Ah, I love a good face-off, and weve got a doozy for you this time.
In one corner, youve got theiPhone 15 Pro Max.
The Titanium chassis turns what would usually be a heavy brick into a lightweight wonder.
© Artem Golub / Gizmodo
And we cant forget that this marks the first time the iPhone ditched Lightning in favor of USB-C charging.
The biggest complaints the phone has received are about the price.
The Action Button is polarizing as many have reported not using the nascent button much.
Photo: Artem Golub/Gizmodo
See iPhone 15 Pro Max at Best Buy
And then you have theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL.
And Googles Pixel line has become renowned for its excellent camera.
The display is also bigger and more vivid than its predecessor.
Photo: Artem Golub/Gizmodo
And you get a whopping seven years of OS upgrades.
The phone also supports fast charging through a 45W charger, which it doesnt include.
Like its Apple counterpart, the biggest complaint is pricing.
Photo: Artem Golub/Gizmodo
See Google Pixel 9 Pro XL at Best Buy
So there you have it.
Lets just rip the band-aid off here.
I feel your pain as someone whos purchased their fair share of $1,000+ smartphones.
Photo: Artem Golub/Gizmodo
The base model of the iPhone costs $1,199 sans any trade-ins or carrier specials.
That gets you 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.
The 512GB model costs $1,399, while the 1TB version will set you back $1,599.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
Onto the Google side of things.
The Pixel 9 XL Pros base model comes in at $1,099.
However, that model only gives you 128GB of onboard storage.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
However, every Pixel model comes with a wild 16GB of RAM.
Overall, dollar-to-dollar, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the better option.
If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Google likes Apple a lot.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
I mean, even the matte lines along the sides are similar.
There are some clear differences, however.
There are also the rear modules that house the phones respective camera sensors.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
The iPhones module is a rounded square in the upper left corner of the rear panel.
Meanwhile, the Pixels sensor is ovular and runs across the majority of the top of the rear panel.
I felt sheer disappointment at the realization.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
When it comes to color schemes, Google is the clear winner here.
Geez, Apple, we get it.
You incorporated titanium into the design; you dont have to beat us over the head with it.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
At 7.81 ounces, the 6.3 x 3 x 0.32-inch slab feels almost insubstantial compared to its 8.47-ounce predecessor.
But not so fast!
Beauty, and design, by proxy, is in the eye of the beholder.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
And it might be controversial, but Im going to give this round to Google.
Its thinner and lighter, and hey, I like pink.
Then, all bets are off.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
I even did light photo editing in Adobe Photoshop Express and Google Photos with no ill effects.
But keep in mind that the iPhone has beaten every smartphone debuted this year by a large margin.
Still, regarding performance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is king.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
Zoom Enhance is that feature you always see in crime shows on your smartphone.
Best of all, the feature can be used before or after taking the shot.
And thats before we get to Gemini proper, or should I say, Gemini Advanced.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Youll get your usual AI summary tools and Her-inspired digital assistance, complete with a soothing voice.
Gemini can also organize and summarize your screenshots with Pixel Screenshots.
Speaking of organization, Google Keep can now make lists for you.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
The Call Notes feature allows Gemini to record your call, summarize, and create a conversation transcript.
Just be sure to inform the other party on the call.
Recording someone without their knowledge is illegal in a lot of places.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Dont get caught out there.
This brings us to a major point of contention for a lot of potential Gemini users.
Do you trust Google to record your calls and live conversations with Gemini?
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
While you ponder that, lets move on to Apple Intelligence.
Moving on, Siri will also become more conversationalist and will be able to chat realistically.
Youll also see your notifications summarized into easily scannable bites.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
The new Focus mode will do something similar, prioritizing important notifications and saving the rest for later.
Like Gemini, Apple Intelligence can record calls, create transcripts, and summarize everything.
