Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Nothing Phone (4a)

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Google

8.5

Best Pixel of 2023 — AI camera + 7-year update commitment

Nothing Phone (4a)

Nothing

8.3

The mid-ranger that stands out

Google Pixel 8 Pro

What Reviewers Agree On

Industry-first 7-year software update commitment (through 2030) — meaningfully longer than Samsung's 4 OS / 5 sec at the time
Magic Editor, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser and Zoom Enhance — Tensor G3 enables a Google-only AI camera/editing suite
6.7-inch LTPO at 2400-nit peak — brighter than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (2000 nits) and S23 Ultra (1750 nits) of its era
Triple-camera upgrade: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide (up from 12MP on Pixel 7 Pro), 48MP 5x telephoto periscope
Magic Editor lets you reposition subjects, change backgrounds, add detail — most-discussed new feature of late 2023

Pros & Cons

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Pros

Industry-first 7-year software update commitment (through 2030) — meaningfully longer than Samsung's 4 OS / 5 sec at the time
Magic Editor, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser and Zoom Enhance — Tensor G3 enables a Google-only AI camera/editing suite
6.7-inch LTPO at 2400-nit peak — brighter than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (2000 nits) and S23 Ultra (1750 nits) of its era
Triple-camera upgrade: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide (up from 12MP on Pixel 7 Pro), 48MP 5x telephoto periscope
Magic Editor lets you reposition subjects, change backgrounds, add detail — most-discussed new feature of late 2023

Detailed Comparison

Performance

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Tensor G3 is purpose-built for AI workloads but still trails Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and A17 Pro on raw performance. Runs hotter under sustained load; gaming performance is the weak spot.

Tensor G3 (4nm) + 12GB RAM + UFS 3.1 — purpose-built for Google's AI workloads, integrates the new TPU for Magic Editor / Best Take.
Tensor G3 still trails Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and A17 Pro on synthetic benchmarks — Google's chip strategy continues to prioritize AI over raw performance.
Runs hotter under sustained gaming/4K recording than Snapdragon-based rivals — Tensor G3 thermal throttling is a recurring real-world complaint.
Three years on (2026), Tensor G3 still handles everyday Android smoothly — only sustained gaming exposes the chip-vs-Snapdragon gap.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A capable mid-range chip that handles everyday use and casual gaming well — not a powerhouse, but appropriate for the price.

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Nothing Phone (4a)

What Reviewers Agree On

Distinctive Glyph design that stands out in a sea of black slabs — widely called one of the best-looking phones at its price
Excellent big screen for the money: a 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED, HDR10+, ~1,600 nits outdoor and a 4,500-nit HDR peak
Near-stock Nothing OS ranked among the best Android experiences, highly customisable and clean
A rare 3.5x (80mm) periscope telephoto at this price, adding real flexibility most budget rivals lack
A clear, substantial upgrade over the Phone 3a / Phone 3, fixing earlier design problems
Strong value — cheaper than the $500 Pixel 10a while feeling more premium than the price suggests

Deal Breakers

The 3.5x telephoto is poorly optimised — among the worst processing JerryRigEverything has seen on a periscope lens
The 8MP ultrawide is a basic, low-resolution sensor
Battery life is divisive — several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time despite a ~5,080mAh cell
The Glyph Matrix's real-world usefulness is questioned by multiple reviewers

Nothing Phone (4a)

Pros

Distinctive Glyph design that stands out in a sea of black slabs — widely called one of the best-looking phones at its price
Excellent big screen for the money: a 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED, HDR10+, ~1,600 nits outdoor and a 4,500-nit HDR peak
Near-stock Nothing OS ranked among the best Android experiences, highly customisable and clean
A rare 3.5x (80mm) periscope telephoto at this price, adding real flexibility most budget rivals lack
A clear, substantial upgrade over the Phone 3a / Phone 3, fixing earlier design problems
Strong value — cheaper than the $500 Pixel 10a while feeling more premium than the price suggests

Cons

The 3.5x telephoto is poorly optimised — among the worst processing JerryRigEverything has seen on a periscope lens
The 8MP ultrawide is a basic, low-resolution sensor
Battery life is divisive — several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time despite a ~5,080mAh cell
The Glyph Matrix's real-world usefulness is questioned by multiple reviewers

Battery & Charging

Google Pixel 8 Pro

4,950mAh battery + Tensor G3 efficiency delivers ~6 hours of SOT typical, fully a day for most. 30W wired charging is modest — slower than 45W on S23+/Ultra, much slower than OnePlus 11's 80W.

4,950mAh battery (largest in a Pixel) — fully a day for most users, ~6 hours of screen-on time typical.
Multi-phone drain test (7-phone shootout): Pixel 8 Pro knocked off first at 8h10m — beaten by iPhone 15 Pro Max (~11h), Vivo X100 Pro, OnePlus 12 and even the S23 Ultra (8h21m).
30W wired charging — modest by 2023 standards, 0-50% in ~30 min, full in ~1h20m. Slower than S23+/Ultra's 45W.
23W Qi wireless via Pixel Stand 2; standard Qi caps at 12W — wireless charging is a real-world strength on the Pixel.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A ~5,080mAh cell with 50W wired charging — reviewers call endurance strong, but a notable group of owners report disappointing screen-on time.

The Nothing Phone (4a) features a ~5,080mAh cell which delivers very strong endurance in everyday use.
The battery grew slightly — about 80mAh in most markets but a more meaningful 400mAh in India — with a 50W PD unit recommended on the box.
Several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time with moderate use — worse than other phones with similar ~5,000mAh batteries.
Battery life on this phone is excellent in everyday use.