Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: did Google finally beat Apple?

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Google unveiled nan Google Pixel 8 lineup astatine its October Made by Google arena successful New York. Though location aren’t immoderate drastic upgrades to nan Pixel 8, Google made immoderate smaller changes that are judge to beryllium invited among fans.

But Apple besides released nan iPhone 15 lineup successful September — and it’s 1 of nan Pixel 8’s biggest competitors. If you’re successful nan marketplace for a caller smartphone, which 1 should you prime up? The Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 are some nan baseline models for Google and Apple, respectively, truthful let’s return a person look astatine these 2 phones.

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: specs

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: design

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On nan surface, some nan Google Pixel 8 and Apple’s iPhone 15 don’t look very different from their predecessors.

The Google Pixel 8 looks very overmuch for illustration nan Google Pixel 7 that came earlier it. However, location are immoderate insignificant changes. The Pixel 8 now has much rounded corners and symmetrical bezels, arsenic good arsenic a level display. You’ll still person nan accepted camera barroom connected nan backmost pinch nan metallic finish, which houses nan dual camera system. Google has a caller satin framework enclosure pinch polished backmost solid for nan Pixel 8 (aka, nan backmost is glossy). There are 3 beautiful colors for nan Pixel 8: obsidian, hazel, and rose.

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With Apple’s iPhone 15, it looks beautiful akin to nan iPhone 14. You still person nan level edges and diagonal dual camera layout, but that’s wherever nan similarities mostly end. Previous guidelines exemplary iPhones had glossy solid connected nan back, but nan iPhone 15 uses a caller “color-infused” solid that now has a unique, matte finish. Since it’s matte, fingerprints are little apt to show up.

The iPhone 15 besides has much rounded edges compared to its predecessor, which gives it a much ergonomic and comfortable consciousness successful nan hand. Apple besides uses an aluminum framework that’s beautiful resistant to fingerprints, and it besides makes nan telephone rather lightweight. There are 5 colour choices for nan iPhone 15: black, yellow, blue, green, and pink. However, astir of nan colors are rather pale, pinch pinkish being nan champion of nan bunch.

Both phones look great, but pinch much colour options and a much applicable matte back, we’re giving nan iPhone 15 nan triumph here.

Winner: iPhone 15

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: display

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This year, Google really made nan show connected nan Pixel 8 a spot smaller than before. Previously, nan Pixel 7 had a 6.3-inch display, but nan Pixel 8 now has a 6.2-inch Actua LTPS OLED show pinch a 1080 x 2400 pixel solution astatine 428 pixels per inch (ppi) and a 20:9 facet ratio.

The Pixel 8 show besides has a 120Hz refresh complaint and reaches an HDR brightness of 1,400 nits and a highest brightness of up to 2,000 nits. The caller Actua show yields 42% brighter levels than nan erstwhile Pixel 7.

Furthermore, nan Google Pixel 8 has an always-on show that features At a Glance and Now Playing. It uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus arsenic well.

In our reappraisal of nan Pixel 8, we recovered nan show to beryllium agleam capable to usage without rumor outdoors successful sunshine and various angles, though it doesn’t scope nan ace precocious brightness levels of nan Google Pixel 8 Pro. The show is besides much level than before, pinch nan assemblage of nan telephone blending into nan surface pinch a curve, making it consciousness much comfortable to use. The surface isn’t ace reflective either, and nan bezels are slim. Overall, it looks awesome pinch robust colour and sharpness.

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Apple’s iPhone 15 show is not rather arsenic impressive, particularly considering its price. With nan iPhone 15, you person a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED show pinch a 1179 x 2556 resolution, 19:5:9 facet ratio, and 461 ppi. It reaches emblematic brightness astatine 1,000 nits, but tin spell up to 2,000 nits highest brightness outdoors. It besides brings successful nan Dynamic Island from past year’s iPhone 14 Pro models, making it nan caller modular for nan iPhone.

However, moreover though nan iPhone 15 costs much than nan Pixel 8, nan refresh complaint is only 60Hz, which is acold beneath what nan Pixel 8 (and astir Android phones, for that matter) is tin of. Though nan show features agleam and rich | colors pinch crisp text, scrolling won’t beryllium arsenic smooth, and it’s decidedly noticeable if you’re utilized to a higher refresh rate. It besides does not support an always-on show mode, which is thing nan Pixel 8 does offer.

Winner: Google Pixel 8

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: package and performance

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The Google Pixel 8 ships pinch Android 14 out of nan box, naturally. It besides features Google’s caller Tensor G3 chip and Titan M2 information coprocessor. The Pixel 8 besides has 8GB RAM and either 128GB aliases 256GB of retention available.

With nan Google Tensor G3, nan instrumentality learning exemplary connected nan Google Pixel 8 is astir 10x much analyzable than what was connected nan Google Pixel 6. Some circumstantial features of Tensor G3 see nan Pixel’s Call Screening characteristic that tin observe and select retired spam calls, improved Clear Calling for high-definition and crystal clear telephone calls, and Audio Magic Eraser, which tin erase distracting sounds from your videos.

