimensions are almost the same. The same goes for the size of the display and the visor that houses the camera.

Storage, RAM, Tensor G3

Storage types and RAM are the same for Pixel 8 Pro. The phone comes with 128 GB of UFS 3.1 memory as standard on the base version (Boooo!), but it increases from 8 GB on the base version of the Pixel 7 Pro to 12 GB on the base version of the Pixel 8 Pro. RAM upgrades are provided. UFS 3.1 is old and most competitors have moved on to the faster UFS 4.0, which should have even been offered on Google’s “latest and greatest” Pixel, but here it is.

Tensor G3 is a significant upgrade from last year’s Tensor G2. It probably runs cooler, is faster for both CPU- and GPU-dependent tasks, and is also more efficient because it’s built on Samsung’s 4nm process. It uses Cortex-X3 as the Prime Core running at 2.91 GHz. The performance core is a Cortex-A715 clocked at 2.37 GHz and the efficiency core is a Cortex-A510 clocked at 1.7 GHz. GPU is Mali-G715. Given Google’s claim that the G3 runs cooler than the G2, they may have added a beefy cooling chamber, or maybe Samsung actually did it this time. G3 also has improved AI processing power, running 30% faster on CPU-related tasks and 20% faster on GPU (verified)

battery and charging

The Pixel 8 Pro’s battery is a 5050mAh cell that can be charged at 27 watts wired or 23 watts wirelessly. This is a slight increase from the Pixel 7 Pro’s 23W wired charging speed. Unlike most manufacturers who have already switched to speeds like 60W and 120W, Google is still far behind in the charging game.

Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro: Camera

The Pixel 8 Pro’s primary sensor is the same as last year: a 50 MP f/1.9 Wide lens. The secondary is a 48 MP f/3.5 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 30x software zoom. Finally, the ultra-wide-angle lens has been upgraded to a 64 MP sensor instead of 12 MP, presumably for better macro photography. (Confirmed) The setup is similar to last year’s Pixel 7 Pro, except for the larger ultra-wide-angle lens.

The only thing that makes the Pixel 8 series’ images look better than the 7 Pro’s is Tensor G3. As always, Google claims that Tensor G3 has more image processing and AI processing, which significantly improves the quality of both photos and videos in difficult situations such as at night. Additionally, Pixel 8 Pro comes with new software features such as Magic Editor, AI Face Swap, Pro Mode, Video Boost, Video Audio Eraser, and Video Night Sight.

Most of these features should be on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but some features like Video Boost and Night Sight for video sound more tied to the hardware, so you might want to consider using Tensor. It’s likely to remain exclusive to G3. In any case, if you already own a Pixel 7 Pro and are thinking of upgrading to a Pixel 8 Pro to take advantage of new image and video features, you should stick with it.

connectivity

On the connectivity front, the Pixel 8 Pro features Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and USB Type-C. This time the Type-C port is USB 3.2 instead of the regular Type-C port, which is slower for charging and data transfer. This means Pixel can now output a display signal that users can use to connect or even connect their device to an external display. External accessories such as AR glasses.

The Pixel 7 Pro, on the other hand, uses Wi-Fi 6E and also has Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and a Type-C port, but the data transfer interface is slower. The Pixel 7 series had similar issues at launch, so we’re hoping Google has improved signal reception.

Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro: Specifications

Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro: Verdict

Both the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro are stable devices, and if you already own the latter, there’s no need to switch. Sure, you’ll miss out on new features at first, but most of them will be available through future updates, except for those closely related to hardware. However, if you want to buy a Pixel 8 Pro at a great trade-in price, or plan to buy a Pixel Watch 2 with your Pixel 8 Pro, Google is offering a bundle where you can buy the Pixel Watch 2 for just $1, exclusively in the US. We have it ready. Get it free when you pre-order Pixel 8 Pro. It’s also worth mentioning that the Pixel 8 series will receive seven years of feature drops, a first for any smartphone in the industry.