In this article, we’ll be comparing two smartphones from Google. We’ll compare one of the company’s current-gen phones with the most powerful one Google had to offer in the previous generation. In other words, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro specs. These two phones are actually quite different, despite the fact that they’re siblings. The fact that they’re completely different in terms of size also adds fuel to the fire.
There are a lot of similarities between them too, actually, of course. In any case, we’ll first list the specs of both smartphones, and we’ll then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. Let’s see how Google’s latest vanilla model compares with the company’s most powerful device from the previous generation.
Specs
Google Pixel 9
Google Pixel 8 Pro
| Google Pixel 9 | Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 198 grams | 213 grams |
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED | 6.7-inch LTPO OLED |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 1-120Hz (adaptive) |
| Resolution | 2424 x 1080 | 2992 x 1344 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G3 |
| RAM | 12GB (LPDDR5X) | 12GB (LPDDR5X) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1) | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1) |
| Main camera | 50MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/1.31-inch sensor size, 1.2um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS) | 50MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/1.31-inch sensor size, 1.2um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV, dual pixel PDAF) | 48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2-inch sensor size, 126-degree FoV, dual pixel PDAF) |
| Telephoto camera | N/A | N/A |
| Periscope telephoto camera | N/A | 48MP (f/2.8 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom) |
| Selfie camera | 10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.1-inch sensor size, 1.22um pixel size) | 10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.1-inch sensor size, 1.22um pixel size, PDAF) |
| Battery size | 4,700mAh | 5,050mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired, 15W wireless (with Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (Qi), reverse wireless (charger not included) | 30W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 15W wireless (Qi), 5W reverse wired (charger not included) |
| Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Design
Both of these smartphones are made out of aluminum and glass. In fact, they both have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back, from Corning. The Pixel 9 includes a flat frame all around, along with a flat backplate. The Pixel 8 Pro’s frame is not exactly flat, and its backplate also curves down towards the very edges. Both smartphones do include flat displays with a centered display camera hole and uniform bezels. Those bezels are slightly thinner on the Pixel 8 Pro.
You’ll find physical buttons on the right-hand side of both phones. The power/lock button sits above the volume up and down keys. Pixel phones are the only one who have such a setup. If we flip the two phones around, you’ll see more differences. While both of them have a camera bar on the back, a horizontal one, they’re different. The one on the Pixel 8 Pro connects to the frame on both sides, as it curves down to the frame. The Pixel 9’s does not. It is a pill-shaped camera bar which does not go all the way down to the sides. The Pixel 9 has two cameras in it, while the Pixel 8 Pro has three.
The Pixel 8 Pro is the larger phone of two. That is perfectly normal as it has a considerably larger display. It includes a 6.7-inch panel compared to a 6.3-inch one on the Pixel 9. The Pixel 8 Pro is quite a bit taller and wider, while it’s also slightly thicker. That phone weighs 15 grams more as well. Both devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Both phones are slippery, but the Pixel 9 is easier to use due to its shape and size.
Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Display
The Google Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display. That panel is flat, and it has a resolution of 2424 x 1080. That display supports HDR10+ content, and it offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness here is 2,700 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 86%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. This display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the same glass that sits on the back of the phone.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, has a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display. It is also flat, and it offers a resolution of 2992 x 1344. This display supports HDR10+ content, and it offers an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). The peak brightness here is 2,400 nits. The screen-to-body ratio the phone offers is 87%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. This panel is also protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Both of these displays are really good, actually. They’re both vivid, have great viewing angles, and are more than sharp enough. The brightness is also good enough on both of them, and so is the touch response. The Pixel 9’s panel does get a bit brighter, though, while the Pixel 8 Pro’s is sharper. They are on the same playing field, though, as both are more than bright and sharp enough. Neither supports high-frequency PWM dimming, though.
Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Performance
The Google Pixel 9 is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That is Google’s latest chip at this point, and a 4nm processor. It is paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Pixel 8 Pro, on the flip side, is fueled by the Google Tensor G3 chip, which is also a 4nm processor. That chip is working alongside 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside of this phone, and UFS 3.1 flash storage.
The Google Tensor G4 is a slightly more powerful chip, but not by much. The performance these two phones are offering is quite similar, actually. They’re both very snappy when it comes to general use. They open apps similarly fast, and do a good job with multitasking, multimedia consumption, and everything else that you’d do on a daily basis with your phone.
Neither one of the two phones is made for gaming, however. They can run games, but Snapdragon 8 Elite and MediaTek Dimensity 9400 devices will be far better for that. As long as you’re not playing the most graphically demanding titles on the market, you should be fine, however. They can run such titles as well, but nowhere near as well as smartphones that have more powerful chips on the inside.
Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Battery
The Google Pixel 9 includes a 4,700mAh battery on the inside. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 5,050mAh battery. Now, even though the Pixel 9 has a smaller battery, which is to be expected considering it has a smaller display, it does offer better battery life in comparison. The Pixel 8 Pro battery life is not bad, per se, at all, but it’s not as good as what the Pixel 9 offers. A new modem that Google used in the Pixel 9 series could have something to do with that. The battery life improved across the board.
Based on our usage, which was considerable, the Pixel 8 Pro is always trailing 1-2 hours behind the Pixel 9. We’re talking about screen-on time battery life, of course. Your mileage may vary, of course. Each of us uses our phones differently, and that is reflected in battery life. So… who knows, maybe you end up pulling out much better battery life from the Pixel 8 Pro.
When it comes to charging, the Pixel 9 supports 27W wired, 15W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W wireless (Qi), and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Google Pixel 8 Pro, on the flip side, supports 30W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), and 5W reverse wireless charging. Both smartphones will charge in a similar time, though. It takes around an hour and 25 minutes to charge them both. Neither one comes with a charger in the box, though.
Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Cameras
The Google Pixel 9 has two cameras on the back. It includes a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size) and a 48-megapixel ultrawide snapper (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV). The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, comes with three rear cameras. A 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size) is included, along with a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (1/2.0-inch sensor size, 126-degree FoV) and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom).
Yes, the main camera is the same on these two smartphones. The ultrawide, on the other hand, is not. Despite the fact that they’re both 48-megapixel snappers, the Google Pixel 8 Pro does include a larger sensor on the inside. The Pixel 9 does not have a (periscope) telephoto camera at all. Images from the main camera are not that different. At times, they look basically identical. Both phones do a good job with that camera, providing well-balanced and detailed shots, which have that contrasty Pixel look. They also do a good job in low light.
The Pixel 8 Pro’s ultrawide camera does have the edge over the Pixel 9’s. That is especially noticeable in low light, as it does manage to retain a bit more detail, at least from what we’ve seen. The Pixel 8 Pro does have a major advantage when it comes to zoom shots of 5x and over, though.
Audio
Both of these smartphones come with stereo speakers. The ones on the Pixel 9 are a bit louder in comparison. The difference is not that big, but it’s noticeable. Both sets of speakers provide good audio output, though.
There is no audio jack on either of these phones. They do include Type-C ports ,which you can use to connect your wired headphones, if you use a dongle. When it comes to wireless connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3 is on offer.
The post Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 9 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro Specs appeared first on Android Headlines.
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