Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: Is the Pro route worth it?

Google has a strange strategy of releasing all device details before launch, and it’s working surprisingly well. The excitement surrounding the Pixel and Pixel Watch 2 this year far exceeds any previous Pixel, or perhaps even since the “Pixel” brand was first revived. If you’re interested in buying the new Pixel 8 series, but aren’t sure if it’s worth compromising on the Pixel 8 or opting for the Pro version, this article will help you understand the difference between Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Let’s see all the differences.

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: build, size, and display

The biggest difference between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is size. The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch 120Hz display with a smaller footprint compared to the Pro’s massive 6.7-inch screen. In fact, the Pixel 8 is smaller than the Pixel 7, which has a 6.3-inch screen, making it a good choice for people who want a relatively small device. The Pixel 8 has an FHD+ display, while the Pixel 8 Pro’s display is “technically” 2K, but has fewer pixels compared to the Pixel 7 Pro’s display.

Another change to this year’s Pro model is the removal of the curved display in favor of a flat display. First, curved displays can cause accidental touches, but most people often associate curved displays with a sense of luxury. Therefore, some people will be disappointed

The front of both devices is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and both chassis are made of aluminum. Another feedback Google took into account this year is the removal of glossy backs in favor of matte textures. This should improve the feel in your hand. Overall, if you’re buying a Pixel based solely on size, the Pixel 8 makes sense if you want a small form factor, and the Pixel 8 Pro is for all big-screen enthusiasts.

Both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro feature 120Hz AMOLED displays that Google calls Super Actua. The 8 Pro display is a flat LTPO panel. This means the phone can automatically adjust its refresh rate and go as low as 1Hz to save power. This means the Pixel 8 Pro AoD can save more power than the Pixel 8, which also has a 60Hz dynamic panel. Pixel 8 and 8 Pro display resolution is FHD+.

Battery life comparison

The Pixel 8 has a 4575mAh battery, while the 8 Pro has a larger 5050mAh battery. In addition to the battery capacity, the other thing that has improved is the charging speed. The regular 8 now supports 27W charging, while the Pro can charge 30W. Wireless charging speeds have also increased to 18W and 23W respectively, which is great since the Pixel is still probably the slowest when it comes to charging.

According to many reports, Tensor G3 is “supposed” to run much cooler. This also means it’s probably much more efficient (4 nm Samsung process). Therefore, the battery life of both devices should improve.

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: Camera

Another big difference between the Pro and non-Pro models is the camera. Pixel 8 features a dual-camera setup with a 50 MP wide-angle f/1.9 primary sensor and a 12 MP ultra-wide f/2.2 lens as the secondary sensor. The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, features a triple camera setup with the same primary lens as the Pixel 8, a 50 MP wide-angle f/1.9 lens and a secondary telephoto 48 MP f/3.5 with a 5x optical zoom camera (Google 30x zoom via software trickery) and finally a 48 MP ultrawide f/2.2 lens for macro.

The primary sensors on both phones should work similarly. It still hurts that the Pixel 8 doesn’t have a telephoto lens. The Pixel 8 Pro’s second camera is a 48MP telephoto that can take 5x optical zoom photos using a software trick that Google introduced with the Pixel 7 Pro last year, but this time thanks to improved AI processing. , Google claims that the 8 Pro can shoot clearly even from a distance. All new camera features include:

• AI face swap for photos
• magic editor for photos
• photo pro mode
• video boost for videos
• video night view
• audio eraser for video

The 8 Pro has a temperature sensor that can measure the temperature of objects and skin (coming soon). For example, you need to be able to measure the temperature of a cooking pot or a hot milk bottle.

If you love Pixel photography but don’t need an extra telephoto lens, the Pixel 8 is just fine. However, if you often zoom in with your camera to capture distant objects, you may want to consider the Pixel 8 Pro. Most of the aforementioned software features are available on both devices, and some of them will also be on the Pixel 7 series, so it all comes down to whether you need an additional telephoto lens.

Performance: Tensor G3 and UFS 3.1

Tensor G3 is the result of Google’s latest collaboration with Samsung. Google claims that the G3 runs much cooler than the G2 and has more AI processing power. For all you geeks out there, the G3 uses a 1+4+4 layout. That is, one prime, four performance cores, and four efficiency cores.

The SoC is built on a 4 nm process and uses Cortex-X3 as the Prime Core clocked 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 Samsung may have done it this time. In any case, it should be interesting once you get your hands on the device.

Storage and RAM are unchanged from last year. Yes, the Pixel 8 series still uses UFS 3.1 (boo here). Meanwhile, competitors have already moved to faster UFS 4.0 storage, and UFS 4.1 is just around the corner. Google should have opted for UFS 4.0 and made the 256GB version standard, at least for the Pro model, but here we are. So it doesn’t matter which Pixel 8 you buy. Performance should be the same.

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: Connectivity

Both devices feature Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and USB Type-C. This time the USB-C port is USB 3.2 instead of the usual Type-C port, which is slower to charge and transfer data. 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.

It turns out that Google is also testing a desktop mode for Android similar to Samsung DEX, but there is not enough information to reveal all the details about the same. I hope they do it right. Unlike other manufacturers, both the standard and pro models come with USB 3.2 (application.. *cough )

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: Specifications

Pixel 8 vs Pixel 8 Pro: Final verdict

The Pixel 8 has increased in price by $100 this year and now costs $699, so some may consider the Pixel 8 Pro, which costs $999, the same price as last year’s Pro model. The price difference is only $200, and for the same price you get a camera with additional features, a larger battery with fast charging, more RAM, and more importantly, a larger, more efficient and brighter LTPO AMOLED. Google did the trick this time because it’s available.

And did we mention the amazing Sky Blue variant, which is unlike any Pixel we’ve seen before? So if you can afford it, it makes more sense to buy the Pixel 8 Pro. If not, the Pixel 8 is fine.