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Apple’s iPhone 15 series was announced quite recently, and the ‘Pro Max’ model is the most powerful device in that series. We’ve already compared it to several phones, and in this article, it’s time to place one of Google’s phones on the other side. We’ll compare the Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. In other words, the most powerful smartphones these two companies have to offer. Granted, the Pixel 8 series is right around the corner, but until that happens, we’re focusing on the Pixel 7 Pro.
We’ll first list the specifications of both smartphones, and will then compare them across a number of categories. Needless to say, these two smartphones are quite different. That doesn’t go only for their software, though. Their designs are entirely different, and so are their internals. If you’re still trying to decide whether to get one of them, we do hope that this comparison will help.
Specs
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max, respectively
– Screen size:
6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1,500 nits)
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (flat, 120Hz, HDR10, 2,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
3120 x 1440
2796 x 1290
– SoC:
Google Tensor G2
Apple A17 Pro
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5)
8GB
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1)
256GB/512GB/1TB (NVMe)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (f/1.9 aperture, OIS, multi-directional PDAF), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 126-degree FoV), 48MP (telephoto, f/3.5 aperture, 5x optical zoom)
48MP (f/1.78 aperture, second-gen sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, macro photography), 12MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
10.8MP (f/2.2 aperture)
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
– Battery:
5,000mAh
4,422mAh
– Charging:
23W wired, 23W wireless, 5W reverse wireless (charger not included)
20W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wired charging (charger not included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm
– Weight:
212 grams
221 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.2/5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)
Advanced facial scanning
– OS:
Android 13
iOS 17
– Price:
$899
$1,199
– Buy:
Amazon
Apple
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is made out of aluminum and glass. It is curvier than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and has a camera visor on the back. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is made out of titanium and glass, and it has flat sides, with slightly rounded edges, for comfort. It also has a more regular camera island on the back. The two phones have a completely different in-hand feel, though both are rather comfortable to hold.
You will notice thin bezels on both smartphones, but they’re uniform only on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Google Pixel 7 Pro’s bottom bezel is slightly thicker than the rest. The Pixel 7 Pro has a centered display camera hole up top, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max includes a pill-shaped cutout, which is much larger. The Pixel 7 Pro’s camera visor is covered by metal, and it connects to the frame on the sides. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a recognizable camera layout on the back, in the top-left corner.
All the physical buttons are on the right-hand side of the Pixel 7 Pro. Only the power/lock key is on the right-hand side of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. On the left, you’ll find the volume up and down buttons, as well as an Action Button. The Pixel 7 Pro is slightly taller than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and also slightly thicker. The two phones are basically equally wide. Both devices do come with an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, and both are quite slippery in the hand. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is slightly heavier.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
The Pixel 7 Pro includes a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. That panel is curved, and offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It also supports HDR10+ content, and goes up to 1,500 nits of peak brightness. We’re looking at a 19.5:9 display aspect ratio here, and the display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.
On the flip side, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, has a 6.7-inch display too, but a different one. This panel is flat, and it’s an LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display. It has a 120Hz refresh rate too, and supports HDR10 content, along with Dolby Vision. This panel goes up to 2,000 nits of brightness, and has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, the same as the Pixel 7 Pro’s display. This panel is protected by the Ceramic Shield glass.
That being said, both of these displays are excellent. They offer vivid colors, with deep blacks, and great viewing angles. The touch response is also quite good on both of them. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display does offer higher brightness in direct sunlight, but the Pixel 7 Pro is not that far behind. Truth be said, you’ll be happy with either one of these panels, both are great.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is fueled by the Google Tensor G2 processor. That is a 5nm chip. The phone also includes 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is fueled by the Apple A17 Pro SoC, a 3nm chip. The phone is equipped with 8GB of RAM, and NVMe storage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a considerably more powerful chip out of the two.
Is that sheer power easily noticeable in day-to-day usage? Well, it’s noticeable, but only if you’re using them side by side, or have used both. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is snappier, no doubt about that. It can open up apps a bit faster, and overall it feels a bit snappier. The Pixel 7 Pro is a snappy phone too, and Google is using that processor in a rather smart way. Both phones do a great job with everyday tasks, including multitasking.
When it comes to games, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a lot more prowess. It can run console-level quality games, some of which are coming to the device. The Pixel 7 Pro does good in the gaming department, but you may have issues with the most demanding games available on the Play Store. That chip is simply not made for gaming, and the same goes for the phone itself. Both phones do get quite warm during prolonged exposure to demanding games.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery
There is a 5,000mAh battery included in the Pixel 7 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, includes a 4,422mAh battery. Apple’s iPhones usually need less battery capacity in comparison to Android phones, so this is not surprising. That is actually a good battery size for the Pro Max. That being said, how do they do in terms of battery life? Is the iPhone 15 Pro Max superior, as many expected?
Well, based on initial battery life tests, not really. The Pixel 7 Pro lingered around 7 hours of screen-on-time for us. Well, 6.5-7 hours of screen-on-time. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is not far from that, based on initial tests. In fact, it seems to be even slightly worse. Let’s hope that the battery life will improve, or that Apple will release an update to do just that. Things are not looking promising. You may get a different experience, of course, and also by the time you read this, things could change. At the moment, however, the battery life on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is far from great.
When it comes to charging, the Pixel 7 Pro supports 23W wired, 23W wireless, and also 5W reverse wireless charging. The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 20W wired, 15W wireless (MagSafe), and 7.5W Qi wireless charging. Qi2 charging will be supported as well, once it comes to the stage, and the phone can also reverse charge other devices via a wire. Neither of the two phones includes a charger in the box.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
The Pixel 7 Pro has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (126-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, includes a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV), and a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (5x optical zoom).
Both of these smartphones shoot great pictures and videos, but there are quite a few differences. The images from the Pixel 7 Pro do look more processed, but that’s what most people will likely prefer either way. Also, the Pixel 7 Pro still has the edge when it comes to HDR shots. The iPhone 15 Pro Max still overexposes the background in many such scenarios, though the situation is a lot better than it was on the iPhone 14 Pro series.
Both phones do provide you with detailed, and sharp images during the day. The colors are outstanding on both smartphones, and there’s very little to complain about. During the night, both do a great job. The iPhone 15 Pro Max tends to keep images a bit darker, to be closer to real life, but they’re still great, with great colors and detail. The Pixel 7 Pro tends to make them a bit brighter, though. When the video is concerned, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is still the king, basically. The Pixel 7 Pro is not bad in the video department, though, not at all.
Audio
You’ll find a set of stereo speakers on both of these phones. The sound output is good on both, and on par, basically. The iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn’t bring a notable improvement in that regard over the iPhone 14 Pro Max. They’re both loud enough too.
An audio jack is not present on either device. The good news is that the iPhone 15 Pro Max does have a Type-C USB port now. You can utilize that port on both phones to connect your wired headphones. If you prefer to go wireless, the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max offer Bluetooth 5.2 and Bluetooth 5.3, respectively.