'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Google Pixel 8 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which model should you buy?
While there was no shortage of leaks for Google's new flagship phones, this month's Made by Google event officially dropped all the details on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones. And as expected, both are very solid phones.
Review: Google Pixel 8 Pro: This is the phone of the future, and the AI features prove it
Though these two phones have relatively similar designs and both run on the Tensor G3 chip, the 8 Pro adds a few extra features to warrant the higher cost -- namely, an extra telephoto camera lens, a bigger battery, and a larger display. But are those additional features worth the extra price? We detail the differences to help you decide.
Specifications
Google Pixel 8 | Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
Price | $699 | $999 |
| Display | 6.2 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Resolution | 2,400 x 1,080 pixels, 20:9 ratio, 424 PPI | 3,120 x 1,440 pixels, 20:9 ratio, 513 PPI |
Rear camera | 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide | 50MP main + 64MP ultrawide + 48MP telephoto |
Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB/12GB with 128GB/256GB | 12GB/16GB with 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Battery | 4,355mAh | 4,950mAh |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
You should buy the Google Pixel 8 if...
1. You don't want to break the bank
It doesn't quite match the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Samsung S23 Ultra, but the $999 Pixel 8 Pro is the most expensive Google phone to date. So, if paying quadruple digits for a cell phone isn't something you can come to terms with, look to the Pixel 8. The camera is the biggest difference between the two, so if you don't envision taking advantage of the new camera features, go with the Pixel 8.
2. You want to test drive Google's new AI editing features as affordably as possible
The Pixel 8 brings a number of AI-assisted editing features, both for photo and video. Audio Magic Eraser leads the way, a feature in which unwanted audio in a video can actually be edited out, leaving the audio you were trying to record. The Best Take feature, which lets you swap faces into an image from other pictures, is especially appealing if you have kids. Real Tone not only sees more diverse faces in more lighting conditions for facial recognition, but also has an auto-white balance model to help determine color in a picture. This helps reflect a variety of skin tones in photos and should have your photos looking as good as possible. These features are available on both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro, but if you want to try out these features without having to pay extra, you'll want to choose the Pixel 8.
3. You want a phone that's easier to hold
Bigger isn't better for everyone. The Pixel 8 is narrower than its 8 Pro counterpart by about 5mm, and it weighs about 26 grams less. But it's not just smaller than the Pixel 8 Pro -- it's smaller than the Pixel 7. If you want a phone that's a little easier to hold, consider the Pixel 8.
You should buy the Pixel 8 Pro if...
1. You want the best camera
Both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro will share a 50MP main camera, but the 8 adds a 12MP ultrawide camera, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a striking 48MP ultrawide camera and a 48MP Quad PD telephoto camera. If you want a fantastic camera phone, both of these phones will have cameras that are upgrades over the previous generation, so you won't go wrong with either.
Review: Google Pixel 8 Pro This is the phone of the future, and the AI features prove it
But if taking pictures of subjects that are far off is something that appeals to you, the 8 Pro is the easy choice here. The 8 Pro's 5x optical zoom and Super Res Zoom up to 30x is also a significant upgrade over the 8's Super Res Zoom up to 8x and 2x Optical Quality. But if you're a shutterbug at all, the Pro's additional camera features are worth considering. For more experienced photographers, the 8 Pro also features the addition of a manual mode that lets you tinker with shutter speed, ISO, and other elements.
2. Bigger is better
On the practical side of things, the 8 Pro is simply a little bit larger than the 8 -- 6.7 inches to 6.2 inches, respectively. If size matters, you'll want to go with the 8 Pro. For comparison, it's the same size as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, meaning it's a pretty hefty phone. If you prefer a smaller phone without a lot of the extra features, look to the 8. But if you want a large phone that makes watching content a better experience, consider the 8 Pro.
3. You want the best battery life
The Pixel 7 has a 4,355mAh battery, while the Pixel 8 upgrades that to right at 4,5000mAh. It's not necessarily a huge upgrade, but it's still a little more. If you really want to upgrade, the Pixel 8 Pro brings an even larger battery at 5,0000 mAh. This is right in line with the Samsung S23 Ultra and more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers. This is also the same-sized battery that's in the Google Pixel 7 Pro, but between the 8 and the 8 Pro, the latter is clearly the winner in battery life.