Google Pixel 8 vs. the competition: The seven-year smartphone
Here's a quick look at how Google's latest handset measures up to its biggest competitors on paper.
Google officially spilled the details on its new Pixel 8 phone during its Made by Google event on Wednesday. While the handset looks broadly similar to last year's Pixel 7, it packs a new Tensor G3 chip, a faster 120Hz display, a smaller frame that should be easier to hold with one hand and, perhaps most notably, seven years of promised OS and security updates. It starts at $699, though, which is $100 more than before, and it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the larger Pixel 8 Pro.
Engadget's Deputy Reviews Editor, Cherlynn Low, got some hands-on time with the new Pixel phones ahead of Google's launch event, so check out her report for more details on what to expect. To help put the device into context, however, we've broken down how the Pixel 8 compares to two high-profile peers, Apple's iPhone 15 and Samsung's Galaxy S23, on the spec sheet. Specs aren't the be-all and end-all — between its new camera features and AI tricks, many of the Pixel 8's biggest updates are software based — but if you want a better sense of what kind of hardware your $699 will get you, here's a quick overview. If you're more interested in the Pixel 8 Pro, we have a similar breakdown for that phone too.
Google Pixel 8 | Apple iPhone 15 | Samsung Galaxy S23 | |
Pricing (MSRP) | From $699 | From $799 | From $800 |
Dimensions | 5.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches | 5.76 x 2.79 x 0.3 inches |
Weight | 6.6 ounces | 6.02 ounces | 5.93 ounces |
Screen size | 6.2 inches | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
Screen resolution | 1,080 x 2,400 428 ppi | 1,179 x 2,556 460 ppi | 1,080 x 2,340 425 ppi |
Screen type | OLED Up to 120Hz (60-120Hz) Up to 2,000 nits brightness Gorilla Glass Victus | OLED 60Hz Up to 2,000 nits brightness Ceramic Shield | AMOLED Up to 120Hz (48-120Hz) Up to 1,750 nits brightness Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
SoC | Google Tensor G3 | Apple A16 Bionic Hexa-core CPU (up to 3.46GHz) 5-core Apple GPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy Octa-core CPU (up to 3.36 GHz) Adreno 740 GPU |
RAM | 8GB | 6GB | 8GB |
Battery | 4,485mAh "Beyond 24 hours" | "Up to 20 hours video playback" | 3,900mAh "Up to 22 hours of video playback" |
Charging | USB Type-C 3.2 Up to 27W wired Up to 18W wireless with Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen) Qi wireless charging up to 12W Reverse wireless charging | USB Type-C (USB 2.0) "Up to 50 percent charge in around 30 minutes" MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W Reverse wired charging | USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1) Up to 25W wired Qi/WPC wireless charging up to 15W Reverse wireless charging |
Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | 128GB / 256GB |
Rear camera(s) | Main: 50 MP, f/1.68 Ultrawide: 12 MP, f/2.2, 125.8 degree FOV | Main: 48 MP, f/1.6 Ultrawide: 12 MP, f/2.4, 120 degree FOV | Main: 50 MP, f/1.8 Ultrawide: 12 MP, f/2.2, 120 degree FOV Telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
Front camera(s) | 10.5 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/1.9 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
Video capture | Rear: 4K at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p at 24/30/60/120/240 fps Front: 4K at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p at 30/60 fps | Rear: 4K at 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p at 25/30/60/120/240 fps Front: 4K at 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p at 25/30/60/120 fps | Rear: 8K at 24/30 fps, 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p at 30/60/240/960 fps Front: 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p at 30 fps |
Water and dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
Bluetooth | v5.3 | v5.3 | v5.3 |
NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
OS | Android 14 "Seven years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates" | iOS 17 | Android 13, One UI 5.1 Four generations of OS updates, five years of security updates |
Finishes | Obsidian, Hazel, Rose Matte aluminum frame | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink Aluminum frame | Phantom Black, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Lime Armor aluminum frame (advertised) |
Follow all of the news live from Google’s 2023 Pixel event right here.
