Nio Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Power and AI

The Nio Phone 2 enters the flagship arena armed with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, directly challenging Google’s Pixel 8 Pro and its Tensor G3 chip. This isn’t simply a spec-sheet battle; it’s a clash of philosophies – raw performance versus integrated AI and computational photography. We dissect the key differences to determine which phone reigns supreme for various user needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and rapid charging, the Nio Phone 2 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers superior processing power, and 80W wired charging significantly outpaces the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s exceptional camera system and AI features make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Nio Phone 2 Google Pixel 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 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 bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, July 272023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, July 27Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.9 x 77.5 x 8.5 / 8.6 / 8.7 mm162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight209 / 214 / 226 g (7.37 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1440 x 3168 pixels (~510 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 113.0 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSSkyUI 2.0Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Ring-LED flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 65mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.6x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.3, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF50 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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.5, (wide)10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Po 5020 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace Blue, Moonlight Silver, Pine Green, Golden Sand, Nebula Red, EPeditionObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsN2301GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 820 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Nio Phone 2

  • Significantly faster charging (80W wired, 50W wireless)
  • More powerful processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)
  • Likely superior gaming performance

  • Camera system details are unknown
  • No information on display technology (LTPO)

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera system with AI enhancements
  • Long battery life and ‘Bypass charging’
  • Seamless Google ecosystem integration

  • Slower charging speeds (30W wired, 23W wireless)
  • Less powerful processor (Tensor G3)

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Nio Phone 2’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to expect a high-quality panel given its flagship status. The Pixel 8 Pro’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate, optimizing battery life. The absence of LTPO details for the Nio Phone 2 suggests a potentially less efficient display, though color accuracy and resolution remain unknown for both devices.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms to deliver exceptional image quality. While specific sensor details are missing for the Nio Phone 2, the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is a known quantity, offering advanced features like Photo Unblur and Magic Editor. The Pixel 8 Pro’s image processing prioritizes realistic colors and dynamic range, while the Nio Phone 2’s approach remains unknown. The absence of details regarding OIS and lens apertures on the Nio Phone 2 makes a direct comparison challenging, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s established reputation gives it a clear edge.

Performance

The Nio Phone 2’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3 GHz. This contrasts with the Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3 (4nm) nona-core setup, topped by a Cortex-X3 at 3.0 GHz. The Snapdragon’s higher clock speed and newer core architecture translate to a significant advantage in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The Nio Phone 2’s likely use of LPDDR5x RAM further enhances memory bandwidth, contributing to smoother multitasking. While the Tensor G3 excels in AI tasks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers broader performance gains.

Battery Life

The Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h of active use and an endurance rating of 90 hours, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Nio Phone 2 compensates with significantly faster charging: 80W wired, capable of a substantial charge in a short time, compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W. The Nio Phone 2 also offers 50W wireless charging, dwarfing the Pixel 8 Pro’s 23W. The Pixel 8 Pro’s ‘Bypass charging’ feature, which reduces battery degradation, is a notable advantage, but the Nio Phone 2’s faster charging mitigates the need for frequent top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Nio Phone 2 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, or frequent multitasking, and value the fastest possible charging speeds. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prioritize a best-in-class camera experience, seamless Google integration, and advanced AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Best Take, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Nio Phone 2’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 generate excessive heat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is built on a 4nm process, offering improved thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. However, sustained peak performance will inevitably generate heat. The Nio Phone 2’s thermal management system (details of which are currently unavailable) will be crucial in preventing throttling and maintaining consistent frame rates. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3, while less powerful, also has thermal considerations, but is less likely to reach the same peak temperatures.
❓ How does the Pixel 8 Pro’s ‘Magic Eraser’ and ‘Best Take’ features compare to any potential editing tools on the Nio Phone 2?
Google’s ‘Magic Eraser’ and ‘Best Take’ are powered by the Tensor G3’s AI capabilities, offering unique and powerful photo editing features. Without knowing the Nio Phone 2’s software features, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, it’s unlikely the Nio Phone 2 will offer comparable AI-driven editing tools, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 focuses more on raw processing power than dedicated AI acceleration.
❓ What kind of wireless charging protocol does the Nio Phone 2 support beyond standard Qi?
The Nio Phone 2 supports 50W wireless charging, and explicitly lists PD3.0 and QC4 compatibility for wired charging. The inclusion of these standards suggests a broader compatibility with various wireless chargers, but specific Qi versions or proprietary fast-charging protocols beyond those listed are currently unknown. The Pixel 8 Pro supports Qi wireless charging at 23W.