The Pixel 8 family is now a trio, with the $499 Pixel 8a joining the $699 Pixel 8 and the $999 Pixel 8 Pro. Despite the notable differences in pricing, these phones actually have a lot in common, so it can be confusing to determine which one is right for you.We’ve tested the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. We haven’t yet had a chance to review the Pixel 8a, which is available for preorder now and will hit store shelves on May 14. We’ll have a full review when the Pixel 8a comes out, so make sure to check back, but until then, we can compare all three phones on paper to help you understand the most important differences between them.
Price and StoragePricing for the Pixel 8 lineup ranges from $499 to $1,399. The Pixel 8a is the most affordable option. It costs $499 for 128GB of storage or $559 for 256GB. Moving up in price, the Pixel 8 comes with 128GB for $699 or 256GB for $759. The Pixel 8 Pro is available in four configurations: 128GB for $999, 256GB for $1,059, 512GB for $1,179, or 1TB for $1,399. You have many options if you just want 256GB of storage, but you need to move up to the Pixel 8 Pro beyond that.
Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
In terms of color options, Mint (green) is a Google exclusive for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, though just for the model with 128GB of storage. The Aloe (brighter green) finish for the 128GB Pixel 8a isn’t an option for any other version. Otherwise, the Pixel 8a and 8 Pro are available in Bay (blue), Obsidian (black), or Porcelain (grayish), while the Pixel 8 comes in Hazel (darker grayish), Obsidian, or Rose (pink). Note that some storage amounts lock you into a color choice.Screen and SizeThe Pixel 8 Pro offers the largest screen of the bunch at 6.7 inches, while the Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch display is a bit bigger than the Pixel 8a’s 6.1-inch panel.There are other differences, too. The Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a both have an adaptive refresh rate that ranges from 1 to 120Hz, which helps preserve battery life and makes animation look smooth. The refresh rate of the Pixel 8’s screen ranges from 60Hz to 120Hz, meaning it’s a bit less efficient.The Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 have the same resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels, though the Pixel 8a is slightly more pixel-dense at 430ppi (compared with 424ppi for the Pixel 8). The Pixel 8 Pro features a resolution of 2,992 by 1,344 pixels and a density of 489ppi. Fine details should look sharp on any of these screens. As for brightness, the Pixel 8 Pro tops out at 2,400 nits, while the Pixel 8 and 8a both go up to 2,000 nits. In testing, we found the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro bright enough to use even under direct sunlight, so the Pixel 8a should fare similarly.
Left to right: Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Google)
Even though the Pixel 8 has the second biggest screen of the trio, it’s the smallest and lightest at 5.9 by 2.8 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and 6.6 ounces. The Pixel 8a is very similar in size, but slightly taller, wider, and heavier at 6.0 by 2.9 by 0.4 inches and 6.8 ounces. The Pixel 8 Pro is the largest and heaviest of the bunch at 6.4 by 3.0 by 0.4 inches and 7.5 ounces. The Pixel 8 and 8a should be easy to carry, but the Pixel 8 Pro requires a bigger pocket. Tensor G3 for AllAll three Pixel 8 phones use Google’s Tensor G3 system on a chip (SoC) and feature the Titan M2 security coprocessor. The Tensor series hasn’t fared well in traditional benchmarks compared with Qualcomm’s offerings, though it’s designed to handle natural language processing and AI tasks more so than perform well on synthetic tests. In real-world usage, we’ve never had an issue with the Tensor G3’s performance.
