Comparative iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 8 Pro.
At home I ended up with two of the most recent developments in the world of telephony: the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, so I take the opportunity to compare them. Let's start.
Exterior.
On the outside, we have two very well built phones, although at this point I'm sticking with the iPhone, now I'll explain why.
The iPhone has very tight bezels, being one of the phones with the smallest bezel on the market, I think surpassed by the new Xioami 14/14 Pro. That makes it look more stylish and modern to the eye. The iPhone has the "Dynamic Island" for my taste somewhat large, although it has some interesting features.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has the bezels tighter than the 7 Pro, but they are not completely symmetrical, which considering its price, they should have worked a little more. The Pixel has a perforated front camera, which is not excessively annoying.
The feel of the buttons on the iPhone is exquisite, they do not move to the touch - something that does happen on the Pixel -. The frame, titanium on the iPhone, aluminum on the Pixel, and the back have a more refined feel and the joints between the chassis and the glass is thinner and less "rough" than on the Google Pixel.
On the back, both have a matte glass. In these cases the phones are black in the case of the Pixel and blue in the case of the iPhone. Both are dirty, very dirty, I recommend if you are very manic about fingerprints go for the lighter colors of both phones.
Both have a lot of personality. The Pixel has its characteristic band, premiered with the Pixel 6, which this year integrates the three cameras in a single glass, unlike last year. It has the frame in aluminum, in the same tone as the chassis, being just as delicate as in the Pixel 7, so I would strongly recommend putting case to these phones. It also has a thermometer, which is not very useful, honestly.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features its huge triangular-shaped camera module. The matte and glossy glass in the camera area, remains, despite carrying from the iPhone 11 Pro so, a very elegant solution, at least for my taste. It has a LiDAR that allows advanced functions and improvements in photography, as it allows to analyze the depth of field.
The iPhone in the hand gives the feeling that it is lighter than the Pixel, although it really isn't - the Pixel 8 Pro weighs 213gr and the 15 Pro Max 221gr -. I guess the iPhone's internal components are better distributed, but it feels great in the hand.
However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, compared to its predecessor, the 7 Pro, improves quite a bit in construction, it feels more careful, the buttons, the joints between the glass and the chassis, is better made than in its predecessor.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max feels more compact and lighter, which is appreciated, as the 13 Pro Max (and the 14 Pro Max which is the same) sometimes becomes somewhat uncomfortable in the hand, both by dimensions and weight.
The Pixel 8 Pro is wider than the 7 Pro, I guess because the previous model had the curved screen, which made it narrower. However, despite the above, I find it grips better in the hand.
As a final detail, comment that the iPhone, after 16 years, has a standard connector for charging and transferring files, carrying USB-C 3.0.
Display.
Both feature a 6.7" display, with spectacular resolution, adaptive LTPO displays ranging from 1hz to 120hz. The Pixel boasts a peak brightness of 2400 nits, while the iPhone boasts a peak brightness of 2000 nits. In HDR they both reach 1600 nits. A barbarity in both.
Both screens are spectacular, and I consider them to be some of the best screens you can have on a phone today. Perfect colors, contrast, etc. I have no complaints with either of them.
The viewing angles on both are very good, but in this regard I think the iPhone is a notch better.
Both have the ability to have AOD, the iPhone's is a bit more customizable, although if you have it with the wallpaper, it honestly feels like the phone never turns off, it's annoying. I don't really like this feature on either phone, so it's something I always turn off.
On the Pixel I miss that it doesn't have the "True Tone", it's something I'm used to on other products and it's something that's nice to have, and that other Android devices
Processor.
We come to the most controversial point of both phones. Both have their own processors.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max carries the A17 Pro, an ARM SoC developed by TSMC on 3nm. The Google Pixel carries the Tensor G3, an ARM SoC developed by Samsung on 5nm.
Personally, I have not had any problems with both, although it is true that I have already configured them with the latest updates. I have not noticed configuring them with excessive heating problems, nor strange things - they got warm as normal in an installation process -.
