Google Pixel 8 Professional vs. Pixel 8

The Google Pixel 8 duo this yr brings a handful of enhancements in comparison with its predecessors regardless of recycling the identical design for a number of generations now. The brand new technology provides new digicam {hardware}, nicer shows, sooner charging, and a extra highly effective chipset with improved AI capabilities. They’re the primary Pixel telephones to supply seven years of full software program assist. In principle, they need to obtain Android 21.

Nevertheless, in case you are nonetheless figuring out which of the 2 it’s best to get, we’re right here to assist. Except for the plain variations in dimension and pricing, there are a number of nuanced distinctions between the 2, requiring a deeper dive. The function disparity is larger than you would possibly assume.

Desk of Contents:

Let’s start by evaluating the whole specs sheets right here.

Dimension comparability

Dimension and weight are the principle differentiating elements when wanting into the Pixel 8 duo. These searching for a compact flagship cellphone will clearly go for the vanilla Pixel 8 – it’s even smaller than its predecessors. Full-sized flagship enjoyers, however, are higher off with the Pixel 8 Professional.

Dimension and weight-wise, the 2 flagships are aggressive in their very own classes with out going overboard or standing out.

There is not any denying, nevertheless, that the Pixel 8 is significantly extra comfy in hand, suits each pocket, and is a delight to make use of with one hand. In the meantime, the Pixel 8 Professional might show unwieldy to some customers.

Show comparability

Except for the obtrusive distinction within the show dimension, there is a technological hole as effectively. Whereas each gadgets boast higher shows than their predecessors, the Pixel 8 Professional undoubtedly wins on this division.

Whereas each telephones now supply 120Hz refresh charge, the 8 Professional runs an LTPO OLED panel able to granular refresh charge management ranging between 1 and 120Hz, relying on the state of affairs. This helps avoid wasting battery life in the long term. The Pixel 8 Professional’s show will also be a tad brighter underneath direct daylight, reaching 1,600 nits versus the vanilla 8’s 1,446 nits. In actual world, although, this would possibly not pose a lot of a distinction. Moreover, the 8 Professional has a barely greater display decision to match the larger diagonal.

Their HDR capabilities are the identical – HDR10+, however the safety degree is barely higher on the 8 Professional. It provides Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheet, whereas the 8 settles for the earlier technology Victus.

Battery life

Surprisingly sufficient, the Pixel 8 and eight Professional supply comparable general battery life, based on our Energetic Use rating. Some small variations might be noticed within the particular person checks, although. The Pixel 8 is best in video playback, whereas the 8 Professional has greater name and net searching runtimes, bumping up the Energetic Use rating barely greater than the vanilla’s.

That is not what you’d anticipate from an even bigger cellphone holding a bigger battery, although. The Pixel 8 has a 4,575 mAh unit, in comparison with the 5,050 mAh cell contained in the 8 Professional. Both method, the distinction is marginal.

Charging velocity

The charging functionality of Pixels has all the time been the Achilles’ heel of the collection, and whereas not superb, this yr’s improve in each handsets is a step in the proper path. The Pixel 8’s quick charging is rated at 27W, whereas the larger one can go as much as 30W. Wirelessly, the smaller Pixel settles for 18W charging, whereas the 8 Professional provides 23W. Each telephones assist reverse wi-fi charging.

With regards to real-world testing, the vanilla Pixel 8 outpaces its greater sibling by a small margin to all checkpoints – quarter-hour, half-hour and to a full cost. The distinction is extraordinarily small, although, and doubtless will not make any distinction in regular utilization. The Pixel 8 is simply 8 minutes sooner to finish charging and leads all through the entire take a look at by simply 2-3%.

Audio system take a look at

In our speaker take a look at, the 2 telephones scored very equally when it comes to loudness – 26.6 LUFS vs. 26.0 LUFS in favor of the smaller Pixel. Nevertheless, their audio tuning could not be any totally different. The Pixel 8 Professional leans extra to the bass-heavy aspect, not less than by smartphone requirements. This ensures fuller-sounding music and a hotter vibe to most tracks.

Whereas the Pixel 8 produces a flatter sound with clear vocals however lacks depth in a method. And whereas that is largely a subjective matter, we appreciated the bigger Pixel higher on this regard. Most tracks sound higher on the Pixel 8 Professional.