Rough sketches can be transformed into something more professional-looking with Image Wand.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
you’ve got the option to create custom memory movies from your stills and videos.
Apple Intelligence will even find appropriate music.
I cant wait to see how vague or precise you must be with that one.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Again, well have to wait and see once this goes live.
Both AI solutions are currently free.
For now, Google takes this round.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL© Sherri L. Smith
But stay tuned for when Apple Intelligence fully launches.
And this is before all the AI razzmatazz.
Apple comes out box swinging, equipping the Pro Max with a 48-megapixel main sensor with a /1.78 aperture.
iPhone 15 Pro Max© Sherri L. Smith
Both the ultrawide and telephoto have 12-MP sensors.
The former has a /2.2 aperture while the latter has a /2.8.
As for the telephoto, youve got a 5x digital zoom and a 25x digital zoom.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
The primary camera lens has an f/1.68, which comes in handy for night mode and depth effects.
The telephoto camera is untouched at 48-MP, with last years 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Res Zoom.
However, in the Pixel photo, the vines looked alive and well.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
I had better results when on a flower shot.
I also had a clear view of the flowers stamen on the Pro Max.
The red graffiti running down the side also pops more on the Pro XL.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
And zooming in on the construction in the background, the Pixel had sharper detail.
Ultrawide
The Pixel continued its wins on the color accuracy and sharpness fronts.
While the iPhone continued serving up delicious color.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
A view of the Manhattan skyline at 7.5x yielded a lovely shot on both phones.
The Pro XL also showed off more windows.
The building on the far left looked very muddy on the iPhone.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
The darker shadows make the sign stand out more than on the Pro XL.
While the iPhone produced the more artistic photo, its nowhere near as accurate.
I dimmed the lights as low as they would go in the first shot and took several shots.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
The Pro XL came through with superior color and minutia.
You read the lettering on the pink tin.
For instance, it’s possible for you to barely see Hulks teeth.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
However, the Michonne Funko is almost completely submerged in shadow.
you’re free to barely see any detail on the game ornament next to Hulk.
Selfie
And now for some true parity.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
One thing the iPhone is going to do is give you some nice bokeh.
My hoodie looks more orange in the Pro Max image, and our skin tones look darker.
That is fine, but that bokeh is a little aggressive, blurring some of my locs out.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
However, the phone also showed my boyfriends beard best.
Panorama
This goes to the Pixel simply because the phone can capture a 360-degree panoramic photo.
The result was a full shot of the area around my rooftop.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Thats not to say the iPhone takes shabby images; it doesnt.
The guidelines arent as accurate on the iPhone; you could only capture 180 degrees.
Digital Zoom
This is simply no contest.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
The iPhone did an admirable job for the distance, but its somewhat blurry.
And while you’re free to see some windows, even the lighted ones look like shapeless blobs.
Once again, the iPhones digital zoom produces an image with seriously fuzzy detail.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Its the opposite of the Pixel, with crispy details and more precise color.
You wont have that problem with the Pro XL or the Pro Max.
Both smartphones have fast charging capabilities.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
Both devices support wireless charging.
With a longer two-hour runtime, this round goes to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Regarding performance and endurance, no one does it better than the iPhone.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
But those are just some things that make a flagship phone great.
So, lets talk about the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
It copied Apples homework on the design piece.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
However, it managed to do it a little better with a slightly thinner, lighter frame.
And a pop of pastel never hurt anyone.
Until we see what Apple Intelligence offers, Google will be the king of mobile AI.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Hell, its the AI to beat when it comes to consumer-grade artificial intelligence.
Finally, theres the camera.
For those reasons, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the undisputed winner of this face-off.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
News from the future, delivered to your present.
Apple Intelligence No Longer Available Now After False Advertising Inquiry
Apple’s AI debacle keeps getting worse.
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL © Sherri L. Smith
iPhone 15 Pro Max © Sherri L. Smith
Photo: Artem Golub/Gizmodo