In terms of power, both are very powerful, fluid and honestly I have not had any problems with both for everyday tasks.
However, the iPhone 15 feels much faster in medium and demanding tasks, especially editing photos with Pixelmator or with the native app. In games the iPhone 15 opens them much faster, keeps the framerate more stable than the Pixel and does not heat up as much in a "prolonged" use (20 minutes).
Pixel with advanced AI tasks, it takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute at times, which somewhat detracts from the overall experience, which is generally quite good.
Battery.
I haven't been able to test them much either as I set them up on Thursday and between setting them up and so on, they are still fresh. However, today afternoon, after having charged them Friday morning to the max, the Pixel has 49% and the iPhone 68%, being used the iPhone already with card and as main device (the Pixel still doesn't have SIM card, because I have to order the eSIM).
As I've been reading, I'm guessing the iPhone will be a bit higher in autonomy than the Pixel.
Sound.
The sound on both is good, but I consider the iPhone superior, both in volume and body, having much more bass and midrange.
With both at 50%, the iPhone sounds significantly louder.
The Google Pixel sounds good, but flatter and at maximum volume it gets to distort somewhat, which the iPhone does not.
Software.
This topic is already quite personal and honestly, over the years both systems work very well, being two mature and stable systems, copying each other in functionalities. A pity that there are only two players in software today.
The Google Pixel has Android "Pure", incorporating numerous features from the AI, especially at the photographic level, which give quite a lot of play to the mobile. It is a layer that I like a lot, with own wallpapers and own tones very careful, an interface that "merges" with the background, by using complementary colors to those existing in the background, which makes it go personal and "cozy" for the user. I like the option that has the icons are also displayed in the color of the interface, I find it more visually appealing than with the "standard" icons, although it is not with all apps.
With Android 14, we can slightly customize the lock screen, just like in iOS since version 16, having plenty to choose from.
The Pixel has infinite functions that I have not even been able to test, but in general terms it goes very well, everything works smoothly and without any problems.
In addition, with this phone we have 7 years of updates, an important milestone for those who put up with the phone a lot. Apple never says until when it updates, usually about 5/6 years, depending on the model and software version. We'll see if Apple says something in the future or remains at the "expense" of what comes, as it usually does.
iOS 17 is a minor update of iOS 16. Now with iOS 17.1 version brings greater stability and significantly improves the autonomy of all phones. iOS is a very neat layer, although increasingly complex and with some things that put me off, as the menu to customize the action button, for example, that little or nothing resembles the settings of any other aspect of the phone and that for my taste is... strange.
The connectivity of iOS with the Apple ecosystem is fantastic, which is why many people stay (we stay) within Apple. AirDrop, AirPlay, Handoff, are details that when you use them daily you value and appreciate. The connection with AirPods between devices is very comfortable, as well as the Apple Watch, which for me is still the best smartwatch on the market and the "anchor" of many to not leave iOS.
However, I find that notification control on Android is still superior to iOS, despite attempts to improve it.
On the other hand, I consider that the quality of apps on iOS is still superior to Android, especially at the aesthetic level, since Apple is much more demanding in this regard than Google, which seems to me a mistake, since you lose a little of the "experience" when using certain apps on Android, which feel taken directly from iOS and it feels... weird.
In short, we have two great operating systems, each with its strengths and weaknesses. However, today I do not understand the "war" between Android and iOS, since they are two excellent operating systems that work very well. That both have been taking "ideas" from each other is the best for us, and today they are at a very high aesthetic and functional level.
Google this year bet everything on AI, and over time I will be testing all those features. Apple seems to be going for it with iOS 18, we'll see what it has in store for us in that regard.
From iOS I would like a redesign of the general interface, since since iOS 7 have been with a very similar design and seeing the "Material UI" of Pixel, something like this in Apple would seem interesting to me. Also a better management of notifications.
On Android I would like to see more visual cohesion between native and third-party apps, as well as somewhat smoother animations.
Cameras.
