This time around we’re comparing the very best smartphones Google and Apple have to offer, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both of these smartphones were launched rather recently. Google’s arrived last month and Apple’s earlier this month. They do have a design similarity or two, but other than that, they’re very different smartphones in basically every way.
We will first list their specifications, as we usually do when comparing smartphones. Following that, we’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. Do note that we didn’t review the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the time of writing this comparison. It will be based on the initial impressions and the specs the phone has to offer. With that being said, let’s get down to it.
Specs
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, respectively
– Screen size:
6.8-inch QHD+ OLED (120Hz, HDR, 3,000 nits)
6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED ( flat, 120Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
2992 x 1344
2868 x 1320
– SoC:
Google Tensor G4
Apple A18 Pro (3nm)
– RAM:
16GB (LPDDR5X)
8GB
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1)
256GB/512GB/1TB (NVMe)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, OIS, EIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree FoV), 48MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, OIS, EIS, 5x optical zoom)
48MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.28-inch sensor, 1.22um pixel size, sensor-shift OIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, PDAF), 12MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 1/3.06-inch sensor, 1.12um pixel size, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 5x optical zoom).
– Front cameras:
42MP (f/2.2 aperture)
12MP (f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, 1/3.6-inch sensor size, OIS)
– Battery:
5,060mAh
Not confirmed yet
– Charging:
37W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wireless (no charger)
45Wwired & 25W MagSafe & Qi2 wireless, 7.5W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wired
– Dimensions:
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm
163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm
– Weight:
221 grams
227 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
Face ID (3D facial scanning)
– OS:
Android 14
iOS 18
– Price:
$1,099+
$1,199+
– Buy:
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Best Buy, Google Store)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Design
Both of these phones are made out of metal and glass, but different materials are used. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a frame made out of aluminum. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, uses titanium for its frame, though some aluminum is thrown into the mix for heat dissipation purposes. Both smartphones include flat sides all around, which are slightly rounded on the edges.
You’ll also notice that both of them have flat front and back sides. The Pixel 9 Pro XL includes a display camera hole which is centered up top. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, has a pill-shaped Dynamic Island at the top. Both phones have very thin bezels around their displays, and those bezels are uniform. Their back sides may be flat, but they’re considerably different, as the two phones have different camera islands.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a pill-shaped camera island, which is horizontal and sits at the top of the back panel. The iPhone 16 Pro Max includes a camera island in the top-left corner, and it’s has a squarish shape. The Pixel 9 Pro XL includes all of its physical buttons on the right-hand side, the power/lock, and the volume rocker buttons. The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s buttons are spread across the left and right sides.
On the right, you’ll find the power/lock key and Camera Control buttons. On the left, the volume rocker buttons sit, and the Action Button too. These two smartphones are almost the same in terms of height, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 1mm wider. They’re almost the same in terms of thickness too. There’s no significant weight difference either, Apple’s handset is 6 grams heavier.
Both smartphones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Both of them are also quite slippery, so using a case may not be a bad idea at all.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Display
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels. That display has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It also comes with support for HDR10+ content, and its brightness goes up to 3,000 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is around 88%, while the display aspect ratio sits at 20:9. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sits on the front to protect the phone’s display.
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, includes a 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display. That display also offers an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. HDR10 content is supported here, as is Dolby Vision. The maximum screen brightness goes up to 2,000 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 91%. The display aspect ratio sits at 19.5:9, and the Ceramic Shield glass protects this panel.
Both of these displays are great, and not many people will have complaints here. They’re bright, vivid, and have great viewing angles. The touch response is good, and so is the display protection. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s display does technically get brighter, but you’ll never come close to 3,000 nits. Both are more than bright enough in general. What neither display offers is high-frequency PWM dimming if that’s something you’re looking for. Some people need it, so it’s definitely worth noting.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Performance
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That is a 4nm chip. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the flip side, is fueled by the Apple A18 Pro processor, a 3nm chip. Apple’s processor is considerably more powerful, there’s no denying that. In both CPU and GPU aspects. The Tensor G4 is still a compelling processor, though, and made especially for Pixel phones and their AI features. Google’s handset comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, while Appl’es offers 8GB of RAM. UFS 3.1 flash storage is used by Google, while Apple uses NVMe storage.
With that being said, both smartphones do offer really good performance. They’re smooth through and through while you’re using them, with really nice animations to top everything off. Jumping between apps is not a problem, and getting them to slow down is a chore. When it comes to gaming, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is not the best option, but it can run games just fine. The most demanding titles may be a bit of an issue if you want to play them at high settings. We didn’t test the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s gaming aspect just yet, but it should be very capable in that regard.
Both of these smartphones are the best of the best from the two companies, so the performance expectations are high, of course. Both of them seem to deliver, though, even though it’s still rather early to tell, especially with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Battery
A 5,060mAh battery is included inside the Pixel 9 Pro XL, while the battery pack capacity inside the iPhone 16 Pro Max was not confirmed just yet. The device is tipped to include a 4,676mAh battery. Android phones usually have larger battery packs than iPhones, so this is not something you should be worried about, in all honesty. We will soon know for sure what the battery pack inside the latest iPhone flagship is.
When it comes to battery life, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is excellent in that regard. It offered a lot better battery life than its predecessor, at least for us. Getting that phone to over 7 or 8 hours of screen-on-time is doable, depending on what you’re doing throughout the day, of course. We were impressed, though. The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery life is still a mystery, but we’re having great expectations. Chances are it will deliver.
Google handset supports 37W wired, 23W wireless (with Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, supports 45W wired, 25W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless, 7.5W Qi wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. Apple flagship can finally charge faster, though keep in mind it’s not at 45W charging constantly. Neither phone comes with a charger in the box.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Cameras
The Pixel 9 Pro XL includes three cameras on the back, same as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The device has a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size), a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (123-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the flip side, has a 48-megapixel main camera (1/1.28-inch sensor size). A 48-megapixel ultrawide camera also sits on the back, as does a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom).
As mentioned already, we haven’t reviewed the iPhone 16 Pro Max just yet. Based on quite a few pictures, however, it seems like the phone will provide similar images to its predecessor, though with even more noticeable processing. The iPhone 16 Pro Max pulls more toward warmer shots, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL has cooler tones in its images. The Pixel 9 Pro XL offers more contrasty images, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max likes to keep everything bright, basically. It even brightens up the shadows when it shouldn’t have (in daytime), though many people seem to love that look.
Both of these phones are very capable on the telephoto side of things too, and the same goes for ultrawide shots. They manage to keep the color palette close to the main camera, the styles are similar. Ultrawide cameras are also good on both ends, but the main ones definitely pull ahead, which is most noticeable in low light.
Audio
Both smartphones do offer stereo speakers. The speakers on both are very good. They’re more than loud enough, and the output quality seems to be on par. We still have to spend some extra time with the ones on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, though, to be sure.
There is no audio jack on either one of these two smartphones. They do have Type-C ports which can be used for hooking up wired headphones to the device, though. If you prefer wireless audio, both of them offer Bluetooth 5.3.