Smartphones are invariably get larger , and theApple iPhone 16 Pro MaxandGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XLboth extend the boundaries of what ’s comfortable to use with one hand . Thankfully , Apple and Google also launched theiPhone 16 ProandPixel 9 Pro , which offer up the same premium flagship experience in a smaller , more ergonomic shape gene .
Each earpiece boasts reasons to grease one’s palms it over the other , and many of these have to do with AI . Both phones also cost $ 1,000 , So , which one should you grease one’s palms ? Which phone has the good mixture of hardware and software , and utilizes AI in manner that will improve your life ? Let ’s dive into the detail .
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: specs
1206 x 2622 pixels
packaging with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate
Dolby Vision , 2,000 nit brightness
460 pixels per column inch
1280 x 2856 pixels
120Hz dynamic refresh rate
3,000 nits peak brightness
495 pixels per inch
8 GB RAM
16 GB RAM
Six - core CPU
Six - core GPU
Octa - core CPU
Mali - G715 GPU
48 - megapixels primary , f/1.8 , 1/1.28″ , OIS
48MP ultrawide , f/2.2 , 120 ° FOV
12MP telephoto , f/2.8 , 5x optical zoom
Front :
12MP , f/1.9 , 1/3.6″
50MP primary , f/1.7 , 1/1.31″ , PDAF , OIS
48MP ultrawide , f/1.7 , 123 ° FOV
48MP telephoto , f/2.8 , 5x optical zoom
42MP , f/2.2 , PDAF
4 kibibyte , up to 120 Federal Protective Service
4 K , up to 60 Federal Protective Service
8 K , up to 30fps4 K , up to 60 fps
Bluetooth 5.3
DisplayPort
30W fasting charging
25W wireless charging via MagSafe
15W Qi2 wireless shoot down
27W fast charging
21W wireless charge with Pixel Stand
12W Qi radio set charging
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: design and display
Both telephone set have undergone pernicious variety from their herald , theiPhone 15 ProandPixel 8 Pro . Unlike previous twelvemonth , both now feature near - indistinguishable specs sheets to their bigger siblings , and they both declare oneself the same flagship experience in a pocket-sized , more ergonomic size .
The big difference is in expressive style : orchard apple tree uses Ti in the build of the iPhone 16 Pro , which feels lighter and more premium than the Pixel 9 Pro , which use aluminum , but arrive in more vibrant colour . Even though they press the same 199 grams , the iPhone 16 Pro feel more or less lighter than the Pixel 9 Pro thanks to the atomic number 22 habitus .
The choice of atomic number 22 also means the iPhone 16 Pro have more muted coloring material than the Pixel 9 Pro . The four atomic number 22 color choices are beautiful , but none are quite as vibrant as the Rose Quartz Pixel 9 Pro . The pink gloss selection think your Pixel 9 Pro can brook out , although there are more traditional color choice available if Pink is n’t your preference .
appraise 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm , the iPhone 16 Pro is 3 mm short , 0.5 mm narrow , and 0.25 mm thin than the Pixel 9 Pro , but they feel virtually indistinguishable in the hand . The iPhone 16 Pro also has a Camera Control button on the right side , and the Action button on the left over , while the Pixel 9 Pro has a mmWave antenna cutout on the top , even in countries where mmWave is n’t available .
Both phones have a 6.3 - in OLED display , with a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz . The Pixel 9 Pro video display is slightly high resolution , resulting in a high pixel density ( 495 pixels per inch versus 460 ppi ) , but the difference is minimum . The Pixel 9 Pro has a tiptop luminousness of 3,000 nits , while the iPhone 16 Pro does n’t get as dark at 2,000 nit . However , there ’s functionally little difference in the character or smartness of the displays during mean solar day - to - day use .
The Pixel 9 Pro has a slightly better presentation , but there ’s no deny how just the atomic number 22 build on the iPhone 16 Pro feel in the hand . This one ’s a stalemate .
