As Google continues taking its smartphone division more seriously, a lot of people are wondering which phone is better, iPhone or Pixel. If you’re looking for an upgrade, you should know how the two differ and how they affect your experience as a user.
Let’s compare iPhones and Google Pixel phones to see which is right for you.
Price and Value for Money
Pixel phones used to offer terrible value, but ever since the Pixel 6, Google has completely overhauled its pricing strategy. The entry point to get a Pixel flagship is now $599 whereas the iPhone still starts at $799—if you ignore the cheaper iPhone Mini series that Apple has discontinued due to its commercial failure.
Even if you want a mid-range phone, the Pixel a-series beats the iPhone SE series in terms of value. The former has more balanced specs and features while the latter has an outdated design, bad battery life, and no ultra-wide camera, making it very hard to recommend.
That said, if you’re already tied to the Apple ecosystem and can’t do without services such as iMessage, iCloud, Apple TV, and more, you’re better off getting an iPhone. Another strong reason to get an iPhone over a Pixel phone is that iPhones retain their value really well, so you can sell or trade in your old iPhone later on.
However, if you buy an iPhone, you’ll feel compelled to buy other expensive Apple products too, given how the Apple ecosystem is designed. This is not the case with Pixel phones as the experience is the same no matter which Android brand you buy your accessories from.
Also, don’t forget that iPhones are notoriously expensive to repair, so you might have to bear some hefty charges if you accidentally damage yours. Things are luckily not as scary for Pixel users. Simply put, if you’re looking for value, choose a Pixel over an iPhone.
Cameras
Pixel phones are best known for their excellent computational photography, and the latest Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are no exceptions.
Photos from a Pixel usually have better dynamic range, look more colorful, and represent your skin tone more accurately than an iPhone. The Pixel has more useful and fun camera software features such as Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Motion Mode, and more.
At the same time, iPhone cameras are very reliable and consistent. There is hardly any difference in quality between any of the lenses, and you can rest assured that the final shot will be very close—if not identical—to what you saw in the viewfinder.
Also, if you shoot a lot of videos, the iPhone is the better choice since its videos are smoother and sharper, especially in low-light conditions.
The iPhone will give you more peace of mind that your photos and videos always look good enough, regardless of the environment you’re in. But if you want a more capable camera system and arguably better photos, pick the Pixel instead.
Operating System
Since Google controls Android, Pixel phones allow you to experience the best of what Android has to offer. It’s not surprising that Google apps and services such as Search, Gmail, Photos, Maps, Drive, and more work exceptionally well on Pixel phones.
That said, iPhones run on Apple’s proprietary software iOS, and hence enjoy better optimization of third-party apps and games. iPhones also guarantee a seamless connection between all your Apple devices including AirPods, the Apple Watch, MacBooks, and more.
Another reason to pick an iPhone over a Pixel is that iPhones get longer software updates of five to six years, while Pixel phones only get three years of major Android updates. So, if you don’t upgrade your phone often, an iPhone will serve you for longer.
However, remember that Pixel phones are the first to get new Android updates, and they also get new Pixel Feature Drops every few months, making your device more useful over time.
Voice Assistants
Both Google Assistant and Siri are comparable when it comes to answering everyday queries concerning things like the weather or your schedule, but the former is more responsive when performing actions such as sending a text or reading your notifications.
Google Assistant also leaps ahead in natural language processing which means it is better able to understand context, carry conversations, translate voices, and respond naturally. You can even search for a song by humming it to Google Assistant.
While Siri might not be as capable technically, it’s more respectful of your privacy. Apple says the data Siri has on you is “not linked to your Apple ID, email address, or other data Apple may have from your use of other Apple services.”
Such is not the case with Google Assistant as it collects transcribed audio text from your voice queries, and can even store your audio recordings if you permit it. This isn’t surprising since Google is a software company, but Apple makes most of its money from hardware.
Battery Quality
When it comes to battery life, iPhones beat Pixel phones despite having physically smaller batteries. That’s possible due to the super efficient Apple Silicon processors and highly optimized iOS operating system; the harmony of both ensures minimal power usage.
If you’re buying a bigger iPhone such as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you can expect significantly better battery life than a Pixel. But the difference is marginal if you compare the smaller iPhone 14 Pro and the Pixel 7 Pro, for example.
Android brands almost always have faster charging than iPhones, but the Pixel is a sad exception. Both iPhones and Pixel phones have about the same wired charging speeds, although the Pixel does have slightly faster wireless charging.
Sadly, iPhones still use super outdated Lightning ports against USB-C ports. Lightning ports are terribly slow at both file transfer and charging speeds compared to modern standards.
iPhone or Google Pixel: Which Is Right for You?
Deciding which phone to buy, iPhone or Google Pixel, is ultimately going to depend on your needs. You should pick the Pixel if you want more bang for your buck, more camera features, the best of Google services, quick Android updates, and a smarter voice assistant.
You should pick the iPhone if you rely on Apple services and already own other Apple devices. iPhones are also more powerful, last longer, have a more consistent camera system, get better optimization for third-party apps, and are more reliable overall.
