So, let’s have a look at how the brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL performs towards a behemoth such because the iPhone 15 Professional Max.
The scale of those two telephones could be very related, as are the burden and supplies used. We’re speaking about your typical glass and metallic sandwich, and though we’re getting titanium with the iPhone 15 Professional Max, the general really feel could be very related. We won’t assist ourselves however to incorporate some numbers for example that. The Pixel 9 Professional XL measures 162.8 x 76.6 x
8.5 mm and weighs 227 grams. The iPhone 15 Professional Max, alternatively, measures 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm and weighs 221 grams. See!
The primary design distinction lies within the form of the digital camera system on the again. Apple makes use of the identical sq. design pioneered with the iPhone 12 collection, whereas Google follows the design language first began with the Pixel 6—the Digicam Bar, albeit in a refreshed, extra fashionable type.
By way of colours, the iPhone 15 Professional Max is obtainable in:
- black titanium
- white titanium
- blue titanium
- pure titanium
The Pixel 9 Professional XL is obtainable in:
- Obsidian
- Porcelain
- Hazel
- Rose Quartz
The show panels of each telephones are fairly related, each in measurement and specs. We’re speaking about flat AMOLED panels with 6.7-inch diagonals and 1-120Hz dynamic refresh charges. There could possibly be a distinction in terms of brightness. Google lists the brightness figures for the Pixel 9 Professional XL at 2000 nits (HDR) and as much as 3000 nits (peak), which could be very spectacular certainly.
In our show assessments we had been in a position to verify these claims because the Pixel 9 Professional XL exceeded the two,000-nit threshold and is formally the brightest telephone we have ever examined (for now). The iPhone 15 Professional Max, alternatively, manages solely half that brightness and it is also obvious in vibrant sunshine. Different metrics corresponding to shade accuracy, minimal brightness, and shade temperature are very related between these two telephones.
With regards to decision, these two are once more very related. The iPhone 15 Professional Max encompasses a 1290 x 2796 pixels panel, leading to round 460PPI pixel density, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL has a decision of 1344 x 2992 pixels and a pixel density of 487PPI. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the Pixel telephone, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional Max depends on the proprietary Ceramic Protect for defense.
{Hardware}-wise, the Pixel 9 Professional XL rocks the fourth technology of Google’s in-house Tensor chip, the G4. It is designed with AI in thoughts, as on-device AI is changing into one thing of a buzz phrase. You possibly can find out about all the brand new Pixel 9 collection AI options should you bounce to this text, however lengthy story quick, there are a whole lot of new issues, together with multi-modal Gemini Nano with Gemini Superior subscription mannequin (unhappy face), and Gemini Dwell – a conversational highly effective language mannequin that may do a whole lot of issues for you.
The iPhone 15 Professional Max comes with the A17 Professional chipset, which does not have any devoted AI parts of silicon, however we anticipate it to nonetheless be sooner than the G4, particularly in artificial benchmarks. Talking of which, you will discover the benchmark scores under, and there aren’t any surprises right here.
The Tensor G4 apparently managed to attain 1967 in single core efficiency and 4775 in multicore. For comparability, the iPhone 15 Professional Max scored 2958 and 7288 respectively in the identical Geekbench 6 take a look at, massively outperforming the Tensor G4. However, as everyone knows, artificial benchmarks do not paint the total image, and in regular day-to-day duties each telephones run easily.
The RAM state of affairs isn’t that related once we evaluate Android and iOS units however nonetheless, the Pixel 9 Professional XL comes with extra RAM (16GB) than the iPhone 15 Professional Max (8GB). The bottom storage of the iPhone 15 Professional Max, alternatively, is extra, beginning at 256GB. The Pixel 9 Professional XL has a whole lot of storage choices obtainable, all the best way as much as 1TB, which is nice, because the microSD card slot is sort of extinct on smartphones these days.
Digicam
Algorithms or lenses?
The triclops versus the stormtrooper (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
The iPhone 15 Professional Max, alternatively, is a identified variable with its triple digital camera system, sporting a 48MP primary digital camera, a 12MP ultra-wide digital camera, and a 12MP telephoto. Apple by no means chased megapixels with its iPhone units, however the outcomes have been greater than respectable by way of the years.
It will likely be very fascinating to see how Google’s AI prowess will present itself on this digital camera part. Right here come the samples!
Most important Digicam
Now, let’s begin by saying that each of those telephones produce nice pictures, and in the long run, it will likely be down to private desire which one you want greatest for a digital camera telephone. What we noticed throughout our daylight photographs is that the Pixel 9 Professional XL produces hotter pictures, and so they look softer, too, particularly compared to the photographs from the iPhone 15 Professional Max, which look sharper. We all the time thought the iPhones lean towards heat and yellow-ish tonality, however this side-by-side comparability exhibits how relative this notion can actually be.
Evening samples proceed the pattern we noticed with photographs taken in vibrant daylight. Right here the Pixel 9 Professional XL does a greater job with the lanterns, revealing extra particulars, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional Max barely overexposes the synthetic lights. There’s the identical softness within the Pixel photographs, additionally they look a bit extra pure, because the iPhone pictures once more look a bit too sharp.
Zoom High quality
Each of those have periscope telephoto digital camera techniques, providing the equal of 5x optical zoom. The opposite zoom ranges are digital however each telephones handle to protect the general really feel and high quality of the photographs. At 3x magnification, the Pixel 9 Professional XL does a greater job at producing a clearer picture with much less artifacts and fewer noise.
