Tech head-to-head
Google Pixel 8 ProvsSamsung Galaxy S23
Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 average 8.3 and 8.1, and Performance comes out level. What is left is Durability, 8.6 to 7.4.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
8.3
Seven years of updates from a 2023 launch, a 5x telephoto, and a Tensor chip that runs warm under load.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung
8.1
The efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in a small body, with security updates that stop in early 2028.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Where they diverge
The widest gap is Durability, Google Pixel 8 Pro ahead 8.6 to 7.4. They come closest on Value, 8.2 to 8.0. Left of center is Google Pixel 8 Pro, right is Samsung Galaxy S23.
Which one to pick
Take the Google Pixel 8 Pro
Leads on Durability and Ease of use.
- You want a real zoom lens and plan to keep the phone four more years
- Photos of kids, pets, or anything that moves are the main reason you upgrade
- You would rather have a stock Android build than a skinned one
Take the Samsung Galaxy S23
Leads on Value and Design.
- You want flagship speed in a pocketable phone for well under S24 money
- You replace phones every two years anyway
Performance scores identically, so that axis can't break the tie.
What each one gets wrong
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Your phone spends long stretches on cellular in weak-signal areas, where Tensor's modem drains the battery fastest
- A 213-gram phone with a 6.7-inch screen is more than you want in a pocket
- The listing cannot show battery health or the unit has an aftermarket screen
Samsung Galaxy S23
- You want the phone to stay patched past early 2028
- You are a heavy user, since 3,900mAh at three years old leaves little slack
Specs, side by side
| Spec | Google Pixel 8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch LTPO OLED, 1–120Hz | 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 48–120Hz |
| Chip | Google Tensor G3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Memory | 12GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Battery | 5,050mAh typical | 3,900mAh |
| Cameras | 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x telephoto | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto |
| Charging | 30W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand 2) | 25W wired, 15W wireless |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Updates | OS and security through October 2030 (Google) | Four OS upgrades and five years of security (Samsung) |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Only 0.2 separates them. What breaks the tie?
- Durability does, at 8.6 against 7.4. That axis covers failure and fade reports past the one-year mark. Google Pixel 8 Pro takes Durability and Ease of use; Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Value and Design. Neither leads on more axes than the other, so it comes down to which of those you care about.
- Why are the totals this close?
- The total is the plain average of the 5 Tech axes, so opposite results cancel. Google Pixel 8 Pro averages 8.3 and Samsung Galaxy S23 averages 8.1, a gap of 0.2, while the individual axes run as far apart as 1.2.
- Which one ranks higher in "Used Android phones: the update date sets the order"?
- Google Pixel 8 Pro sits at #2 in "Used Android phones: the update date sets the order", Samsung Galaxy S23 at #4.