Google's Pixel 2 and Apple's iPhone 8 are two of the most anticipated smartphone series releases this year. While iPhone 8 and 8 Plus delivered with major advancements expected of Apple yearly, the relatively new Pixel 2 and Pixel XL are making waves as the top android phone to challenge the dominance of the iPhone. Here is how the two smartphone giants compare in some important points.

The camera is the main battlefield for these new phones. Both lines sport 12-megapixel cameras, with the iPhone 8 Plus adding a secondary telephoto lens.

When Google Pixel was released last year, it was deemed as the best smartphone camera there was. Google is making a case for a repeat this year, as camera benchmarking outfit DxOMark give the Pixel 2 camera an aggregate score of 98. This is the highest mark any smartphone has received from the group to date, beating out the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which both received a 94 rating.

In terms of design, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus sticks to the design of its recent iterations. The iPhone X, however, makes a radical move by removing the home button and getting an edge to edge display, minimizing bezels on all sides.

The Pixel 2 retains most design elements from the original Pixel, but makes the new phones slimmer. It also features stereo speakers, but like the iPhone, had to ditch the audio jack in the process. The Pixel 2 also has a squeezable body that can trigger Google Assistant.

In audio, Google's decision to remove the audio jack not only made physical space for other features to be included in the phone, but also opened up a new market to offer its new Pixel Buds earphones. With the correct hardware, Pixel users will be able to get the most out of the Google assistant and Google Translate.

Apple, on the other hand, did not make much changes from the iPhone 7 audio, aside from making its stereo speakers 25 percent louder in the new iPhones.