iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL Specs: Big Phones Compared
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max What a big lie, the screen size is 9.6 inches, but Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL Also a meaty contender. Both flagship phones come with some of the best mobile technology. You’ll find powerful cameras, new processors, and a variety of artificial intelligence skills to tempt you to spend money. So let’s dig into the specs and see how Apple and Google’s phones compare. At the end of this article you’ll find a chart comparing all the technical specs side by side.
Size is the biggest similarity, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s screen measuring 6.9 inches, which is only 0.1 inches larger than the 6.8-inch Pixel XL display. You probably won’t notice a difference, but if your main concern is getting the biggest screen for your money, the iPhone is the way to go. While the Pixel’s 486ppi pixel density is slightly higher than the iPhone’s 460ppi, you probably won’t notice a real difference in day-to-day use.
See more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro review: A compelling upgrade with some of my favorite iPhone features in years
Both phones run domestic processors. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s Tensor G4 chip is a bit disappointing in benchmarks, which puts it more in line with last year’s midrange phones and barely faster than its predecessor. By comparison, even the iPhone 15 Pro Max beat the Pixel, and the 16 Pro Max also beat the Pixel in a range of our benchmark tests. Of course, for everyday emailing and Instagram scrolling, you probably won’t notice any difference, but the iPhone is undoubtedly better suited for things like ray tracing-enabled video games.
Both the iPhone and Pixel come with a standard triple rear camera – main camera, ultra-wide-angle camera, and 5x telephoto camera. Pixel fights the good fight During my recent camera shooting competition. However, the iPhone includes ProRaw image and ProRes video encoding—as well as new 4K slow motion mode — does make the iPhone more attractive to photo and video creators.
Neither phone offers expandable storage, but both offer up to 1TB of storage and IP68 water resistance.
iPhone 16 Pro Max specs vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor size, technology, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.9-inch LTPO OLED; 2,868×1,320 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992×1,344 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460 pixels/inch | 486ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches | 6.4x3x0.3 inches |
| Dimensions (mm) | 163×77.6×8.25mm | 162.8×76.6×8.5mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 227 g (7.99 oz) | 221 g (7.8 oz) |
| Mobile software | iOS 18 | Android 14 |
| camera | 48 megapixels (wide angle), 48 megapixels (ultra wide angle), 12 megapixels (5x telephoto) | 50 megapixels (wide angle), 48 megapixels (ultra wide angle), 48 megapixels (5x telephoto) |
| front camera | 12 megapixels | 42 megapixels |
| video capture | 4K | 4K |
| processor | Apple A18 Pro | Google Tensor G4 |
| Memory/Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 16GB+128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | without any | without any |
| Battery/charging speed | Apple claims video playback time of up to 33 hours (undisclosed) | 5,060 mAh |
| fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | Showing |
| connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | No | without any |
| special features | Apple Intelligence, action button, camera control button, 4 audio microphones, dynamic island, 1 to 2000 nit display brightness range, IP68 rating, titanium frame colors: black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium, desert titanium | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel feature degradation; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video enhancement with 8K upscaling; Macro focus ultra-wide angle; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000 nits peak brightness ; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (2nd generation); 12W wireless Qi charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; Near field communication; Bluetooth 5.3; Dual SIM card (eSIM + nano SIM); Add me; Best shot; Magic eraser; Magic editor |
| US starting price | $1,199 (256GB) | $1,099 (128GB) |
| UK starting price | £1,199 (256GB) | Converts to £860 (128GB) |
| Starting price in Australia | AU$2,149 (256GB) | Converted to AU$1,670 (128GB) |
Should you buy an iPhone or a Pixel?
Despite all the gorgeous specs and features, the two biggest factors most people should consider when choosing between these two phones are price and software. The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099. Is the $100 Pro Max better than Google’s largest Pixel? Honestly, these prices are a rip off. The Pixel comes with 128GB of storage, compared to Apple’s 256GB. If you upgrade to the 256GB 9 Pro XL, the price is the same as an Apple phone.
In terms of software running on a mobile phone iOS and other Android. Obviously, if you, your family, or close friends use Android or iOS, this will be an important factor in deciding which phone is best for you. Apple commits to major operating system upgrades within five years, while Google commits to seven years. At the end of the day, whether you choose the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the Pixel 9 Pro XL, you’re getting a great phone that you can use for years to come.
Look at this: Review: Apple iPhone 16 Pro is an impressive upgrade
