(Credit: Google/Samsung)
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are here, and they face stiff competition from Samsung, particularly the Galaxy S23 series. Google and Samsung phones are usually top of mind when it comes to choosing an Android device, but which is the better option? Full reviews of the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are coming soon, but until then, let's break down the specs to make sure you know what you're getting into.
What's the Better Value?
Between all five phones in the combined Pixel and Galaxy S lines, you're looking at a price range that runs from $699 for the entry-level Google Pixel 8 (8GB RAM, 128GB storage) to $1,619.99 for the top-of-the-line S23 Ultra (16GB RAM, 1TB storage). In other words, surely you can find one that fits your budget.
The starting prices are as follows: Google Pixel 8, $699; Pixel 8 Pro, $999; Galaxy S23, $799.99; Galaxy S23+, $999.99; Galaxy S23 Ultra, $1,199.99. Adding RAM and/or storage will cost you more. There are some trade-offs when it comes to using one device over the other, but if we are strictly looking at pricing, Google has the edge here.
Which Phone Has a Better Design?
The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro feature a more rounded design than the previous generation, which makes them more comfortable to hold than before. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23+ share a similar rounded look while the S23 Ultra is sharper and more rectangular.
The rear panel is where things are vastly different visually. Google continues to go all in with its camera bar housing that traverses the width of the phone near the top edge. It's the defining visual characteristic of Pixel phones. The Galaxy S23 series, meanwhile, has a clean back with three individual lenses lined up vertically in the top-left quadrant of the phone.
When it comes to sizes, the Pixel 8 is 5.9 by 2.8 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and 6.6 ounces, and the Galaxy S23 measures 5.8 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.9 ounces. The smaller two models are relatively similar in dimensions, but the Pixel 8 is 0.7 ounces heavier. Looking at the larger two models, the Pixel 8 Pro is 6.4 by 3.0 by 0.3 inches, 7.5 ounces, and the S23 Ultra is 6.43 by 3.07 by 0.35 inches, 8.25 ounces. The biggest differentiator here is the weight.
With both, you get glass on the front and back with aluminum frames in the middle, The Samsung S23 line and the Pixel 8 Pro use Gorilla Glass Victus 2, a tougher version of the Gorilla Glass Victus found on the vanilla Pixel 8. All five phones are rated IP68-rated, so they are dustproof and can be submerged in water.
When it comes to design, this one is purely subjective.
Screen Face-Off: Which Is Sharper?
Screen sizes range from 6.1 inches to 6.9 inches. The former makes for a more compact phone that's easier to use while the latter gives you expanded real estate for enjoying multimedia at the expense of your pocket.
You'll find a 6.2-inch OLED display on the Pixel 8 with a resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels for a density of 428ppi. The Samsung S23 has a 6.1-inch AMOLED screen at a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels for a density of 425ppi. On those stats alone, they seem pretty similar.
The in-between S23+ has a 6.6-inch screen with the same 2,400 by 1,080 pixels and a lower 398ppi. The larger Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch OLED with 2,992 by 1,344 pixels and a density of 489ppi while the S23 Ultra has a 6.9-inch OLED with 3,120 by 1,440 pixels and a density of 512ppi. If size is what does it for you, the S23 Ultra is the way to go.
Screen brightness is another story. The Pixel 8 averages 1,400 nits and its max is 2,000 nits, and the 8 Pro averages 1,600 nits and maxes out at 2,400 nits. Comparatively, all three S23 variants average 1,200 nits with a peak brightness of 1,750 nits. The panels in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro should be easier to see in sunlight thanks to how bright they can get.
Then there's the refresh rate. All five phones can reach a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz to give you smooth animations when you interact with your phone. The Pixel 8 Pro and all three Samsung phones can range from 1Hz up to 120Hz depending on the task to either conserve power or provide the best experience. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8's screen ranges between 60Hz and 120Hz, so it will draw a bit more power over time.
This comes down to what you value more: being able to see your screen in daylight or squeezing out a little more battery life.
Which Phone Is Faster?
We have yet to evaluate the Pixel 8 in benchmarks, but historically the Tensor series is not optimized to score well on these synthetic tests. The Samsung Galaxy S23 family is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is blazingly fast (in the Android world). Unless something has drastically changed with Google's Tensor G3, we don't anticipate that it will beat out the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
However, if fast means how quickly the phone responds, or how quickly it can handle tasks by using on-device AI, this could be another story as Google's devices are tuned very well to make the best of its internals. And Samsung's got nothing on Google's on-device machine learning chops.
Megapixel Battle: Pixel vs. Galaxy S
The Pixel 8 is equipped with a 50MP main shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. The Samsung S23 has three rear cameras; a 50MP main, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP 3x optical telephoto camera. As for selfie cameras, the Pixel 8 has a 10.5MP camera while the S23 has a 12MP front-facing one.
The Pixel 8 Pro adds a higher-resolution 48MP ultra-wide camera and a 48MP optical telephoto camera. The S23 Ultra has a 200MP main camera, the same ultra-wide and telephoto cameras as the other S23 models, and adds a second 10MP optical telephoto camera. In other words, the two larger models offer more zoom range.
Generally, both sets of devices should take excellent pictures, although Google devices may have an edge when it comes to low-light photography. Google also has a bag of tricks like its Magic Eraser, Audio Magic Eraser, and Best Take (a feature that lets you combine images by face replacement so everyone in a group picture looks their best). You don't get those features on devices outside of the Pixel line.
As for video, the S23 series is capable of capturing footage at up to 8K/30fps, but the Pixel 8 line tops out at 4K/60fps. How important is 8K video at the moment? Not very. It is kind of hard to go wrong with either the Pixel 8 or the Galaxy S23, but we will say that Pixels tend to produce more natural color and Galaxies tend to oversaturate or push color to a fair degree.
Which Has Longer Battery Life?
We have not put the Pixel 8 series through our battery test, but we do know the 8 has a 4,575mAh battery and the 8 Pro has a 5,050mAh battery that are capable of charging at up to 27W and 30W, respectively, with the right charger.
The Galaxy S23 has a 3,900mAh battery that charges at 25W. The S23+ has a 4,700mAh battery and the S23 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery that charge at a faster 45W. We found the S23 survived 13 hours and 12 minutes and the S23 Ultra survived 12 hours and 10 minutes in our test where we streamed a full HD video at full brightness. Theoretically, the Pixel 8's larger battery could give it the advantage, but we'll have to test that for ourselves.
Which Company Offers Better Support?
Until very recently, the answer to this question was almost always Samsung. With the Pixel 8, Google is promising seven years of updates, which include Android OS upgrades, security patches, and feature drops. To reiterate, each of its two phones will be updated for seven years. Samsung offers four full OS upgrades and security updates for five years.
Both of these policies ensure that you'll be able to use your phone for quite a long time. However, the Google Pixel 8 line gets the win here since it will be supported until 2030.
Which One Is Better?
We are not yet certain how the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will behave in real-world tests. Based on specs alone, the Pixel 8 phones may be a better deal given their lower price points, feature parity with the S23 models, and seven-year upgrade promise.
Then you have the ecosystems to weigh. If you have a Galaxy Watch and/or Galaxy Buds or a Galaxy Tab S9, the S23 phones will seamlessly play nice with those other devices. If you're all about Pixel Tablets, Nest Audio smart speakers, and Pixel Buds, the Pixel 8 phones will fit in great.
Be sure to circle back for our full Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro reviews in the days ahead. In the meantime, check out our thoughts on the new iPhone 15s.
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