Google Pixel 8 Pro versus iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Comprehensive Comparison of High-End Phones
The Pixel 8 Pro brings new media-editing software tricks, but how else does it compare to the top premium smartphones?
Powering the Pixel 8 Pro is the new Tensor G3 chipset, the latest iteration in Google's line of silicon designed to enhance on-device AI processing. While Tensor chipsets may not deliver the same benchmark performance as the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in the Galaxy S23 Ultra, a comprehensive assessment is required to determine how the Pixel 8 Pro truly stacks up against its rivals.
Nevertheless, the Tensor chipset enables the Pixel 8 Pro to showcase various exceptional media-editing features within the Pixel family, such as Magic Eraser for removing elements from photos, Audio Magic Eraser for reducing background noise, and Best Take for combining the best moments from a burst of photos. These standout software advantages, including Magic Eraser (available for other phones through the Google Photos app), highlight the Pixel 8 Pro's edge over the competition.
Another significant advantage the Pixel 8 Pro holds is a guaranteed seven years of Android operating system and security updates, significantly surpassing Samsung's four years of OS updates and five years of security updates for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Apple's support for phones remains unclear, as evidenced by the exclusion of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in the latest iOS 17 update. Thus, five years of OS updates is currently the low-end estimate for a new iPhone.
Turning our attention to the rear camera setup, the Pixel 8 Pro boasts a 50-megapixel main shooter, a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens capable of 5x optical zoom. On paper, these impressive camera specifications suggest that the Pixel 8 Pro is likely to capture sharper photos compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 12-megapixel ultrawide and telephoto cameras. It's worth noting that a thorough comparative test is necessary to evaluate Apple's unique "tetraprism" technology in its zoom camera, which may offer a similar imaging experience to the Pixel 8 Pro's main shooter.
However, when it comes to rear cameras, the Galaxy S23 Ultra poses the most significant challenge. Sporting a remarkable 200-megapixel main camera, the Galaxy S23 Ultra surpasses its competitors in terms of megapixel count. While it only features a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, the Galaxy S23 Ultra makes up for it with two telephoto cameras: a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom and a 10-megapixel 10x optical zoom, which can achieve an impressive 100x digital zoom. Considering its starting price of $1,200, the Galaxy S23 Ultra's enhanced camera capabilities seem justified compared to the Pixel 8 Pro's $1,000 starting price and the iPhone 15 Pro Max's $1,100 price tag.
All three phones offer similar front-facing cameras, with the Pixel 8 Pro featuring a 10.5-megapixel selfie shooter, while both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S23 Ultra come with 12-megapixel front-facing cameras.
In terms of design, each phone presents a distinct aesthetic. The Pixel 8 Pro retains the wide horizontal camera block from its predecessor, encompassing the width of the phone. A metallic stripe surrounds the three rear cameras, accompanied by a flash and a new temperature sensor on the right side, capable of checking food temperature and potentially obtaining FDA approval for skin temperature measurement. The rest of the phone's rear cover features a matte glass finish, complemented by rounded sides.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max maintains its predecessor's flat sides and square camera block, featuring larger lenses that protrude further than previous iPhone models. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 Ultra stands as the largest phone physically. Despite its size, the phone's design leans towards minimalism, with the five cameras protruding from the undecorated back cover and rounded sides. Notably, the Galaxy S23 Ultra lacks a prominent camera block.
The Pixel 8 Pro's 6.7-inch OLED display, matching its predecessor's size, offers increased brightness up to 2,400 nits and a 1 to 120Hz refresh rate. Its resolution slightly surpasses that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 6.7-inch OLED screen (2,796x1,290 pixels) and matches the Galaxy S23 Ultra's 6.8-inch AMOLED display (3,088x1,440 pixels). Both Apple and Samsung integrate adaptive refresh rates of 120Hz into their phones.
Additional hardware specifications reveal similarities among the three devices. The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with 12GB of RAM and storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. Apple does not disclose the exact amount of memory in its phones; however, GSMArena reports that the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with 8GB of RAM, along with storage choices of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 Ultra initially offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but it can be configured with 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. None of the three devices supports expandable storage, necessitating cloud storage or an external SSD for storing additional files.
Similarly, Apple does not publicly disclose the battery capacity of its phones. Their official statement only mentions that the device can deliver up to 29 hours of video playback, indicating that it is designed to last throughout the day without requiring recharging. On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with a 5,050mAh battery, while the Galaxy S23 boasts a battery capacity of 5,000mAh.
In a groundbreaking move for Apple, the iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces a USB-C port, replacing its conventional Lightning connector. Moreover, this model supports 25 watts of wired charging and 15 watts of wireless charging. In contrast, the Pixel 8 Pro supports up to 30 watts of wired charging and 23 watts of wireless charging. The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers the fastest charging capabilities, featuring 45 watts of wired charging and 15 watts of wireless charging.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of how the Pixel 8 Pro compares to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S23 Ultra, we have compiled the following side-by-side comparison chart showcasing the key features of each phone:
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