Let's get down to what interests me most. The cameras. Both opt for a similar camera system, with 3 main lenses, one ultra-wide-angle, one wide-angle, 2x zoom and 5x optical zoom, periscopic on the Pixel and tetraprism on the iPhone.
The technical characteristics of the Pixel cameras are as follows:
Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide angle), 1/1.31" sensor size, OIS. It sports a GNV ISOCELL, as opposed to the GN1 ISOCELL equipped by previous Pixels.
Telephoto camera: 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (telephoto), 1/2.55" sensor size, 5x optical zoom.
Ultra wide-angle camera: 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultra wide-angle).
The camera features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max are as follows:
Main camera: 48MP, f/1.78, 24mm, 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS.
Telephoto camera: 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm, 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 5x optical zoom.
Ultra wide-angle camera: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
On paper, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has identical photographic hardware to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, except for the telephoto lens.
However, in the Pixel all the sensors have been modified this year, all already having a similar resolution and the telephoto lens has noticeably improved its focal length to offer, in theory, better photographic quality in low light conditions.
A priori I thought that the results would be similar, but surprisingly they are not. The processing of the iPhone and the Google are totally opposite, which I don't think is a bad thing, since both offer a particular "look" of their own, which can be liked more or less, but that's what post-processing is for.
Let's get down to business.I put the photos together, so as not to fill everything with photos and try to do everything in a single thread. The ones on the left are from the Pixel and the ones on the right are from the iPhone.
If anyone wants to see the original photos:
In daytime photography, in backlit scenes both do a good job. In the first photo, taken with the 5X zoom, shortly after sunrise and with the sun still low, both take a pretty good shot. However, the iPhone, as it always tends to do, takes a fairly warm shot, to the detriment of the Pixel, which tends to take cooler pictures. Neither does a white balance like the actual scene.
Going more in depth, the iPhone has more contrast, perhaps a bit too much contrast, the Pixel perhaps lacks a bit of contrast to its detriment, and the Pixel's definition and detail is distinctly superior.
In this first shot I would go with the Pixel photo.
In daytime shots, this shot taken at 0.5X, we again observe a warmer shot on the iPhone and cooler on the Pixel, with the Google model's white balance being more realistic. The iPhone has slightly more noise, but has more definition and deforms the image less than the Google model. The Pixel overexposes the scene, with the iPhone doing a better job with lighting.
In this shot I'm sticking with the iPhone.
Now the same shot at 1X, we observe similar behavior in both cameras. HDR does a better job on the iPhone, but overexposes slightly more than the Pixel. On the subject of definition and sharpness, I see them on par, perhaps slightly the Pixel is superior in definition, but the differences are negligible.
In this shot I'm sticking with the Pixel.
The following shot of the same scene at 2X, in which both do an "optical quality crop", we observe a homogeneous behavior in both phones. In terms of "cropping", I consider that the Pixel maintains better quality than the iPhone, as I observe better detail and sharpness in the decorative elements of the pillars and in the railings of the railings.
The iPhone does a better job with the lighting, the Pixel perhaps overexposes a bit too much, especially in the upper glass area.
In this shot I have a hard time deciding. I think I'd pick the iPhone, but I like both, really.
The last shot, with the 5X zoom, in neither the white balance is perfect, as both tend to a warmer tone. In terms of sharpness and detail the Pixel is clearly superior to the iPhone, with details of ornamental elements being better observed on the Google. Light treatment is better on the Pixel than on the iPhone.
In this shot I'm sticking with the Pixel.
In another daytime shot, taken at 1X, we note that, interestingly, the white balance on the Pixel is warmer than on the iPhone. HDR on both works well, the Pixel controls the highlights better, the iPhone overexposes the scene a bit. I like the contrast better on the Pixel. Detail and sharpness is better on the Pixel.
In this shot the Pixel wins.
Another of the same scene, taken with the 5X zoom, the Pixel again tends to a warmer balance than the iPhone, has higher contrast, although I think the iPhone has better lighting control. In terms of sharpness and detail both offer similar detail, somewhat higher on the Pixel, but in this case the differences are very small.
