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The iPhone 16 series has arrived, and it’s a big deal.
With new chipsets, improved cameras, custom displays and of course Apple Intelligence AI features on all four phones, there’s plenty to be excited about.
In previous years, the new iPhone came before the Pixel flagships, giving Google a chance to increase its competition before going public.
However, things are a little different in 2024 as the Pixel 9 series launched in August. Still, Google’s flagship has the upper hand in a number of key areas.
If the following features are important to you, you’ll definitely be happier with the Pixel 9.
Faster charging
On both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 lineups, charging speeds vary significantly. But here we are talking about the maximum wattage that all phones can charge at, making it a battle between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Google comes out on top here, with the company advertising 70% in 30 minutes when charging at up to 37W. However, to take advantage of those speeds you’ll need to buy Google’s 45W ‘Power Charger’, which costs £29.99 / $29.99 cost.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max reaches a peak power of just 25W, with Apple claiming a mediocre 50% in 30 minutes. And you still need a compatible charger to take advantage of it.
Macworld
Macworld
Macworld
However, Apple wins in wireless charging, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max offering 25W versus the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 23W.
A high-quality fingerprint sensor
Since its introduction on the iPhone X in 2017, Face ID has been a great success for Apple. The secure facial unlock solution was an excellent replacement for the physical fingerprint sensor, allowing Apple to move to an all-screen design.
But seven years later, under-display fingerprint sensors have evolved. The usually disappointing optical scanners have been replaced by ultrasonic scanners on some Android phones, including the Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL. It is a huge step forward, both in speed and reliability.
Impressively, Google combines this with secure face unlock on the Pixel 9 series, allowing you to verify payments or log into banking with your face or your finger. That’s a level of flexibility that Apple can’t match.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
AI features at launch
Since the announcement at WWDC in June, there has been a lot of talk about Apple Intelligence. And it could revolutionize the way you use your iPhone.
Emphasis on ‘may’, because we don’t actually know yet. Apple Intelligence will initially release in beta in October, with no specific date revealed for a final launch. It is also expected that new features will be released gradually over time.
Pixel 9 phones, on the other hand, have a range of AI features that you can try out as soon as you buy the phone. These include photo editing tools like Best Take and Add Me, plus deep integration of the Gemini virtual assistant.
YouTube/Apple
YouTube/Apple
YouTube/Apple
Not all of Google’s AI works flawlessly, but the company has been using it in phones for a year now and it’s more successful than you might think.
Circle to search
Although Circle to Search is an AI feature, it is so useful that it deserves its own section. Essentially, Google allows you to search for images of anything you see on your screen by simply circling it.
It’s especially useful on social media, where you can easily find a location or product you’re unsure about. Apple also offers similar image text extraction and translation features as Circle to Search, but Google’s solution is more powerful and useful.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Cameras with higher megapixels
Both the Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone 16 Pro Max appear to offer some of the best all-round phone camera systems around.
In our Pixel 9 Pro XL review, we praised the image clarity and the color and tone balance of photos. It’s not yet clear how the iPhone 16 Pro Max compares, but there are a few areas where Google has the upper hand – at least on paper.
Perhaps the biggest is the selfie camera. We were very impressed with the Pixel’s 42MP sensor, but the iPhone sticks with the 15 Pro Max’s 12MP lens. Then there are the telephoto lenses, which offer 5x optical zoom on both phones, but the Pixel uses a 48MP lens as opposed to the iPhone’s 12MP.
A higher megapixel count doesn’t always equal better photos, but the 9 Pro XL’s pixel binning process (which combines four pixels into one for a 12MP image) should yield higher quality photos.
One area where the iPhone will likely still have the upper hand is video, something that many Android phones struggle with.