Asus ROG Phone 8 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and AI
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with exceptional camera capabilities and smart features, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is the better choice. However, gamers and power users demanding maximum performance and customization will find the Asus ROG Phone 8 the superior option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International | 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, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 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 (Up to 7CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, January 08 | 2023, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, January 18 | Available. Released 2023, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 225 g (7.94 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Multi-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance |
| Triple | - International model - 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm - SEA/China/India model - 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) | 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 | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 39 min - International 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS - India 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | 5500 mAh | Li-Ion 5050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Rebel Grey | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
| Models | AI2401, AI2401_A | GC3VE, G1MNW |
| Price | € 879.99 | € 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999 |
Asus ROG Phone 8
- Significantly faster charging (65W)
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Gaming-centric features and customization options
- Likely less refined camera system compared to Pixel 8 Pro
- Potentially shorter software support lifespan
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Exceptional camera quality and AI-powered features
- Long-term software support and updates
- Excellent battery life and endurance
- Slower charging speed (30W)
- Less powerful chipset for demanding games
Display Comparison
The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the ROG Phone 8’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, Asus typically employs high refresh rate AMOLED panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display technology is geared towards color accuracy and outdoor readability, while the ROG Phone 8 likely prioritizes refresh rate and response time for gaming. The Pixel 8 Pro’s larger size may be preferable for media consumption, but the ROG Phone 8 aims for a more manageable form factor.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 8 Pro is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms for exceptional image processing. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is designed for versatility and consistently high-quality results in various lighting conditions. The ROG Phone 8, while likely equipped with a capable camera, prioritizes other features. The Pixel 8 Pro’s focus on image processing and AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Best Take provides a significant advantage for casual photographers and content creators. The ROG Phone 8’s camera is likely tuned for gaming-related features like livestreaming.
Performance
The Asus ROG Phone 8 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3 GHz. This architecture is designed for sustained peak performance. In contrast, the Google Pixel 8 Pro utilizes the Google Tensor G3 (4nm) with a nona-core CPU configuration. While the Tensor G3 excels in AI and machine learning tasks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 demonstrably leads in raw CPU and GPU power. The ROG Phone 8’s LPDDR5x RAM (spec not provided, but standard for this tier) paired with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will deliver superior gaming performance and multitasking capabilities. Thermal management will be crucial for both, but the ROG Phone 8’s dedicated gaming features likely include more aggressive cooling solutions.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h active use score and an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 30W wired charging, reaching 50% in 30 minutes, and 23W wireless charging. The Asus ROG Phone 8 offers faster 65W wired charging (international markets) – reaching 100% in 39 minutes – and 15W wireless charging. While the Pixel 8 Pro boasts superior overall endurance, the ROG Phone 8’s faster wired charging is beneficial for quick top-ups, especially during gaming sessions. The ROG Phone 8 also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 8 Pro.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 8 if you need a dedicated gaming phone with top-tier performance, fast charging, and customizable features. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and gaming-centric design are unmatched. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a versatile smartphone with an industry-leading camera system, innovative AI features, and a clean, long-term software support experience. It excels in everyday tasks and content creation.