iPhone 15 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem and consistently strong performance, the iPhone 15 emerges as the winner. Its A16 Bionic chip and optimized software deliver a fluid experience, while the 13:20h active use battery score provides reliable all-day power. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s advanced camera features and unique software capabilities make it a compelling alternative for photography enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 15 | 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 - A3090 | 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 - A3090 | 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, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 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 | 171 g (6.03 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 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-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 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 0.7µm | - |
| 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 | - | 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, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), 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 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, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-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 3349 mAh | Li-Ion 5050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
| Models | A3090, A2846, A3089, A3092, iPhone15,4 | GC3VE, G1MNW |
| Price | € 519.00 / $ 396.00 / £ 449.99 / ₹ 50,990 | € 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999 |
| SAR | 1.12 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) | - |
Apple iPhone 15
- Superior processing power with the A16 Bionic chip
- Optimized software ecosystem for seamless integration
- Excellent video recording capabilities
- Less flexible software customization options
- Reliance on the Lightning port (transitioning to USB-C with future models)
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Advanced camera features and computational photography
- Unique AI-powered software innovations
- Faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Tensor G3 chip lags behind A16 Bionic in raw performance
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both the iPhone 15 and Pixel 8 Pro boast excellent displays, achieving peak brightness levels of 1643 nits and 1600 nits respectively. While the difference is minimal, the iPhone 15’s slightly higher peak brightness may be noticeable in direct sunlight. Both lack LTPO technology, meaning refresh rates are fixed, impacting power consumption. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display benefits from Google’s color calibration, known for its accuracy, while the iPhone 15’s display is renowned for its color vibrancy. Bezels are comparable, offering an immersive viewing experience on both devices.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in camera performance, but approach it differently. Both are capable of excellent photo and video capture. The Pixel 8 Pro leverages Google’s computational photography prowess, offering features like Magic Eraser and Best Take. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel 8 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light conditions. The iPhone 15 prioritizes natural-looking images with accurate color reproduction. The iPhone’s video recording capabilities are widely regarded as industry-leading, offering cinematic mode and ProRes video recording. The absence of detailed sensor information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s software features give it an edge for creative editing.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The iPhone 15’s Apple A16 Bionic (4nm) utilizes a hexa-core architecture, delivering exceptional single-core performance. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3 (4nm) employs a nona-core configuration, prioritizing AI and machine learning tasks. While the Tensor G3 is capable, the A16 Bionic consistently outperforms it in raw processing power and GPU benchmarks. The iPhone 15’s optimized software further enhances its responsiveness. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the A16’s efficiency allows for sustained performance without significant thermal throttling, a potential concern with the Tensor G3 under heavy load.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 achieves an impressive 13:20h active use battery score, translating to a 98h endurance rating. The Pixel 8 Pro, with a score of 11:14h and a 90h endurance rating, falls slightly behind. Both offer 50% charging in 30 minutes with wired charging (PD2.0/PD3.0). The Pixel 8 Pro supports 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, while the iPhone 15 offers 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 phone when plugged in, is a unique advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 if you need a phone that integrates flawlessly with other Apple devices, values consistent performance across all tasks, and prioritizes a polished, user-friendly experience. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a more open Android ecosystem, are passionate about mobile photography and computational photography features, and appreciate Google’s AI-powered software innovations.