The iPhone offers a more "real" image, while the Pixel offers a photograph with a more visually appealing look. I personally like the Pixel's better.
In the next photo, taken with the 1X, already at dusk, we observe that the iPhone tends to a warmer white balance, the Pixel being more realistic in this scene, cooler. The iPhone contrasts the photo more and controls the highlights better than the Pixel. The Pixel has more definition and detail.
In this shot I would go with the Pixel.
In the next shot, also at 1X, we observe a tree, at sunset. Warmer white balance on the iPhone, cooler on the Pixel. In this case the HDR works better on the iPhone, giving much more information from the tree than the Pixel. Detail in this case is similar, perhaps slightly better on the Pixel.
In this scene I'm sticking with the iPhone.
Next photo, with the 5X zoom, I consider the Pixel a direct winner. The HDR does a good job, good detail and sharpness for the low light that was in the environment. The iPhone takes a much darker shot, leaving less detail, sharpness and definition than the Pixel.
In this photograph, taken at 2X "optical" on both, we observe something similar to the other photograph. Same white balance and better HDR work on the iPhone. At detail level both are similar.
In this picture I'm sticking with the iPhone.
This scene of a door, quite dark, in 5X, in the Pixel the night mode was activated, not so in the iPhone. Although the Pixel gets more light (because of the night mode), I consider that the iPhone photograph, despite being darker and having more noise, I see more sharpness and better control of the lights.
I'll stick with the iPhone photograph.
A photograph of a new Hyundai Kona. The iPhone with a warmer white balance, the Pixel cooler, somewhat more realistic. I notice more detail in the iPhone, and better HDR in the Pixel.
I would go with the iPhone photograph.
Another shot at 2X. Same white balance as the rest of the photos, slightly more realistic on the Pixel, the iPhone in low light tends to take warmer photos. HDR works better on the Pixel, giving a much more vivid and better processed scene.
Here a clear win for the Pixel.
A wide-angle shot at night. In this shot I consider that both deform relatively little the extremes. In the iPhone, in addition to a warmer white balance, we observe more noise in the image and better control of the lights, which is seen in the illuminated turret. In detail the Pixel wins by quite a bit.
I have a hard time deciding which one is better, I think I would go with the Pixel one.
Another wide angle shot, of a nice DS3. The Pixel illuminates the scene much better and has a bit more detail, as you can see on the car tire or the building. The lights are better controlled on the iPhone. I think the iPhone distorts the image somewhat less.
Here I'll stick with the Pixel one.
A photo of a cloud already getting dark, at 5X. The iPhone I think does a better white balance, but the detail and definition is better on the Pixel.
Very similar photo between the two. I think I would go with the iPhone.
Another photo of a street lit by streetlights taken at 5X. The Pixel does something weird with streetlights, but it has better white balance and sharpness. It also controls the highlights better, as you can see in the trees where you can see more detail in the lit areas than on the iPhone. The iPhone has much more noise and is warmer, which is a bit excessive in this photograph.
I'll stick with the Pixel one.
The last one, at 2X. The iPhone has a warmer shot and I think it matched the actual scene better than on the Pixel. The Pixel gives more light to the dark areas. Detail level is similar, slightly better on the Pixel.
Again I'm having a hard time deciding between the two, maybe I'd go with the iPhone.
In summary, I consider that both offer a very good photographic level, each one with its own particularities, which I consider positive, since it allows offering different photographic styles and "looks" that will make the user choose what he/she prefers, just as it happens with professional cameras.
The jump in the iPhone between cameras I find more consistent, seeming that there is hardly any difference between cameras. On the Pixel I do find differences between the three cameras, particularly with the telephoto lens. Also the jump between cameras is smoother and more homogeneous on the iPhone, although the Pixel does not do badly at all.
I like the Google Pixel 8 Pro's processing better overall than the iPhone's. In RAW both offer impressive photo quality, with amazing detail quality and sharpness for mobile.
