Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23: The Ultimate Flagship Showdown of 2023
We break down how these smartphones compare across battery size, cameras, durability, price and more to help you make your decision.
- More than a decade of journalism experience
A trio of Pixel 8 phones.
Google's Pixel 8 one of the top flagship phones of 2023. It packs more AI chops, excellent cameras and an extended software update policy that could make it the right phone for your next upgrade. But it goes up against a pair of formidable competitors: Apple's iPhone 15 and Samsung's Galaxy S23, which come with their own sets of strengths and considerations. For that reason, we've broken down the key differences to illustrate how the Pixel 8 measures up to the rival offerings from the juggernauts of the smartphone industry.
This year, Google hiked prices for the Pixel 8 to start at $699. Although it's $100 more than last year, Google has still managed to undercut the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S23, which start at approximately $800 in the US, off-contract. (Although this price difference may not actually matter much in the US, where people still largely buy devices from wireless carriers.)
One of the most salient upgrades to the Pixel 8 has arrived by way of its software. Google has pledged seven years of OS upgrades and security support. By comparison, both Samsung's latest Galaxy S23 phones guarantee five years of support. Apple doesn't make any promises, but its latest iOS 17 update works on the iPhone XS, which came out in 2018.
Like the iPhone 15, the Pixel 8 has three cameras in total. It boasts a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and 10-megapixel selfie camera. The Galaxy S23 has an extra camera in the form of a telephoto lens that is capable of 3x optical zoom. However, Google's cameras also come with powerful software and tools unique to the Pixel lineup. These AI-powered features include Audio Magic Eraser, a useful tool for removing background noise from videos; Best Take, a photo editing tool that alters the expression on someone's face in a group picture; and Night Sight, for taking crisp low-light video footage.
In terms of chips, the Pixel 8 is powered by the latest Tensor G3 processor, which Google developed in-house. The iPhone 15 runs on Apple's A16 Bionic and the Galaxy S23 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 designed for Galaxy phones. We won't know how the Tensor G3 chipset stacks up to iPhone 15 or Galaxy S23 until we run our benchmarks -- stay tuned.
For a more granular perspective on how the Pixel 8 compares with its rivals, take a look at CNET's specs chart below.
Pixel 8 vs. iPhone 15 vs. Galaxy S23
Pixel 8 | iPhone 15 | Galaxy S23 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.2-inch OLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels; 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556x1,179 pixels | 6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340x1,080 pixels; 120Hz adaptive |
| Pixel density | 428 ppi | 460 ppi | 425 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 in. | 2.82 x 5.81 x 0.31 in. | 2.79 x 5.76 x 0.3 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm | 71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8 mm | 70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 187 g (6.6 oz.) | 171 g (6.02 oz.) | 168 g (5.93 oz.) |
| Mobile software | Android 14 | iOS 17 | Android 13 |
| Camera | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 10.5-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | TBD | 4K | 8K |
| Processor | Google Tensor G3 | A16 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| RAM/storage | 8GB + 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 8GB RAM + 128GB; 8GB RAM + 256GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None |
| Battery/charging speeds | 4,575 mAh | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streamed) | 3,900 mAh (25W wired charging) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under display | None (Face ID) | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C (USB 3.2) | USB-C (USB 2.0) | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None |
| Special features | 5G (Sub 6, mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, security and Feature Drop updates; front-facing camera has autofocus; 13W Qi wireless charging; 30W wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds via USB-C; IP68 dust and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back | Dynamic Island; 5G (mmw/Sub6); MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; eSIM; satellite connectivity | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, wireless PowerShare to charge other devices |
| US price off-contract | $699 (128GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $800 (8GB/128GB) |
| UK price | £699 (128GB) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £849 (8GB/128GB) |
| Australia price | AU$1,199 (128GB) | AU$1,499 (128GB), AU$1,699 (256GB), AU$2,049 (512GB) | AU$1,349 (8GB/128GB) |