Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max / Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: iPhone 16 Pro Max (A3083/A3084); 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB. The iPhone 16 Pro (6.3-inch) and iPhone 17 Pro Max are separate models. US models are eSIM-only; models sold outside the US have a SIM tray.

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.

SpecificationApple iPhone 16 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL
Release year20242024
Display6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED; 2868 × 1320, 460 ppi; ProMotion up to 120 Hz; Always-On

ProMotion varies the refresh rate with content: 120 Hz for smooth scrolling, lower rates on static screens to save battery. Because of the rounded corners, the screen measures 6.86 inches as a rectangle.

Apple
6.8-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
Brightness1000 nits typical, 1600 nits peak HDR, 2000 nits peak outdoor, 1 nit minimum; 2,000,000:1 contrast

The outdoor peak is used briefly in strong sunlight; the 1-nit minimum is meant to reduce eye strain in a dark room.

Apple
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ProcessorA18 Pro; 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 6-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine Apple—
Storage256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB

Storage cannot be expanded later; ProRes uses a lot of space, so 4K 120 fps ProRes recording requires external storage.

Apple
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Rear cameras48 MP Fusion (24 mm, ƒ/1.78, 2nd-gen sensor-shift OIS); 48 MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2, 120°); 12 MP 5x Telephoto (120 mm, ƒ/2.8, tetraprism)

The 12 MP 2x view (48 mm) is cropped from the main sensor rather than a separate lens. The total optical zoom range is 10x (5x in, 2x out); digital zoom goes up to 25x.

Apple
50 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
Video4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps; ProRes and Log recording; 4K 120 fps slo-mo; four studio-quality mics

100 and 120 fps are available only on the Fusion main camera. Log recording leaves more dynamic range for colour grading.

Apple
Rear: 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
Front camera12 MP TrueDepth, ƒ/1.9, autofocus; 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps Apple—
ButtonsCamera Control (exposure, depth, zoom, styles and tone); Action button

Camera Control is a surface that detects presses and swipes; it opens the camera and changes settings with a slide. The Action button can be assigned to silent mode, flashlight, shortcuts and more.

Apple
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Connectivity5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), 4x4 MIMO; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband; Thread; NFC

mmWave support and Ultra Wideband availability vary by region. Thread is a low-power mesh network for smart-home accessories.

Apple
5G (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
Satellite and safetyEmergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages and Find My via satellite; Crash Detection

Satellite features work only in supported countries and where there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

Apple
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USB-CUSB 3 (up to 10 Gbit/s); charging and DisplayPort output

A USB 3 cable is required for 10 Gbit/s; the charge cable in the box does not provide that speed.

Apple
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Battery and chargingVideo playback up to 33 hours; MagSafe up to 25 W (with a 30 W adapter), Qi2 15 W, Qi 7.5 W; about 50% in 30 minutes with a 20 W adapter

No power adapter is included. The 25 W MagSafe rate needs the newer MagSafe Charger and an adapter of at least 30 W.

Apple
Typical 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
Durability and materialsIP68 (up to 6 metres for 30 minutes); latest-generation Ceramic Shield front; textured matte glass back; titanium design

IP68 is tested in fresh water under lab conditions and can decrease over time; liquid damage is not covered by warranty.

Apple
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Size and weight163 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm; 227 g Apple162.8 × 76.6 × 8.5 mm; 221 g Google
SoftwareLaunched with iOS 18 Apple—
ColoursBlack, White, Natural and Desert Titanium Apple—
Cover glass and body—Corning 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
Chip—Google 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
Memory and storage—16 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
Location—Dual-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
Authentication and safety—Ultrasonic 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
Software support—Launched with Android 14; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates from US Google Store availability Google
Audio—Stereo speakers, 3 microphones, noise suppression, spatial audio Google