Google recently launched their most powerful flagship smartphone, the Pixel 9 Pro XL featuring the Tensor G4 processor. In the top-end spectrum, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is another choice, which can be considered for its all-around capability across performance, cameras, and battery life. In this guide, let’s compare the two devices side-by-side to know which is better.
Table of Contents
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Specs at a Glance
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Price in India
Device
Storage
Price
iPhone 15 Pro Max
8GB+256GB
Rs 1,43,999
8GB+512GB
Rs 1,70,600
8GB+1TB
Rs 1,84,900
Pixel 9 Pro XL
16GB+256GB
Rs 1,24,999
16GB+512GB
Rs 1,39,999
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is priced significantly higher than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. But, both devices belong to the super-premium segment where the price is no longer a differentiating factor for the customer. Instead, these smartphones emphasise offering the best user experience.
With bank offers, you can get the base storage model of the iPhone 15 Pro Max at around Rs 1,35,000 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL at around Rs 1,15,000. The offers keep changing from time to time.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is sold on Amazon, Flipkart, Apple website, and leading retail chains like Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, etc. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is currently only sold on Flipkart. Google will soon make it available in Reliance Digital and Croma stores across India.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Design
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the typical Apple design language, which has been there for the last three generations. It features thin bezels and the latest Dynamic Island cutout for Face ID. The phone has flat edges and a glass back panel. The frame is made from Titanium, a very first for the iPhone. But keep in mind that it’s a bulky smartphone weighing 221 grams.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also comes with a glass sandwich design. It features comparatively thicker bezels than the iPhone, but the hole-punch is much smaller. The Pixel has flat edges and a massive horizontal camera module. At 221 grams, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is just as bulky as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
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Since design is a personal preference, it’s difficult to choose a clear winner here. Both devices feature glass back panels at the back and flat edges, along with a massive camera bump that significantly protrudes outwards. However, if the titanium build attracts you, the iPhone 15 Pro Max can be your choice and the Pixel 9 Pro XL can be considered if you like the new Pixel design.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Display
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen. It’s an LTPO AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution of 2796 x 1290 pixels. The screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports peak brightness of up to 2000 nits. It is compatible with Dolby Vision and HDR10.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a slightly larger 6.8-inch LTPO OLED screen with a Full HD+ resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels. This panel has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports peak brightness up to 3000 nits. It is compatible with HDR10+.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has comparatively more pixels, but the technical difference between the two phones is insignificant. It is worth noting that DXOMark recently rated the display on the Pixel 9 Pro XL as the best screen on smartphones, achieving the highest scores in their testing. The iPhone 15 Pro is ranked at 10th place.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Processor
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro chipset. It’s the world’s first 3nm chipset on a smartphone fabricated by TSMC. As per benchmarks, the A17 Pro chipset is the fastest and most powerful processor on any smartphone, even beating the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
The Pixel 9 XL Pro is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chipset, based on a 4nm Samsung architecture. Despite the AI prowess, the Tensor G4 lags behind the A17 Pro in terms of raw performance, which is evident from benchmarks.
In terms of peak performance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max can easily beat the Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, we haven’t tested both phones’ performance and benchmarks yet, so a conclusion on the real-world usage can’t be drawn yet.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Software
The iPhone 15 Pro Max runs iOS 17. The device is eligible for the new Apple Intelligence features, which will start rolling out with the iOS 18 update. The stability of iOS needs no justification as it is one of the most refined user interfaces. Apple has assured up to five years of software updates.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL gets Pixel UI based on Android 14. The software is one of the biggest highlights of the device as it natively integrates Gemini AI features throughout the OS. The Pixel 9 Pro supports Live translation, Circle to Search, Gemini Assistant, Google Photos AI editing, and many such features. Google has assured 7 years of software updates for the device.
It’s a classic case of iOS vs Android here. If you are into the Apple ecosystem, then the iPhone will be the obvious choice. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is among the most advanced Android UIs and can be opted for a clean UI and a plethora of AI features.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Cameras
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with triple rear cameras. It features a 48MP f/1.8 primary sensor with sensor-shift OIS. The secondary camera is a 12MP f/2.8 telephoto lens with sensor-shift OIS and 5x optical zoom. The third camera is a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens. This setup can capture videos up to 4K 60fps, ProRes, and Dolby Vision HDR recording. The selfie camera is a 12MP f/1.9 sensor with OIS.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a similar triple rear camera setup. It has a 50MP f/1.7 primary camera with OIS. The secondary camera is a 48MP f/2.8 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and OIS. The third camera is a 48MP f/1.7 ultrawide lens. It supports video recording up to 8K 30fps. The selfie shooter is a 42MP f/2.2 sensor.
Hardware-wise, both are extremely capable camera setups with the Pixel 9 Pro XL having higher resolution telephoto and ultrawide lenses. But, the Pixel supports advanced AI features in the camera, which can enhance the overall photo output, making them social media-ready.
Currently, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the top-rated camera smartphone on DXOMark rankings, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the 7th position.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Battery and Charging
The iPhone 15 Pro Max gets a 4,441mAh battery. It supports up to 25W fast wired charging, and 15W wireless charging.
The Pixel 9 Pro is powered by a 5,060mAh battery. It supports 37W wired fast charging and 23W wireless charging.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a larger capacity battery and slightly faster charging but we can expect no significant difference between the two phones. Neither of them features a charger in the box, so you will have to purchase it separately.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Verdict
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Pixel 9 Pro XL are undoubtedly among the best smartphones in the market right now, featuring superior technology and advanced hardware. It’s difficult to pick a clear winner between the two just by looking at the specifications.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a huge advantage in terms of raw performance, as the A17 Pro is much more powerful and efficient than the Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. But for regular usage, the difference is not that huge.
Currently, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is packed with AI features that are readily available to the user. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is also catching up with Apple Intelligence features, which will start rolling with the iOS 18 update in September.
If you plan to use your device for more than three years, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the safer choice, considering that iOS devices perform better in the long run. Tensor is relatively new, and Google is still in its improvement phase for extended software updates. The situation is expected to get better for Google in the future, but Apple has an edge here as of now.
While we did not get the chance to review the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can refer to our detailed review of the iPhone 15 Pro which has similar features. We are currently testing the Pixel 9 in the office, and the review shall be out soon.
