The battle of the behemoths: iPhone 16 Professional Max and Pixel 9 Professional XL – two titans in the world of smartphones, each boasting its unique strengths. While Apple’s iPhone has long been a stalwart among tech enthusiasts, Google’s Pixel series has gained significant traction in recent years. As we delve into this epic showdown, you’ll discover which behemoth reigns supreme. SKIP

Two incremental upgrades to the iPhone 16 Professional Max and Pixel 9 Professional XL respectively, incrementally pushing their respective lineups forward without significantly altering the status quo. Apple and Google have completed their annual chipset upgrades, accompanied by incremental camera enhancements, subtle display size increases, and minor battery capacity boosts – the latter of which has a marginally greater impact on the Pixel series. Can technology giants’ stalling strategies outdo each other?

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Dimension comparability

While neither phone prioritizes miniaturization, both models occupy a significant portion of your pocket space. While the Pixel’s dimensions have remained relatively consistent, albeit slightly reduced, the Max has experienced a minor increase in thickness at both the top and bottom, resulting in similar overall dimensions for both devices. In today’s market, weight is no longer a distinguishing factor for most consumers, as both products offer a similar profile in this regard.

While the iPhone’s design remains largely unchanged for the year, the Pixel has taken a surprising turn towards Apple-esque aesthetics with its flattened rear and edges in 2024. Everyone has loads of character, so we will create a press release that showcases both. While neither of these options are available in thrilling colors, the 9 Pro’s Professional XL with its Rose Quartz hue stands out as the most eye-catching.

The forthcoming iPhone 16 Professional Max is poised to receive a significant upgrade, with its titanium body giving way to a revolutionary new design featuring Apple’s proprietary Ceramic Shield glass technology, expertly crafted by industry leader Corning. Meanwhile, the Pixel’s durable body is crafted from lightweight aluminum, with Google opting for the robust Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for added protection. Here’s the improved text:

While each phone carries an IP68 rating for protection against mud and water, Apple takes it a step further by guaranteeing the iPhone’s safety up to 6 meters underwater, whereas Google only meets the standard’s default depth of 1.5 meters.

A cutting-edge innovation introduced in iPhone’s 2024 lineup is the intuitive Camera Management key discreetly located on the right-hand side of the device. The iPhone’s camera controls boast an added layer of functionality, offering two supplementary buttons regardless of whether you’re utilising them for their intended purposes or simply as a quick launch shortcut. In contrast, the Pixel is limited to the standard power and volume buttons. Only a handful of people might appreciate this specific perk.

Show comparability

Every smartphone boasts impressive displays that deliver exceptional brightness, seamless scrolling, and stunning High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities. In the past year, Apple’s iPhone has seen a significant increase in screen size, boasting a diagonal measurement of 6.9 inches. In contrast, Google has taken a more conservative approach, only marginally increasing its display size to 6.8 inches – a parity with the previous generation’s 6.7 inches that no longer applies. The Pixel’s pixel density advantage lies in its 486 ppi superiority versus While page count may seem trivial, the true significance lies in the panels themselves, which are impressively crisp.

During our testing, we recorded screen brightness levels: 1,796 nits on the iPhone, and 3,65 nits on the Pixel, both measured below vivid white, with auto-brightness enabled, and comparing results of 900 versus. 1,333 nits of brightness shine through in handbook mode, a testament to the Professional Max’s exceptional display capabilities, distinct from its Professional XL counterpart. The Pixel lacks Dolby Vision certification, a distinction held by the iPhone. Each panel tops out at 120Hz, delivering smooth visuals with minimal user intervention required due to effective adaptive sync technology.

Battery life

What distinguishes these two devices most clearly is their battery life, which plays a decisive role in setting them apart. Does the Pixels’ capability of 5,060mAh represent an increase over its predecessor’s 5,050mAh?

The iPhone’s battery life will see a modest boost to 4,685mAh, up from 4,441mAh last year.

During our testing, the iPhone demonstrated significantly better efficiency, achieving notably superior results across all categories. The Professional Max is ideal for individuals who often find themselves detached from a power source for extended periods, as its robust battery and energy-efficient design ensure reliable performance even when an outlet is out of reach.

Charging pace

While we didn’t expect swift recharging from these manufacturers, the 16 Pro Max surprisingly lagged behind in our tests, failing to meet Apple’s touted 50% charge time of just 30 minutes. Despite its limited chances of winning, the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s speed advantage over the iPhone raises questions about whether it can compensate for the significant battery life disparity.

Speaker check

You can count on reliable sound quality from most phones, boasting hybrid stereo systems where the earpiece doubles as a high-fidelity speaker. While both earned ‘Very Good’ rankings for loudness, we still prefer the iPhone for its significantly clearer and more robust sound.

Efficiency

Both telephone options feature the corporation’s latest proprietary chipset – the A18 Pro for the iPhone and the Tensor G4 for the Google Pixel. Apple has transitioned to a 256GB minimum storage option for the latest Max series, with no changes to the entry-level model’s storage capacity on the 16 Pro Max. While the Pixel may start at a seemingly modest 128GB, we find this capacity woefully inadequate.

While the 16 Pro Max shares the same RAM allocation as other iPhone 16 models with 8GB, the Pixel 9 Professional XL boasts a significant advantage with its doubled memory capacity at 16GB. Notwithstanding their differing interpretations, these figures remain essentially incomparable since each operating system processes its data uniquely.

Benchmark efficiency

Apple’s latest processor has consistently outperformed top-tier Android offerings from the same period, a stark contrast to Google’s Tensor processors which often trail behind their Android counterparts in terms of raw processing power. As expected, a significant gap emerges between the benchmark scores of the two phones.

