The iPhone 16 lineup has arrived, and it’s an enormous deal.
With new chipsets, improved cameras, tweaked shows and, after all, Apple Intelligence AI options throughout all 4 telephones, there’s lots to get enthusiastic about.
In earlier years, the brand new iPhone has arrived earlier than Pixel flagships, giving Google the chance to measurement up its competitors earlier than going public.
Nonetheless, issues are a bit completely different in 2024, because the Pixel 9 sequence launched in August. Even so, Google’s flagship vary has the higher hand in just a few key areas.
If the next options are necessary to you, you’ll positively be happier with the Pixel 9.
Quicker charging
On each the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 lineups, charging speeds fluctuate considerably. However right here, we’re speaking in regards to the most wattage that any of the telephones can cost at, making it a head-to-head between the iPhone 16 Professional Max and Pixel 9 Professional XL.
Google comes out on high right here, with the corporate promoting 70% in half-hour when charged on the most 37W. Nonetheless, to learn from these speeds, you’ll have to purchase Google’s 45W ‘Energy Charger’, which prices £29.99/$29.99.
In the meantime, the iPhone 16 Professional Max tops out at simply 25W, with Apple claiming a extra mediocre 50% in half-hour. And also you’ll nonetheless want a suitable charger to reap the benefits of it.
Macworld
Macworld
Macworld
Nonetheless, Apple wins on wi-fi charging, with the iPhone 16 Professional Max providing 25W to the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s 23W.
A high-quality fingerprint sensor
Because it was launched on the iPhone X again in 2017, Face ID has been an enormous success for Apple. The safe face unlock resolution was a wonderful substitute for the bodily fingerprint sensor, permitting Apple to maneuver to an all-screen design.
However seven years later, under-display fingerprint sensors have advanced. The widely underwhelming optical scanners have been changed with ultrasonic ones on some Android telephones, together with the Pixel 9, 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL. It’s an enormous step ahead for each velocity and reliability.
Impressively, Google combines it with a safe face unlock on the Pixel 9 sequence, permitting you to authenticate funds or log into banking with both your face or your finger. That’s a stage of flexibility that Apple can’t match.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
AI options at launch
Because it was introduced at WWDC again in June, there’s been plenty of discuss Apple Intelligence. And it may revolutionise the best way you employ your iPhone.
Emphasis on ‘may’, as a result of we don’t truly know but. Apple Intelligence will initially arrive in beta in October, with no particular date revealed for a remaining launch. New options are additionally anticipated to be launched progressively over time.
In contrast, Pixel 9 telephones have a spread of AI options you can check out as quickly as you purchase the telephone. These embody photograph modifying instruments akin to Finest Take and Add Me, plus deep integration of the Gemini digital assistant.
YouTube / Apple
YouTube / Apple
YouTube / Apple
Not all of Google’s AI works flawlessly, however the firm has been together with it in telephones for a 12 months now, and it’s extra completed than you may suppose.
Circle to Search
Whereas Circle to Search is an AI characteristic, it’s so helpful it deserves its personal part. Basically, it permits you to carry out a Google picture seek for something you see in your display screen just by circling it.
It’s significantly useful whereas on social media, the place you possibly can simply discover a location or product that you just’re uncertain about. Apple additionally affords comparable picture textual content extraction and translation options to Circle to Search, however Google’s resolution is extra highly effective and helpful.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Greater megapixel cameras
Each the Pixel 9 Professional XL and iPhone 16 Professional Max seem to supply a number of the greatest all-round telephone digicam programs round.
In our Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment, we praised pictures’ picture readability and stability in color and tone. It’s not but clear how the iPhone 16 Professional Max compares, however there are just a few areas through which Google has the higher hand – on paper, at the very least.
Maybe the massive one is the selfie digicam. We had been actually impressed with the Pixel’s 42Mp sensor, but the iPhone sticks with the 12Mp lens from the 15 Professional Max. Then there are the telephoto lenses, which supply 5x optical zoom on each telephones, but the Pixel makes use of a 48Mp lens versus the iPhone’s 12Mp.
The next megapixel rely doesn’t at all times equal higher pictures, however the 9 Professional XL’s pixel binning course of (the place 4 pixels are mixed into one for a 12Mp picture) ought to ship greater high quality pictures.
One space the iPhone is more likely to nonetheless have the higher hand is video, one thing which many Android telephones battle with.
