iPhone 16 Pro Max VS Pixel 9 Pro XL

The iPhone 16 Pro Max VS Pixel 9 Pro XL are two upgrades to increments of the lineup which do not challenge the boats too much. Both Apple and Google have conducted the annual chipset update, slight camera improvement, display size increment, and all that is accompanied by a battery capacity upgrade (the Pixel has increased by less than a rounding error, but still). As such, we should have a look-see, who stalls more – Apple or Google?

Comparision Table iPhone 16 Pro Max VS Pixel 9 Pro XL

iPhone 16 Pro Max	Pixel 9 Pro XL
₹144,900	₹104,999
Released 2024, September 20	Released 2024, August 22
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
227g / 8.3mm	221g / 8.5mm
iOS 18 – iOS 18.5	Android 14
256GB / 512GB / 1TB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
No Card Slot	No Card Slot
6.9 Inches / 1320 x 2868 Pixels	6.8 Inches / 1344 x 2992 Pixels
Ceramic Shield Glass (2024 Gen)	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Triple – 48 MP / 12 MP / 48 MP	Triple – 50 MP / 48 MP / 48 MP
Single – 12 MP	Single – 42 MP
8GB	16GB
Apple A18 Pro	Google Tensor G4
Li-Ion 4685 mAh	Li-Ion 5060 mAh
30W – 45W / 25W	37W / 23W
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium	Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian

Since the original iPhone, Apple has had lock on more casual smartphone consumers. People entering the carrier shops to pick up their next gadget are reacting to the cordial (read: secure) UI and classy fashioning of the iPhone. It is the millionth heights of people, who are not concerned with standards and who believe that Snapdragon is a Pokemon.

Apple has its loyalists, and on its phones, the company provides much pro- and professional-level functionality and features, but I do not think that is what most customers use as the primary reason to buy an Apple phone.

Google knows that, and it has spent the past few years turning its Pixel family into a consumer-friendly package. Its hardware, software experience, and marketing approach tell us that Google is making efforts to appeal to the casual user who can settle on an iPhone. I have been using the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max together during a week; and now it is time to talk about how best Google did.

The thing I like about the Apple iPhone 16 pro Max
Its design is old and yet reliable.

I find it strange to state that I enjoy the iPhone 16 Pro Max design. It is quite similar to the iPhone 11 device but Apple understands what is marketable, and consumers have not been sickened yet. I do not prefer the larger size of Pro Max in this year, however. Nine hundredths of an inch (It is Pixel 9 Pro XL bigger). This is what makes a difference. With a cover, even the iPhone 16 Pro Max is almost uncomfortable to hold in my huge palms.

I would not complain so much provided that Apple makes good use of that additional space. The content and games sure are more displayed but iOS18 does not enable you to have more icons on the home screen; it is just an outer expansion of blank cells. In addition to this, the screen is beautiful and you will enjoy viewing it. Essentially, I like the iPhone 16 Pro Max panel a little better than the display on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but it is a close one.

It is amazing A18 Pro chipset. Without any benchmarks, it remains cool and loved to do intensive job. You will not see me sitting there and preparing 4K video on my iPhone, and the gaming will be improved over the Pixel 9 Pro XL. If you have never thought about an iPhone, do not get swamped with the spec sheet. You may notice 8GB and 16GB of RAM on Pixel 9 Pro XL, but Apple has its approach to RAM, and the difference does not matter.

I can never stop laughing when I mention a few changes to iOS 18 and users with Android. Yes, Apple did provide us with the so-called option of customization but it is nothing new to the Pixel users that had years to get used to.

Nevertheless, I like the way Apple does icon customization, and it is a pleasure I can finally move and resize widgets without the fear of breaking my home screen. Google never managed to make themed icons work throughout so many years, but Apple appears to have it figured out. Altogether, iOS 18 is excellent despite the fact that it is Apple Intelligence that is currently catching up to our gadgets.

I am yet to read Apple Intelligence well. I am not willing to jump into conclusions about natural language search in Photos app though it seems to be operating fine, and I would want to see the complete slate being introduced. I want it not to lose the Camera Control button as it is hard to understand an idea at the moment. It is also much more useful to zoom using the fingers on the display.