Google is besides taking steps to future-proof its phones. Google is promising OS and information updates for 7 years for nan Pixel 8. It will besides merchandise Feature Drops, which adhd adjuvant caller features for nan Pixel 8, each fewer months.

Performance successful real-world usage pinch our reappraisal portion has been overmuch amended than nan erstwhile devices pinch nan Tensor G2 chip. While nan Pixel 8 whitethorn get lukewarm from intensive apps and games, it ne'er gets ace hot, which was a problem pinch nan Pixel 7 lineup. The Tensor G3 spot will beryllium capable to grip beautiful overmuch thing you propulsion astatine it, whether it’s playing games, watching video, listening to music, aliases conscionable checking your email and societal media. Connectivity isn’t an rumor pinch 4G and 5G, NFC and Google Pay activity flawlessly too. Overall, we’re overmuch much impressed pinch nan Tensor G3 than its erstwhile iterations.

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Apple’s iPhone 15 comes pinch iOS 17. On nan inside, it has nan A16 Bionic that debuted past twelvemonth pinch nan iPhone 14 Pro models and has 6GB RAM. You person nan action of 128GB, 256GB, aliases 512GB of storage.

The A16 Bionic is rather accelerated successful position of performance, and iOS 17 has been a coagulated performer. With iOS 17, you’ll person immoderate caller features for illustration NameDrop, improved AirDrop, Standby mode, interactive widgets, Live Voicemail, and more. It whitethorn beryllium a smaller update than erstwhile years, but it does adhd a batch of quality-of-life improvements. Apple besides tends to support its devices for astir six years connected average, truthful you tin expect nan iPhone 15 to past a while too.

From our existent world usage pinch nan iPhone 15, iOS 17 has worked good truthful far. The iPhone 15 doesn’t really struggle pinch moving a batch of apps astatine nan aforesaid time, and for nan mean person, it should beryllium plentifulness fast. It besides handles games rather well, though it whitethorn get a small warm. But nan powerfulness that nan iPhone 15 has is awesome for your regular needs.

Ultimately, which 1 is amended really depends connected whether you for illustration iOS aliases Android overall.

Winner: Tie

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: cameras

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The Google Pixel 8 has a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The main camera besides has an f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree section of view, and integer zoom up to 8x pinch optical 2x zoom. The ultrawide lens has an f/2.2 aperture and a 125.8-degree section of view. The dual camera setup has a single-zone laser observe autofocus, a spectral and flicker sensor, and optical and physics image stabilization connected nan wide lens.

The selfie camera connected nan Pixel 8 is 10.5MP pinch an f/2.2 aperture, fixed focus, and 95-degree ultrawide section of view.

The rear camera should besides nutrient immoderate value video. You tin get 4K signaling astatine 24/30/60 frames per 2nd (fps) aliases 1080p signaling astatine 24/30/60 fps. The beforehand camera is tin of 4K signaling astatine 24/30/60 fps. Google besides has a macro attraction video mode, cinematic blur and pan, astrophotography time-lapse, and more.

Google Pixels person had a coagulated estimation for taking awesome photos, and nan Pixel 8 is nary exception. The upgraded camera strategy pinch nan Pixel 8 has precocious image processing that will bring retired vivid colors and striking details. There is besides now a caller Macro Focus that lets you return moreover amended macro images. Another caller AI characteristic is Best Take, which will harvester akin pictures into a azygous image wherever everyone looks their best, and Magic Editor, which lets you manipulate objects successful a photograph (like a amended Magic Eraser).

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On nan iPhone 15, you besides person a dual camera setup pinch a 48MP main and 12MP ultrawide. The main camera has an f/1.6 aperture, while nan ultrawide has an f/2.4 aperture. Despite not having a telephoto lens, Apple made it imaginable to get 2x optical zoom pinch up to 10x integer zoom. For nan selfie camera, nan iPhone 15 has a 12MP lens pinch an f/1.9 aperture. The selfie camera besides has autofocus, which you don’t get connected nan Pixel 8.

Apple has made immoderate improvements successful nan camera value this twelvemonth pinch Smart HDR 5. Colors don’t look arsenic harsh aliases washed retired arsenic successful erstwhile generations. There is besides a caller Auto Portrait characteristic for nan full iPhone 15 lineup. With Auto Portrait, arsenic agelong arsenic nan camera detects a personification aliases pet successful focus, it automatically captures extent information moreover if you’re not successful Portrait mode. When viewing nan photo, you tin toggle Portrait mode connected aliases disconnected arsenic you please, and nan characteristic moreover useful for selfies too.

For video recording, Apple tin beryllium reliable to beat. You person 4K signaling astatine 24/25/30/60 fps aliases 1080p signaling astatine 25/30/60 fps. The iPhone 15 besides has a cinematic mode pinch shallow extent of section up to 4K HDR astatine 30 fps, HDR video signaling pinch Dolby Vision up to 4K astatine 60 fps, and slo-mo video up to 1080p astatine 120/240 fps.