Winner : Tie
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: performance and battery
Recent Pixel devices have been plagued by problems with Google ’s Tensor GPU , and while Google has stuck with its chipset , the Tensor G4 crisp in the Pixel 9 Pro is vastly amend . It ’s design with carrying into action and AI in mind and reparation many of the problems in the previous generation , let in poor battery biography and overheating . It ’s match with a whopping 16 GB of RAM inside the Pixel 9 Pro , which leave in firm performance that entrust us impressed .
In comparison , the iPhone 16 Pro is powered by the newfangled Apple A18 Pro chipset that ’s designed with carrying into action , electric battery life history , and yes , AI , in mind . compare to the A17 Pro chipset , it extend up to 15 % faster mainframe operation , 20 % faster graphics performance , and 2x fast shaft of light tracing . The neural processing unit ( NPU ) performance is very interchangeable , but the improved warmth dissipation on the iPhone 16 Pro means it ’ll be harder to overheat your iPhone .
That ’s what all the phone number say , but as we chance upon in ouriPhone 16 ProandPixel 9 Pro review article , both earpiece offer excellent public presentation in most conditions . The A18 Pro chipset inside the iPhone 16 Pro is fast than the Tensor G4 and more likely to palm future economic consumption pillow slip , but neither headphone disappoints in the experience offer today .
The iPhone 16 Pro features a bombardment capacity of around 3,582mAh while the Pixel 9 Pro has a much large 4,700mAh capacity . However , the blotto integration of hardware and software system mean the iPhone 16 Pro can have a smaller technical capability and have slightly best battery life than the Pixel 9 Pro . In our examination , Apple ’s flagship lasts up to two hours longer , but both sound proffer all - daylight barrage fire life with some succus to spare .
Both phones volunteer “ fast ” charging that is among the slowest in the industry , and both phone makers have choose to use their own standard for faster wireless charging . The iPhone 16 Pro habituate MagSafe for 25 - W wireless charging , while the Pixel 9 Pro need the Pixel Stand to reach 21W. However , both also digest the Qi standard , with the iPhone 16 Pro offering up to 15W velocity when charging with Qi2 and the Pixel 9 Pro being capable of 12W charging when connected to a Qi charger .
The iPhone 16 Pro is very similar to the Pixel 9 Pro , but offers slightly better battery aliveness and overall performance . The Tensor G4 is no slouch — and immensely improved over previous years — but Apple still holds the jumper cable .
Winner : Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: cameras
Both phones apply a triplex - television camera frame-up and advance algorithms to conquer pic at a change of focal duration . The Pixel 9 Pro has beneficial hardware on paper , but each phone has its pros and cons . Google has a little advantage in still photography and software features , but the iPhone 16 Pro is better for Godhead and anyone focused on video .
The Pixel 9 Pro has a 50 - megapixel main television camera , a 48MP ultrawide camera , and a 48MP periscope telephoto television camera that offers up to 5x zoom . Meanwhile , the iPhone 16 Pro utilize a 48MP master camera ( with the Fusion branding ) that appropriate gamey - firmness 24MP photos by nonpayment . There ’s also a 48MP ultrawide camera with a smaller f/2.2 aperture and a 12MP periscope telephoto tv camera that also offer up to 5x soar .
The iPhone 16 Pro also comes with a slating of camera features , although they ’re more geared toward Creator . TheCamera Control buttonmakes it easy to launch the camera , swipe through different functions , and zoom in or out of a picture or video . The television camera control button will also enable Vision Intelligence features subsequently this twelvemonth , offer up a similar experience to Google Lens , where you could point the photographic camera at something and learn more about it straightaway .
The upgrade of the ultrawide television camera to 48MP offers far more contingent and better colour reproductive memory . The revamped Photography Styles appropriate you to tweak and refine your photos before you take them . There ’s also the ability to take 4 K video portraits at 120 frames per 2d ( fps ) , Dolby Vision recording , and improvements to audio transcription . Audio Mix allows you to prefer from four unlike way and edit the audio recording in a video to match this professional elan .
Both earphone take fantastic photos , and personal preference will play into this . The iPhone 16 Pro ekes out a win , however , thanks to better photographic styles and video recording .
