Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 UItra

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro is the last top smartphone to arrive in 2023. It’s big, bold, and packed with camera tricks to compete with the best from Samsung and Apple. But if you hate Apple’s ecosystem, the only direct competitor to Google’s latest flagship is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Both product lines have a reputation for being among the most powerful camera phones, with Samsung putting more emphasis on hardware advantages and Google leading in software processing. If you’re trying to find the best flagship between the two pound-for-pound, here’s a detailed comparison to make your choice easier.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Specs

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Design and display

The Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra take fundamentally different approaches to design. Samsung goes for a boxy look with flat sides and sharp edges, while Google’s phones feature rounded sides with a bulged frame for a more comfortable grip. The weight difference is also significant, with the Pixel 8 Pro being over 22% lighter than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus protect both phones, with IP68 certified construction. Each device features a large OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and dynamic adjustment technology, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen is brighter, reaching up to 2,400 nits.

However, in everyday life, these numbers won’t make much of a difference, as the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s screen is also bright enough and visibility of content is fine, even in broad daylight. But one area where Samsung’s flagships are far ahead is stylus support.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra supports stylus input and comes with an S Pen that plugs directly inside the phone’s chassis. However, this stylus is more than just a gimmick. It supports a wide range of air gestures and comes with tons of customization and shortcut tricks.

If you know a workaround, Equipped with the Good Lock module, the S Pen truly elevates your smartphone experience to a whole different level of convenience and immersion. It also helps that the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the only mainstream flagship phone with stylus support.

The Pixel 8 Pro has some technical advantages when it comes to its display, but the S23 Ultra’s S Pen is also a nice addition. We chalk this up as a tie.

Winner: draw

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Performance and battery

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S23 Ultra with a slightly overclocked trim of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip exclusive to this particular phone. This chip is paired with 12 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage, leaving no room for further expansion.

The S23 Ultra is also equipped with a large vapor chamber cooling system to improve heat dissipation, and it actually does a great job. Google, on the other hand, has said nothing about the special attention being paid to thermal management systems in its latest flagship planes.

Inside the Pixel 8 Pro is a custom-designed Tensor G3 processor working with 12 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage. Google also includes dedicated AI and security chips in its phones, but like Samsung, it also ignores the convenience of storage expansion.

In terms of raw performance, neither phone lags behind. But given the history of Tensor chips, his Qualcomm chips powering Samsung’s warhorse should perform better at sustained and demanding tasks, and could also prove to be more energy efficient. There is a gender.

In terms of battery capacity, there is not much difference as both phones are powered by 5,000mAh batteries. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra takes the crown here. It supports wired charging up to 45 watts, while the Pixel 8 Pro’s maximum output is 30 W.

Wireless charging support and reverse wireless power sharing are also part of the package for both phones. The latter means you can share power by simply leaving your other phone or earphone case on the back panel of the Pixel 8 Pro Galaxy S23 Ultra.

We still need to test Google’s Tensor G3 chip ourselves, but at least for now, we’re pretty confident in giving Samsung the win in this category.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Camera

Google’s top-of-the-line offering features an optically stabilized 50-megapixel main camera. It is supported by a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom output and a 48MP ultrawide snapper. Selfie duties fall to a 10.5MP sensor with autofocus.

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S23 Ultra with a huge 200-megapixel main camera that performs multiple layers of pixel binning to output images in a smaller format. There are two 10MP telephoto cameras, one giving him 3x optical zoom range and the other utilizing a periscope system giving him 10x optical zoom.

Ultrawide capture is handled by a 12MP snapper, and the front camera also relies on a 12MP camera. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is capable of 8K capture and slow-motion video at up to 960 fps (frames per second), while the Pixel 8 Pro maxes out at 4K 60 fps capture and slow-motion is limited to 240 fps.

However, the Pixel 8 Pro AI-powered impressions include Magic Eraser to remove unnecessary objects from the frame, Face Deblur to correct photos after taking them, Macro Focus to take close-up shots, Astrophotography mode to take long-exposure shots of the night sky, and Magic. provides functionality. Audio eraser to remove noise from videos.

This time, Google is also adding new tricks like Night Scene mode for video capture and Best Take for group photos, which combines multiple frames to give you the most attractive still image.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a unique set of camera features, including simultaneous video capture from each camera, an incredible 100x zoom range for still images, 360-degree audio capture, and a microphone zoom-in that follows the camera view . Like the Pixel 8 Pro, it also supports night mode and portrait capture for video (from the front and rear cameras).

Based on technical specs alone, we give the Galaxy S23 Ultra this round. Samsung beats Google with a 200MP main camera and dual telephoto cameras, as well as enhanced video capabilities. I’ll be testing both phones in person as soon as I can, but Samsung seems to be in good hands here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Software and special features

Software is where the two phones sit on roughly opposite ends of the spectrum. With the Pixel 8 Pro, Google offers a vanilla flavor of Android with a number of unique features. The Google Assistant experience has never been better, and more tricks are added regularly through Pixel feature drop updates.

This year, Google is adding voice input capabilities to its multilingual assistant, along with more natural conversations, improved call screening capabilities, better call noise isolation, and more. Google is also extending the convenience of Face Unlock to payments and app sign-ins.

Meanwhile, Samsung will soon seed the Galaxy S23 Ultra with Android 14-based One UI 6. As for his Android skin for Samsung smartphones, opinions are a bit divided. On the downside, it’s littered with tons of bloatware and ads.

But on the positive side, it offers a set of unique features that set the Galaxy S23 Ultra apart from other phones. for example, The Edge panel and S Pen wheel give you more shortcuts and tools at your disposal than any other device.

The range of aesthetic customization is extensive, and the Samsung Good Lock module provides a level of UI control not found on any smartphone out there.

But this year, Google is taking a dramatic leap forward in extending the lifespan of its Pixel smartphones. Google says the Pixel 8 Pro will receive seven Android OS upgrades and security updates, as well as feature removal over the same number of years. All Samsung has promised for the Galaxy S23 Ultra is four OS upgrades and five years of security updates.

While the usefulness of each phone’s software features largely depends on personal preference, there’s no denying that everyone should benefit from Google’s excellent software support. This is a first in the Android space and we look forward to more in the future.

Winner: Google Pixel 8 Pro

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Price and availability

The Google Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999 and comes with a big freebie: the Pixel Watch 2. This is a great deal no matter how you look at it, and makes it one of the best workhorses in its price range. . Pre-orders have already started, and there are three colors available.

Samsung, on the other hand, is charging a minimum of $1,199 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. That’s a healthy $200, enough money to buy him some good wireless earbuds or a previous generation smartwatch. Table color options are green, phantom black, lavender, cream, lime, sky blue, graphite, and red. But keep in mind that these wholesome bunches are exclusive to the Samsung Store.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Verdict

Choosing between these two phones is very easy. If you’re looking for the best Android experience with unparalleled support, a reliable camera, a standout design, and the most rewarding Android experience, the Pixel 8 Pro is where you want to spend your money. If you want cutting-edge AI wizardry on your phone, Pixel should be your default choice.

But if you’re looking for an Android smartphone with camera perks like 10x optical zoom, extensive pro-grade video and photo capture capabilities, and great stylus versatility, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the one to choose. It comes with a 20% premium over the Pixel 8 Pro, but if you’re invested in the Samsung ecosystem and appreciate the flexibility of One UI, this is probably the most feature-rich device you can get. A mobile phone equipped with it.

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