Google Pixel 8 Pro goes head-to-head against Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Google and Apple have both released new flagship models this year, with significant improvements from their predecessors. The Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max have undergone changes in design, camera upgrades, and internal enhancements. But which of these new models is the better choice for you?

Size comparison

Starting with the Pixel 8 Pro, it is quite similar in size and weight to its predecessor, the 7 Pro. However, there have been some changes in the design, including a switch from glossy glass to a frosted glass back and a transition from a curved panel to a flat front. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features subtle changes as well, such as a shift from stainless steel to an aluminum/titanium build and a matte finish on the titanium frames. It is also slightly lighter and easier to handle than previous Pro Max models.

Although both phones are large, the Pixel 8 Pro is slightly larger and thicker than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, the iPhone's blockier styling gives it the appearance of being a larger handset. In terms of weight, the iPhone is slightly heavier, but the difference is negligible.

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Both phones have Corning-made protective layers, with the Pixel 8 Pro covered by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides and the iPhone 15 Pro Max featuring Apple's exclusive Ceramic Shield on the front. The phones are IP68 rated for dust and water protection, with the iPhone tested to withstand greater depths underwater compared to the Pixel's standard rating.

When it comes to color options, both phones are relatively conservative, except for the Pixel 8 Pro's Bay option, which offers a sky blue hue. Overall, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max exudes a more "premium" feel, the Pixel's refined design and unique color option make it equally appealing.

Display comparison

Both the Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max boast impressive displays. The iPhone's display remains largely unchanged from the previous year, offering exceptional quality. On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro shows significant improvements in brightness compared to its predecessor. The Pixel 8 Pro reaches an impressive 954nits when the brightness is set to the maximum, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves 846nits. However, when the adaptive mode is enabled, the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the lead with 1,787nits compared to the Pixel 8 Pro's 1,600nits.

While the iPhone offers support for Dolby Vision in addition to HDR10 and HDR10+, the Pixel complies with HDR10 and HDR10+ standards. Both phones feature adaptive refresh rate technology, resulting in a smooth user experience.

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Battery life

The Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have similar battery capacities, with a slight difference in size. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 1% increase in battery capacity, totaling at 5,050mAh, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 2.7% increase, bringing the capacity to 4,441mAh. However, battery performance depends on various factors, and in our tests, the iPhone 15 Pro Max outlasted the Pixel 8 Pro in terms of screen-on time and overall longevity.

Charging speed

In terms of charging speed, the Pixel 8 Pro performs better, taking 26 minutes less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max to reach a full charge. However, the difference between intermediate charging results is not significant. Both phones support wireless charging, with the Pixel offering a maximum power rating of 23W with the Google Pixel Stand and the iPhone maxing out at 15W with the proprietary MagSafe puck.

Speaker test

Both phones feature hybrid stereo speaker setups, with the earpiece doubling as an extra speaker. The sound quality of both phones is exceptional, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max slightly edging out the Pixel 8 Pro in terms of volume and output quality. However, both phones are among the best-sounding devices on the market.

Performance

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by Apple's custom A17 Pro chipset, which delivers impressive performance. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro utilizes Google's Tensor G3 chip. It can be challenging to directly compare the performance between the two phones due to differences in operating systems and optimization approaches. However, the Pixel 8 Pro offers higher RAM capacity, with 12GB compared to the iPhone's 8GB.

In benchmark tests, the Pixel 8 Pro trails behind the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as some other Android devices. Under sustained loads, the iPhone performs better than the Pixel, showing higher stability ratings in both GPU and CPU stress tests. However, both phones offer smooth and responsive real-life performance.

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Google

Pixel 8 Pro

AnTuTu 10
1,151,243

Geekbench 6
1,766 single-core

Geekbench 6
4,492 multi-core

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In terms of software support, Apple has a longstanding reputation for providing long-term updates, typically offering 5 years of major OS upgrades. This year, Google made a promise to provide 7 years of software support for the Pixel 8 family, although the actual fulfillment of this promise remains to be seen.

Camera comparison

Both the Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max excel in photography and offer exceptional image quality. The camera systems of both phones include a primary module, an ultrawide lens, and a telephoto lens with 5x zoom. While the two phones have similar camera setups, there are subtle differences in their approach to capturing images.

Photo quality:

The Pixel captures more vibrant and lively colors, while the iPhone produces more reserved and subtle tones. The Pixel tends to have a cooler tone, while the iPhone leans towards warmer hues. Both phones offer excellent sharpness, with the Pixel's ultrawide lens and the iPhone's main camera having a slight advantage. At 2x zoom, both phones deliver impressive results, but the Pixel offers slightly better definition. The telephoto lenses of both phones perform similarly in terms of sharpness and detail, but the Pixel exhibits better noise performance.

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In low light photography, the differences in approach become more apparent. The iPhone's Night mode is less aggressive and doesn't enhance images as much as the Pixel. The Pixel excels in capturing detail in darker scenes, particularly with its ultrawide lens. However, the iPhone performs better when zoomed in due to its noise reduction approach. Both phones produce impressive results with minimal differences in sharpness and detail at medium zoom and telephoto levels.

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