Apple iPhone 16 / Google Pixel 9 Pro

Apple says the A18, built on second-generation 3 nm technology, is up to 30% faster in CPU and 40% in GPU than the A16 Bionic and supports hardware ray tracing. The A18 Pro in iPhone 16 Pro is a different chip.

Typical brightness is 1000 nits, 1600 nits HDR and 2000 nits peak outdoors, with a 1-nit minimum. 2,000,000:1 contrast, P3 wide colour and True Tone. Apple does not list a refresh rate; ProMotion and always-on display are on the Pro models.

It is a higher-resolution panel in the same body as the Pixel 9; 495 ppi renders text and photo edges more sharply. Because the corners are rounded, the visible area is slightly smaller than the measured diagonal.

Apple says it is 50% tougher than the first-generation Ceramic Shield. The back is colour-infused glass and the frame is aluminium.

The 2× view comes from the centre of the 48 MP sensor rather than a separate lens. There is a 4× optical zoom range and up to 10× digital zoom; the ultra-wide camera can shoot macro.

Video Boost processes recorded video on Google’s cloud servers to improve colour, lighting and stabilisation, so the result is not available immediately and an internet connection is needed. 8K and Super Res Zoom Video are only available with Video Boost on.

Apple says Camera Control combines a tactile switch for clicks, a force sensor for light presses and a capacitive sensor for swipes. It opens the camera, takes photos and starts video recording.

Ultra Wideband availability varies by region. Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance via satellite are supported, with service duration and country coverage set by Apple.

SIM layout may vary by country model.

Wired data transfer is limited to USB 2 speed, so moving large video files by cable is slower than on the Pro models.

Reaching 50% in 30 minutes over MagSafe needs a 30 W or higher adapter. There is no adapter in the box, only a USB-C cable.

No charger is included. 37 W wired charging is only on the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Measured under Apple’s test conditions; real results vary with use and settings. Apple does not publish the capacity in mAh.

Splash, water and dust resistance is not permanent and may decrease over time; liquid damage is not covered by warranty.

Google notes the protection can diminish with wear, repair or drops and that liquid damage voids the warranty.

The high-g accelerometer is used for Crash Detection.

The rear temperature sensor measures surface temperatures of objects through the Thermometer app; the standard Pixel 9 lacks it.

The LTPO panel drops as low as 1 Hz for static content and the always-on display to save power, and rises to 120 Hz when scrolling. Google notes 120 Hz is not available in every app.

HDR brightness is measured with the whole screen lit and peak brightness with only 5% lit; the peak applies to small bright areas in sunlight.

The finishes are the reverse of the Pixel 9, which has a glossy back and a matte frame. The aluminium in the housing is 100% recycled.

It is the same chip as the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL; there is no performance difference.

There is no card slot; storage and colour options vary by region.

Pro controls allow full 50 MP capture; the Pixel 9 only saves binned 12.5 MP photos. Optical quality is offered at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x.

Magnification beyond 5x is done in software; Google says 10x still gives near-optical quality. A multi-zone laser (LDAF) sensor assists focusing.

The battery matches the Pixel 9’s capacity. Figures come from pre-production tests in the US using a median user profile.

The UWB chip measures distance and direction to compatible devices and tags with centimetre-level precision; the standard Pixel 9 lacks it.

The period counts from the first sale date on the US Google Store. Satellite SOS works only in the US.

The size matches the Pixel 9; it weighs 1 g more.