The truth is that both phones take very good pictures and I don't think any photo enthusiast will be disappointed with either phone.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max vastly improves the processing over the iPhone 13 Pro Max I have, which is absolute garbage at the processing level.
The Pixel 8 Pro continues Google's good track record in this regard.
As for video I haven't tested it much, but the iPhone is quite a bit better in terms of white balance, lighting control and stabilization. In this regard, the iPhone is a step above the Google.
The selfie camera is good on both, again, slightly warmer on the iPhone and cooler on the Pixel, but they offer good detail and face information. Neither is a must-have for me. Both have autofocus.
Conclusions.
We have two awesome phones and it will ultimately depend more on what you are used to using more than anything else.
The iPhone is better built, is noticeably faster when you play games or place demands on the phone, has a relatively longer battery life, and shoots better video.
The Pixel offers a slightly superior camera in photography and more advanced AI software.
The differences between the two are quite small, although there are some, and that is what I wanted to reflect in this "comparison".
Google, since the Pixel 6, I consider that it has made a very important leap, being attractive and very good phones, especially in photography, although the Tensor falls somewhat short for the full potential of the phone, although it does not take away that for normal use, it has more than enough power, but in the end, if you want to go further and use the functionalities of the AI... there it falls somewhat short. After having had a 7 Pro, this 8 is another leap in the right direction, improving many aspects of the previous year's model.
The iPhone, as a user of one since I don't even know, is a very mature product... and boring. Having a 13 Pro Max, removing the smaller bezels, the Dynamic Island and camera improvements (notable, but not enough to justify a change on my part), in all other respects is ... the same iPhone as always. Which is not bad, not at all, but today an annual change seems to me totally unjustified, bi-annual, I do not see it either and I would say even tri-annual. Who has an iPhone 11 Pro or earlier, if you notice a big change, but from a 12 to 15 the change are details, which, at the end of the day, few will notice, such as 120hz, a better camera or more power.
Also note that the Pixel costs about €250 less than the iPhone (128GB base vs 256GB base, that too).
And you, which one would you choose?
At home I ended up with two of the most recent developments in the world of telephony: the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, so I take the opportunity to compare them. Let's start.
Exterior.
On the outside, we have two very well built phones, although at this point I'm sticking with the iPhone, now I'll explain why.
The iPhone has very tight bezels, being one of the phones with the smallest bezel on the market, I think surpassed by the new Xioami 14/14 Pro. That makes it look more stylish and modern to the eye. The iPhone has the "Dynamic Island" for my taste somewhat large, although it has some interesting features.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has the bezels tighter than the 7 Pro, but they are not completely symmetrical, which considering its price, they should have worked a little more. The Pixel has a perforated front camera, which is not excessively annoying.
The feel of the buttons on the iPhone is exquisite, they do not move to the touch - something that does happen on the Pixel -. The frame, titanium on the iPhone, aluminum on the Pixel, and the back have a more refined feel and the joints between the chassis and the glass is thinner and less "rough" than on the Google Pixel.
On the back, both have a matte glass. In these cases the phones are black in the case of the Pixel and blue in the case of the iPhone. Both are dirty, very dirty, I recommend if you are very manic about fingerprints go for the lighter colors of both phones.
Both have a lot of personality. The Pixel has its characteristic band, premiered with the Pixel 6, which this year integrates the three cameras in a single glass, unlike last year. It has the frame in aluminum, in the same tone as the chassis, being just as delicate as in the Pixel 7, so I would strongly recommend putting case to these phones. It also has a thermometer, which is not very useful, honestly.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features its huge triangular-shaped camera module. The matte and glossy glass in the camera area, remains, despite carrying from the iPhone 11 Pro so, a very elegant solution, at least for my taste. It has a LiDAR that allows advanced functions and improvements in photography, as it allows to analyze the depth of field.
The iPhone in the hand gives the feeling that it is lighter than the Pixel, although it really isn't - the Pixel 8 Pro weighs 213gr and the 15 Pro Max 221gr -. I guess the iPhone's internal components are better distributed, but it feels great in the hand.
