IPhone 16 vs. Pixel 9 full compare specs: which is better?

This is the new iPhone 16, and it might seem like a minor upgrade, but there's more than meets the eye. The big question people are asking is: Should you buy the Baseline Apple Flagship (iPhone 16) or the Baseline Google Flagship (Pixel 9)? Let's compare.

Design

Design: Both phones feature sleek matte aluminum frames sandwiched between glass. The iPhone 16 has a frosted back with soft-touch glass, while the Pixel 9 offers a shinier, glossier look. Both come in a variety of colors, and each phone has its own design highlights. For example, the Pixel 9's new protruded camera module looks quite appealing, while the iPhone 16 keeps the familiar vertical camera design from the iPhone X series. A notable ergonomic difference is the iPhone’s tendency to wobble when placed on a table, whereas the Pixel 9 remains steady.

Another big change on the iPhone 16 is the removal of the mute switch, replaced by an "action button.". This controversial choice has sparked debate, with some, including myself, finding it fiddly and unintuitive.

Display

When comparing displays, the Pixel 9's 6.3-inch screen is larger and offers a 120Hz refresh rate, making it smoother than the iPhone 16's 6.1-inch, 60Hz display. However, the iPhone’s color accuracy is superb, even though the Pixel gets brighter outdoors and during HDR content.

Performance

The iPhone 16’s A18 chip easily outperforms the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 chip, showing significant gains in both single-core and multi-core performance tests. The A18 is 30% faster than the previous A16 Bionic, making the iPhone 16 a powerhouse in raw processing power. While Google boasts about AI and NPU performance, benchmarks reveal that Apple's A18 handles AI tasks better. In gaming, the iPhone 16 delivers a smoother experience, particularly during resource-heavy games like Genshin Impact, maintaining higher frame rates with less drop-off.

Battery Life & Charging

The iPhone 16 also excels in battery life, offering 7 hours and 37 minutes of screen-on time compared to the Pixel 9’s 5 hours and 30 minutes. While the Pixel 9 has faster charging speeds at 27W, it’s worth noting that Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging is more efficient at 25W when using compatible accessories.

Camera

Both phones have strong camera settings, but there are some key differences. The iPhone 16’s 24MP primary camera offers sharper textures and better low-light performance than the Pixel 9's 12.5MP primary camera. For portrait shots, the iPhone 16 edges out the Pixel 9, thanks to better edge detection and more natural-looking bokeh. In low-light scenarios, the iPhone 16 consistently captures more detail without compromising color accuracy. When it comes to video, the iPhone 16 reigns supreme, offering superior HDR, stabilization, and audio quality.

Software & AI

On the software front, the Pixel 9’s AI features provide a significant advantage. Google’s Magic Editor and Add Me feature are standout tools for image editing. The Pixel 9 also comes with 7 years of OS updates and is equipped with Google Gemini and AI-driven features, which are currently more advanced than Apple’s iOS 18. However, this might change soon with the upcoming iOS 18.1 update, which will introduce Apple Intelligence features.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Pixel 9 stands out with its 120Hz display and superior AI features. However, for every other aspect—from performance, camera quality, battery life, and gaming—the iPhone 16 is the better phone. Once Apple Intelligence rolls out, it will be even harder to recommend the Pixel 9 over the iPhone 16 , unless its price drops significantly. If you're considering these two phones, the iPhone 16 offers a more well-rounded experience.