Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro: what's new?

TechPhonesAndroid PhonesGoogle Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro: what’s new?Google’s new flagship, the Pixel 8 Pro, brings updates galore. But what exactly is new compared to the earlier Pixel 7 Pro?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Google’s new flagship, the Pixel 8 Pro, brings updates galore. But what exactly is new compared to the earlier Pixel 7 Pro?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Future / Google)

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro

(Image credit: Future / Google)

Jump to category:What’s new? In summaryPrice & AvailabilityColours & DesignDisplayHardwareBatteryCamerasEarly conclusion

When it comes tothe best Android phones, theGoogle Pixel 7sits high up the list – indeed, it wasT3’s Award-winning phone for 2023– and now its successor, thePixel 8 Pro, has been officially revealed. Which brings the most obvious initial questions: what’s different between the two and if you’re a Pixel user is it worth upgrading to the latest model?

I’ve used the Pixel 7 Pro extensively over the last year, so have stacks of experience in what that phone is all about and why it’s one ofthe best smartphonesthat money can buy. Here’s how that translates against the latest Pixel 8 Pro in all the key areas, for better and arguably for worse, in this detailed versus article.

What’s new? In summary

But first, let me summarise: the Pixel 8 Pro removes the curved screen from its 7 Pro predecessor, instead opting to go flat; it adds the more advancedGoogleTensor G3 chip (the next step beyond the G2 before it), plus a baseline 12GB RAM in all models; there are new colour variants; the cameras all receive an upgrade (wide and tele in resolution); and the asking price is higher.

There are additional nuances and details beyond the very long sentence above – I’m not sure I could say all that in one go, which shows there are plenty of advancements for the Pixel 8 Pro – from design tweaks, slightly faster wired charging, the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and a 6.7-inch screen that’s far brighter at peak (2400 nits, which is a claimed 42% boost over the Pixel 7 Pro).

There’s even a new Object Temperature mode, which can tell you the temperature of a subject in an image (the world is your oyster for that mode, clearly), and a new promise of seven years ofAndroidsoftware and security updates, plus feature drops. That’s the skinny of it, below I’ll break down each key section to explore the differences between each handset, including bullet-pointed breakouts so you can see at a glance where the differences are highlighted.

Price & Availability

One of the things I felt that really helped the Pixel 7 Pro stand apart from its core competitors was a price tag that was a good chunk of change lower. The Pixel 8 Pro? Not so much. As you can see above, there’s a price jump for the latest generation: in the UK it’s a 17.7% rise compared to the previous generation.

Furthermore, the Pixel 7 Pro is now so much lower in price –as low as £695 upon my last Amazon check– that the new Pixel 8 Pro pricing places it in direct competition with its main Android rivals. Even theSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultracosts less at the time of writing.

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Will the Pixel 8 Pro be worth it? If, like most people, you’re wrapped into a contract then I’d argue, if you’re a Pixel fan, then yes. The month-on-month cost isn’t likely to differ substantially. As a buy-outright proposition there’s an argument to wait in the hope of somebest Black Friday deals, perhaps, but overall a champion flagship that’s under the four-figure mark is about right…

Today’s best Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra dealsGoogle Pixel 7 Pro$26.12ViewSee all pricesGoogle Pixel 8 Pro$999$599ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra$919ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

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Colours & Design

When it comes toGoogle Pixeland colourways there’s always a fancy shade and name for each generation. I remember whenthe Pixel 7 was teased, Google did so with various crisp flavoursthat were actually handed out in small batches (I never got to try any,wah). That model was released in black (Obsidian), white (Snow) and a green-grey (Hazel).

While the Pixel 8 Pro didn’t present itself with any snack-based forms for its colour options, the format this year is a mixture of familiar and new: there’s black (Obsidian), white (Porcelain), and blue (Bay). It’s the last of these that I think gives the Pixel 8 Pro a bit more excitement and verve, although it does look a bitPixel 7aat the same time…

Display

In terms of size the Pixel 8 Pro delivers the same 6.7-inch display scale as its Pixel 7 Pro predecessor. But there are massive changes between the two handsets that make their displays very different.