(Credit: Google)
The Pixel 8a and 8 both come with 8GB of RAM, while the Pixel 8 Pro packs 12GB. This extra RAM could account for why the Pixel 8 Pro outperformed the Pixel 8 in benchmarks.In our battery rundown test, which involves streaming an HD video at full brightness, the Pixel 8 survived for 10 hours and 20 minutes, while the Pixel 8 Pro cut out after 9 hours and 5 minutes. We have yet to test the Pixel 8a, but the similarly sized Pixel 7a lasted 13 hours and 25 minutes. The Pixel 8a’s 4,492mAh cell is slightly larger than the 4,385mAh one for the Pixel 7a, for reference.Battery charging speed varies by model. The Pixel 8 Pro can charge at up to 30W, the Pixel 8 works at up to 27W, and the Pixel 8a maxes out at 18W. As for wireless charging, the Pixel 8 Pro, 8, and 8a respectively top out at 23W, 18W, and 12W.Cameras and ImagingGoogle’s Pixel phones have a reputation for producing great images through a combination of excellent hardware and software, and we don’t expect the 8a to stray far from that ideal.The Pixel 8a uses the same main sensor as the 7a, a 64MP imager with an f/1.89 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and Super Res Zoom (Google’s software-aided digital zoom) of up to 8x. There’s also a 13MP ultra-wide camera with an aperture of f/2.2. The front-facing camera clocks in at 13MP and has a field of view equivalent to 96.5 degrees.The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both use a 50MP main camera with an f/1.68 aperture and OIS, but the Pixel 8 features a single-zone laser detect autofocus (LDAF) system, while the Pixel 8 Pro uses a multi-zone LDAF sensor. Each also features the same 10.5MP front-facing camera with a 95-degree field of view.
Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The two differ in terms of ultra-wide cameras. The Pixel 8 has a 12MP ultra-wide camera with an aperture of f/2.2, but the Pixel 8 Pro uses a 48MP ultra-wide lens with an f/1.95 aperture. Unlike the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, the Pixel 8 Pro features a third rear camera, a 48MP f/2.8 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and Super Res Zoom up to 30x. What you can do with photos and videos depends on the phone you get. Google offers some advanced software tools exclusively for the Pixel 8 Pro, including Night Sight Video, Pro Controls, and Video Boost. However, all three handsets can take advantage of the Audio Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Magic Editor features, which respectively let you remix audio in videos, retouch group photos, and move and resize objects. Those three options aren’t available on the Pixel 7 series at all.
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Audio Eraser interface (Credit: Google)
If you want every Google camera software feature, the Pixel 8 Pro is the way to go. If you can make do without a few niceties, the Pixel 8 and 8a are fine alternatives. Some features that appeared first on the Pixel 8 Pro, like the AI chatbot Gemini, eventually arrived on the Pixel 8 and 8a, but there’s no guarantee the same will happen with the imaging tools. Durability, Connectivity, and SoftwareIn terms of durability, the Pixel 8 Pro uses the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels, which help prevent scratching and damage from falling on surfaces like concrete. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 uses the older Gorilla Glass Victus material, and the Pixel 8a goes with the older still Gorilla Glass 3. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both have an IP68 rating, whereas the Pixel 8a has an IP67 spec. They all handle dust equally well, but the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are slightly more water-resistant.
Pixel 8 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, but the 8a comes with Wi-Fi 6E. All three Pixels support sub-6GHz 5G (including C-band) and mmWave 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC.One exclusive is that the Pixel 8 Pro comes with a thermometer that can measure the temperatures of objects and people, something not on the other devices. You can save these readings in a Fitbit profile if you choose.All three phones will get seven years of OS updates, feature drops, and security updates, which is the longest commitment for a non-Samsung Android device. The exact timeframes differ slightly depending on their launch date, but they all currently run Android 14.Which Pixel 8 Is the Best?Now that you know all the differences between the Pixel phones, it’s time to pick out the best one for you. Until we review the Pixel 8a and can give you definitive buying advice, here are some general tips to keep in mind:Get the Pixel 8a if you want access to Google’s AI features for the least amount of money, and you don’t anticipate needing 256GB of storage.Get the Pixel 8 if you want the best variety of features in the most compact package.Get the Pixel 8 Pro if you want the biggest phone with the most features (including a telephoto camera)—and don’t mind paying top dollar for it.We plan to publish a full review of the Pixel 8a soon, so stay tuned for additional coverage. In the meantime, make sure to check out our roundup of the best phones overall.
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