iQOO 8 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance, Camera, and Charging

The vivo iQOO 8 and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship smartphone space. The iQOO 8 prioritizes raw performance and incredibly fast charging, appealing to power users and gamers. Conversely, the Pixel 6 Pro focuses on a refined software experience, computational photography, and Google’s unique Tensor chip. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera quality and a seamless software experience, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the better choice. However, gamers and those demanding the fastest possible charging speeds will find the iQOO 8 a compelling alternative, offering comparable performance at potentially a lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo iQOO 8	Google Pixel 6 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands	1, 5, 8, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG

Launch
Announced	2021, August 17	2021, October 19
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 24	Available. Released 2021, October 28

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions	159 x 75.1 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.96 x 0.34 in)	163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	200 g (7.05 oz)	210 g (7.41 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)	1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size	6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10	LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55	Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Mali-G78 MP20
OS	Android 11, OriginOS 1.0	Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)	50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with dual speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 3.1
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	-	Ultra Wideband (UWB) support

Battery
Charging	120W wired	23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
Type	4350 mAh	Li-Ion 5003 mAh

Misc
Colors	White, Orange, Black	Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
Models	V2136A	GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
Price	About 500 EUR	€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 84h
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 8

Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
Powerful Snapdragon 888 5G processor
Potentially better sustained gaming performance

Charging speed may degrade battery health faster
Camera likely inferior to Pixel 6 Pro

Google Pixel 6 Pro

Exceptional camera quality with Google’s AI processing
Smooth and refined software experience
Wireless and reverse wireless charging

Significantly slower wired charging
Tensor chip may not match Snapdragon 888 in raw power

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the iQOO 8’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s likely to be competitive, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests superior black levels and dynamic range. The Pixel 6 Pro’s larger display size and potentially higher resolution (based on market positioning) will offer a more immersive viewing experience. The iQOO 8 may compensate with a higher refresh rate, but this isn’t confirmed in the provided data.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is a major strength, leveraging Google’s computational photography expertise. While specific sensor details are missing for both phones, the Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing is renowned for its dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. The iQOO 8’s camera performance will likely be good, but it won’t match the Pixel 6 Pro’s AI-powered enhancements. The absence of details on the iQOO 8’s camera suggests it doesn’t represent a significant differentiator compared to the Pixel 6 Pro.

Performance

Both phones utilize an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-X1 prime cores, indicating high-end performance. However, the Google Tensor chip in the Pixel 6 Pro is architecturally different, prioritizing AI and machine learning tasks. The iQOO 8’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) is a proven performer, excelling in raw CPU and GPU power. The Tensor chip’s 5nm process is comparable, but its focus on AI could translate to faster image processing and smarter features. The iQOO 8’s potential for higher sustained performance due to the Snapdragon’s established thermal management profile is a key advantage for demanding games.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the iQOO 8). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The iQOO 8’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, capable of fully charging the device in a fraction of the time compared to the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The Pixel 6 Pro offers the convenience of 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the iQOO 8. This makes the Pixel 6 Pro more versatile for users who prefer wireless charging or need to top up other devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 8 if you need uncompromising charging speeds (120W) and prioritize peak gaming performance. It’s ideal for users who frequently drain their battery and want to be back up and running in minutes. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a polished software experience, exceptional camera capabilities powered by Google’s AI, and a long-term software support commitment. It’s the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the iQOO 8 suffer from thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?

While the Snapdragon 888 is a powerful chip, it is known to generate heat under sustained load. The iQOO 8 likely incorporates cooling solutions to mitigate throttling, but prolonged gaming at maximum settings may still result in some performance reduction. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip, while different, also has thermal considerations, but its architecture may handle heat differently.

❓ How does Google’s Tensor chip impact the Pixel 6 Pro’s real-world performance compared to the Snapdragon 888?

The Tensor chip prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, resulting in faster image processing, improved voice recognition, and smarter features. While the Snapdragon 888 may have a slight edge in raw CPU and GPU benchmarks, the Tensor chip excels in tasks that leverage its AI capabilities. This translates to a smoother and more responsive experience in everyday use, particularly with Google’s apps and services.

❓ Is the 23W charging speed on the Pixel 6 Pro sufficient for most users?

While 23W is considerably slower than the iQOO 8’s 120W, it’s still a respectable charging speed. The Pixel 6 Pro can reach 50% charge in 30 minutes, which may be sufficient for many users. The addition of wireless and reverse wireless charging provides added convenience, making it a viable option for those who don’t require the absolute fastest charging speeds.