Here’s What Pixel 8 Pro Has That Pixel 8 Doesn’t

Google Pixel 8 Pro - Pixel 8

Google has made both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro official, so it’s now time for Pixel fans to decide which device they want to spend their money on. Hopefully making your decision a tad bit easier, we’ve gone ahead and listed below the key differences between both devices, as there are certain features that only the Pro model has.

This year, the differences between the two models feels more evident than before. The Pixel 8 Pro has an additional sensor, has better Gorilla Glass, and has what should amount to be a superior camera experience thanks to not only an added telephoto lens but more software. It’s as if Google set out to really make a Pro device compared to the smaller Pixel 8, similar to what we see from Apple. The main difference being, both the Pro and non-Pro models only come in one size.

Here are the key differences between Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.


Thermometer Sensor

On the backside of the Pixel 8 Pro, there’s a thermometer, allowing owners to check temperatures of items like beverages or cookware. It’s not marketed for checking a person’s temperature, but there won’t be anything stopping you from trying to test its accuracy. When this sensor was first rumored, we questioned why the Pixel 8 Pro needs it. Now having it be official, we still wonder what Google’s thought was. Regardless of whether you find it useful or not, it’s present on the device while the smaller Pixel 8 does not offer it.

Pixel 8 Pro Has the Better Camera Experience

The biggest difference you’ll find between the two devices looks to be the camera experience. The Pixel 8 Pro has noticeably different camera setup. There’s a 50-megapixel wide angle camera, 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, plus a 48-megapixel telephoto camera. The Pixel 8 features the same 50MP wide angle lens, but for ultra-wide shots, it uses a 12MP lens. It has no telephoto camera.

Beyond actual lenses, Pixel 8 Pro offers multi-zone LDAF (laser detection auto focus), while Pixel 8 only has single zone LDAF. On top of that, Google specifically mentions that the Pixel 8 Pro features “Pro controls,” while the Pixel 8 does not. Another omission on the Pixel 8 is “high resolution images,” even though both phones feature the same main 50MP shooter.

Below you can view a table of the complete Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 8 camera setup.

Pixel 8 Pixel 8 Pro
Rear Cameras50 MP Octa PD wide camera, 1.2 μm pixel width, ƒ/1.68 aperture,
82° field of view, 1/1.31" image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, 2x Optical Quality

12 MP ultrawide camera with autofocus, 1.25 μm pixel width, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 125.8° field of view, Lens correction
50 MP Octa PD wide camera, 1.2 μm pixel width, ƒ/1.68 aperture,
82° field of view, 1/1.31" image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, 2x Optical Quality

48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with
autofocus, 0.8 μm pixel width, ƒ/1.95 aperture,
125.5° field of view, Lens correction

48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera, 0.7 μm pixel width, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 21.8° field of view, 5x optical zoom, Super Res Zoom up to 30x
Front Camera10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera, 1.22 μm pixel, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Fixed focus, 95° ultrawide field of view10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera, 1.22 μm pixel, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Autofocus, 95° ultrawide field of view
OtherSingle-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus)
sensor, Spectral and flicker sensor, Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide
Multi-zone LDAF (laser detect auto focus) sensor, Spectral and flicker sensor, Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide
and telephoto
Camera FeaturesUltra HDR
Magic Editor
Best Take
Macro Focus
Magic Eraser
Photo Unblur
Motion Mode
Real Tone
Face Unblur
Panorama
Manual White Balancing
Locked Folder
Night Sight
Astrophotography
Top Shot
Portrait Mode
Portrait Light
Super Res Zoom
Motion Autofocus
Frequent Faces
Dual Exposure Controls
Live HDR+
Pro controls
High-resolution images
Ultra HDR
Magic Editor
Best Take
Macro Focus
Magic Eraser
Photo Unblur
Motion Mode
Real Tone
Face Unblur
Panorama
Manual White Balance
Locked Folder
Night Sight
Astrophotography
Top Shot
Portrait Mode
Portrait Light
Super Res Zoom
Motion Autofocus
Frequent Faces
Dual Exposure Controls
Live HDR+

Pixel 8 Doesn’t Have Gorilla Glass Victus 2

On the hardware side, there is only one other major difference, that being the glass used to protect the display and backside. The Pixel 8 Pro features the latest and greatest Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is supposed to be the best Gorilla Glass that Corning has ever produced. The Pixel 8 features the original Gorilla Glass Victus (first introduced in 2020), which is also good, but likely a way for Google to keep the device’s price reasonable.

For consumers, the same general principle applies to all smartphones — try not to drop it, regardless of which Gorilla Glass it has.

Other Items To Note

There’s also a healthy list of not-so-large items that we felt we should include, just to make your purchasing decision as informed as possible. That list includes the following:

  • Pixel 8 Pro has matte glass, Pixel 8 has polished glass
  • Pixel 8 Pro offers up to 1TB storage, Pixel 8 has up to 256GB
  • Pixel 8 Pro has 12GB RAM, Pixel 8 has 8GB
  • Pixel 8 Pro refresh rate is 1-120Hz, Pixel 8 is 60-120Hz
  • Pixel 8 Pro features a UWB chip, Pixel 8 does not
  • Pixel 8 Pro front camera has autofocus, Pixel 8 does not

The Pixel 8 is now available for pre-order starting at $699, while the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999.