Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max is a real whopper, with a screen size of 9.6 inches, but Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL is also a meaty contender. Both flagship phones are stacked to the gills with some of the best mobile tech around. You'll find powerful cameras, new processors and various AI skills tempting you to spend your cash. So let's take a dive into the specs to see how Apple and Google's phones compare. At the end of this article, you'll find a chart comparing all of the tech specs, side-by-side.
The size is the big similarity here, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen measuring in at 6.9 inches -- a mere 0.1 inch larger than the 6.8-inch Pixel XL display. It's hardly a difference you'd likely notice, but if your primary concern is getting the most screen for your money, then the iPhone leads the way. And while the Pixel's 486ppi pixel density is slightly higher than the iPhone's 460ppi, again, it's not really a difference you'll likely notice in everyday use.
See more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Compelling Upgrade With My Favorite iPhone Feature in Years
Both phones run on home-grown processors. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's Tensor G4 chip has been a bit of a letdown on benchmark tests, putting it more in line with last year's midrange phones and barely any faster than its predecessor. By comparison, even the iPhone 15 Pro Max blew the Pixel out of the water, and the 16 Pro Max whupped the Pixel's proverbial on our suite of benchmarks. Sure, for your everyday emailing and Instagram scrolling, you likely won't notice any difference, but the iPhone is certainly better equipped for things like ray tracing-enabled video games.
The iPhone and Pixel both pack the standard trio of rear cameras -- main, ultrawide and 5x telephoto. The Pixel put up a good fight in my recent camera shootout. However, the iPhone's inclusion of ProRaw imagery and ProRes video encoding -- along with the new 4K slow motion mode -- does make the iPhone more appealing to photo and video creators.
Neither phone offers expandable storage, but both offer storage capacities up to 1TB and IP68 water resistance.
iPhone 16 Pro Max specs vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
| 6.9-inch LTPO OLED; 2,868x1,320 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992x1,344 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate |
| 460 ppi | 486 ppi |
| 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches | 6.4x3x0.3 inches |
| 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm | 162.8x76.6x8.5 mm |
| 227g (7.99 oz) | 221g (7.8 oz) |
| iOS 18 | Android 14 |
| 48-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| 12-megapixel | 42-megapixel |
| 4K | 4K |
| Apple A18 Pro | Google Tensor G4 |
| 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| None | None |
| Undisclosed, Apple claims up to 33 hours video playback | 5,060 mAh |
| None (Face ID) | Under display |
| USB-C | USB-C |
| No | None |
| Apple Intelligence, Action Button, Camera Control button, 4x audio mics, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance, titanium frame colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor |
| $1,199 (256GB) | $1,099 (128GB) |
| £1,199 (256GB) | Converts to £860 (128GB) |
| AU$2,149 (256GB) | Converts to AU$1,670 (128GB) |
Should you buy the iPhone or the Pixel?
Despite all the flashy specs and features, the two biggest factors most people should consider if choosing between these two phones is price and software. The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts a $1,199 compared to the $1,099 Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Is the Pro Max $100 better than the Google's biggest Pixel? Honestly, those prices are deceptive. The Pixel comes with 128GB of storage compared to Apple's 256GB. If you upgraded to a 256GB 9 Pro XL, it costs the same as Apple's phone.
In terms of software one phone runs iOS and the other Android. Clearly if you, your family or close friends are on Android or iOS, that will be a huge factor in determining which phone is best for you. While Apple promises five years of major OS upgrades, Google commits to seven years. At the end of the day, whether you opt for an iPhone 16 Pro Max of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, you're getting an excellent phone that should last you for years.
Watch this: Review: Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Is an Impressive Upgrade
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