5x is the native optical zoom stage of each telephones, and pictures taken at this magnification ought to yield the perfect outcomes. The Pixel 9 Professional XL pictures look a bit extra pure, albeit softer and never that sharp. The iPhone 15 Professional Max zoom photographs, alternatively, show a tad extra aggressive noise discount and sharpening algorithms. We depart it to you to determine which one you want greatest.
10x is digital and right here the processing issues probably the most. Surprisingly sufficient, these two are very shut at this stage of magnification, and the samples look very related. If we pixel-peep we will see that there is a little much less noise within the Pixel pattern.
Extremely-wide Digicam
Properly, the ultrawide samples are extra of the identical, the Pixel 9 Professional XL produces hotter, even red-ish photographs, and in comparison with iPhone samples they give the impression of being somewhat gentle. The colours listed below are a lot nearer between the 2, although (check out the skies within the background). We want the Pixel 9 Professional XL photographs, as they give the impression of being extra pure however the “pop” of the iPhone 15 Professional Max is also fascinating for some folks on the market.
Selfies
Selfie photographs are fairly related, however we factor the iPhone 15 Professional Max handles the publicity and white stability higher. Each telephones produce detailed and handsome selfie pictures, however the distinction in tonality is once more obvious. The sky within the Pixel shot seems nearly brown in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional Max pattern.
Battery Life and Charging
Benefit Google, however not by a lot (Picture credit score PhoneArena)
The Pixel 9 Professional XL sports activities a beefy 5,060mAh battery, which, whereas not groundbreaking, is a considerable capability. The iPhone 15 Professional Max is holding its personal regardless of the small, by fashionable requirements, 4,422mAh battery inside. The best way iOS is constructed and apps optimized typically interprets into higher battery life when in comparison with the identical capability on Android. The iPhone 15 Professional Max, for instance, presently occupies 14 place in our all-time battery rating, outperforming many telephones with bigger batteries.
PhoneArena Battery Take a look at Outcomes:
Wanting on the battery take a look at outcomes, our predictions turned out to be true. The 600mAh capability distinction is offset by the completely different chipsets and app administration. These two are nearly similar in terms of battery life. The 20-Half-hour distinction we noticed in all three assessments is negligeable, but when we need to crown a winner right here, the iPhone 15 Professional Max will final a bit longer should you’re looking or watching video, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL will allow you to recreation a bit longer.
PhoneArena Charging Take a look at Outcomes:
Properly, in terms of charging, neither of those telephones will probably be breaking data. The iPhone 15 Professional Max tops at 27W, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL comes with 45W wired charging help, and marketed charging occasions are as much as 70% in about Half-hour. Properly we weren’t in a position to completely replicate these claims, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL fees a lot sooner than the iPhone 15 Professional Max.
Audio High quality and Haptics
With regards to haptics, Pixel telephones have all the time been on the weaker facet, particularly in comparison with the Taptic engine outfitted iPhones. The identical applies right here. No that the vibration of the Pixel 9 Professional XL is dangerous, it is simply not as tight and exact, and never as robust as what the iPhone 15 Professional Max can supply.
The audio high quality is fairly related, with the iPhone 15 Professional Max being a bit louder, however each telephones output detailed and wealthy audio, with out harmonic distortion even at max quantity. Neither of those have the three.5 mm headphone jack, so you will want to depend on wi-fi headphones or use a USB-C adapter.
Specs Comparability
| Specs | Pixel 9 Professional XL | iPhone 15 Professional Max |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm |
| Weight | 221 g | 221 g |
| Display | 6.8-inch OLED 1-120Hz |
6.7-inch OLED 1-120Hz ProMotion |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | A17 Professional (3 nm) |
| RAM, Storage and Worth | 12/128GB for $1099 | 8/256GB for $1199 |
| Cameras | 50MP primary, f/1.7 48MP ultra-wide, f/1.9 48MP telephoto, f/2.8 5x zoom 42MP entrance |
48MP primary, f/1.8 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 12MP 5X zoom, f/2.8 12MP entrance |
| Battery Measurement | 5,060 mAh | 4,422 mAh |
| Charging Speeds | 45W wired wi-fi |
27W wired 15W wi-fi |
Which one do you have to purchase?
Google has produced an ultra-premium flagship that deserves your consideration (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
The Pixel 9 Professional XL shuffles a bit the naming scheme for Pixel telephones and occupies the highest spot because the ultra-premium Google flagship, and it is an incredible take care of the seven yr help and all of the AI stuff onboard (plus all of the AI stuff that may inevitably come to the system with every function drop). The bottom Pixel 9 Professional XL mannequin can be $100 cheaper than the iPhone 15 Professional Max, but additionally comes with half the storage.
These two telephones not solely appear and feel the identical (no less than from the entrance), however additionally they have related dimensions and similar weights. It nearly looks like Google tried to duplicate the Professional Max mannequin in its personal portfolio. We’re undecided if it is a good factor or not, however the Pixel 9 Professional XL feels premium for certain—extra premium than the final technology of Pixels we regcon.
The Pixel additionally comes with a really vibrant display (the brightest we have examined thus far), and it affords a strong digital camera system, backed by intelligent AI tips. Alternatively, the iPhone 15 Professional Max obliterates the Pixel in terms of uncooked processing energy, whether or not you want it or not. The choice right here boils right down to the ecosystem you are extra inclined to get into. One factor is for certain: Google has upped its recreation, and the present Pixel 9 lineup makes a critical declare for that third spot available on the market.