Key Takeaways
- iPhones have the sting in areas like video recording, platform integration, and uncooked efficiency.
- Pixels excel in picture and AI options, in addition to providing extra flexibility of their apps and customization.
- The best choice will in all probability rely in your actual use case.
Whereas the smartphone world has principally been cut up into the iPhone and Android camps since 2008, a few of you could be stunned to study that Google solely began delivery the primary Pixel telephones in 2016. Even then, they’ve usually remained area of interest, purchased primarily by folks wanting up-to-the-second Android options. Google’s been making a tougher push in latest instances, although, which appears to be paying off.
In the event you’re purchasing for a brand new telephone, then, there is a good probability you are weighing the most recent iPhones towards the most recent Pixels. However, is there something basically higher about proudly owning an iPhone over a Pixel, or vice versa? I will attempt to cowl that as broadly as doable, moderately than simply consider the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 lineups.
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Whereas one among these options may prevent or a cherished one, you do want these particular Apple Watch fashions to have entry.
iPhone vs Pixel: efficiency
How a lot juice do you really want?
It is true that the iPhone 16 tends to beat the Pixel 9 in processor benchmarks, however in apply, you in all probability will not discover an enormous velocity distinction between equal iPhones and Pixels. That is as a result of the units are vastly overpowered by many of the apps they’re working — you do not want a state-of-the-art chip to browse Reddit or Instagram easily.
Benchmarks may begin to matter extra in the event you’re keen on enjoying top-end 3D video games.
Apple’s foremost benefit is a protracted headstart in customized chip design. The corporate has been utilizing A-series chips for the reason that 2010 iPhone 4, so its tech is hyper-optimized for iOS, together with elements like reminiscence use, energy consumption, and machine studying. The primary Google Tensor processors did not launch till the 2021 Pixel 6, and like different Android units, Pixels appear to require extra RAM to attain the identical efficiency as iPhones.

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You may want Apple’s newest iPhones to get the quickest doable charging.
Benchmarks may begin to matter extra in the event you’re keen on enjoying top-end 3D video games. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 collection can produce console-quality graphics, as evidenced by the ports of Resident Evil Village and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. However Pixels are nonetheless lots succesful if you wish to play video games like Fortnite or PUBG Cell, and most hardcore players will select a console or PC regardless, because it means a bigger display screen and higher management choices — to not point out an actual selection in storefronts.
iPhone vs Pixel: photographs and movies
Probably the most subjective class
Usually, Pixels win out in relation to images. You may take glorious photographs with an iPhone, however folks appear to choose Google’s processing algorithms, and the most recent Pixels have some AI modifying features that iPhones cannot match, resembling Best Take and the Magic Editor. The latter allows issues like repositioning objects or altering the colour of the sky. Apple has launched AI choices like Clean Up as of iOS 18.1, however if you would like most flexibility, Pixels are the place it is at.
iPhones are usually the perfect smartphones out there in relation to video.
Apple additionally tends to be conservative with digicam specs. Take into account that whereas the Pixel 9 Pro has a 50-megapixel large digicam, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 48-megapixel 5x telephoto, even the iPhone 16 Professional Max makes use of a 48-megapixel large digicam as an alternative, and its telephoto lens is proscribed to 12 megapixels. A better megapixel depend does not at all times assure superior high quality, but it surely a minimum of provides extra flexibility for picture dimension and cropping.

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Apple
iPhones are usually the perfect smartphones out there in relation to video. Apple is aware of it — the iPhone 16 Professional announcement featured a music video for The Weeknd that was shot totally on an iPhone. Whereas no iPhone is able to 8K — one thing the Pixel 9 Professional is getting quickly — even the bottom iPhone 16 delivers glorious 4K output, additional boosted by options like Audio Mix sound choice and each {hardware} and software program stabilization.
There are related video aids on Pixels, to be clear, and with both platform, you may wish to purchase a Professional mannequin in the event you’re critical about professional-grade output. It is simply that iPhones are inclined to ship extra dependable recording high quality, some occasional lens flare points however.

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Calling one thing Professional does not at all times make it skilled.
iPhone vs Pixel: software program
A query of freedom and AI versus integration
Apple / Pocket-lint
One of many foremost causes to decide on an iPhone is in the event you already personal different Apple merchandise or plan to get them. In the event you’ve acquired an Apple TV 4K, for instance, you may see controls pop up in your iPhone once you’re watching a film, and in the event you personal a Mac or iPad, you’ll be able to simply take iPhone calls on them. There is a seemingly countless quantity of integrations, and Google continues to be enjoying catch-up, though it does now have Apple-like options resembling Audio Swap and Find My Device. There’s a worth to pay — the extra Apple merchandise you personal, the costlier it’s to transition again to Android.
I would additionally select a Pixel when you’ve got a wise dwelling in thoughts, since
Apple HomeKit
is infamous for its “no response” errors.
The chief software program benefit of Pixels is AI.
Talking of which, freedom is an space the place Pixels excel. There are fewer restrictions on what apps can do on Android, and the platform continues to help extra customization than iOS, even with iOS 18 out the door. It is simpler to make a Pixel “yours,” and also you could possibly do extra with it, relying in your pursuits. Apple solely opened up help for recreation emulators earlier in 2024, which is fairly telling.
Pocket-lint
The chief software program benefit of Pixels is AI. On latest Pixel units you have acquired choices like circle-to-search, picture technology, and Gemini voice prompts that mix your (safe) private knowledge and internet content material. Relying in your nation, a number of the finest AI options are literally calling-related, like computerized name screening or having the AI maintain your spot for you on a help hotline. With Name Notes, you will get summaries of conversations — useful in the event you’re like me and simply neglect vital particulars.
Apple is manner behind within the AI enviornment. Its generative AI tech, Apple Intelligence, is just arriving on iPhones with iOS 18.1, and it will take months for the total set of choices to deploy. Even then, Google is predicted to retain the lead for one more 12 months or longer.

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Apple Intelligence has one feature that’s actually useful
Apple Intelligence has but to win me over, however iOS 18.1’s new Clear Up software is performing some critical heavy lifting.
That stated, each iOS and Android are straightforward to make use of, sharing most of the similar interface conventions and entry to the preferred apps. Except these Pixel AI options sound like must-haves, you will not have any complaints about an iPhone, with or with out Apple Intelligence.
Who wins in the long run?
It could be a gentleman’s truce
I’ve chosen the iPhone camp myself, however solely as a result of I have been rooted within the Apple ecosystem for a number of years already. If you’ve acquired a dozen or extra Apple merchandise in your family, it simply is sensible to improve to the most recent iPhone — particularly in case your outdated ones have delivered the products to this point.
It is a query of which ecosystem you are in and if there are any particular options you need.
I truly fairly like the brand new Pixels, to the purpose that I want my iPhone 16 Professional had a few of their options, like computerized name screening. My verdict, then, is that there isn’t any large benefit in getting an iPhone over a Pixel, or the reverse — it is a query of which ecosystem you are in and if there are any particular options you need. A vlogger or gamer may naturally select an iPhone, however in the event you’re a busy workplace employee who desires to chop out distractions and monitor down data in a rush, a Pixel may make extra sense. You may have to contemplate the professionals and cons I’ve talked about and resolve which of them you worth most.

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