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For the launch of the Pixel 9 smartphones this year, Google has done something a little different. Over the years, the company has typically put out two models of its Pixel phones, but this year, they added the Pixel 9 Pro XL to the mix. This is the largest and best Pixel phone the company has to offer. However, it begs the question, how does the Pixel 9 Pro XL fare against other flagships like the iPhone 15 Pro Max? Let’s find out!
Design
In terms of design, we hate to admit it, but it does give us a bit of an iPhone vibe. This is largely thanks to the flat edges around the phone. This isn’t to say that Apple invented flat edges, but it doesn’t feel like a coincidence that this is the design choice Google has gone for.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing either. Apple is known for their designs and if you like the iPhone’s design, then this is a good thing. In terms of size, the iPhone 15 Pro Max measures 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm and weighs 221 grams. The Pixel 9 Pro XL measures 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm and also comes in at 221 grams. Based on the dimensions, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly larger.
Is this a bad thing? Not really. It is marginally bigger but that’s thanks to its bigger display, which we’ll get to next.
Display
The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a 6.8-inch Super Actua LTPO display. It has a 1344 x 2992 resolution, a dynamic refresh rate of 1-120Hz, and brightness that can go up to 3,000 nits. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a slightly smaller 6.7-inch display. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, but its brightness is capped at 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It also has a slightly lower resolution of 1290 x 2796.
The difference of 0.1-inches in display size is definitely negligible. On paper it is obviously bigger, but to the naked eye and day-to-day use, it probably won’t be very obvious. What’s more obvious is the brightness. Using phones under direct sunlight can be a pain, which is why having a display that can hit higher levels of brightness is ideal. In this instance, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the winner versus the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Performance
Performance between both phones is kind of tricky. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is powered by Google’s very own Tensor G4 chipset. The iPhone 15 Pro Max uses Apple’s own A17 Pro chipset. This chipset is built on the 3nm process which in theory makes it a more efficient chipset.
However, we said it’s tricky and that’s because both phones run on different operating systems. One thing they have in common is that both Apple and Google control the hardware and software of their devices. This allows them to create ideal and optimized versions of the phone’s operating system, and also ensuring that apps will play nicely with the hardware.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with 8GB of RAM across the board and comes with up to 1TB of storage. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, features 16GB of RAM and it also goes up to 1TB of storage.
Cameras
For the cameras, it feels like Google has gone all out for the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It packs a triple camera setup on the back which consists of a 50MP wide camera with an f/1.68 aperture, a 48MP ultrawide with an f/1.7 aperture, and a 48MP telephoto with 5x zoom with an f/2.8 aperture.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, uses a 48MP main f/1.8 wide-angle camera, a 12MP f/2.8 telephoto camera, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera. On paper, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s cameras are a lower resolution. Apple does somewhat compensate for this with its image processing algorithms, but Google’s image processing software is just as good, if not better.
In this instance, we probably have to give the win to Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Battery
Last but not least, battery life. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 4,441mAh battery. The handset does support PD2.0 charging which Apple claims will hit 50% in 30 minutes. The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a larger 5,060mAh battery and supports 45W charging. Google says that this will allow the phone to recharge to 70% in just 30 minutes.
Keep in mind that overall battery life varies from user to user depending on what they do, but on paper it is clear that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the better choice when it comes to battery life and charging speeds.
Pricing & availability
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is Google’s most expensive Pixel handset to date. It is priced starting at $1,099. However, even then it is cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max which is priced starting at $1,199.
To be fair, we’re not really comparing apples to apples here. Those who are locked into the iOS ecosystem will most likely pick an iPhone over an Android device. However, if you are thinking of making the switch and want to find a phone that comes close to what Apple is offering, the new Pixel 9 Pro XL could be an excellent Android alternative.
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