iPhone 15 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prioritizing peak performance for demanding tasks like video editing, the iPhone 15 Pro is the clear winner. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s superior battery endurance and innovative AI features make it the more compelling choice for Android enthusiasts and photography lovers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A3102 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3102 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, September 12 | 2023, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, September 22 | Available. Released 2023, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm (5.77 x 2.78 x 0.33 in) | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 187 g (6.60 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density) | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Multi-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec. | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | Li-Ion 3274 mAh | Li-Ion 5050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
| Models | A2848, A3101, A3102, A3104, iPhone16,1 | GC3VE, G1MNW |
| Price | $ 489.68 / C$ 849.99 / £ 559.99 / € 648.47 | € 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999 |
| SAR | 1.14 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) | - |
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
- Unmatched CPU performance with the A17 Pro chip
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem
- Less battery endurance than the Pixel 8 Pro
- Closed ecosystem can be restrictive for some users
- MagSafe/Qi2 charging is slower than Pixel 8 Pro's wireless
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Superior battery endurance and ‘bypass charging’
- Innovative AI-powered camera features
- More open and customizable Android operating system
- Slower CPU performance compared to the A17 Pro
- Lower peak display brightness
- Software updates can be fragmented across Android devices
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent displays, but the iPhone 15 Pro edges ahead with a measured peak brightness of 1786 nits compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 1600 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, Apple’s ProMotion implementation is known for its smoothness. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is still vibrant and sharp, but the iPhone offers a slight advantage in brightness and potentially refresh rate responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are camera powerhouses, but approach image processing differently. While both capture excellent photo and video, the Pixel 8 Pro leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, focusing on features like Magic Eraser and Best Take. The iPhone 15 Pro, while also employing computational photography, leans towards a more natural look. Sensor sizes and lens apertures are critical, but without specific details, we can infer that Google prioritizes software enhancements to maximize image quality, while Apple focuses on hardware capabilities. The Pixel 8 Pro’s AI-powered features offer unique editing possibilities, while the iPhone 15 Pro’s video recording capabilities are renowned for their quality and cinematic mode.
Performance
The Apple A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, represents a significant leap in mobile silicon. Its hexa-core CPU (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) is designed for sustained high performance. In contrast, the Google Tensor G3, built on a 4nm node, utilizes a nona-core configuration (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) focused on AI and machine learning tasks. While the Tensor G3 excels in on-device AI processing, the A17 Pro’s raw CPU and GPU power will likely result in faster app loading times, smoother gaming, and quicker video rendering. The A17 Pro’s architecture is optimized for sustained performance, potentially mitigating thermal throttling better than the Tensor G3 under prolonged heavy load.
Battery Life
The Pixel 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 90 hours, slightly exceeding the iPhone 15 Pro’s 86 hours. However, real-world active use testing reveals a closer margin: 11:14h for the Pixel 8 Pro versus 12:58h for the iPhone 15 Pro. This suggests the iPhone is more efficient during active use despite the Pixel’s higher endurance score. Both phones offer 50% charging in 30 minutes, utilizing PD standards (PD2.0 for iPhone, PD3.0/PPS for Pixel). The Pixel 8 Pro offers 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, while the iPhone 15 Pro supports 15W wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2) and 4.5W reverse wired charging. The Pixel 8 Pro’s ‘bypass charging’ feature, which reduces battery degradation by directly powering the device when plugged in, is a notable advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro if you need uncompromising performance for professional workflows, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and a mature, polished software experience. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a more open operating system, cutting-edge AI features, exceptional camera capabilities focused on computational photography, and longer battery life between charges.