Google Pixel 8 vs iPhone 16

Google Pixel 8

Google

8.3

Best compact Google flagship — 7-year updates + AI in a small body

iPhone 16

Apple

8.3

Best iPhone for most people

Google Pixel 8

What Reviewers Agree On

Same industry-first 7-year update commitment as the Pixel 8 Pro — through October 2030
Same Magic Editor, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser AI features as the Pro — entire AI suite trickles down to the cheaper Pixel
Compact 6.2-inch body at 187g — genuinely pocketable, rare in a 6.7"+ flagship market
Tensor G3 + 8GB RAM run the new AI features locally, same chip as Pro
6.2" Actua display at 2000-nit peak, 1-120Hz adaptive — bright enough for sunlight even without LTPO
Cleaner curve-free flat-front design with polished aluminum rails — most refined Pixel design yet

Pros & Cons

Google Pixel 8

Pros

Same industry-first 7-year update commitment as the Pixel 8 Pro — through October 2030
Same Magic Editor, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser AI features as the Pro — entire AI suite trickles down to the cheaper Pixel
Compact 6.2-inch body at 187g — genuinely pocketable, rare in a 6.7"+ flagship market
Tensor G3 + 8GB RAM run the new AI features locally, same chip as Pro
6.2" Actua display at 2000-nit peak, 1-120Hz adaptive — bright enough for sunlight even without LTPO

Detailed Comparison

Battery & Charging

Google Pixel 8

4,575mAh battery delivers average all-day life — behind iPhone 15 (3,349mAh) per-mAh due to Tensor G3 inefficiency. 27W wired charging is modest.

4,575mAh battery — bigger than iPhone 15 (3,349mAh) but Tensor G3 inefficiency cancels much of the advantage.
Real-world: ~5-6 hours of screen-on time typical; all-day for moderate use but rarely two-day endurance.
27W wired charging — modest by 2023 standards. 0-50% in ~30 min, full in ~1h30m.
18W Qi wireless via Pixel Stand 2; 12W standard Qi — solid wireless charging story for a $699 phone.

iPhone 16

Improved over the iPhone 15 with all-day life for most; charging is slow, with Qi2/MagSafe up to 25W on a 30W brick.

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iPhone 16

What Reviewers Agree On

It's the best iPhone for most people — Pro-trickled features (Action Button, Camera Control, 8GB RAM, A18) at the $799 base price.
The redesigned dual 48MP-plus-12MP stacked camera is a real step up over the iPhone 15, with better ultrawide and improved processing.
The A18 with 8GB RAM (same RAM as the Pro this year) is fast and a huge leap for anyone upgrading from an 11/12/XR-era phone.
Battery life improved over the iPhone 15 and comfortably lasts a full day for typical use.
It runs iOS 18 (and Apple Intelligence) far better than older iPhones and gets Apple's long software support.

Deal Breakers

The display is still 60Hz in 2024 — a near-universal complaint reviewers call hard to forgive at $799.
There's no telephoto camera, and Apple Intelligence shipped late and underwhelmed.
It's a very iterative update over the iPhone 15, with no must-have new feature to compel an upgrade from recent models.

iPhone 16

Pros

It's the best iPhone for most people — Pro-trickled features (Action Button, Camera Control, 8GB RAM, A18) at the $799 base price.
The redesigned dual 48MP-plus-12MP stacked camera is a real step up over the iPhone 15, with better ultrawide and improved processing.
The A18 with 8GB RAM (same RAM as the Pro this year) is fast and a huge leap for anyone upgrading from an 11/12/XR-era phone.
Battery life improved over the iPhone 15 and comfortably lasts a full day for typical use.
It runs iOS 18 (and Apple Intelligence) far better than older iPhones and gets Apple's long software support.

Cons

The display is still 60Hz in 2024 — a near-universal complaint reviewers call hard to forgive at $799.
There's no telephoto camera, and Apple Intelligence shipped late and underwhelmed.
It's a very iterative update over the iPhone 15, with no must-have new feature to compel an upgrade from recent models.

Value & Verdict

Google Pixel 8

$699 starting was a $100 increase over the Pixel 7's $599 — caused some pushback but the 7-year update commitment justifies it. Best for: pure Android lovers wanting a compact body with full Pixel AI and a decade of updates.

Launched at $699 (128GB base) — $100 increase over the Pixel 7's $599. Pricing pushback at launch but 7-year support justifies it.
At $400-550 used in 2026 with 4+ more years of Google updates remaining — exceptional long-term value.
vs Pixel 8 Pro at $300 more — Pro adds telephoto, brighter LTPO display, 12GB RAM, temperature sensor. Pixel 8 keeps the same chip and AI suite.
vs iPhone 15 ($799) — Pixel wins on camera AI features, update commitment (7 years vs Apple's 6-7), and a real ultrawide; iPhone wins on chip, USB-C and ecosystem.
vs Samsung S23 ($799) — Pixel wins on camera AI features and updates (7 vs 4 years); Samsung wins on chip performance and OneUI feature depth.
Best for: pure Android lovers who want a compact body, full Pixel AI suite and a decade of guaranteed updates — the Pixel formula at its most refined.

iPhone 16

At $799 (128GB) it's the best mainstream iPhone for most people, held back mainly by the 60Hz screen and an iterative spec sheet.

Android Police's verdict: the iPhone 16 is 'the best iPhone for most people.'
To blather on about how unremarkable it is versus the model immediately before it completely misses the forest for the trees.
Reviewers would pay the extra $100 for the iPhone 16 Pro's better display and telephoto if budget allows.
Against the OnePlus 13R it loses on a 120Hz display and three cameras versus the iPhone 16's single-tier camera, though Apple's build and chip are stronger.
It's the most incremental of incremental upgrades — 'a breakthrough next-generation iPhone where you'll notice absolutely nothing has changed.'