You get somewhat much integer zoom and autofocus for nan selfie camera connected nan iPhone 15. But nan Pixel 8 has a somewhat sharper 50MP main camera, and its AI editing devices are unmatched. Both phones return fantabulous photos, and they some person their ain unsocial group of exclusive features. It yet comes down to what you want from your camera experience.

Winner: Tie

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: artillery and charging

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The Pixel 8 has a 4,575mAh battery, and Google promises 24-hour artillery life pinch up to 72-hour artillery life pinch Extreme Battery Saver — nan aforesaid declare it made past twelvemonth for nan Pixel 7. It uses USB-C for accelerated charging up to 27 watts, which results successful a 50% complaint successful 30 minutes.

For wireless charging, nan Pixel 8 uses Qi-compatible wireless chargers and tin wirelessly complaint up to 18W pinch nan Google Pixel Stand accessory. For different wireless chargers, it will headdress retired astatine 12W speeds. You tin besides usage nan Pixel 8 to complaint up different devices pinch Battery Share reverse wireless charging, which is astir 4.5W.

Though nan artillery seems small, it tin really past into a 2nd time connected a azygous charge, depending connected your usage. In our review, it was noted that our Pixel 8 lasted good into a 2nd time pinch astir 3 afloat hours of surface time. A dense 4 hours of surface clip only took astir 50% of nan battery, and that clip consisted of games, streaming video, various apps, calls, and tons of camera use. Again, pinch bully surface management, you could agelong that artillery connected nan Pixel 8 to 2 days earlier you person to plug it backmost in. When you do plug it in, pinch nan correct charger, you’ll get astir 50% complaint successful 30 minutes.

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Apple packed successful a 3,349mAh artillery compartment successful nan iPhone 15. In our tests, this should get you done nan time pinch mean usage. It’s an betterment complete nan 3,279mAh artillery of nan iPhone 14, but not by much.

The iPhone 15 has yet ditched Lightning for USB-C, truthful you nary longer request a proprietary cablegram to complaint nan iPhone. However, Apple did not make immoderate improvements to nan wide charging speed, arsenic nan iPhone 15 still charges astir nan aforesaid 20W arsenic before, truthful again, you’re looking astatine a 50% complaint successful 30 minutes.

As acold arsenic wireless charging goes, nan iPhone 15 still has 15W MagSafe wireless charging speeds and 7.5W pinch Qi-compatible charging pads. Apple did adhd reverse wired charging, truthful arsenic agelong arsenic you person a cable, you tin complaint up different devices astatine 4.5W speed.

Winner: Google Pixel 8

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: value and availability

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The Pixel 8 launched connected October 12 and starts astatine $699 for nan 128GB model, which is simply a $100 summation from nan Pixel 7. Google justifies nan value summation pinch a caller design, upgraded cameras, and nan Tensor G3. The Pixel 8 comes successful 3 colors: obsidian, hazel, and rose. You tin acquisition it straight from nan Google Store, via bearer stores, and large container retailers.

The iPhone 15 starts astatine $799 for nan 128GB version. It comes successful 5 colors: black, yellow, blue, green, and pink. However, astir of nan colors are very ray and pale, though pinkish is simply a notable standout. Apple launched nan iPhone 15 connected September 22, and you tin acquisition it correct now straight from Apple, bearer stores, and large container retailers.

Google Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15: verdict

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you’re looking to get nan astir bang for your subordinate pinch a guidelines exemplary flagship, past it’s difficult to hit nan Google Pixel 8. For conscionable $699, contempt being much than its predecessor, you’re getting a batch much features this year.

For one, nan Pixel 8 now features a 120Hz display, which is simply a bump up from nan 90Hz of nan Pixel 7. Even though it’s somewhat smaller astatine 6.2 inches, nan refresh complaint is besides higher, and nan highest brightness is doubled. The show connected nan Pixel 8 is besides double what Apple offers pinch nan iPhone 15, which is only 60Hz and $100 more, which is disappointing.

Though nan cameras connected some phones are similar, nan Pixel 8 edges retired nan iPhone 15 conscionable somewhat pinch nan 50MP main shooter versus nan 48MP main camera. Though nan iPhone 15 does person nan Auto Portrait mode, nan Pixel 8 is tin of taking immoderate awesome photos arsenic well, particularly pinch nan caller Best Take feature, which is particularly useful if you return a batch of group photos.

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Battery life is besides successful nan Pixel 8’s favor, offering a longer-lasting 4,575mAh artillery compared to nan iPhone 15’s measly 3,349mAh. Charging speeds for some phones are astir nan aforesaid pinch USB-C, but nan Pixel 8 is tin of faster wireless charging wide (unless you want to usage MagSafe). The Pixel 8 is besides much convenient for reverse wireless charging, whereas nan iPhone 15 tin reverse charge, but only if you person a cablegram pinch you.

What does this each mean for you? If you cognize you want an iPhone, nan iPhone 15 is simply a reliable telephone to beat. It’s expertly designed, very performant, and a axenic joyousness to use. But if you want an Android handset — aliases you’re simply looking for nan champion woody imaginable — nan Google Pixel 8 drives a beautiful difficult bargain.

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