The buzz in the smartphone space has recently gained yet another fierce contender in both Apple and Google’s latest flagship devices, the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9, respectively. With the debate having resumed, many consumers find themselves pondering which compact flagship deserves a place in one’s pocket. Therefore, this guide shall lead through detailed analysis of all of the nuances for the two devices.
Design and Display
Traditionally, the two firms have staggered the release times of their flagship gadgets. This year, it went upside down as Google unveiled Pixel 9 a month prior to Apple’s iPhone 16. Both phones are premium-designed; they are from aluminum frames having glass backs. The iPhone 16 has the matte finish, while the Pixel 9 has a gloss finish. Although both devices can provide IP68 dust and water resistance, the Pixel 9 would be more colorful than the iPhone 16 since the latter has been reported to have only a very limited number of shades.
Show-wise, the iPhone 16 stays the same as the previous model with its OLED screen size at 6.1 inches and refresh rate at 60Hz and just about the same as the previous model. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, will astound with a slightly larger screen size at 6.3 inches, featuring an even better OLED screen at a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. For avid readers and gaming fans, the Pixel 9 display will likely be their best bet.
Performance
Under the hood, the Apple iPhone 16 uses the latest A18 chipset, obviously much more powerful than the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 synthetic benchmark numbers. Apple claims its new generation of chipsets is a whopping 40 to 50 percent faster than their Google counterpart. I guess this might get the thrill-seeking benchmarkers excited and reaching for the gusto. Still, the Pixel 9 isn’t someone to be outdone. It’s ready for heavy lifting on the multitasking and mixed usage front, thanks to the added 12GB of RAM from the previous generation.
Both phones lead off with base storage at 128GB. But you’re a media hog, the iPhone 16 allows up to 512GB of storage, whereas the Pixel 9 lets you max up to 256GB of it.
Software
One of the bigger differences for these devices will be software. The iPhone 16 will run on iOS 18, while the Pixel 9 runs Android 14. As up to date as that may not be for some users’ ideal scenario, the Google Pixel line tends to have the most current Android update, and in this case, launched a full year behind.
While the Pixel 9 boasts an impressive set of AI capabilities, such as Add Me, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and Photo Unblur, this does give a very unique touch to its camera capabilities. Both the operating systems undoubtedly matured over time, but stability with user-friendliness is obviously carved out as a choice of preference for iOS.
Google promises up to seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 9. Apple devices tend to be supported for five to eight years on average; information like that is rarely publicized.
Camera Performance
The photography department does not disappoint with the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9, either. The former features a 48MP primary camera and a 12MP ultrawide sensor, with the latter packing a 50MP main sensor in addition to a 48MP ultrawide lens. While both could really shoot some great images in really light and really dark conditions, the Pixel 9 probably has the edge if you need to use that wider lens a lot.
For videographers, the iPhone 16 outscores the Pixel 9 concerning 4K video recording at 60fps, with slightly better output quality. Interestingly, the camera systems are different, and Apple has opted for a vertically aligned camera bump that supports Spatial video recording.
Battery Life and Charging
One big concern for the average user of smartphones is battery life. Apple hasn’t released the exact size of the battery in its iPhone 16, but it does report that it has a 3,561mAh battery on board. The Pixel 9 boasts a more capable 4,700mAh battery, which is impressive considering it is small in size. Both handsets promise all-day battery life for standard usage, but with excessive usage it will be seen the Pixel 9 maintains longer, at least.
Charging-wise, neither has the brick in the box, and both charge similarly, but are extremely slow for today’s level of industry standard. It will take more than an hour to get them full charged.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy?
What it ultimately comes down to depends on your priorities. You might feel the upgrade from iPhone 16 is incrementally just that-only-a-bit-better, but you’re getting the iconic Apple ecosystem and long-term software support. If you are already within the Apple ecosystem, or you already have an older iPhone, it will make the upgrade worthwhile.
On the positive side, the Pixel 9 comes with better camera quality, sleek design, and much software support for longer durations. For Android enthusiasts, though, those in favor of clean stock Android with the latest AI features might want to get this one.
Thus, iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 come as something that is obviously easy for one particular type of a customer to prefer, whereas another will certainly choose either. For further details, click on Apple and Google respectively.
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