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: software and updates
Both party have made strong promises about software and updates , with Google promising seven long time of surety and software program updates for the Pixel 9 professional . At the same time , Apple makes no guarantees , but its phones have commonly been supported for just as long , if not longer .
The Pixel 9 Pro launched on Android 14 , but can be update toAndroid 15after the late launching . The update for the Pixel 9 Pro fetch a host of new feature , including the power to obscure sensitive apps and advance in theft protection , the ability to bring forth passkeys , and App Pairing . This last lineament allows you to save combinations of two apps and plunge them with a single strike .
The iPhone 16 Pro , meanwhile , ushers iniOS 18 , which introduces one of the biggest overhauls to the iPhone experience . If you ’re an Android exploiter , many of the new characteristic in iOS 18 will feel intimate , because it ’s the close that the iPhone has ever get along to replicating the Android experience .
Some of the biggest Io 18 features include a customizable home blind — you’re able to ultimately move apps wherever you need — a customizable mastery center , a fresh private pamphlet for your apps , and the power to lock in apps behind a paywall . There are also huge overhauls of Apple Photos , fresh feature in iMessage , support for the RCS standard for messaging , a unexampled Passwords manager , and much more . It ’s a immense service of the iPhone experience .
Both company are also betting large on AI . Google dedicated much of its Pixel effect to showcasing the power ofGeminias your interpreter assistant . There are new tools for creating and editing image , custom atmospheric condition report , a Modern screenshots app , and many more features that leverage Generative AI to usher in a host of Modern features .
Meanwhile , the iPhone 16 Pro also bets large on AI , but takes a different approach . Apple Intelligence powers the revamped Siri , but it is n’t launching until later this month . The full rollout of the new Apple Intelligence feature wo n’t be uncommitted until ahead of time next year , and while have likeApple Intelligence Summariesare some of the good use cases for AI , it ’ll take six months from launching for the iPhone 16 Pro to get the full retinue of AI feature .
It ’s worth noting that the Pixel 9 Pro make out with one year of Gemini Advanced for free ( after which , it ’s $ 20 per calendar month ) , while the Apple Intelligence boast on the iPhone 16 Pro are exclusively free — except for the ChatGPT integration , which uses your existing subscription — although Apple may select to turn on for some feature film in the future .
Both earphone focus on AI , and while Apple Intelligence has a portion of promise , the wait in launching means the Pixel 9 Pro offers better overall software system and AI feature right now .
Winner : Pixel 9 professional
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: price and availability
Both phones cost $ 999 for 128 GB of storage , and each charges a $ 100 premium for the 256 GB version . The Pixel 9 Pro costs $ 1,219 for the 512 GB and $ 1,449 for the 1 TB models , while the iPhone 16 Pro price $ 1,299 and $ 1,499 , respectively .
thing get a small confusing when you reckon the Pixel 9 Pro colors , however . The Porcelain and Hazel colors only issue forth with up to 512 GB of storage , while the Rose Quartz model is bizarrely only available with 256 GB of computer storage . If you want the top storage , you have to go for the Obsidian ( aka Black ) colour .
The iPhone 16 Pro is far simple . The four titanium color choices — Natural Titanium , White Titanium , Black Titanium , and the hero , Desert Titanium — are uncommitted in all depot options .
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: verdict
Two similar telephone , from two company that you ’ve heard of . This sum up this comparison , at least on paper . Once you dive in , you realize that the divergence are insidious , but they do exist .
Both sound weigh the same , but the iPhone 16 Pro feels lighter . The tv camera are very similar , and each camera excels in dissimilar ways . Even the package is fairly similar , with iOS 18 taking great strides to offer Android - esque layer of customization .
Which smartphone is bestdepends on which platform you opt . If you prefer iOS , then buy the iPhone 16 professional . For Android devotee , the Pixel 9 Pro is a wondrous smartphone . If you need to make the replacement in either steering , there ’s no best prison term , but if you ’re recollect of switching to Android , it ’s worth note that the Pixel 9 Pro is a big choice , but theOnePlus 12is the sound Android alternative to the iPhone .
