iPhone 16 Professional Max vs. Pixel 9 Professional XL

Two definitions of incremental upgrades, the iPhone 16 Professional Max and the Pixel 9 Professional XL nudge their respective lineups ahead with out rocking the boats an excessive amount of. Each Apple and Google have finished the same old yearly chipset refresh, minor digicam updates, and marginal show dimension will increase, which go hand in hand with a battery capability bump (the Pixel’s distinction is smaller than a rounding error, however nonetheless). So let’s attempt to see who does stalling higher – Apple or Google?

Desk of Contents:

For starters, you’ll be able to evaluate the whole specs sheets or instantly proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.

Measurement comparability

Neither telephone makes an attempt to win factors for compactness, and each will take a big quantity of your pocket house. The Pixel has remained virtually unchanged in its dimensions (it is even gotten marginally thinner), whereas the Max has gained a couple of millimeters in peak, and in the end each are about the identical dimension. Weight is hardly a differentiator, both.

The iPhone’s design is basically the identical this yr, whereas the Pixel has turned extra iPhone-y in 2024 because of a flattening of the again and the edges. Every has loads of persona, so you may make a press release with both. That stated, neither is available in thrilling colours – the 9 Professional XL’s Rose Quartz is the least incognito.

The iPhone 16 Professional Max will get an replace to its titanium body and a brand new technology of the Apple-specific Ceramic Defend glass that Corning makes for them. In the meantime, the Pixel’s body is aluminum, and Google makes use of mainstream Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Each telephones are IP68-rated for mud and water safety, however Apple guarantees the iPhone is sweet right down to 6m underwater, whereas Google solely covers the usual’s default 1.5m requirement.

A brand new addition to the 2024 technology of iPhones is the Digital camera Management key on the handset’s proper facet. Whether or not you employ it for all of its meant functions or solely as a shortcut to launch the digicam, the iPhone presents two further buttons that may do issues – the Pixel must make do with the common energy and quantity buttons. Maybe there are two individuals who would care about this specific benefit.

Show comparability

Each telephones have spectacular shows that offers you brightness in extra, easy scrolling, and HDR capabilities. The iPhone’s gotten a rise to six.9 inches in diagonal this yr, whereas Google has been extra modest and solely upped the dimensions to six.8 inches – the earlier technology’s parity at 6.7 inches isn’t any extra. The Pixel’s pixel density benefit of 486ppi vs. 460pp is immaterial, and each panels are sharp.

We measured 1,796nits on the iPhone and a pair of,365nits on the Pixel in our testing (below vibrant mild, with auto brightness enabled) and 900 vs. 1,333nits in handbook operation – glorious numbers from the Professional Max, distinctive ones from the Professional XL. The Pixel does not have Dolby Imaginative and prescient compliance, although, whereas the iPhone does. Each max out at 120Hz with good adaptive habits and little to no person management on the matter.

Battery life

Battery life might be the primary space that pulls a extra vital divide between our two contenders. The Pixels capability is now at 5,060mAh – does the additional 10mAh in comparison with the 8 Professional depend as a rise? The iPhone, in the meantime, will get a barely extra significant improve to 4,685mAh (up from 4,441mAh final yr).

In our testing, the iPhone proved much more frugal and posted considerably higher scores throughout all disciplines. So, the Professional Max is best in case you spend lengthy days away from an influence outlet.

Charging velocity

You realize to not anticipate speedy charging from both of those firms, however the 16 Professional Max proved significantly sluggish in our testing, not even assembly Apple’s declare for 50% in half-hour. The Pixel 9 Professional XL will not be profitable any contests on this discipline, nevertheless it’s nonetheless considerably sooner than the iPhone – does that make up for the large endurance hole?

Speaker take a look at

You’ll be able to depend on some good audio system from each telephones, every having a hybrid stereo setup with the earpiece doubling as a high speaker. Each earned ‘Very Good’ scores for loudness in our testing, however we might nonetheless choose the iPhone for its general clearer and bigger sound.

Efficiency

Every of the 2 telephones options the corporate’s newest proprietary chipset – the A18 Professional on the iPhone and the Tensor G4 on the Pixel. Apple moved to a 256GB minimal storage on the Max final yr, and the bottom model stays the identical on the 16 Professional Max. The Pixel, in the meantime, nonetheless begins at 128GB, and we discover that unacceptable.

The 16 Professional Max, as all iPhone 16s, options 8GB of RAM, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL has twice that. Nevertheless, these are solely comparable numbers since every OS handles its sources otherwise.

Benchmark efficiency

Apple’s newest chip is historically extra highly effective than the most effective Android in the identical yr, whereas Google’s Tensors sometimes carry out under competing Android chips concerning the uncooked numbers. With that in thoughts, it should not be a shock that there is a vital hole within the benchmark scores of the 2 telephones.

We would not say the Pixel has had us ready at any level in its operation, in fact – each telephones are easy and speedy of their operation, as you’d anticipate from the top-tier handsets that they’re. That stated, the iPhone’s benefit in crunching numbers is simple.

Digital camera comparability

The 2 telephones function comparable digicam methods, every having a single telephoto at 5x zoom – teles are likely to set fashionable telephones aside, however these two supply comparable zoom capabilities. The Pixel’s telephoto digicam is considerably extra superior, because it makes use of a bigger 1/2.55″ 48MP Quad Bayer sensor whereas the iPhone depends on a 1/3.06″ 12MP typical imager.

The opposite two cameras are broadly comparable, with the primary models round 1/1.3″ and each ultrawides at 1/2.55″. Each telephones must depend on their AF-capable utlrawides for closeups, since neither telephoto can focus significantly shut.

