Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the latest and greatest smartphone Google has to offer. There are quite a few of you who are probably trying to decide whether to upgrade to it or not. Well, if you own the Pixel 6 Pro, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro, in order to try and help you. We’ll try to highlight the differences between the two phones.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is an improvement in a number of ways, but the Pixel 6 Pro is only two years old at this point, and it’s still a good smartphone. That being said, we’ll first list their specifications, as per usual, and will then move to compare the two phones across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance.

Specs

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro, respectively

– Screen size:
6.7-inch Super Actua AMOLED display (flat, 120Hz LTPO, HDR10+, 2,400 nits)
6.7-inch Super LTPO AMOLED display (curved, 120Hz LTPO, HDR10+, 1,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
2992 x 1344
3120 x 1440
– SoC:
Google Tensor G3
Google Tensor
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5X)
12GB (LPDDR5)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1)
128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1.2um pixel size, OIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.95 aperture, 125.5-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size), 48MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, 5x optical zoom)
50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, OIS,), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 114-degree FoV, 1.25um pixel size), 48MP (telephoto, f/3.5 aperture, OIS, PDAF, 4x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
11.1MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
– Battery:
5,050mAh
5,003mAh
– Charging:
30W wired, 23W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
23W wired, 23W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm
163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm
– Weight:
213 grams
210 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3/5.2
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) & Face Unlock
– OS:
Android 14
Android 12 (upgradable to Android 14)
– Price:
$999+
$580
– Buy:
Best Buy
Amazon

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Design

The Google Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro are not that different design-wise. The Pixel 6 Pro ushered in a new design language that Google is using to this day. You will find a camera visor on the back of both phones, but the one on the Pixel 8 Pro is covered by aluminum, not (just) glass. Both of those camera visors do protrude on the back quite a bit, and are a good anchor for your index finger.

If you prefer flat displays, you’ll like the Pixel 8 Pro more, while that phone also has uniform bezels, unlike the Pixel 6 Pro. Both smartphones do utilize a display camera hole, which is centered, while their physical buttons are also in the same spot. If you prefer flat displays, you’ll like the Pixel 8 Pro more, as the Pixel 6 Pro is properly curved. Both smartphones do offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, in case you were wondering.

Now, both phones are quite large. The Pixel 8 Pro is slightly shorter, and slightly wider, while they’re about the same thickness. The Pixel 8 Pro does have a taller display aspect ratio, though. Google’s new flagship weighs 213 grams, while the Pixel 6 Pro weighs 210. So, the Pixel 8 Pro is slightly heavier, but that’s not something you’ll feel in the hand, the difference is barely there.

Both devices do feel good in the hand, and they feel like premium products. We did prefer the feel of the Pixel 8 Pro, though, mainly due to its slightly rounded corners. Also, matte black models (Obsidian and Bay Blue) look much better, and have a nicer feel to them. On top of that, they’re not magnets for fingerprints like the Pixel 6 Pro (all variants).

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Display

The Google Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED panel. That display is flat, and it has a 120Hz refresh rate (adaptive 1-120Hz). It supports HDR10+ content, and the brightness goes up to 2,400 nits. This panel has a 20:9 aspect ratio, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning.

The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, includes a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) panel as well. It’s a bit different, though. This is also an LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it also supports HDR10+ content. This display is curved, however, and it has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. We’re looking at a resolution of 3120 x 1440 here, this display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus, and its max brightness is at around 1,000 nits.

Both of these displays are really good, but the Pixel 8 Pro has the upper hand. The colors do look better on it, and it’s also more color-accurate than the Pixel 6 Pro’s panel. On top of that, the Pixel 8 Pro’s panel does get a lot brighter in comparison. You will notice that when using the phone outdoors, especially if you’re doing so in direct sunlight. On top of that, the Pixel 8 Pro’s panel also comes with better display protection.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Performance

Google’s Tensor G3 processor fuels the Pixel 8 Pro. That is the company’s 4nm processor. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is fueled by the original Google Tensor, a 5nm processor. The difference between them is considerable, even though the Tensor G3 is not exactly the most modern processor. Also, if you’re one of the people who had issues with signal reception on the Pixel 6 Pro, that should not be the case with the Pixel 8 Pro.

Now, during regular, everyday performance, both phones do a good job. Both of them feel quite smooth during browsing, multitasking, multimedia consumption, messaging, and anything else you can think of, basically. The Pixel 8 Pro will be more future-proof thanks to its components, however. It has a more powerful CPU, and faster RAM (LPDDR5X vs LPDDR5). It’s 12GB RAM in both cases. Both smartphones utilize UFS 3.1 flash storage, however.

When it comes to gaming, the Pixel 8 Pro does offer better performance, but it’s not a huge difference, in all honesty. If you’re playing the most demanding games the Pixel 8 Pro will be the better choice, but not the best choice on the market, not even close.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Battery

A 5,050mAh battery sits inside the Pixel 8 Pro, while the Pixel 6 Pro includes a 5,003mAh battery pack. The difference in sheer battery size is not that big, but will you feel the difference in usage? Well, yes, at least we did. The Pixel 6 Pro had good battery at first for us, but with time, it got worse, way worse. To be quite honest, a few months ago, we had problems getting to 5 hours of screen-on-time with the device, especially on mobile data.

What about the Pixel 8 Pro? Well, the battery life on that device wasn’t the most consistent either, but it was consistently better than what we were getting on the Pixel 6 Pro. The battery life jumped between 6 and 7.5 hours of screen-on-time for us, though it was mostly around 7-7.5 hours. On one or two occasions we were able to pull out over 8 hours of screen-on-time from the device. Do note that gaming is not included in this, however, although pretty much everything else is.

When it comes to charging, the Pixel 8 Pro does have a slight advantage. It supports 30W wired, 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging too. The Pixel 6 Pro supports 23W wired, 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging. Now, technically, the Pixel 8 Pro has slightly faster charging, but both smartphones will take a similar time to charge, so… they’re on the same level. A charger is not included with either phone, by the way. You’ll have to get it yourself, if you don’t have one already.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Cameras

The Pixel 8 Pro features a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (126-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (114-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera (4x optical zoom). The Pixel 8 Pro does have the advantage of course, but how do they perform?

First and foremost, the performance from the main camera is still excellent on the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 8 Pro does provide better results in comparison, sure, but the Pixel 6 Pro is not far behind. Both smartphones handle HDR conditions like champs, and provide plenty of details in images. That goes for both day and night photos. The Pixel 8 Pro’s advantage is more noticeable in nighttime shots, though.

Now, you’ll notice more of a difference when you use the ultrawide camera. The Pixel 8 Pro’s shooter not only offers a noticeably wider field-of-view, but it also provides more detailed pictures. The phone’s telephoto camera is also more useful as it can keep great details at longer zoom ranges. It’s superior to what the Pixel 6 Pro has to offer. The video recording has also been noticeably improved. The Pixel 8 Pro is the better camera smartphone through and through.

Audio

Both devices do have stereo speakers. The loudness is very good at both, and the sound coming out of them too. The Pixel 8 Pro does have slightly better sound output, as the mids on the Pixel 6 Pro can sound a bit tinny.

There is no audio jack on either phone, but you can always utilize their Type-C ports for wired audio. If you prefer to go wireless, the Pixel 8 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.3, while the Pixel 6 Pro comes with Bluetooth 5.2.