I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone 16 Pro Max for a week: Here’s what I learned

Apple has had a lock on casual smartphone users since the original iPhone. Customers who walk into carrier stores for their next device respond to the iPhone’s friendly (read: safe) UI and stylish design. It’s a class of millions who don’t care about benchmarks and think a Snapdragon is a Pokémon.

Apple has its enthusiasts, and the company offers plenty of pro-grade performance and tools on its phones, but I don’t feel those are the main selling points for most owners.

Google understands this, and it’s spent the last few years transforming its Pixel lineup into a more consumer-friendly package. Everything from its hardware design to the software experience and marketing strategy suggests that Google is trying to win over casual users who might otherwise choose an iPhone. I used the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max side-by-side for a week; let’s discuss how well Google did.

What I like about the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Display and performance improvements

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Google has created its best Pixel phone in years with the Pixel 9 Pro XL. I’ve had my misgivings about previous Pixel devices, but between the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google has addressed mostly all concerns.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 6.8-inch Super Actua display is gorgeous; it’s a bright and vibrant display protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. I was already impressed with the display on the Pixel 8 Pro, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL builds off that success. Pixel panels used to be inferior, but Google turned a weakness into a strength.

I’m also not fond of the argument that people should wait until the Pixel 10 because TSMC will manufacture the Tensor G5.

Don’t believe any nonsense you hear about the Tensor G4. It’s a remarkably capable chipset providing more than enough raw performance for daily tasks and a full slate of Google’s Gemini Nano features. The Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have been some of the smoothest experiences I’ve had on Android, and the narrative that the Tensor G4 is underpowered isn’t accurate.

However, it’s not perfect, and you will see better gaming performance on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Still, gaming is the last area where Google is noticeably behind Apple and other Android manufacturers.

I’m also not fond of the argument that people should wait until the Pixel 10 because TSMC will manufacture the Tensor G5. The main problems TSMC resolved for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 were power efficiency and heat management, items Google has largely addressed with the Tensor G3 and G4.

The Tensor G5 isn’t going to suddenly out-benchmark chips like the Snapdragon 8 Elite unless Google makes a conscious effort to increase horsepower, which it most likely won’t. It’s not the company’s focus, and given how well the Pixel 9 Pro XL performs with daily tasks and AI functions, it feels unnecessarily up the cost just to look better on a Geekbench test. I’d like better gaming performance, but not if it means a more expensive device.

Android 15 turned out to be fine

I’m pleased to report that Android 15 runs well on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Material You may be a far cry from stock Android, but Google has made its front-end user experience more appealing and beginner-friendly.

Don’t be fooled; it’s still Android, but Google has refined its aesthetics. I loved the longer promised support life of Google’s newer devices, and I’m glad the company has kept up with quarterly feature drops, even if individual Android versions don’t mean as much anymore.

I know that Google spent a lot of time highlighting the features of Gemini Nano, but I don’t use them much. Pixel Studio works well, but it’s limited. I’m more optimistic about Gemini Live than others, but it’s still not something I’d go out of my way to use regularly. Still, Google’s software extras like Now Playing always make me smile, and I miss them when using other phones.

It’s still a Pixel camera

Cameras are an interesting conversation topic. I prefer the warmer tones of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s photography, but I’m comfortable admitting that if you take 100 point-and-shoot photos, you will like the Pixel 9 Pro XL output more. Night Sight is better at low-light photography, and if you want to tweak your images in Lightroom or even with Google’s editing tools, you’ll appreciate the natural tones and details of the Pixel’s imagery.

However, I still give the iPhone 16 Pro Max the edge when shooting videos.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL camera samples

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max camera samples

What I like about the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Old, but reliable design

It’s odd to say I like the iPhone 16 Pro Max design. It’s mostly unchanged from the iPhone 11, but Apple knows what works, and users haven’t been turned off yet. I don’t like the increased size of the Pro Max this year, though. It’s only a tenth of an inch bigger than the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but it makes all the difference. The iPhone 16 Pro Max almost becomes unwieldy with a case, and I have large hands.

I wouldn’t mind as much if Apple used the extra space well. Sure, content and games have more display, but iOS 18 doesn’t allow you to add additional icons to the home screen — it’s just stretched dead space. Aside from that, the display is gorgeous, and you’ll love looking at it. I prefer the iPhone 16 Pro Max panel to the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s display slightly, but it’s a close matchup.

The A18 Pro chipset is impressive. Benchmarks aside, it keeps cool and performs intensive tasks beautifully. I do not sit there and edit 4K video on my iPhone, but you’ll notice better gaming compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Don’t get bogged down in the spec sheet if you’ve never considered an iPhone. You might see 8GB of RAM compared to 16GB in the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but Apple manages RAM differently, and it doesn’t impact performance.

iOS 18 opened things up a little

I always chuckle watching Android users’ faces as I describe the changes to iOS 18. Yes, Apple gave us “customization” options, but it’s nothing Pixel users haven’t had for years.

However, it is enjoyable to finally move and resize widgets without breaking my home screen, and I like how Apple handles icon customization. Google hasn’t been able to get themed icons to work across the board in years, but Apple seems to have it covered. All told, iOS 18 is a solid update, even if Apple Intelligence just got to our devices.

I don’t have much of a read on Apple Intelligence yet. Natural language searches in the Photos app appear to work well, but I’m reserving judgment until the entire slate is released. I hope it saves the Camera Control button because I’m having a hard time seeing the point right now. Zooming is significantly easier using your fingers on the display.

I’m not getting the same excellent battery life on the iPhone 16 Pro Max I got from my iPhone 15 Pro Max. It could be software or usage differences, but even slightly less battery life is fantastic — well over 8 hours of screen on time with a single charge. Google matches the iPhone 16 Pro Max on battery, but I would give another slight nod to the iPhone as it lasts a touch longer. Charging speeds are anemic on both devices.

It’s not hard to recommend the Pixel 9 Pro XL

Not long ago, I would’ve always recommended an iPhone for first-time smartphone users or less tech-savvy people — that’s not necessarily the case anymore. I still think the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a lot to offer, but Google has done an excellent job making Android more user-friendly and giving the Pixel 9 Pro XL a pleasing design.

I see no reason to switch if you’re already deeply engrained in Apple’s ecosystem. However, if you are looking for a change or haven’t used either phone, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is definitely worth a look this year.

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  Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

  The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a new name, but it fills the same slot as 2023’s Pixel 8 Pro, having similar specs with roughly the same footprint. The non-XL Pixel 9 Pro is new to the lineup as a smaller premium flagship offering. With the 9 Pro XL, however, you get Google’s fastest charging, a bigger screen and battery, and all of the camera and Gemini AI smarts you’d get in the smaller 9 Pro.

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  Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

  The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max sports the brand new A18 Pro chipset with 8GB of RAM, with impressive benchmarks for raw performance. The Pro Max model gets bigger this year, featuring a 6.9-inch Super Retina OLED display refreshing at 120Hz. Apple Intelligence has started to roll out, giving users added AI functionality like more natural Siri conversations and better searching in the Photos app.