Google Pixel 8 Professional vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+: Buying and selling blows

• Supply: Google

  Google Pixel 8 Professional

  The smarter smartphone

  $799 $999 Save $200

  The Pixel 8 Professional is the most costly non-folding Pixel to date, nevertheless it justifies that value with flagship efficiency in nearly all areas. Pixels have all the time relied on particular software program magic, however now there’s glorious {hardware} to again it up.

  Professionals

  • Periscope zoom
  • Longer software program help

  Cons

  • Solely 128GB base storage
  • Tends to run heat

• Samsung Galaxy S23+

  The favored alternative

  The Galaxy S23+ is the S23 mannequin most individuals will purchase, and it is easy to see why. The triple cameras won’t be groundbreaking, however they’re persistently good, and One UI gives loads of creature comforts that customers have change into accustomed to.

  Professionals

  • Increased, quicker base storage
  • Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
  • Extra efficent chip

  Cons

  • Solely 3X zoom
  • Fewer updates

The Pixel 8 Professional is the very best cellphone Google has ever made and top-of-the-line telephones of the 12 months to date. Some unimaginable software program options again up the brand new cameras, the brand new show is retina-searing, and the cellphone is assured updates for seven years. These options raised the value over final 12 months, placing it subsequent to the Galaxy S23+. How does the Pixel 8 Professional evaluate?

Value, specs & availability

The Pixel 8 Professional begins at $1,000 for 128GB. It’s out there from Google and most retailers in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Eire, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and america. The Galaxy S23+ begins at $1,000 for 256GB of storage and is on the market worldwide from Samsung and main retailers.

The Pixel 8 Professional additionally is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB choices which value $1,060, $1,120, and $1,220 respectively. The S23+ maxes out at 512GB for $1,120.

• 	Google Pixel 8 Professional	Samsung Galaxy S23+
  SoC	Google Tensor G3	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
  RAM	12GB	8GB
  Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB	256GB or 512GB
  Battery	5050mAh	4700mAh
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Working System	Android 14	Android 13 with OneUI 5.1.1
  Entrance digital camera	10.5MP Twin PD sel fie digital camera	12MP f/2.2
  Rear digital camera	50MP Octa PD broad digital camera, 48MP Quad PD ultrawide digital camera, 48 MP Quad PD telephoto digital camera	50MP f/1.8 OIS foremost; 12MP f2.2 ultrawide (120°); 10MP f/2.4 OIS telephoto (3x)
  Connectivity	UWB, NFC	UWB, NFC
  Dimensions	162.6 × 76.5 × 8.8mm	163.3 × 78 × 8.9mm
  Colours	Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay	Phantom, Cream, Inexperienced, Lavender + Samsung.com unique Lime, Graphite
  Weight	213g	196g
  Cost velocity	30W wired, 18W wi-fi	45W wired, 15W wi-fi
  IP Ranking	IP68	IP68
  Value	$999	From $1,000

Design

Each telephones are related in measurement and have rounded corners, shiny frames, matte backs, and flat screens. Regardless of these similarities, these telephones look nothing alike. The Pixel 8 Professional additional refines the digital camera bar launched with the Pixel 6, manufactured from steel with one glass cutout for the triple cameras. The S23+ cameras stand out as particular person lenses in a vertical orientation. Each telephones use Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back and front.

Across the entrance, the 2 units look related with their rounded corners and hole-punch. The important thing distinction right here is the fingerprint scanner. They’re each beneath the show, however whereas the Pixel 8 Professional sticks with an often-unreliable optical scanner, the S23+ has an ultrasonic sensor. The Ultrasonic scanner is quicker, extra correct, and even works when your palms are dry or damp.

Show

For years, Samsung has had the very best shows out there, however that is not true. The S23+ continues to be spectacular, utilizing a 6.6-inch 120Hz Tremendous AMOLED show with a 1080p decision and 1,750 nits of peak brightness. These are some strong specs, however the Pixel 8 Professional beats them with a 1440p 6.7-inch LTPO Tremendous AMOLED show that reaches 2,400 nits.

