Google Pixel 9 Pro XL / Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Pixel 9 Pro XL (2024); 16 GB RAM, 128/256/512 GB or 1 TB storage (1 TB not offered in every market). Model codes: US GGX8B (mmWave), Japan GQ57S (FeliCa), other markets GZC4K. The Indian version has Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 7. The Pixel 9 Pro (6.3-inch) and Pixel 9 are separate models.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: iPhone 15 Pro Max; 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB storage. US models (A2848 and A2849 as listed) use eSIM only; models sold outside the US have a SIM tray. The iPhone 15 Pro is a separate, smaller model.

SpecificationGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XLApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Release year20242023
Display6.8-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED; 1344 × 2992, 486 ppi, 20:9; 1–120 Hz Smooth Display; 2000 nits HDR, 3000 nits peak; >2,000,000:1 contrast

LTPO lets the panel drop as low as 1 Hz with static content to save battery and rise to 120 Hz when scrolling; Google notes 120 Hz is not available in every app. The 2000-nit HDR figure is measured with the whole screen lit, the 3000-nit peak with 5% of the screen lit.

Google
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED; 2796 × 1290 pixels, 460 ppi; ProMotion up to 120 Hz; Always-On display; Dynamic Island

ProMotion changes the refresh rate with the content: it rises to 120 Hz for scrolling and drops on still images to save battery. The Always-On display shows the time and notifications dimmed while locked.

Apple
Cover glass and bodyCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back (silky matte back), polished recycled-aluminium frame; IP68

IP68 is the dust and water resistance class under IEC 60529; Google notes the protection is not permanent and can weaken with wear, repair or damage.

Google
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ChipGoogle Tensor G4; Titan M2 security coprocessor

Titan M2 is a security chip that handles sensitive operations such as passcode and lock-screen verification separately from the main processor.

Google
A17 Pro; 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 6-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine Apple
Memory and storage16 GB RAM; 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB

Storage is chosen at purchase and cannot be expanded; there is no memory card slot.

Google
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Rear cameras50 MP wide (Octa PD, ƒ/1.68, 82°, 1/1.31-inch); 48 MP ultrawide (Quad PD, ƒ/1.7, 123°, autofocus, Macro Focus); 48 MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/2.8, 22°, 1/2.55-inch); Super Res Zoom up to 30x

Google lists 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x as optical-quality zoom; the range up to 30x is software-assisted digital zoom. The wide and telephoto cameras have optical + electronic stabilisation, and there is a multi-zone laser autofocus sensor.

Google
48 MP main (24 mm, ƒ/1.78, sensor-shift OIS); 12 MP ultra wide (13 mm, 120°); 12 MP 5x telephoto (120 mm, ƒ/2.8, tetraprism); up to 25x digital zoom

The tetraprism design folds light inside the body so a 120 mm focal length fits in the thin case. Values above 5x are digital zoom and lose detail.

Apple
VideoRear: 4K 24/30/60 fps, 8K 30 fps with Video Boost, 10-bit HDR video, slow motion up to 240 fps; front: 42 MP autofocus camera, 4K 30/60 fps

Video Boost processes footage on Google’s cloud servers to improve night and 8K recordings, so the processed result is not instant and needs an internet connection.

Google
4K at 24/25/30/60 fps; Dolby Vision HDR 4K at 60 fps; ProRes 4K at 60 fps with external recording; Log video; Cinematic mode 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode 2.8K at 60 fps; spatial video at 1080p 30 fps

Log recording gives a flat image for colour grading; Action mode reduces shake with software stabilisation and crops the image to 2.8K.

Apple
Battery and chargingTypical 5060 mAh (minimum 4942 mAh); up to 37 W wired with the Google 45 W charger, about 70% in 30 minutes; 23 W wireless with Pixel Stand 2, 12 W with Qi EPP; Battery Share reverse wireless charging

No charger is included; the box has a USB 2.0 USB-C cable. Google notes Battery Share noticeably reduces the phone’s own battery life.

Google
Up to 29 hours of video playback; about 50% in 30 minutes with a 20 W or higher adapter; MagSafe 15 W, Qi2 15 W, Qi 7.5 W; lithium-ion battery

No power adapter is included. Qi2 support brings magnetic alignment to compatible chargers beyond MagSafe.

Apple
Connectivity5G (sub-6; also mmWave on US GGX8B), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) 2.4/5/6 GHz 2x2 + 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Ultra Wideband, USB Type-C 3.2; nano-SIM + eSIM

Wi-Fi 7 gives higher speed and lower latency on the 6 GHz band with a compatible router; the Indian version supports only Wi-Fi 6 (2.4/5 GHz). The USB-C port runs at USB 3.2 speed, but the bundled cable is USB 2.0.

Google
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LocationDual-band GNSS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo (outside the US also BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC)

Dual-band satellite positioning helps reduce errors from signals reflected between tall buildings.

Google
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Authentication and safetyUltrasonic in-display fingerprint, Face Unlock; Satellite SOS (US), Car Crash Detection

Satellite SOS is offered only in the US and is free for the first two years; Car Crash Detection is not available in every country or language.

Google
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Software supportLaunched with Android 14; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates from US Google Store availability Google—
AudioStereo speakers, 3 microphones, noise suppression, spatial audio Google—
Size and weight162.8 × 76.6 × 8.5 mm; 221 g Google159.9 × 76.7 × 8.25 mm; 221 g Apple
Brightness—1000 nits typical; 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor)

2000 nits is a peak reached with automatic brightness in sunlight; manual brightness stays lower.

Apple
Storage—256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB

Storage cannot be expanded later. 4K 60 fps ProRes recording works only to external storage.

Apple
Front camera—12 MP TrueDepth, ƒ/1.9, autofocus; Face ID Apple
USB-C—Charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10 Gb/s)

The 10 Gb/s speed needs a USB 3 capable cable; the charge cable in the box does not provide it. DisplayPort output can drive an external display at 4K HDR.

Apple
Cellular and wireless—5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.3; second-generation Ultra Wideband; Thread; NFC; precision dual-frequency GPS

Dual-frequency GPS uses two satellite frequencies together to reduce position drift between tall buildings. mmWave 5G works only on the US model and with carriers that offer it.

Apple
SIM—US model: dual eSIM, no physical SIM slot; models sold outside the US have a SIM tray

The phone can store eight or more eSIM profiles; two lines can be active at once.

Apple
Action button—Silent mode, Focus, Camera, Flashlight, Voice Memo, Translate, Magnifier, Shortcut or Accessibility

It replaces the ring/silent switch of earlier models; pressing and holding runs the chosen function.

Apple
Durability and materials—IP68 (up to 6 metres for up to 30 minutes); titanium design, Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back

Water and dust resistance is not permanent and can decrease over time.

Apple
Known software fix—iOS 17.0.3: addressed an issue that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected

Apple released this fix in October 2023; heat reports continued with later versions, see owner experiences.

Apple
Colours—Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium Apple