Efficiency

Each the Pixel 8 and eight Professional make use of the model new Google Tensor G3 chipset based mostly on Samsung’s 4nm manufacturing course of. The chip boasts improved AI capabilities and better uncooked efficiency in comparison with its predecessors.

Nonetheless, since each gadgets share the identical {hardware}, efficiency is just about an identical, with a number of caveats. For example, within the onscreen benchmarks, the Pixel 8 outperforms the 8 Professional on account of its decrease decision, so anticipate a decrease body charge in some video games on the 8 Professional. The offscreen GPU checks present no statistical distinction, as one would anticipate.

Google

Pixel 8 Professional

AnTuTu 10
1,151,243

Geekbench 6
1,766 single-core

Geekbench 6
4,492 multi-core

Google

Pixel 8

AnTuTu 10
1,158,631

Geekbench 6
1,668 single-core

Geekbench 6
4,404 multi-core

One other factor to bear in mind is reminiscence. The Pixel 8 Professional provides a greater diversity of storage configurations, going as much as 1TB and 12GB reminiscence throughout the board. The Pixel 8, however, has solely two storage variants – 128 and 256GB and solely 8GB of RAM, whatever the configuration. And whereas this will likely appear sufficient by right now’s requirements, a few Android variations down the street, 8GB is probably not enough. We simply hope Google thought this by way of.

Digicam comparability

This yr, solely the Pixel 8 Professional’s digicam division will get the large promotion because the smaller Pixel settles for a similar digicam {hardware} as final yr’s Pixel 8. Briefly, the general digicam expertise will seemingly be the deciding issue for a lot of patrons.

Positive, the principle cameras of each telephones are an identical and supply an identical high quality; even the 2x crop zoom images, which Google claims are practically lossless, are the identical. In each circumstances, you can be getting glorious picture and video high quality throughout the day and evening.

Pixel 8 Professional: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 8: 0.5x • 1x • 2x

The 8 Professional’s auxiliary cameras are those you might be paying further, although. The larger Pixel boasts a significantly higher ultrawide digicam due to its stronger 48MP sensor, and the devoted 48MP telephoto digicam delivers nice 5x lossless stills. One thing you may’t get from the smaller Pixel.

The low-light ultrawide samples additionally look nicer on the Professional, though those taken from the principle cameras are an identical.

Pixel 8 Professional: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 8: 0.5x • 1x • 2x

Nevertheless it does not finish there. For some purpose, Google determined to omit some software-based options from the smaller Pixel, prone to drive up the curiosity for the larger Pixel. Both method, with the smaller flagship, you’ll lose the Professional controls (which means no guide management over stills and movies), entry to the principle digicam’s full 50MP decision and Night time Sight video recording.

Here is a glimpse of how the Pixel 8 Professional’s principal digicam compares in picture high quality to the Pixel 8’s in our Photograph examine device.

And this is how the Pixel 8 Professional’s principal digicam compares in video high quality to the Pixel 8’s in our Video examine device.

Verdict

As you may see, the specs sheet is not the be-all and end-all when selecting the correct cellphone for you. Particularly in case you are deciding between telephones belonging to the identical household, just like the Pixel 8 and eight Professional. And in case you might be nonetheless right here questioning, then maybe dimensions, weight and show dimension aren’t the deciding elements, since you would have picked the Pixel 8 if portability is what you might be searching for. Conversely, the Pixel 8 Professional, if the big-screen expertise is your factor.

However issues are extra nuanced. For example, the Pixel 8 Professional has better-sounding audio system, whereas the Pixel 8’s charging velocity and battery life are akin to these of its greater sibling. Efficiency can be an identical, albeit the vanilla 8’s restricted reminiscence alternative.

With regards to digicam, the Pixel 8 Professional is the clear winner right here. Positive, the principle digicam and 2x zoom efficiency are an identical, however you get a extra succesful ultrawide digicam and a correct 5x telephoto digicam with the Professional.

With all that mentioned, we additionally need to put our findings into perspective. The MSRP of the small Pixel is €800/$700, whereas the value tag for the Pixel 8 Professional is €1,100/$1,000. That is 300 bucks distinction, which can seemingly sway you in a single path or one other.

Do the €300/$300 distinction justify the Pixel 8 Professional’s further {hardware} and software program options? We allow you to resolve that one your self, however in case you are strictly searching for that Pixel expertise, one might argue that the vanilla Pixel 8 will get you there for much less.