iPhone 15 Pro versus Google Pixel 8 Pro — specs, price, and features compared

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro [left], Google's Pixel 8 Pro [right]

On October 4, Google unveiled its Pixel 8 lineup, adding new capabilities to entice customers. The launch arrives after Apple's release of the iPhone 15 lineup on September 12.

Both tech giants have packed their devices with cutting-edge features, from powerful processors to advanced camera systems. All of this in an attempt to to outdo each other in a market that demands innovation.

Whether it's Google's Tensor G3 chip optimized for AI tasks or Apple's A17 Pro chip designed for high performance and energy efficiency, both phones promise a seamless user experience.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Specifications

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Physical dimensions

Coming at 6.4 inches by 3 inches by 0.3 inches in height, width, and depth, and weighing 7.5 ounces, the Pixel 8 Pro is slightly larger and heavier than its iPhone counterpart.

The iPhone 15 Pro is 5.77 inches by 2.78 by 0.32 inches in height, width, and depth. Furthermore, it weighs 6.60 ounces.

However, Apple's smartphone bests the Pixel 8 Pro when it comes to materials. The iPhone 15 Pro is made of titanium, while Google chose to use aluminum for the Pixel 8 Pro, despite rumors that it too would use titanium.

Aluminum is lighter, less expensive, and easier to work with than titanium, making it a common smartphone choice. However, it's more prone to scratches and dents.

On the other hand, titanium is stronger and more durable but comes at a higher cost. Choosing the two materials often involves a trade-off between durability and price.

Apple has never used titanium in an iPhone until now, although it still uses aluminum in the frame. It significantly reduces the weight of the Pro models which previously used stainless steel in the construction.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Display

The Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 1,344 by 2,992 pixels, and a pixel density of 489 "pixels per unit." It supports a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, boasting a resolution of 2,556 by 1,179, at 460 PPI. Both phones offer HDR support and high peak brightness levels, and the iPhone 15 Pro supports a similar refresh rate from its ProMotion technology.

The brightness level for the iPhone 15 Pro is up to 1600 nits for HDR content and up to 2000 nits for peak outdoor brightness. The Pixel 8 Pro's brightness level goes up to 1600 nits for HDR, but up to 2400 nits for peak brightness.

Both phones offer high brightness levels, but the Pixel 8 Pro slightly takes the lead in the part.

Google notes on its product page that the Pixel 8 Pro has a pixel density measured in "pixels per unit" which is somehow different than "pixels per inch." While both PPU and PPI deal with pixel density, they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts.

PPI is a more standardized measure based on real-world inches, whereas PPU can be arbitrary and is often defined within the context of a specific device.

However, since a resolution of 1,344 by 2,992 pixels on a device with a diagonal measurement of 6.7 inches results in a pixels per inch calculation of 489.55, it seems like an odd choice for Google to make in avoiding PPI altogether.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Cameras

Both devices offer impressive camera setups. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera with up to 30x Super Res Zoom.

In the latest iteration, the ultrawide is claimed by Google to offer better focus for macro shots, while the telephoto lens can capture 56% more light than the previous model.

The iPhone 15 Pro features a similar setup with a 48MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and two 12MP telephoto lenses with up to a 6x optical zoom range.

Both phones offer a variety of advanced photography features, but the iPhone 15 Pro has a slight edge with its sensor-shift optical image stabilization.

Apple offers a balanced set of features in the iPhone 15 Pro, emphasizing optical image stabilization and computational photography. For example, there is Deep Fusion and Photonic Engine computational photography, Smart HDR 5, Portrait Lighting, portraits with Focus and Depth Control, and Night Mode supported by LiDAR.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro leans heavily on high megapixel counts and offers unique software features like Magic Editor and Audio Magic Eraser. The use of Pro Controls for adjusting the shutter speed and ISO are also provided for photographers to get more control over shots.

Each is capable of 4K video recording, but the iPhone has the added benefit of ProRes video recording and Log support, which is particularly useful for professional videographers.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Processor

The iPhone 15 Pro is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip, which features a new 6-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores. It also includes a new 6-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine.

The new chip architecture balances high performance and energy efficiency, making it ideal for everything from gaming to professional-level tasks.

The Pixel 8 Pro ships with Google's Tensor G3 processor, accompanied by a Titan M2 security coprocessor. Google's Tensor G3 is designed to offer high performance for running apps and performing tasks for users.

It's optimized for machine learning and artificial intelligence tasks, similar to the A17 Pro chip with Apple's Neural Engine for local data processing.

The Geekbench benchmarks for the iPhone 15 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro offer a compelling comparison of their performance capabilities. The iPhone 15 Pro, powered by the Apple A17 Pro processor, boasts a single-core score of 2893 and a multi-core score of 7183.

On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro, running on a new Google Tensor G3 processor, has a single-core score of 1757 and a multi-core score of 4005.

