Google has officially unveiled the second-generation Pixel phones. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the last major smartphones of this year. The new Pixel devices would be competing against Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 and Apple’s iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X. The smaller Pixel 2 will go up against the 4.7-inch iPhone 8. The two have similar screen sizes (and bezels), and they are in a similar price range. Here’s is our detailed Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8 comparison to help you pick the right phone this holiday season.
A year ago, phones like Google Pixel 2 and iPhone 8 would have been considered premium smartphones. But thanks to the rise of ultra-premium devices with exorbitant price tags (iPhone X, Galaxy Note 8, and Pixel 2 XL), the Pixel 2 and iPhone 8 don’t feel premium anymore. These are the phones for people who don’t want giant screens or can’t afford to buy the likes of the iPhone X, Pixel 2 XL, and Note 8.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Display
The smartphone world is increasingly moving to OLED screens, but Apple continues to use LCD panels on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. The Pixel 2 sports a 5-inch P-OLED display. It offers a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with a pixel density of 441ppi. The iPhone 8, on the other hand, has a slightly smaller 4.7-inch LCD screen with 1334 x 750 resolution and 326ppi pixel density. The Pixel 2’s OLED screen offers much better clarity and contrast ratio than the iPhone 8.
Neither handset offers an edge to edge bezel-less display. However, each device has a few tricks up its sleeves. For instance, Apple’s phone has a True Tone feature that automatically adjusts the color and brightness of the screen to suit the surrounding light. The Pixel 2 comes with an Always-On display, which lets you see the notifications and time without having to wake up the phone. It can also identify the songs playing around you, and show you the title and album on the lock screen.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Design
Neither the Pixel 2 nor the iPhone 8 has a great design. The iPhone 8’s design is three years old, and the Pixel 2 retains the look and feel of its predecessor, which already had a pretty ordinary design. The Google Pixel 2 has a metal and glass back. The fingerprint sensor is located near the center of the rear panel. When you look at the Pixel 2, the first thing you notice is the sizeable bezels around the display. It measures 145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm and weighs 143g.
The iPhone 8 also has thick bezels at the top and bottom of the screen. The bottom bezel houses the home button and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The iPhone 8’s rear panel is made out of the glass to facilitate wireless charging, though it has a metal frame. It is only slightly thinner and smaller than the Pixel 2, measuring 138.43 x 67.31 x 7.37 mm. The iPhone 8 weighs 148g. Both the Google Pixel 2 and iPhone 8 lack the 3.5mm headphone jack, forcing users to rely on a dongle or buy wireless headphones.
Apple’s device uses the Lightning port for charging, while the Pixel 2 charges via a USB Type-C port. Both the Pixel 2 and iPhone 8 come with an IP67 rating for water-resistance. It means they can remain submerged in three feet deep water for up to 30 minutes. The iPhone 8 comes in Gold, Space Grey, and Silver colors. The Gold color really stands out. In contrast, the Pixel 2 is available in Clearly White, Kinda Blue, and Truly Black colors, none of which seems remarkable.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: RAM, processor, and storage
The Pixel 2 comes in two storage options: 64GB and 128GB. It doesn’t offer a memory card slot, but Google gives you unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos. You are unlikely to run out of storage space with the unlimited storage offer. The iPhone 8 is available in 64GB and 256GB models. Like all its predecessors, the iPhone 8 lacks a microSD card slot. Apple doesn’t give you unlimited cloud storage like Google does.
The Pixel 2 runs Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset. It’s the most powerful processor available to Android vendors right now. But Apple’s A11 Bionic chip, which powers the iPhone 8, has outperformed all Android smartphones running Snapdragon 835 in recent benchmark tests. Both are powerful devices, and you are unlike to notice the difference in processing power during normal usage. The Pixel 2 packs 4GB RAM, twice that of the iPhone 8.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Software
Google hasn’t done a wonderful job in hardware design. The search engine giant has focused heavily on software and services to differentiate its products. The Pixel 2 runs Android Oreo out of the box. The Pixel 2 puts Google Assistant front and center. You can activate the Assistant in split seconds by squeezing the sides of the phone, thanks to the Active Edge feature. Google has also added a feature called Google Lens that uses the phone’s camera to identify objects (monuments, movie posters, album covers, etc.) and tell you more about them. Google has also promised to provide security updates for three years.
The iPhone 8 runs iOS 11, Apple’s latest and greatest mobile software. It brings many new features such as augmented reality, Do Not Disturb While Driving, peer-to-peer payments, better music experience, and an improved Maps app. First, Apple’s Maps app is no match for Google Maps. Second, though Apple has improved Siri, it’s not even close to the Google Assistant in terms of capabilities. Google Assistant is far more advanced.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Camera quality
Apple has tried to differentiate the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus cameras by keeping the dual camera system only on the 8 Plus. It means the iPhone 8 can’t take photos in Portrait Mode. Google has added the same camera to both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. The iPhone 8 features a 12-megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The device sports a 7-megapixel camera on the front for selfies.
The Google Pixel 2 comes with a 12.2-megapixel camera, which has an aperture of f/1.8. It supports both optical and digital image stabilization. Google has added an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the Pixel 2. Though both the iPhone 8 and Pixel 2 have a single camera lens on the back, Google’s phone is far, far superior to the iPhone 8 in camera quality. The search engine giant has put all its expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence to prove that you don’t need a dual camera to capture incredible photos and videos.
DxOMark has given the Google Pixel 2 camera a score of 98/100. That’s the highest score DxOMark has ever accorded to a smartphone. By comparison, the iPhone 8 scored 92/100 and the dual camera iPhone 8 Plus scored 94 points on the same tests. The Pixel 2 uses AI and machine learning to artificially blur the background and take photos in Portrait Mode. You can even take Portrait Mode photos with the selfie camera. DxOMark praised the Pixel 2’s fast and accurate autofocus, excellent blur, and great color reproduction.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Battery and other features
Google Pixel 2 packs a 2700mAh battery, which is a lot bigger than the 1,821mAh battery inside the iPhone 8. The iPhone 8 barely lasts a full day with normal usage. Apple has added fast charging and wireless charging features to the iPhone 8. But to be honest, the iPhone 8 wireless charging sucks right now. Apple has promised to improve it in the near future via a software update. The Pixel 2 doesn’t offer wireless charging, though it does come with fast charging. Google claims the Pixel 2 gives you about seven hours of usage in just 15 minutes of charging. That’s a pretty big claim, which hasn’t been verified yet.
Among other features, the Android Oreo on Pixel 2 allows you to use two apps simultaneously in split-view mode, something the iPhone 8 doesn’t offer. The Pixel 2 also gets exclusive animated stickers, which isn’t natively available on the iPhone 8.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Price
The 4.7-inch iPhone 8 lacks many of the features available on Google Pixel 2, but it is more expensive than its Android rival. The iPhone 8 costs $699 for the 64GB version and $849 for the 256GB model. The Pixel 2 has been priced at $649 for the 64GB option and $749 for the 128GB variant.
Of course, the specs never tell you the full story. But they do give you a fair idea of which phone is more suitable for you. The iOS fans are going to love the iPhone 8. But if you were software agnostic, the only good reason to go for the iPhone 8 is its blazing fast processing power and beautiful color options. In all other aspects, including camera, the Google Pixel 2 has the upper hand. It has a bigger battery, a sharper display, a more powerful AI assistant, and the world’s best smartphone camera.