The Google telephone does have a little bit of an edge in selfie digicam sensor tech, its 42MP unit being nicer than Apple’s considerably growing older 12MP 1/3.6″ answer.

Picture high quality

Each telephones seize nice photographs with their major cameras in broad daylight. There are delicate variations that come down to paint replica and tone curves, and we might most likely concede that the Pixel’s output is extra simply likable. The 9 Professional XL’s photographs additionally are usually cleaner, subsequent to a comparatively grainy iPhone element.

iPhone 16 Professional Max daylight photograph samples, 1x

Pixel 9 Professional XL daylight photograph samples, 1x

At 2x zoom degree, each telephones seize very comparable element, and that is fairly good element certainly.

iPhone 16 Professional Max daylight photograph samples, 2x

Pixel 9 Professional XL daylight photograph samples, 2x

The telephotos additionally supply comparable readability on a pixel degree, with the variations in colour and distinction nonetheless offering a dividing line to your private preferences to kick in.

For those who prefer to zoom in past the native 5x, maybe the Pixel will serve you higher. The iPhone does handle to extract virtually as a lot element however has a synthetic patchy rendition, whereas the Pixel’s outcomes are extra pure.

iPhone 16 Professional Max daylight photograph samples, 5x

Pixel 9 Professional XL daylight photograph samples, 5x

iPhone 16 Professional Max daylight photograph samples, 10x

Pixel 9 Professional XL daylight photograph samples, 10x

The variations in world properties proceed on the ultrawide cameras, the Pixel capturing livelier photographs general. It additionally has a bonus intimately, however not one which makes a ton of real-world distinction.

iPhone 16 Professional Max daylight photograph samples, 0.5x

Pixel 9 Professional XL daylight photograph samples, 0.5x

Each telephones seize good selfies, however the Pixel has not less than one significant benefit. Its wider native discipline of view lets you seize extra folks or present higher context to your selfie when taking pictures at arm’s size distance. Each cameras have AF, so you are able to do close-ups or uncommon angles and nonetheless have a pointy face.

Selfie samples: iPhone 16 Professional Max • Pixel 9 Professional XL

At evening, the iPhone has a bonus in sharpness and element when taking pictures with the primary cameras. The Pixel applies heavier noise discount and smooths out textures, whereas the 16 Professional Max’s extra restrained processing retains extra element alongside extra noise.

iPhone 16 Professional Max low-light photograph samples, 1x

Pixel 9 Professional XL low-light photograph samples, 1x

The iPhone does significantly higher than the Pixel at 2x, the distinction in captured tremendous element being much more noticeable than it’s at 1x.

iPhone 16 Professional Max low-light photograph samples, 2x

Pixel 9 Professional XL low-light photograph samples, 2x

Regardless of the Pixel’s seemingly superior telephoto digicam {hardware}, the iPhone captures higher photographs at 5x zoom. Element is finer on the 16 Professional Max and has the higher hand in dynamic vary in most conditions.

iPhone 16 Professional Max low-light photograph samples, 5x

Pixel 9 Professional XL low-light photograph samples, 5x

Evaluating the ultrawides, the Pixel has a robust benefit in dynamic vary, producing higher exposures and brighter, likable shadows. That blunder with the colours within the fourth shot means it isn’t probably the most dependable concerning auto white stability.

iPhone 16 Professional Max low-light photograph samples, 0.5x

Pixel 9 Professional XL low-light photograph samples, 0.5x

Video high quality

In relation to video recording, the iPhone has a bonus due to its 4K120 functionality and Dolby Imaginative and prescient seize. There’s additionally a basic choice within the trade for utilizing iPhones for semi-serious video work.

In our expertise as extra informal video shooters, the iPhone produces meaningfully higher footage with its major digicam in daylight, whether or not at 1x or 2x zoom. The 16 Professional Max additionally had the higher hand in ultrawide or telephoto digicam clips, with the Pixel not having the ability to make a case for itself even at 10x.

Under, now we have a couple of framegrabs from the movies taken by the 2 telephones at every focal size so it is simpler to check to at least one one other.

iPhone 16 Professional Max daylight video samples: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x • 10x

Pixel 9 Professional XL daylight video samples: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x • 10x

At midnight, there’s extra of a parity intimately at 1x and 2x, although we might nonetheless give the nod to the iPhone if compelled to decide on. The Pixel is doing higher on the ultrawide finish in sharpness, whereas neither telephoto is especially spectacular. The 16 Professional Max has a bonus in dynamic vary, whereas the Pixel’s output tends to have harsher tonal extremes.

iPhone 16 Professional Max low-light video samples: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Pixel 9 Professional XL low-light video samples: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 5x

Verdict

iPhones to Androids comparisons are all the time a bit extra of a theoretical pursuit than an try to assist with buying choices because it’s uncommon that somebody is leaping throughout the software program divide. This time too, a Professional Max vs Professional XL dilemma might be going to be settled by whether or not you want iOS and produce other Apple units otherwise you’re extra of an Android/Home windows particular person. Both approach, you would be getting every respective maker’s newest software program developments, with loads of future-proofing, too.

There’s an goal benefit to choosing the iPhone, in that it offers you longer battery life out of a single cost. Whether or not that alone is sufficient to make you turn to an iPhone is debatable, nevertheless it’s nonetheless useful to know that Google has quite a lot of catching as much as do within the endurance race.

There are some variations within the two telephones’ digicam capabilities, and sure specifics can nudge you in a single course. iPhones are usually the go-to selection for video recording, and the 16 Professional Max isn’t any exception, whereas the Pixel underdelivers in that space. Alternatively, the Pixel photograph look shall be extra interesting to a wider viewers.

In the end, you may seemingly be completely happy whichever large Professional you get. Much more seemingly is that you’re going to get the massive Professional in your normal OS facet.