Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Pixel 8 Pro: What's the difference and should you upgrade?

It’s increasingly common, it seems, to acknowledge that there isn’t as much reason to upgrade your smartphone these days as there was even a few years ago. Year-to-year changes have become incremental. The longer you wait, though, the more those changes can add up. So, if you’re weighing an upgrade from the Google Pixel 6 Pro to the new Pixel 8 Pro, is the leap justifiable?

Update, Jan. 2024: We’ve noted that the Pixel 8 Pro is now FDA-cleared to check body temperature, and has its Video Boost and Night Sight Video features enabled.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Specs

There’s a range of spec upgrades here, but the biggest is obviously Google’s third-generation Tensor processor. Although you might not notice the G3’s power vs the first-gen Tensor in apps like Reddit or Gmail, it could make a big difference in games, or in apps that depend heavily on AI. Indeed, Google says that the G3 can run many AI processes on-device that formerly had to be handled in the cloud.

You’ll also notice the display. The Pixel 8 Pro has a slightly taller 20:9 aspect ratio, and actually drops a little in resolution from 3,120 x 1,440 to 2,992 x 1,344. That pixel density doesn’t matter much, thankfully, but what does is that the new screen can get intensely bright, up to a peak of 2,400 nits, even if you’ll usually just see 1,600 nits when viewing HDR content. If you regularly squint at your phone in sunlight, this could be a reason to upgrade.

Some (relatively) minor upgrades include Face Unlock, and improved connectivity in the form of things like USB 3.2, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 7. More significant to some will be 30W wired charging, though you’ll need to buy a compatible USB PD PPS charger, since Google doesn’t include one in the box.

We’ll lastly mention that there’s a new 1TB storage option for US buyers, and all Pixel 8 Pros now have a built-in thermometer. We’re not quite sure why Google added it, to be honest — while you can use it to check the temperature of food and other objects, no one was clamoring for that, certainly not when smartphone batteries still last little more than a day. As of late January 2024, it’s FDA-cleared to record body temperature, but it may not be accurate enough to confirm a fever. You should probably find a standalone thermometer if you think you might be sick.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Size comparison

In terms of size, there’s virtually no difference between the two phones. You can’t reuse your Pixel 6 Pro case (check out our best Pixel 8 Pro cases list for some new ones), but the adjustments are minor, and if anything, the 8 Pro (above) is actually a tiny bit shorter despite keeping a 6.7-inch screen and changing to that 20:9 aspect ratio. Google’s distinctive rear camera bar remains, simply looking nicer thanks to design changes that originated with the Pixel 7 Pro.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Cameras

You’ll want to check out our Pixel 8 Pro review for samples, but one thing we can say here is that while new phone’s camera upgrades aren’t essential, they might push the boundaries of what you can shoot. Its telephoto lens for instance delivers 5x optical zoom, up from 4x, filling the frame better when shooting things like scenery or concerts. Apertures are also wider on all of the rear lenses, improving low-light performance.

The phone’s ultrawide lens is paired with a 48MP sensor, up from 12MP on the Pixel 6 Pro. If you take a lot of ultra-wide shots, that could mean a significant jump in quality. Other enhancements include multi-zone laser autofocus for the rear shooters, and basic autofocus for the front-facing selfie.

Long-term Pixel users will know that the real story is image processing. Google likes to brag about its computational photography tricks, not to mention a number of features and tools that are exclusive to Pixels, such as Face Unblur and the Magic Eraser. As of December 2023 the Pixel 8 Pro finally has its promised Video Boost and Night Sight Video tech for improved low-light recording, as well as some other options like Best Take, Magic Editor, and Audio Magic Eraser. Some of these may filter back to your 6 Pro, but if you want a cutting-edge camera phone, the 8 Pro is it.

The 6 Pro remains very capable, as you can see from the photo samples below. If you haven’t been running up against any limitations so far, don’t feel pressured to spend money.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Battery life and charging

In most respects, nothing has changed here. The phones have similar mAh ratings, and provide 23W wireless charging with a 2nd-gen Pixel Stand, or 12W when using a generic Qi charger. They also support Google’s Battery Share reverse charging.

Expect the Pixel 8 Pro to last a long time based on our testing. We managed nearly a day and half between charges, with as much as 25% battery remaining after 5 hours of screen-on time. Better yet, support for 30W wired charging (compared with 23W on the Pixel 6 Pro) should make it quicker to top up. That’s assuming of course that you have a USB PD PPS charger, and you’ll need one of your own, since the only bundled power accessory is a USB-C cable.

Google promises up to 72 hours when Extreme Battery Saver is enabled. It’s best to avoid that mode whenever possible though, since it shuts off many features and cripples performance.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Price and availability

You can still find new or refurbished versions of the Pixel 6 Pro out there, but Google itself has discontinued the phone, preferring to nudge people towards the Pixel 8 lineup or the Pixel 7a. That makes sense, given that the 6 Pro originally shipped in October 2021.

The Pixel 8 Pro launched in October 2023 starting at $999, a full $100 more than the 6 Pro did in 2021. That’s to be expected, unfortunately, given inflation and prices for competing phones like the iPhone 15 Pro. You’ll pay even more for higher storage tiers, to the point that a 1TB model costs as much as a respectable desktop PC.

The Pixel 8 Pro is currently available in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK, and the US, excluding Puerto Rico.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Should you upgrade?

If you own a Pixel 6 Pro, the 8 Pro probably isn’t a must-have. Google isn’t abandoning its older phone yet, and the 8 Pro doesn’t introduce anything revolutionary. It’s conceivable that true “pros” might be quick sells — say if they shoot a lot of photos or video for social media, do live AI transcriptions, or work outdoors in the sun — but the 6 Pro was already pretty solid in those areas.

If you’ve got the disposable income to upgrade because you want to, we feel like there’s a better argument. Cumulatively the enhancements to the Pixel 8 Pro are enough to make it feel fresh, particularly if the thing you value most is photo and video quality. Google seems to be at the top of its game in camera hardware and software. And with seven years of guaranteed OS and security updates, the Pixel 8 Pro is a safe long-term investment.

That said, the longer you hold off, the more novelty you can expect out of a new Pixel. If you’re going to spend on luxury purchases from Google this year, it might make more sense to buy a new Fitbit or Pixel Watch 2, or maybe some Google Nest smart home gear. After all, the Pixel 6 Pro will still get at least one more OS upgrade after Android 14, and two further years of security patches. There’s still life left in Google’s first Pro-tier Pixel.

Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: FAQ