Now that both Apple and Google have announced their 2024 flagship phones, the iOS vs. Android debate is heating up again. While Google seems to have hit all the right points with the Pixel 9, Apple has made some new changes to the vanilla iPhone 16.
Both devices have a similar design and feel, but the underlying hardware and accompanying software are very different. If you’re looking to buy a new compact flagship this year, here’s a detailed guide to help you decide whether to buy the Pixel 9 or the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 look and feel similar. (Express photo)
design and display
Google typically launches new Pixel devices a month after Apple unveils its latest iPhone models, but this year the tech giant changed tack and launched the Pixel 9 a month before Apple announced the iPhone 16 series. Announced.
While the iPhone 16 looks and feels similar to its predecessor, Google’s latest Pixel smartphone brings a new design. In our review, we found that the Pixel 9 is more curved, giving it an iPhone-like feel. As for the base iPhone 16, Apple ported the action button over from the iPhone 15 Pro model and added a new capacitive “camera control” button. This allows you to quickly launch the camera and experiment with controls such as exposure and zoom level.
In terms of build quality, both devices are comfortable to hold and feature aluminum frames with glass backs. However, a small difference between the two is that the iPhone 16 has a matte finish on the back, while the Pixel has a glossy back. Additionally, both phones have IP68 dust and water resistance, but the iPhone 16 comes in far fewer color options than the Pixel 9.
As for the display, the iPhone 16 has the same 60Hz 6.1-inch OLED screen as its predecessor. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, has a slightly larger 6.3-inch OLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz, so if you read a lot of text, the Pixel 9 might be the best choice for you.
performance
Both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 have powerful chipsets, but when it comes to synthetic benchmarks, the iPhone 16 with Apple’s latest A18 chipset is much faster than the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4. .
If you’re a benchmark enthusiast who just cares about numbers, the iPhone 16’s A18 chipset is about 40-50% faster than its Pixel counterpart. However, despite the Pixel 9’s low score, it is very fast and handles everything with ease.
As it does every year, Apple said at its iPhone 16 launch event that the new phone had “more RAM,” but didn’t officially reveal the numbers. Compared to the Pixel 8, which only has 8GB of RAM, the newly launched Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM, which the company says should be useful for AI tasks.
In terms of storage, the base versions of the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 come with 128 GB of storage, but if you store a lot of images and videos on your phone, the most expensive version of the iPhone 16 comes with 128 GB of storage. It comes with 512 GB of storage. A slightly older 256GB version of the Pixel 9.
iPhone 16 ships with iOS 18 out of the box. (Express photo)
software
The main difference between the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 is software. Apple’s latest models ship with iOS 18 out of the box, while the Pixel 9 runs on the latest Android 14. This is a bit of a shame, since Google’s new Pixel smartphones usually come with the latest Android.
While Apple hasn’t rolled out any new AI features yet, the Pixel 9 already has some new AI-powered features, including Add Me, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and Photo Unblur. Over the past few years, the gap between Android and iOS has narrowed a bit, with both mobile operating systems borrowing some useful features from each other.
The Google Pixel 9 ships with stock Android, which some people find bland, but others find very intuitive and easy to use. iOS, on the other hand, is known for being more stable and more accessible, so this is entirely a matter of preference. And while the Pixel series is one of the first Android smartphones with new features, Google’s software updates are known to introduce bugs and issues that Apple needs to address as well as , iOS isn’t perfect either.
Apple hasn’t officially specified how long it will provide software updates for the iPhone, but most devices typically receive software updates for five to eight years. However, Google has stated that the Pixel 9 series will receive seven years of OS and security updates, but since it ships with Android 14 out of the box, it will receive the same updates as the Pixel 8 series. It will be.
The iPhone 16 has the same dual camera setup as its predecessor. (Express photo)
camera
The iPhone 16 (review and camera samples) has the same 48MP primary camera and 12MP ultrawide sensor as last year. Google seems to be sticking to that formula, too, with the Pixel 9 (review and camera samples) featuring a dual-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide lens.
When it comes to photography, both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 take great photos day and night, but if you often use a wider camera sensor, the Pixel 9 with its 48MP ultrawide sensor is a big advantage. Masu. However, this is entirely a matter of personal preference as post-processing algorithms differ.
When it comes to video, both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 can record videos in 4K at 60fps, but the iPhone 16’s output is slightly better than the Pixel phone, making it ideal for creating vlogs or recording large amounts of video. The iPhone 16 is perfect for you. is the way to go.
Unlike the iPhone 15, which had a square camera island, Apple has opted for a vertically positioned pill-shaped camera bump for the iPhone 16, which the company says will enable support for spatial video recording. Google also appears to be making changes, and instead of the Pixel 8 having a camera visor that stretches along the width of the phone, the Pixel 9 now features a horizontal camera pillbar.
battery and charging
Apple has never officially announced how big the iPhone’s battery is, but according to some reports, the iPhone 16 has a 3,561mAh battery, which is up from today’s standards. Then it may be very small. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, has a 4,700mAh battery, which is great since it’s smaller than most Android devices.
However, Apple claims that the iPhone 16 can easily last a day, which is true for light to moderate users. In case you’re wondering, the Pixel 9 lasts all day whether you’re playing games, watching videos, streaming podcasts, or surfing the web.
Both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 don’t come with a charging brick in the box, and the charging speeds are similar, but clearly not up to 2024 standards. Although most smartphone manufacturers now offer fast charging, the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 still take more than an hour to charge from 0 percent to 100 percent.
Apple iPhone 16 or Pixel 9: which one should you buy?
While the iPhone 16 is an iterative upgrade compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 9 has some notable upgrades, especially to the camera, design, and chipset. Tensor G4 may not be as fast as the iPhone 16’s A18 chipset, but it no longer runs hot and is much faster when it comes to multitasking and completing AI-powered tasks. If you’re already part of the Apple ecosystem and have an iPhone 14 or older device, the iPhone 16 might make sense.
Meanwhile, with its smart AI features, rugged design, and high-performance camera, the Pixel 9 is perfect for those who want a phone that will receive software updates for years to come, and who want to enjoy the clean user interface that Android offers. It may be attractive to some people. .