The iPhone 15 Pro outperforms the Pixel 8 Pro in single-core and multi-core tests. That can translate to smoother multitasking, faster app launches, and better handling of resource-intensive tasks on the iPhone.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Connectivity

The iPhone 15 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro offer a broad spectrum of cellular connectivity but differ in details. The iPhone 15 Pro supports 5G NR with a wide range of bands, while the Pixel 8 Pro supports 5G Sub 6GHz and 5G mmWave, offering more flexibility in 5G connectivity.

Regarding LTE, both phones are versatile, supporting multiple bands and frequencies, making them suitable for global travel.

The Pixel 8 Pro takes the lead in Wi-Fi by supporting Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), a step ahead of the iPhone 15 Pro's Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax). Both phones use 2x2 MIMO technology, but the Pixel 8 Pro adds an extra layer with 6GHz support.

Bluetooth technology is consistent across both devices, with each using Bluetooth 5.3. Each phone includes an Ultra Wideband chip for accurate ranging and spatial orientation.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Power and battery

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro prioritize long-lasting battery life, but they achieve this differently. The iPhone 15 Pro offers up to 23 hours of video playback and 75 hours of audio playback.

It also supports fast charging, allowing a 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher. The phone includes MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W and Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W.

On Google's side, the Pixel 8 Pro boasts a "Beyond 24-hour battery life, " which the small print says is based upon "testing and expected mobile behavior," rather than being tasked with constant video playback. It even offers an "Extreme Battery Saver" mode that can extend battery life up to 72 hours.

Its battery capacity is specified as a typical 5050 mAh, which can reach up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes using Google's 30W USB-C Charger. Additionally, it offers fast wireless charging and a Battery Share feature, which allows the device to charge other Qi-certified devices.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Other features

The iPhone 15 Pro is equipped with Face ID, which uses advanced facial recognition for secure authentication. The Pixel 8 Pro has a Face Unlock feature, while also sporting Fingerprint Unlock with a fingerprint sensor under the display.

Running Android, Google's phone also supports older unlocking methods with a pattern, PIN, and password. Users of the iPhone 15 Pro can make use of a numerical password or an alphanumerical password that uses a combination of letters and numbers.

Google has highlighted various security features in the Pixel 8 Pro, including a built-in VPN, toggles for the camera and microphone, anti-malware and anti-phishing protection, and support for passkeys.

The company also made a notable commitment to customers to provide seven years of OS and security updates. Apple is known for maintaining a timeline of a similar length for providing updates to older devices.

Apple added a specialized gaming feature to the iPhone lineup for the first time by introducing ray tracing. Leveraging advanced hardware and software capabilities allows for incredibly realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in real time.

It offers a level of graphical fidelity previously reserved for high-end gaming consoles and PCs.

Although rumors suggest that Google's Tensor G3 chip also has ray tracing, reviewers have yet to be able to confirm it.

The iPhone 15 Pro also introduces a new feature called the "Action Button," a hardware addition that enhances the device's functionality. It serves as a customizable control, allowing users to quickly access specific apps or perform particular tasks with a single press.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Storage, color, and price

Regarding storage options, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro offer a variety of choices to suit different needs. Each smartphone has 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities.

The wide range of storage capacities allows users to choose a model that best fits their data storage requirements, whether for extensive photo libraries, large video files, or numerous apps.

Regarding color options, the iPhone 15 Pro offers a more subdued palette in Black, White, Blue, and Natural Titanium. The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, provides a different set of colors that include Obsidian, Porcelain, and Bay, which is blue-colored.

As for pricing, both phones are premium devices, and their cost reflects this. Each smartphone starts at $999, making it a significant investment upfront. Increasing in capacity, Google's range is slightly cheaper at each storage capacity tier, tapping out at 1TB for $1,399 versus $1,499 for the iPhone 15 Pro.

However, Apple's substantial resale value could be a factor that potential buyers consider.

iPhone 15 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro - Which to buy

For potential buyers weighing their options between the iPhone 15 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro, both devices offer remarkably similar high-end features that cater to a range of needs. Both phones use robust processors, the A17 Pro chip for the iPhone and the Google Tensor G3 for the Pixel, ensuring speedy performance and multitasking capabilities.

They also boast impressive camera systems that capture high-quality photos and videos in various conditions. Additionally, both devices offer a range of storage options up to 1TB, and are equipped with advanced battery-saving features.

Either smartphone is likely to meet or exceed the expectations of potential buyers. Android and Apple loyalists will see a lot of good in their respective devices, and in a match-up this close, it is arguably down to software ecosystems for smartphone shoppers who aren't necessarily siding with one device or the other.

However, on a strictly hardware basis, the performance of the A17 Pro and the use of titanium in a decidedly premium smartphone puts the iPhone 15 Pro ahead of its Google rival.

Where to buy

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is available at Amazon and Best Buy, with a starting retail price of $999.

Wireless carriers are offering aggressive incentives on the iPhone 15 Pro at AT&T, Verizon, Visible and Boost Infinite via Amazon, with offers bringing the phone down to free via bill credits. You can find the best iPhone deals in our dedicated roundup.