I iPhone 16 rangefirst revealed at Apple’s launch event in September, they are now in stores. In four phones, i iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max come with many upgrades including bigger screens. At 6.9 inches, the 16 Pro Max’s display is a real whipper. But Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL is also a big beast and both phones pack plenty of high-end tech to give you a run for your money. So let’s take a look at the specs to see how these two phones stack up.
Size is the big draw here, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s screen measuring 6.9 inches — just 0.1 inches larger than the Pixel XL’s 6.8-inch display. It’s hardly a noticeable difference, but if your main concern is getting more screen for your money the iPhone leads the way. And while the Pixel’s 486ppi pixel density is slightly higher than the iPhone’s 460ppi, it’s not really a difference you’ll notice in day-to-day use.
See more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: A Mandatory Upgrade to My Favorite iPhone Feature in Years
Both phones run on home-grown processors. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s Tensor G4 chip was a letdown in benchmark tests, putting it more in line with last year’s mid-range phones and not much faster than before. In comparison, even the iPhone 15 Pro Max blew the Pixel out of the water and it’s safe to assume the same will be true of the 16 Pro Max. That said, benchmarks don’t tell the whole story, so we’ll have to wait and see how these phones cope with various demanding tasks if we can put them aside.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL specs
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.9-inch LTPO OLED; 2,868×1,320 pixels; 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate | 6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992×1,344 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460 pp | aw 486pp |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches | 6.4x3x0.3 inches |
| Dimensions (mm) | 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm | 162.8×76.6×8.5 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 227g (7.99oz) | 221g (7.8oz) |
| Mobile software | iOS 18 | Android 14 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| Front facing camera | 12-megapixel | 42-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K |
| The processor | Apple A18 Pro | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM/storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | Nothing | Nothing |
| Battery/charging speed | Undisclosed, Apple claims up to 33 hours of video playback | 5,060 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Nothing (Face ID) | Under the display |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | No | Nothing |
| Special features | Apple Intelligence, Action Button, camera control button, 4x microphone, 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 high brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second generation); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Put me in; Take the Best; The magic cell phone; Magic Editor |
| Original US price | $1,199 (256GB) | $1,099 (128GB) |
| Original UK price | £1,199 (256GB) | Converts to £860 (128GB) |
| Original Australian price | AU$2,149 (256GB) | Converts to AU$1,670 (128GB) |
More from the Apple event
The iPhone and Pixel both pack the usual trio of rear cameras — main, ultrawide and 5x telephoto. The Pixel put up a good fight in my latest comparison with iPhone 15 Pro Maxbut how it compares to the new one remains to be seen. iPhone encoding of ProRaw photos and ProRes video encoding — and new 4K slow motion mode — makes the iPhone even more attractive to photo and video creators.
Neither phone offers expandable storage, but both offer storage capacity of up to 1TB and IP68 water resistance.|
Should it be an iPhone or a Pixel?
Aside from all the flashy specs and features, the two biggest factors that most people have to consider when choosing between these two phones are price and software. The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 compared to the $1,099 Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Is the $100 Pro Max better than Google’s larger Pixel? In fact, those numbers are deceptive. The Pixel comes with 128GB of storage compared to Apple’s 256GB. If you upgrade to the 256GB 9 Pro XL, it costs the same as the Apple phone.
Software-wise one phone runs iOS and the other Android. Obviously if you, your family or close friends are on Android or iOS, that will be a big factor in deciding which phone is right for you. While Apple promises five years of major OS development, Google commits to seven years. At the end of the day, whether you choose the iPhone 16 Pro Max over the Pixel 9 Pro XL, you’re getting a great phone that should last you for years.
Watch this: Review: Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro is an impressive upgrade
Check out iPhone 16 Pro Max Cameras, Display and Colors
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