Now that each Apple and Google have unveiled their 2024 flagship telephones, the iOS vs Android debate has warmed up once more. Google appears to be hitting all the correct spots with the Pixel 9, however Apple did carry some new adjustments to the vanilla iPhone 16.
Whereas each units have the same design and really feel, the underlying {hardware} and the accompanying software program are vastly totally different. If you’re trying to purchase a brand new compact flagship this yr, right here’s an in-depth information that may show you how to determine if you should buy the Pixel 9 or go together with the iPhone 16.
Design and show
Google sometimes launches new Pixel units a month after Apple unveils its newest iPhone fashions, however this yr, the tech large modified its thoughts and unveiled the Pixel 9 a month earlier than the Apple smartphones of the yr.
Whereas the iPhone 16 does appear and feel much like its predecessor, Google’s newest Pixel cellphone is model new. In our assessment, we discovered the Pixel 9 is now extra curved and has an iPhone-like really feel. As for the bottom iPhone 16, Apple has ported the Motion button from the iPhone 15 Professional fashions and added a brand new capacitive “Digital camera Management” button, which helps you to shortly hearth up the digital camera and mess around with controls like publicity and zoom degree.
When it comes to construct high quality, each units really feel premium to carry and have an aluminium body with a glass again. Nevertheless, a minor distinction between the 2 is that the iPhone 16 has a matte end whereas the Pixel has a shiny again. And regardless that each telephones supply IP68 mud and water resistance, the iPhone 16 is offered in far much less colors than the Pixel 9.
Coming to the show, the iPhone 16 nonetheless has the identical 60Hz 6.1-inch OLED display screen as its predecessor. Alternatively, the Pixel 9 now has a barely bigger 120Hz 6.3-inch OLED display screen which refreshes at 120Hz, so in case you are somebody who reads loads of textual content, the Pixel 9 could be the way in which to go.
Efficiency
Whereas each the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 have extremely succesful chipsets, the iPhone 16, powered by Apple’s latest A18 chipset is approach sooner than the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 relating to artificial benchmarks.
If you’re a benchmark fanatic and all you care about are numbers, the iPhone 16’s A18 chipset is someplace round 40 to 50 per cent sooner than its Pixel counterpart. However, regardless of the Pixel 9’s decrease rating, it’s fairly quick and may simply deal with the whole lot you throw at it.
As is the case yearly, Apple mentioned on the iPhone 16 launch occasion that its new cellphone has “extra RAM”, however didn’t formally share a quantity. In comparison with the Pixel 8, which had solely 8GB RAM, the newly launched Pixel 9 comes with 12GB RAM, which the corporate says ought to assist with AI duties.
When it comes to storage, the bottom variants of the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 have 128GB storage, however in case you are are somebody who shops loads of photos or movies in your cellphone, the iPhone 16’s most costly variant comes with 512GB storage in comparison with the Pixel 9’s barely dated 256GB variant.
Software program
The primary distinction between the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 is when it comes to software program. The newest from Apple comes with iOS 18 out of the field whereas the Pixel 9 runs on the now-year-old Android 14, which is a bit disappointing since Google’s new Pixel telephones normally have the newest Android.
Whereas Apple is but to roll out its new AI options, the Pixel 9 already has some new AI-powered options like Add Me, Greatest Take, Audio Magic Eraser and Photograph Unblur. In the previous few years, the hole between Android and iOS has closed a bit, with each cellular working methods borrowing some helpful options from each other.
The Google Pixel 9 comes with inventory Android, which can be bland for some whereas others discover it very intuitive and straightforward to make use of. Alternatively, iOS is understood for providing strong stability and ease of entry, so that is one thing that completely is determined by your choice. And regardless that the Pixel sequence is among the first Android telephones to get new options, Google’s software program updates are identified to introduce bugs and points, which is one thing Apple must work on in addition to iOS isn’t excellent both.
Apple doesn’t formally specify how lengthy it would supply software program updates for the iPhone, however most units normally get anyplace between 5 to eight years of software program updates. Nevertheless, Google explicitly said that the Pixel 9 sequence will get seven years of OS and safety updates, however because it launched with Android 14 out of the field, it would get the identical updates because the Pixel 8 sequence.
Digital camera
The iPhone 16 (assessment and digital camera samples) has a 48MP main digital camera and a 12MP ultrawide sensor, which is identical as final yr. Google additionally appears to be sticking to its components, with the Pixel 9 (assessment and digital camera samples) that includes a twin digital camera setup that consists of a 50MP main sensor and a 48MP ultrawide lens.
When it comes to pictures, each the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 take glorious photographs throughout each day and night time time, however the Pixel 9 with its 48MP ultrawide sensor presents an enormous benefit in the event you usually end up utilizing the broader digital camera sensor. Nevertheless since they’ve totally different post-processing algorithms, that is purely a matter of non-public choice.
As for video, each the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 can report movies in 4K at 60fps, however the iPhone 16’s output is barely higher than the Pixel cellphone, so in case you are somebody who vlogs or information a ton of movies, the iPhone 16 is the way in which to go.
Not like the iPhone 15, which had a squarish digital camera island, Apple has opted for a vertically organized pill-shaped digital camera bump on the iPhone 16, which the corporate says permits help for Spatial video recording. Google additionally appears to be altering issues, with the Pixel 9 now having a horizontal digital camera capsule bar as a substitute of the digital camera visor that stretches alongside the width of the cellphone on the Pixel 8.
Battery and charging
Apple by no means formally says how massive the battery on the iPhone is, however based on a number of stories, the iPhone 16 packs a 3,561mAh battery, which could be minuscule by immediately’s customary. Alternatively, the Pixel 9 has a 4,700mAh battery, which is fairly good because the cellphone is smaller than nearly all of Android units.
Nevertheless, Apple claims that the iPhone 16 can simply final you a day, which is true for a lightweight to average consumer. And for these questioning, the Pixel 9 can final you a day even in the event you play video games, watch movies, stream podcasts or surf the online.
Each the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 don’t include charging bricks within the field, and have related charging speeds as effectively, less than 2024 requirements. Whereas most smartphone producers now supply quick charging, the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9 nonetheless want greater than an hour to cost from 0 to 100 per cent.
Apple iPhone 16 vs Pixel 9: Which one do you have to purchase?
The iPhone 16 is extra of an iterative improve over its predecessor, however the Pixel 9 brings a number of notable upgrades, particularly within the digital camera, design and chipset. Whereas the Tensor G4 might not be as quick because the iPhone 16’s A18 chipset, it not heats up and is fairly quick relating to multitasking and finishing AI-powered duties. If you’re already part of the Apple ecosystem and have the iPhone 14 or an older system, the iPhone 16 would possibly make sense.
Alternatively, the Pixel 9 with its good AI options, strong design and succesful cameras would possibly attraction to to those that desire a cellphone that may get software program updates for years to come back and wish to benefit from the clear consumer interface inventory Android has to supply.