The most obvious is that the Pixel 8 Pro has done away with any curved edge and now features a flat screen. Yes, flat is back in fashion, so the curved edges of the Pixel 7 Pro are now very much a feature of the past.

Furthermore, while the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen delivers the same resolution (1440x3120 pixels) and refresh rate (120Hz; except the 8 Pro can dynamically adapt from 1-120Hz, not just 60/120Hz only), it can do so with much greater brightness (2400 nits peak). That makes the Pixel 8 Pro the brightest Pixel ever!

Hardware

A new generation almost always comes with new hardware, which is exactly what the Pixel 8 Pro offers: there’s Google’s own silicon,the Tensor G3, at its core – an update over the Pixel 7 Pro’s Tensor G2 chip. Expect bumps in compute and graphics, but also an even greater push towards artificial intelligence (AI) processes.

There’s a significant difference for the Pixel 8 Pro too: all models come with 12GB RAM, which is part of the reason it’s the only model capable of various new camera modes (more on this below). There’s no 8GB model, as with the more entry-level versions of the Pixel 7 Pro. Oh, and an all-new 1TB storage option is also being introduced (if you’re feeling extra flush, as that’ll cost a packet).

Battery

The design tweaks mean a modicum of additional battery space in the Pixel 8 Pro too. Although it’s the faster charging that’s likely to be more welcome – still nowhere near the speeds of the quickest systems out there, mind. Wireless charging remains in tact with no generation-to-generation upgrade.

Cameras

One area where I really think the Pixel series excels is with the camera systems. The Pixel 7 Pro’s combination of main, ultra-wide and 5x telephoto zoom remains in tact for the Pixel 8 Pro too – except the new devices updates the sensors and optics.

As you can see from the spec above, the Pixel 8 Pro has significantly upped the resolution for the ultra-wide and 5x zoom lenses. Furthermore, however, the optics are significantly improved, with much faster apertures – i.e. more light can enter, which is great for speedy shooting, enhanced blurred background (shallow depth of field) and additional light for improved quality – being another major benefit.

Beyond the physical aspect, however, the Pixel 8 Pro – and not the entry-level Pixel, I must point out – also adds some major new video modes. There’s Night Sight Video, for example, which is like the stills version (Night Sight), able to significantly raise the apparent exposure level in very low-light conditions in video. That 12GB RAM and dependence on Google’s collaboration of on-device and in-the-cloud processing enable this power-intensive mode to be possible.

Other camera features further engage AI to the next level, such as Best Take. This doesn’t simply take multiple shots of a scene and pick the best one: if none are quite suitable then an algorithm will dig through your on-device Gallery and locate face-matches, as applicable, in order to, say, ensure each face in the frame is presented with eyes open, smile in tact. I don’t know if that’s awesome, creepy, or a bit of both!

Early conclusion

Today’s best Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro dealsGoogle Pixel 7 Pro$26.12ViewSee all pricesGoogle Pixel 8 Pro$999$599ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Today’s best Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro deals

Google Pixel 7 Pro$26.12ViewSee all pricesGoogle Pixel 8 Pro$999$599ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025

Google Pixel 7 Pro$26.12ViewSee all prices

Google Pixel 7 Pro - 128GB -…

Google Pixel 7 Pro

AT&T Mobility

$26.12View

$26.12

See all prices

Google Pixel 8 Pro$999$599ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025

Google Pixel 8 Pro$999$599ViewSee all prices

Google Pixel Unlocked Phones

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Amazon

$999$599View

$999$599

$599

See all prices

Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025

We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

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What’s new? In summary

Price & Availability

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox

Colours & Design

Display

Hardware

Battery

Cameras

Early conclusion