Google Pixel 9 vs Pixel 8

You’re in search of a compact flagship and also you land on Google’s affords. At round €900, the Google Pixel 9 is sort of pricy and you’ll simply discover that the Google Pixel 8 will get you quite a lot of its options at a far more cheap value of €500.

The brand new Pixel 9 brings an improved design, efficiency and digicam high quality, however its focus is totally on AI options. The previous Pixel 8 nonetheless affords top-notch {hardware}, imaging expertise and clear software program, particularly on the all-time low value, so it isn’t exhausting to choose it over the brand new mannequin.

How significantly better is the Google Pixel 9 to deserve its value premium then? Let’s look into it.

Desk of Contents:

For starters, you’ll be able to evaluate the whole specs sheets or immediately proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.

Dimension comparability

The brand new Google Pixel 9 appears lots totally different from the Pixel 8. It’s also barely bigger, as a result of larger show.

The Pixel 9 introduces an all-flat design, digicam bar included – a departure from the properly curved Pixel 8. There are two Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels and a flat aluminum body. The Pixel 9 is IP68-rated for mud and water resistance.

This implies the brand new mannequin has higher, arguably harder glass panels and a extra snug design. However the dimension enhance and the flat design will not be everybody’s cup of tea, particularly in terms of a compact smartphone.

Design and dimension are all the time a private desire, so it’s as much as you to resolve which Pixel fits you higher. Regardless of which one you select, although, it is going to be one among a premium construct for positive.

Show comparability

The Pixel 9 contains a 6.3-inch OLED show with a FullHD decision and a 120Hz most refresh price, in addition to 2,700nits of peak brightness (marketed). The Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch OLED panel of comparable decision and refresh price however with decrease marketed peak brightness – 2,000 nits. Each screens are HDR10 video licensed.

In our testing, the Pixel 9 supplied over 1,200nits of most brightness when adjusting it manually, and over 2,200 nits when utilizing the Adaptive Brightness choice. The Pixel 8 numbers have been barely decrease – 1,000 nits in handbook and 1,440 nits in Auto mode.

Clearly, the Pixel 9 has a brighter show, however we by no means had any points with the one on the Pixel 8 both, so even when the newer one is healthier, most individuals, if not all, shall be completely happy with the older mannequin, too.

Battery life

The Pixel 9 is provided with a 4,700mAh battery – a modest improve over the Pixel 8 (4,575mAh) and 8a (4,492mAh). The Galaxy S24, in the meantime, stands at 4,000mAh, whereas the iPhone 15’s battery is simply rated for 3,349mAh.

In our testing, the Pixel 9 proved a worthy improve over the Pixel 8 within the endurance division, getting meaningfully higher ends in all 4 exams and practically two hours extra within the total Lively Use Rating. In doing that, it is turn out to be one of many higher choices in terms of battery life on this compact class.

Charging pace

The Pixel 9 helps charging as much as 27W when utilizing the brand new Google 45W adapter, although it ought to technically have the ability to attain that with different good USB Energy Supply chargers with the correct volts and amperes combos of their specs. We did not have this new adapter at our disposal, so we examined with the 30W unit, in addition to Samsung’s 45W adapter that is specced surprisingly carefully to the Google 45W one.

Google guarantees the Pixel 9 ought to have the ability to get from 1% to 55% in half-hour with the brand new 45W adapter, and that is just about what we received with the Samsung charger. Nevertheless, the Pixel 8 enjoys the identical charging price with the OG Google’s 30W charger.

There may be even a minor distinction within the time to full cost in favor of the Pixel 8 because it has a smaller battery.

Each Pixels assist quick wi-fi charging up and Battery Share can be on the menu – you’ll be able to cost different Qi-certified gadgets off of each Pixels’ backs. The Pixel 9 covers newer requirements, because it seems, however the most wi-fi charging pace stays comparatively the identical.

Speaker check

Each the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 function a hybrid speaker setup. There is a backside speaker that outputs via a gap within the body, and a front-firing high speaker which can be the earpiece for voice calls.

The Pixel 9 earned a ‘Very Good’ ranking for loudness in our testing, identical because the Pixel 8. However whereas each supply comparable loudness, the Pixel 8 has higher audio high quality with higher vocals and total richer output.

Efficiency

The brand new Pixels run on the next-gen Google chipset – the Tensor G4. It incorporates a brand new processor with eight cores, one lower than the G3’s – 1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.92 GHz Cortex-A520. All cores have been upgraded to their respective newest technology.

