Google Pixel 9 vs Apple iPhone 16: Flagship Phone Face-off!
It was only a matter of time – with the iPhone 16 series making its way to the hands of buyers soon, we thought that it would be interesting to see how Apple’s latest flagship smartphone stacks up against the likewise recently-launched Google Pixel 9. Both phones come with some similarities in terms of hardware and software, and as such you might be curious as to how they compare to each other. Let’s take a look at the major highlights from each device!
READ: Apple’s new iPhone 16 is here and it’s more powerful than ever
Perhaps the iPhone 16’s biggest strength versus the Pixel 9 is the A18 chip inside. Apple’s A-series chips have always been impressive, and the A18 is no different. Built on a 3nm process, the new chipset is able to run AAA console games and – at least according to Apple – features considerable improvements over the A16 chip from last year, which itself was already fairly powerful. By comparison, the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 is somewhat lacking in terms of overall power and performance, with Google opting for a more efficiency-based approach to its custom chip.
In addition to this, Apple seems to be doubling down on the iPhone 16’s selling point as a camera-centric smartphone. The addition of a new physical shutter button with capacitive touch capabilities allows users to quickly access their camera and tweak certain camera settings simply by sliding their finger across the button. There’s also the addition of a new “fusion camera” system which Apple claims transforms the iPhone 16’s otherwise plain dual-camera setup into a more versatile system with telephoto capabilities.
Of course by comparison, the Pixel 9 also excels when it comes to its photographic abilities. It’s an ideal point-and-shoot camera, as Google’s computational photography does most of the heavy lifting. Unlike the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 Pro models however, it lacks Pro camera controls so users looking for more in-depth tweaking might be left wanting more. Its video capabilities are likewise a bit lacklustre especially when compared to how Apple handles video recording and processing, with the Pixel exhibiting considerable grain and noise in some situations.
As for performance, the Tensor G4 chip inside the Pixel 9 isn’t the most powerful SoC out there, and is easily outpaced by the Apple A18. Google has decided to focus on efficiency this time which allows for better thermal management and power efficiency with the Pixel 9, but it will have a bit of trouble playing high-end games in comparison to its Cupertino rival.
READ: Pixel 9 versus iPhone 15 Pro Max camera comparison: the ultimate showdown
Perhaps one advantage of the Pixel 9 is that it runs Android – yes, the Android vs iOS debate is a very subjective one, but in terms of overall freedom and flexibility, Android just offers a world of difference that iOS has just started catching up to, and you do get some practically useful features with the Pixel 9 such as Call Screening, Circle to Search, and better voice recognition to name a few. On the other hand, going with the iPhone 16 means that you’ll have an easier time using it with other Apple hardware such as laptops and watches, a more ideal situation if that’s the route you’re going for.
Both phones also come with AI, with Gemini on the Pixel 9 and Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16. Both Apple and Google claiming that their latest chipsets are designed specifically to enable powerful on-device AI features, and it’s interesting how both have very similar AI features such as enhanced email and photo search functions, image generation, and more.
Both phones are expensive, with the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the Pixel 9 going a bit higher at $899, both for 128GB storage. It’s clear that Apple has the advantage here in terms of retail pricing, but of course trade-ins and promo deals do bring these prices down.