While the Pixel hasn’t exactly set a benchmark for exceptional performance, its phones are nonetheless characterized by swift and seamless operation, consistent with the high standards we’ve come to expect from premium devices like these? The iPhone’s benefits in crunching numbers are straightforward:

Digital camera comparability

Two phones feature advanced camera technologies, each boasting a single telephoto lens with 5x zoom capability – this sets them apart from other trend-setting phones, as they offer similar zoom functionality. While the Pixel’s telephoto camera leverages a larger 1/2.55-inch 48-megapixel Quad Bayer sensor, the iPhone relies on a smaller 1/3.06-inch 12-megapixel standard imager.

While both camera pairs exhibit similarities, the primary models approximately match around 1/1.3 inches, whereas the respective ultrawides measure slightly smaller at 1/2.55 inches. Since none of the telephone’s telephotos can focus closely, each phone should rely on its AF-capable ultra-wide lenses for capturing tight close-ups.

While the Google cellphone has a slight advantage in selfie camera sensor technology, its 42MP unit surpasses Apple’s relatively outdated 12MP 1/3.6-inch sensor.

Picture high quality

Each smartphone takes nice pictures with its main camera in broad daylight. While subtle nuances arise from painting styles and tone curves, it’s likely agreed that the Pixel’s result is inherently more pleasing. The 9 Pro’s photographs are typically cleaner, with less noticeable grain compared to the relatively coarse quality of an iPhone camera.

At a 2x zoom level, each telephone seizes on a very relevant aspect, which is a fairly good feature indeed.

Telephoto lenses also offer similar readability on a pixel level, with subtle differences in color and contrast that ultimately come down to individual preferences.

If you want to magnify beyond the standard 5x, the Pixel may offer a higher level of zoom. While the iPhone manages to extract almost as many details, its rendering is somewhat synthetic and patchy, in contrast, the Pixel’s results are remarkably more natural and nuanced.

The diverse range of global features is showcased to perfection on the advanced ultra-wide-angle cameras, resulting in more vibrant and lifelike images overall. It also comes with an additional perk, albeit one that doesn’t greatly impact everyday life.

While each smartphone takes great selfies, the Pixel stands out with at least one notable advantage. With its wide-angle lens, the camera allows for a broader field of view, enabling you to capture more people or provide greater context in your selfies when shooting at an arm’s length distance. Since each camera has autofocus (AF), you’re free to capture close-ups or unusual angles without worrying about facial distortion.

At sunset, the iPhone’s camera system enjoys a boost in sharpness and detail when utilizing its primary lenses. While the Pixel employs more aggressive noise reduction to refine its visuals, the 16 Professional Max’s slightly more conservative processing approach yields a more detailed image with a better balance of texture and noise.

While the iPhone outperforms the Pixel by a significant margin at 2x zoom, the striking difference in capturing minute details becomes increasingly apparent compared to its performance at 1x.

Despite the Pixel’s allegedly superior telephoto camera hardware, Apple’s iPhone surprisingly manages to capture better images at a 5x zoom. The element is more refined on the 16 Pro Max, holding a distinct advantage in dynamic range across various conditions.

While evaluating the ultrawide displays, the Pixel’s dynamic range stands out with its ability to produce both higher exposure levels and more pleasing shadow tones. The issue with colour accuracy in the fourth shot raises serious doubts about the camera’s ability to maintain a consistent auto white balance.

Video high quality

The iPhone’s video recording capabilities stand out thanks to its 4K at 120 frames per second and Dolby Vision capture features. In the industry, a popular option for casual to mid-level video production is often seen as using iPhones for their versatility and high-quality cameras.

As experienced amateur videographers, we’ve found that the iPhone’s primary camera delivers significantly better footage, even when using 1x or 2x digital zoom, particularly during daylight shooting conditions. While the 16 Pro excelled in ultrawide and telephoto camera clips, the Pixel struggled to make a compelling argument, even at a 10x zoom.

Below are a few frame grabs from the movies, captured at various focal lengths and resolutions to facilitate seamless comparison between multiple images.

In the stillness of the night, the debate between the iPhone’s 1x and 2x modes is heightened, but if pushed for a verdict, our preference remains steadfastly with Apple’s iconic device. The Pixel’s performance stands out particularly well when rendering images in ultrawide format, boasting impressive sharpness; in contrast, its telephoto capabilities are not exceptionally notable. While the 16 Professional Max exhibits a bonus in dynamic range with variable dynamics, the Pixel’s output often displays harsher tonal contrasts.

Verdict

While iPhone-to-Android comparisons may seem like a theoretical exercise, they can still inform purchasing decisions, as some users do switch ecosystems. A crucial consideration between the Professional Max and Professional XL may hinge on one’s preference for operating systems: whether to harmonize with Apple’s ecosystem, running iOS and producing other Apple devices, or remain committed to the Android/Windows universe. By acquiring the latest software releases from each respective manufacturer, you will gain access to a wealth of innovative features and technologies that are designed to ensure your systems remain current and future-ready.

One of the primary advantages of selecting an iPhone is its ability to deliver extended battery life from a single charge. While the merits of switching to an iPhone are arguable, it’s still prudent to acknowledge that Google has been working diligently to stay competitive in the endurance game.

While both phones’ camera capabilities exhibit some differences, subtle nuances can sway your decision one way or another. The iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out as a preferred choice for capturing high-quality videos, unlike the Pixel which falls short in this regard. The pixelated photography style may hold particular appeal for a broader audience.

Whichever professional you finally choose, you are likely to be satisfied with your decision. It’s much more likely that you’ll encounter a professional expert in their field within your usual operating system environment.