Shortly after each other, Google and Apple presented their new flagships. Are you hesitating between the Google Pixel 9 Pro vs the iPhone 16 Pro? We list the biggest differences!
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro
Every year presents Apple in September are new iPhones. Google previously followed in October, but this time the Pixels saw the light of day in August. We can therefore compare the smartphones perfectly. What are the pros and cons of these devices? You can read it in our Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro-comparison.
To start with the similarities, both phones have a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 9 Pro has a higher peak brightness of 3,000 nits versus 2,000 on the iPhone, but you’ll only notice that if you’re watching HDR movies. In normal use, the displays are very evenly matched. The same is likely true for battery life.
The differences below also apply to the larger Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.8 inches) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (6,9 inch).
1. Android of iOS
Android used to be the operating system that you could customize a lot, but that could sometimes be unstable. iOS was very stable, but had less possibilities for personalization.
Those days are largely over. Android 14 works like a charm, while iOS 18 gives you more customization options than ever before. It therefore depends very much on your situation and preferences which system is ‘best’. Do you also have a MacBook and/or iPad? Then they work easier with an iPhone than with an Android device. Think for example of AirDrop, with which you can quickly transfer files to your MacBook.
Do you have a Windows laptop or Android tablet? Then an Android device is more obvious. Moreover, Google has improved its update policy considerably. With a Pixel 9 Pro you get updates for seven years. Apple makes no promises in this area, but usually supports its iPhones for six to seven years. Let’s call it a tie.
2. Hardware
Both Apple and Google make their own chips these days. Apple has more experience with this and wins in terms of pure computing power. The A18 Pro processor is simply faster than the Tensor G4. You won’t notice much of this at the moment, because the Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro will both feel very smooth. In about five years, if you want to use the device for that long, the iPhone will probably work faster than the Pixel.
The entry-level version of both devices has a meager 128GB of storage space. Google does put more RAM in its Pixel: 16GB compared to 8GB in the iPhone. Although iOS is generally more economical with RAM, that is a big difference. Apps close less quickly and AI also benefits from so much RAM.
Furthermore, you unlock the iPhone via Face ID, while the Pixel has a very fast fingerprint scanner. However, that device also has facial recognition. That is less advanced than Apple’s method, but you do have more choice.
3. Camera’s
It’s an eternally recurring question: which smartphone has the best cameras? Apple currently chooses to sharpen photos considerably and also to put a lot of contrast on it. Google does this to a lesser extent, but the snapshots that come out of a Pixel look a bit more neutral in our opinion. In the field of video, Apple remains untouchable for the time being.
In terms of hardware, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are not that different. The main cameras have a large sensor and high resolution (50 and 48 megapixels). The same now applies to the wide-angle lens, which offers a resolution of 48 megapixels on both devices. With the telephoto lens you can zoom in 5x, but Apple still sticks to a 12 megapixel camera. As a result, there is less detail left than with the 48 megapixel variant on the Pixel 9 Pro.
Because they are Pros, these smartphones have many options to edit your photos to your own taste. For example, you can shoot RAW snapshots in full resolution and set things like ISO and exposure yourself.
4. AI
It is not yet clear who will win the AI war. However, Google has a considerable lead over Apple. The search giant introduced the first functions that use artificial intelligence on the Pixel 8 Pro.
For example, with ‘Circle to Search’ you can start a search by circling a photo and you have extensive options to edit your photos. In addition, with Gemini Live you have a personal assistant in your pocket, although it currently functions better in English.
Apple is working on many similar features, but they are not all available even in the United States. It will probably be at least a year before they work properly in Dutch. AI fanatics are better off with a Google Pixel 9 Pro.
5. Price
Pixels were once known for their good price-performance ratio, but Google has made its smartphones considerably more expensive in recent years. For the Pixel 9 Pro with 128GB of storage, you pay 1099 euros. That is still cheaper than the iPhone 16 Pro, which has a recommended retail price of 1229 euros in the Netherlands.
At such a large sum, that difference probably isn’t the most important factor. If you’re really torn between the Google Pixel 9 Pro vs the iPhone 16 Pro, though, this could be the deciding factor.
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Source: www.androidplanet.nl