The GPU stays the identical as on the Tensor G3 (contained in the Pixel 8) – Mali-G715 MC7 – however it has the next clock at 940 МHz, up from 890 МHz.

The TPU for AI duties is unchanged since Tensor G3 – nonetheless in its third technology.

In all probability a very powerful replace right here is the RAM enhance – 12GB of LPDDR5X – which ought to work higher for multi-tasking and AI duties.

Lastly, there’s a new energy-efficient modem supplied by Samsung – Exynos 5400 – with Satellite tv for pc connectivity assist (in supported ).

Oddly, in our testing, the Pixel 9 scored decrease than the Pixel 8 throughout all benchmarks. We suspect our particular Pixel 9 unit is likely to be tuned otherwise as studies on-line range from supply to supply, so verifying them objectively is just not potential in the intervening time. We aren’t posting benchmark comparisons in the intervening time however Google guarantees improved efficiency with the brand new chipset.

Google guarantees many of the AI options on the Pixel 9 will ultimately make it to the Pixel 8 as nicely. Nevertheless, solely the Pixel 9 is getting one 12 months of free entry to Gemini’s most superior subscription tier, which comes with sharper generative AI smarts.

Digicam comparability

The Pixel 9 inherits the Pixel 8’s digicam system – it is received a large main digicam and an ultrawide on the again, then there’s selfie digicam on the opposite aspect. That stated, the Pixel 9 mannequin does get a few upgrades – a brand new sensor for the ultrawide digicam, and autofocus for the entrance digicam.

Picture high quality

The Pixel 9’s essential digicam saves wonderful photographs with nice element, rendered in a pure approach with well-judged sharpening. There’s the standard excessive distinction you’d count on from Pixels, with a give attention to spotlight preservation and considerably dark-ish shadows. Colours are very nice too, with out pushing the saturation slider to extremes.

The Pixel 8’s essential digicam produces equally nice photographs and whereas the newer mannequin could also be a tad more adept with the sharpening, we’re actually nit-picking right here.

The 2x high-quality zoom is healthier on the Pixel 9, even when by a small margin. The element appears a bit extra pure, particularly one among excessive complexity, and the fuzzy areas are considerably much less apparent, although nonetheless there.

The largest improve comes with the ultrawide digicam, which, due to the brand new sensor and lens, now saves extra detailed and natural-looking photographs with much less noise.

Pixel 9: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Pixel 8: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

The low-light photographs shot on each telephones are equally stable. The principle cameras, each in common and zoom modes, ship nice photographs with nearly no distinction. The ultrawide digicam affords excellent high quality, too, although as a result of brighter aperture on the Pixel 9 – it saves barely brighter and photographs

Pixel 9: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Pixel 8: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

And at last, the selfie digicam. The Pixel 9 has autofocus, which is able to assist it in sure conditions to ship sharper and total higher photographs. And you’ll see that distinction when taking pictures at shut distance – the Pixel 9 takes sharper photographs with extra facial element than the Pixel 8’s entrance digicam, and the background appears a bit extra defocused. The distinction is small, however it’s there and it is going to be appreciated for many who shoot selfies all day and all evening.

Pixel 9 • Pixel 8

Video high quality

Each the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 supply comparable video capturing capabilities, stabilization, decision and body price included.

Oddly, the Pixel information softer footage than we might count on for the category – from each the primary and the ultrawide cameras. The Pixel 8 affords noticeably extra detailed and sharper movies from its essential digicam, even in 2x zoom mode.

Pixel 9 4K30: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Pixel 8 4K30: 0.6x • 1x • 2x

Verdict

The Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 are nice little telephones, and nobody shall be left wanting by choosing both of them – each have comparable screens, efficiency, cameras, and audio system.

The Pixel 9 is healthier in terms of battery life, quicker AI duties and ultrawide picture high quality, and arguably – appears – however it comes at a value. The Pixel 9 launches at €899, whereas the Pixel 8 now prices about €500. And that could be a big distinction and the largest cause why you must get the Pixel 8 as an alternative of the Pixel 9.

However wait, there’s extra! The Pixel 8 turned out to seize higher movies and perhaps proper now, it’s the higher gadget for efficiency and stability.

After all, if having the most recent and most beefed-up cellphone is what you might be after, then the Pixel 9 is now obtainable and no assessment will cease you from shopping for it.