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But there could be another option in the shape of theGoogle Pixel 8.
Yep, thats the Pixel 8 for you.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro
Might the Pixel 8 actually be a better buy than the iPhone 15 Pro, then?
Theres only one way to find out.
This ones going to be interesting, so read on for ourGooglePixel 8 vs iPhone 15 Pro showdown.
Theres also a 1TB model that costs $1,499 / 1,499 / AU$2,749.
Especially not when it comes to the matter of smartphone design.
Apple has gone with a strikingly angular look in recent years, with flat surfaces all around.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro
Talking of metal edges, theres a fundamental difference in composition here.
The Pixel 8 goes with a standard aluminum finish, whereas Apple layers on some super-tough titanium.
They both feel premium, but the iPhone 15 Pro even more so.
Neither of them exactly excites with their bland color options, though.
Around front, the eagle-eyed will notice a couple of other premium flourishes in the iPhone 15 Pros favour.
For one thing, the bezels are slimmer and more uniform on the Apple machine.
The Pixel 8 Pro has a bigger, brighter screen
For another, Apple has its Dynamic Island where the Pixel 8 has a mere hole punch selfie cam.
Technically both can facilitate facial recognition, but Apples solution is more secure and just plain better.
In terms of the screens, there are some interesting parallels and differences.
The iPhone 15 Pro has titanium sides
The Pixel 8 display is ever so slightly bigger at 6.2 inches vs 6.1 inches.
Both are vibrantOLEDpanels that can hit a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is very bright indeed.
Well, not quite parity.
All in all, wed give the edge in design and display terms to the iPhone 15 Pro.
Whether that gap is a $300 / 300 one is another matter entirely.
With the Pixel 8, you only get a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide.
Any zooming you do with it will involve cropping in on that main sensor.
The iPhone 15 Pro has a great handle on dynamic range.
Portrait mode on the main 24mm lens.
The iPhone 15 Pro has a triple-lens camera
Snapping a selfie in natural light without portrait mode engaged.
Snapping a selfie in natural light with portrait mode engaged.
The 15 Pro’s main camera unquestionably serves up more vibrant and contrasted images than its predecessor’s.
Google Pixel 8 camera samples(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Indeed, taken with that dedicated telephoto camera, the iPhone 15 Pro has an overall camera advantage.
But thats simply not the case when it comes to performance.
Lets not mince words here: the iPhone 15 Pro obliterates the Pixel 8 for raw speed.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The benchmark scores arent even close here.
But given that Android is way more memory-hungry than iOS, that doesnt really result in a tie.
With that said, we should note that Google prioritises AI over pure processing grunt.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Apple makes no such guarantee, but tends to support its devices for five years.
Talking of software, thats likely to be the main deciding factor here alongside budget.
Either way, youre getting a brilliantly crisp, modern, fluidoperating system.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Both Android and iOS are mature platforms these days, with a fair amount of overlap on core features.
You really cant go wrong with either.
An easy win for the Google phone then.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Well, not quite.
Weve already mentioned the different way in which Android handles its resources, and that includes battery usage.
Apples iOS is a little more frugal, especially with its more efficient chip and display.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
It results in similar all-day stamina from both phones.
With the usual margin for error applied in such metrics, you could say they performed roughly evenly.
When it comes to recharge time, both phones support up to 27W wired charging.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Neither phone bundles them in, which is a bit of a drag.
Few of the iPhone 15 Pros advantages could be deemed all that significant in isolation.
Taken together, however, wed suggest that they comfortably justify the $300 / 300 premium.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Of course, theres much more to it than that.
For such people, the Pixel 8 gives an outstanding approximation of a much more expensive phone.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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iPhone 15 Pro camera samples(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
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(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The iPhone 15 Pro