The S23+ is completely usable in direct daylight, however reflections and glare are nonetheless seen. That is not a difficulty for the Pixel 8 Professional, which punches by way of the brightest of direct daylight prefer it is not there.

Software program and efficiency

The Pixel 8 Professional launches with Android 14, whereas the S23+ nonetheless runs Android 13 with One UI 5.1 on prime. It is presently in the midst of a One UI 6/Android 14 beta program working easily and may see a steady replace within the coming weeks.

Whereas Samsung has been the very best Android OEM for software program longevity for years now, that modifications with the Pixel 8 Professional. The S23+ is assured 4 Android upgrades with a fifth 12 months of safety patches, so it’s going to finish its days on Android 17. The Pixel 8 Professional will get an unprecedented seven years of Android updates, function drops, and safety patches. Meaning the Pixel 8 Professional will attain its final replace with Android 21 in 2030.

As for efficiency, each telephones have execs and cons. The S23+ comes with double the storage for a similar value, and it makes use of quicker UFS 4.0, whereas the Pixel 8 Professional nonetheless has UFS 3.1. Then again, the Pixel 8 Professional has 12GB of RAM whereas the S23+ solely has 8GB, and in my view, that is extra essential for common use. The S23+ will obtain and set up apps quicker, however individuals do not do that every one day. The additional RAM will enable extra apps to remain open longer with out reloading, and that is extra essential.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 within the S23+ is best than Tensor G3 in some ways. Ignoring synthetic benchmarks, each telephones really feel as quick and clean as one another, however the Pixel will get heat lots quicker, whereas the S23+ stays cool until you push it laborious with gaming. The 8 Professional would not get as scorching because the seven collection or final 12 months’s Exynos S22+, nevertheless it’s nonetheless hotter than we might like.

Battery life and charging

The battery life on each telephones is superb. The Pixel 8 Professional has a 5,050mAh battery that may be charged at 30W over USB-C and 23W wirelessly, supplied you might have a 2nd era Pixel stand. Common Qi chargers max out 12W. The S23+ has a smaller 4,700mAH cell that may be charged at 45W over USB-C and 15W wirelessly. In contrast to the Pixel, the S23+ can obtain its max wi-fi charging velocity on any 15W Qi charger.

Regardless of the distinction in battery measurement, the battery life is about the identical. The effectivity of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 within the S23+ makes up for the smaller battery, and each telephones will simply get you seven hours of display screen time over a day and even final two days in case you go straightforward on them.

Cameras

That is the place the Pixel 8 Professional shines, as its cameras are extra on par with the S23 Extremely than the S23+. The 8 Professional has a 50MP main sensor and twin 48MP sensors for ultrawide and 5X zoom. Google telephones have been taking unbelievable photos because the Nexus 6P, and that is solely grown because the Pixel took over. New options this 12 months make the cameras even higher, though some will not be out there till an upcoming function drop.

The S23+ would not have dangerous cameras by any means. It has a 50MP main, 10MP 3X telephoto, and 10MP ultrawide lens. The zoom lens on the S23+ has one benefit over the Pixels periscope: pure portrait photographs. This 3X lens has a pure depth of area that is excellent for portraits with none synthetic blur. That is the place the benefits finish, although, and normally, the S23+ cannot sustain with the cameras on the 8 Professional.

Which cellphone is best for you?

The selection is obvious: the Pixel 8 Professional is our advice at this value. The 8 Professional contends extra carefully with the S23 Extremely than the S23+ regardless of costing the identical because the latter. Certain, it would not include as a lot storage out of the field, however that is made up for by the additional RAM, superior cameras, and 7 years of help. Google has been getting nearer to creating an precise flagship cellphone ever because the Pixel 6 Professional, and this 12 months, it has made a cellphone worthy of the identify.

The S23+ continues to be going to be the best cellphone for lots of people. Samsung has an unlimited ecosystem of units, so in case you already personal a Galaxy Watch or earbuds, they will work higher with the S23+ than the Pixel 8 Professional. It is also steadily on sale, so it might be price shopping for on the proper value.