In this Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro face-off, we're going to help you answer one important question. Would you be better off with the Pixel 7 Pro or should you shell out a little more for the new Pixel 8 Pro?
The Pixel 8 Pro dropped on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at the Made by Google 2023 event. One of the most striking, puzzling features to hit the new handset this year is a built-in thermometer. You're also getting an upgraded camera system, a more energy-efficient display, and a zippier new Tensor G3 chipset. Is the Pixel 8 Pro right for you or would you be just fine with a Pixel 7 Pro? Let's find out in this battle that lays it all out for you.
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Price
The Pixel 7 Pro launched with a starting price of $899 last year, but Google decided to hike the price for the new generation. The Pixel 8 Pro, with a price tag of $999, is a $100 more expensive than its last-generation counterpart. For context, the Pixel 8 Pro matches the starting price of the iPhone 15 Pro.
Pixel 7 Pro Credit: GoogleThe following rounds will help you determine whether Google's price hike is justified.
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: RAM and Storage
The Pixel 8 Pro offers more memory compared to the Pixel 7 Pro. This means this generation will give you 12GB of RAM across all storage variants while the Pixel 7 Pro only offers 12GB of RAM for certain configurations. The Pixel 8 Pro should handle multitasking at a better rate than the Pixel 7 Pro. In other words, on paper, the Pixel 8 Pro should juggle several apps better than the Pixel 7 Pro.
Man using Pixel 8 Pro Credit: GoogleThe Pixel 8 Pro now offers up to 1TB of storage whereas the Pixel 7 Pro only has models up to 512GB of storage.
Pixel 7 Pro: 128GB of storage + 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage + 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage + 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage + 12GB of RAM
Pixel 8 Pro: 128GB of storage + 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage + 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage + 12GB of RAM, 1TB of storage + 12GB of RAM
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Design
There are two gen-over-gen design departures to note. Firstly, the Pixel 8 Pro no longer has the pill-and-hole camera casing design. The telephoto, once having its own dedicated camera hole, is now integrated with the wide and ultrawide cameras inside an elongated oval shape.
Pixel 7 Pro Credit: GoogleSecondly, on Pixel 8 Pro's signature camera-bar visor, you may notice a new sensor. This is the new built-in temperature reader, which is marketed as an object thermometer that can give you temperature readings on things like beverages and cookware.
Pixel 7 Pro: No temperature sensor
Pixel 8 Pro: Temperature sensor
Both the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro have rounded, smooth edges and a tiny selfie camera cut out on the display. The Pixel 8 Pro is a tinge thinner than its predecessor, but it's slightly heavier than the Pixel 7 Pro.
Pixel 7 Pro 0.35 inches thin, 7.48 ounces
Pixel 8 Pro: 0.3 inches thin, 7.5 ounces
Here are the colorways for both phones:
Pixel 7 Pro: Hazel, Snow, and Obsidian
Pixel 8 Pro: Bay, Porcelain, and Obsidian
Both are rated for IP68 water resistance, which means they can handle submersion of 4.9 feet for up to 30 minutes.
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Display
Both the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 7 Pro have the same display size: 6.7 inches. Interestingly, however, it appears that the Pixel 8 Pro has a slight pixel count drop compared to its predecessor.
Pixel 7 Pro Credit: GooglePixel 7 Pro: 1,440 x 3,120, LTPO OLED, 512 PPI
Pixel 8 Pro: 1,384 x 2,992 pixels, LTPO OLED, 489 PPI
However, the Pixel 8 Pro has a wider refresh-rate range (1Hz to 120Hz vs. 10Hz to 120Hz). This means that when you're running tasks that don't require zippy activity, the Pixel 8 Pro can decrease to a much lower refresh rate, down to 1Hz (compared to the Pixel 7 Pro's minimum of 10Hz). This can help preserve battery life because the display is not refreshing as often when it's not required.
The Pixel 8 Pro has a brighter screen; it has a peak luminance of 2,400 nits. The Pixel 7 Pro, on the other hand, is less bright and can climb up to 1,500 nits. This isn't half bad, but the Pixel 8 Pro is likely far more visible in direct sunlight compared to its predecessor.
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Cameras
The Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 7 Pro have similar wide cameras, but note the differences below
Credit: Google50 megapixel
1.2 μm
ƒ/1.68 aperture (the Pixel 7 Pro has an ƒ/1.9 aperture)
82-degree field of view
1/1.31" image sensor size
The Pixel 8 Pro has a lower aperture, which is a good thing. This means it has better light-gathering properties, making it better for Night Sight mode. Now, let's talk about the significant upgrade to the Pixel 8 Pro's ultrawide camera. This generation brings a 48MP lens, a lower aperture, and a negligible drop in field of view (FOV).
Pixel 7 Pro: 12MP, 1.25 μm, ƒ/2.2, 126-degree FOV
Pixel 8 Pro: 48MP, 0.8 μm, ƒ/1.95, 125.5-degree FOV
The telephoto cameras are similar, but there is one notable tweak.
Pixel 7 Pro: 48MP, 0.7 μm, ƒ/3.5, 5X optical zoom
Pixel 8 Pro: 48MP, 0.7 μm, ƒ/2.8, 5X optical zoom
Once again, the 48MP telephoto camera on the Pixel 8 Pro delivers a better aperture. The Pixel 8 Pro's selfie camera has a negligible megapixel downgrade (10.5 MP vs. 10.8 MP), but it has a lower aperture (ƒ/2.2 vs. ƒ/3.5).
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Chipset
Group holding Google Pixel 8 Pro Credit: GoogleThe Pixel 8 Pro is packed with an updated chip: the Google Tensor G3 chip. It also comes with the Titan M2 security coprocessor. The new Tensor G3 chip is the engine behind Google’s AI-powered features. According to Google, the new Pixel 8 Pro can manage calculations that are 10x more complex compared to the Pixel 6 line. The Tensor G3 chip is the reason why you'll be able to enjoy fun camera and video perks, including Audio Magic Eraser, which lets you remove unwanted sounds from videos.
The Pixel 7 Pro, of course, has an older Tensor G2 chip. It's not particularly known for being a powerhouse, but it has impressive machine-learning capabilities that help run some of your favorite Google features (e.g., real-time translation).
Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Battery
Pixel 8 Pro, according to Google, supposedly lasts 24 hours. Google made a similar claim with the Pixel 7 Pro.
