iQOO 15 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Power and AI

The vivo iQOO 15 and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent divergent philosophies in the flagship smartphone space. The iQOO 15 aggressively targets performance enthusiasts with cutting-edge silicon, while the Pixel 8 Pro prioritizes computational photography and a seamless software experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance, battery endurance, and fast charging, the iQOO 15 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 21:47h active use score significantly outperform the Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s superior camera system and AI capabilities make it the better choice for photography lovers and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 15 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71 - International1, 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, October 202023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, October 20Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back or glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.8 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - ChinaNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight215 g or 220 g (7.58 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1440 x 3168 pixels (~508 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.85 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1000 nits (typ), 2600 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 840Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSAndroid 16, up to 5 major Android upgrades, OriginOS 6Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.7, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.1, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF50 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
Video8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.7µm10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging100W wired, PPS, PD 40W wireless Bypass charging30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 7000 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsAlpha, Legend, Gray, Green, BlueObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsI2501, V2505AGC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 700 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

vivo iQOO 15

  • Exceptional battery life (21:47h active use)
  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

  • Camera system likely less refined than Pixel 8 Pro
  • Software experience may not be as polished as Pixel

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Best-in-class camera with AI-powered features
  • Seamless Google software experience
  • Excellent video recording capabilities

  • Significantly shorter battery life (11:14h active use)
  • Slower charging speeds (30W wired)
  • Less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Display Comparison

The iQOO 15’s display boasts a measured peak brightness of 2933 nits, significantly exceeding the Pixel 8 Pro’s 1600 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ OLED panels, the iQOO 15’s higher brightness suggests a more advanced panel technology. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display benefits from Google’s color calibration expertise, but the iQOO 15’s sheer luminance is a compelling advantage for outdoor users. We expect the iQOO 15 to have a higher refresh rate as well, though this is not specified.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is its defining feature, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms. While specific sensor details are missing for the iQOO 15, the Pixel 8 Pro’s focus on image processing and AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Best Take provides a distinct advantage. The Pixel 8 Pro excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The iQOO 15 will likely offer a capable camera, but it’s unlikely to match the Pixel 8 Pro’s consistently excellent results, especially in challenging conditions. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from advanced stabilization and processing.

Performance

The iQOO 15’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built on a 3nm process, represents a substantial leap in mobile processing. Its octa-core CPU, featuring Oryon V3 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.6 GHz, is architecturally superior to the Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3 (4nm). The Tensor G3’s nona-core configuration, while optimized for AI tasks, cannot match the raw CPU horsepower of the Snapdragon. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing and high-end gaming. The Snapdragon’s 3nm node also promises better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. The iQOO 15 is likely to have faster LPDDR5x RAM as well, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

The iQOO 15’s active use score of 21:47h dramatically surpasses the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. This difference is significant, indicating substantially longer battery life under real-world conditions. The iQOO 15 also boasts significantly faster charging: 100W wired, 40W wireless, and bypass charging, compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired and 23W wireless. The iQOO 15 can likely achieve a full charge in under 30 minutes, while the Pixel 8 Pro takes considerably longer. The iQOO 15’s bypass charging feature allows for charging while the device is on, minimizing heat buildup.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 15 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, and require all-day battery life with incredibly fast charging. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prioritize a best-in-class camera experience, seamless AI integration, and a polished software experience, even if it means sacrificing some battery life and raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the iQOO 15 get excessively hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s 3nm process is designed for improved thermal efficiency. While some heat generation is inevitable during intense gaming, the iQOO 15 likely incorporates advanced cooling solutions to mitigate throttling and maintain consistent performance. The larger thermal headroom compared to the Tensor G3 suggests better sustained performance.
❓ How does the Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 chip handle AI tasks compared to the iQOO 15?
The Google Tensor G3 is specifically engineered for on-device AI processing. It excels in tasks like real-time translation, voice recognition, and image processing. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 also has AI capabilities, the Tensor G3 is optimized for Google’s AI ecosystem and will likely provide a smoother and more integrated experience for AI-powered features.
❓ What type of wireless charging does the iQOO 15 support, and is it compatible with all wireless chargers?
The iQOO 15 supports 40W wireless charging with PPS (Power Sharing) and PD (Power Delivery) standards. This ensures compatibility with a wide range of wireless chargers, but to achieve the full 40W charging speed, you’ll need a charger that specifically supports PPS or PD protocols.
❓ Does the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera offer significant improvements in low-light photography compared to previous Pixel models?
Yes, the Pixel 8 Pro builds upon Google’s already impressive low-light photography capabilities. The larger sensor and improved image processing algorithms result in brighter, more detailed images with reduced noise in challenging lighting conditions. Google’s Night Sight mode continues to be a standout feature.