I am not making the same impressive battery life on the iPhone 16 Pro max as I did on the iPhone 15 Pro max. It might be software, or differences in the use, but less-than-perfect battery life is still phenomenal, more than 8 hours of screen on time per charge. Battery Battery-wise, Google ties with iPhone 16 Pro Max, but I would give another minor edge to iPhone, since it also lasts slightly longer. Both gadgets have weak charging rates.

There is not much difficulty in recommending Pixel 9 Pro XL

I would have always given an iPhone to a first time smartphone user or someone who has a hint of fear in using technology; those days have changed, though. I believe that there is still more that iPhone 16 Pro Max could do, yet Google managed to make Android more convenient and provide the Pixel 9 Pro XL with impressive design.

I cannot think of any good reason to switch, in case you are already so embedded into the ecosystem of Apple. But in case you need to do a switch or that you have not tried both phones, Pixel 9 Pro XL is definitely one of the phones you should consider this year.

The aspect I prefer in Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Increment in display and performance

One can not overemphasize the fact that Google has managed to make its best Pixel phone in years with the Pixel 9 pro XL. I could have some reservations related to the past Pixel models, but there are hardly any issues to address between the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The display of the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a resolution of 1090 x 680 pixels and is 6.8-inches large with super actua AMOLED and gorilla glass victim 2 protection. The Pixel 9 Pro XL builds on that achievement as I was already amazed by the display of the Pixel 8 Pro. The pixel panels were also weak, but Google has transformed a weakness into a strength.

pay no attention to any rubbish you hear about the Tensor G4. It is a highly competent chipset that offers more than enough raw muscle to get the day-to-day duties as well as a full bag of Google-made Gemini Nano features. I have used the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and both have been among the silkiest experiences I had on Android, and the stories of Tensor G4 being underpowered are not true.

It is not flawless, though, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will do a better job at gaming. Nevertheless, the last area where Google shows significant lags in comparison with Apple and other Android smartphone makers is that of gaming.

Neither am I a big fan of the argument that individuals ought to wait by the time the Pixel 10 is released due to the Tensor G5 being produced by TSMC. Power efficiency and heat management were the principal issues TSMC solved in the case of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and the same can be said of the Tensor G3 and G4, not least because Google knows better than most.

The Tensor G5 simply will not be magically better at benchmarking than, say, the Snapdragon 8 Elite unless Google decides to aggressively go after adding horsepower, but it is very unlikely Google will do that. That is not its priority, and considering how well the Pixel 9 Pro XL could handle everyday tasks and AI, despite the strong presence of AI in its performance, it does not seem to warrant increasing the price to take a better position on Geekbench. I would prefer my games to be played smoother, but does not want to spend more to have one.

Android 15 proved well up to the mark

I am happy to inform you that there is a rather good performance of Android 15 on Pixel 9 Pro XL. Material You might be nothing like stock Android, but Google has made its net-side user experience more enticing and friendly to the newbies.

This is not a lie; it is also Android, but now Google made it more aesthetic. I appreciated that Google made commitments to support its newer devices longer, and I am glad that the company has stuck to its bi-annual feature drop schedule, even though the true value of specific Android versions is no longer a priority.

I am aware that Google took much time to mention the features of the Gemini Nano which I do not use much. Pixel Studio is a good one, but it is restricted. I am more optimistic on Gemini Live compared to my fellow users but I would still not make a point of using it on a regular basis. Nevertheless, Google software add-ons, such as Now Playing, always put a smile on my face and I cannot reproduce those experiences in other phones.

Still a Pixel cam

An interesting discussion topic relates to cameras. I also like the warmer photos of the iPhone 16 Pro Max the best, but I have no problem saying that when you shoot 100 point-and-shoot shots, those on the Pixel 9 Pro XL will look better. Night Sight performs better in low-light photography and, when you desire to edit your pictures in Lightroom or even with the various editing tools available in Google, you will feel good to go with the natural tones and details in the imagery produced by the Pixel device.

Nonetheless, I prefer using the iPhone 16 Pro Max in shooting videos.

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