Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Which should you buy?
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Which should you pick for your next phone?
It’s a busy period in the mobile calendar currently and in the space of a few weeks we have seen new phones from both Apple and Google.
Apple kicked things off with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and now Google has followed with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8 design: What’s the difference?
While both the Google Pixel 2 and Apple’s iPhone 8 have very different design styles, they’re clearly designed to go head-to-head.
Google and Apple are some of the only ones still making small phones, and the search-engine giant is clearly hoping to chip away at Apple’s market share with the Pixel 2.
Both phones are on the compact side, with the Pixel 2 packing a 5-inch screen and the iPhone 8 boasting a 4.7-inch display. These are much smaller than, say, the Samsung Galaxy S8 with its 5.8-inch screen.
The thing is, both of these phones could be much smaller, or have larger screens in the same shell, if it wasn’t for the huge bezel. Both the Pixel 2 and iPhone 8 have a hefty bezel running around the display and it doesn’t make for the most attractive design.
The iPhone 8 uses the bezel for the Touch ID home button and single front-firing speaker, whereas the Pixel has again has front-firing speakers but moves the fingerprint sensor to the back.
Speaking of the back, both phones utilise glass in their designs. The iPhone 8 has an all-glass rear, while the Pixel 2 has a smaller glass panel covering the camera and flash.
Both phones are IP-rated for water-resistance and both lack a headphone jack, forcing you to either use an include dongle or Bluetooth headphones.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8 specs: Which has more power?
Comparing performance of Android and iOS devices isn’t the most accurate thing to do, but we’re going to do it anyway.
The Pixel 2 packs a Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage. The iPhone 8 goes with the A11 Bionic mobile chip, Apple-made GPU and 2GB RAM. You can also pick between 64 or 256GB storage. Neither phone has expandable storage, so choose wisely.
The A11 Bionic is the fastest mobile chip we’ve seen, with benchmark scores nearly double that of the Snapdragon 835. Thing is, there isn’t much that takes advantage of this extra power, so the Pixel 2 will likely feel just as snappy.
Both phones also feature 12-megapixel cameras, though we’ll have to properly test the updated sensor in the Pixel 2 to see if it matches the iPhone 8. In our review, we found the iPhone 8 tended to mimic the nice saturated images we got from the original Pixel, but often we preferred the iPhone’s daylight snaps. Google talked a lot about how this camera has improved, so hopefully the results are impressive. it now has OIS, like the iPhone, and the same f/1.8 aperture.
Apple’s iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display with a resolution of just over 720p. It also boasts the True Tone tech from the iPad Pro (this alters the colour temperature of the display to match your environment) and the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch abilities. It’s lovely panel, even with the fairly low resolution.
The Pixel 2, like its predecessor, has a 5-inch 1080p OLED which tends to offer deeper saturation and inkier blacks than LCD. Using OLED also allows the phone to support Google’s Daydream View VR headset.
iOS 11 comes as standard on the iPhone 8, with the improved Control Center and AR support, but it doesn’t look a whole lot different from iOS 10. If you dislike the gridded layout, you won’t be won over.
The Pixel 2 is running the recently released Android Oreo, albeit with a Pixel-exclusive layer over the top. This adds in a new dynamic calendar widget that’ll update you of upcoming events plus a redesigned search bar.
Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8 price: Which offers better value for money?
Flagship phones are expensive buys, and the the Pixel 2 and iPhone 8 live up to that billing.
Google’s latest phones starts at $649 for 64GB storage, while the iPhone 8 starts at £699 (again for 64GB). You can also spend £100/$100 more to up the iPhone storage to 256GB.
Android or iOS? Let us know which flagship will sail into your pocket, on Twitter @trustedreviews
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