However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, compared to its predecessor, the 7 Pro, improves quite a bit in construction, it feels more careful, the buttons, the joints between the glass and the chassis, is better made than in its predecessor.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max feels more compact and lighter, which is appreciated, as the 13 Pro Max (and the 14 Pro Max which is the same) sometimes becomes somewhat uncomfortable in the hand, both by dimensions and weight.
The Pixel 8 Pro is wider than the 7 Pro, I guess because the previous model had the curved screen, which made it narrower. However, despite the above, I find it grips better in the hand.
As a final detail, comment that the iPhone, after 16 years, has a standard connector for charging and transferring files, carrying USB-C 3.0.
Display.
Both feature a 6.7" display, with spectacular resolution, adaptive LTPO displays ranging from 1hz to 120hz. The Pixel boasts a peak brightness of 2400 nits, while the iPhone boasts a peak brightness of 2000 nits. In HDR they both reach 1600 nits. A barbarity in both.
Both screens are spectacular, and I consider them to be some of the best screens you can have on a phone today. Perfect colors, contrast, etc. I have no complaints with either of them.
The viewing angles on both are very good, but in this regard I think the iPhone is a notch better.
Both have the ability to have AOD, the iPhone's is a bit more customizable, although if you have it with the wallpaper, it honestly feels like the phone never turns off, it's annoying. I don't really like this feature on either phone, so it's something I always turn off.
On the Pixel I miss that it doesn't have the "True Tone", it's something I'm used to on other products and it's something that's nice to have, and that other Android devices
Processor.
We come to the most controversial point of both phones. Both have their own processors.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max carries the A17 Pro, an ARM SoC developed by TSMC on 3nm. The Google Pixel carries the Tensor G3, an ARM SoC developed by Samsung on 5nm.
Personally, I have not had any problems with both, although it is true that I have already configured them with the latest updates. I have not noticed configuring them with excessive heating problems, nor strange things - they got warm as normal in an installation process -.
In terms of power, both are very powerful, fluid and honestly I have not had any problems with both for everyday tasks.
However, the iPhone 15 feels much faster in medium and demanding tasks, especially editing photos with Pixelmator or with the native app. In games the iPhone 15 opens them much faster, keeps the framerate more stable than the Pixel and does not heat up as much in a "prolonged" use (20 minutes).
Pixel with advanced AI tasks, it takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute at times, which somewhat detracts from the overall experience, which is generally quite good.
Battery.
I haven't been able to test them much either as I set them up on Thursday and between setting them up and so on, they are still fresh. However, today afternoon, after having charged them Friday morning to the max, the Pixel has 49% and the iPhone 68%, being used the iPhone already with card and as main device (the Pixel still doesn't have SIM card, because I have to order the eSIM).
As I've been reading, I'm guessing the iPhone will be a bit higher in autonomy than the Pixel.
Sound.
The sound on both is good, but I consider the iPhone superior, both in volume and body, having much more bass and midrange.
With both at 50%, the iPhone sounds significantly louder.
The Google Pixel sounds good, but flatter and at maximum volume it gets to distort somewhat, which the iPhone does not.
Software.
This topic is already quite personal and honestly, over the years both systems work very well, being two mature and stable systems, copying each other in functionalities. A pity that there are only two players in software today.
The Google Pixel has Android "Pure", incorporating numerous features from the AI, especially at the photographic level, which give quite a lot of play to the mobile. It is a layer that I like a lot, with own wallpapers and own tones very careful, an interface that "merges" with the background, by using complementary colors to those existing in the background, which makes it go personal and "cozy" for the user. I like the option that has the icons are also displayed in the color of the interface, I find it more visually appealing than with the "standard" icons, although it is not with all apps.
With Android 14, we can slightly customize the lock screen, just like in iOS since version 16, having plenty to choose from.
The Pixel has infinite functions that I have not even been able to test, but in general terms it goes very well, everything works smoothly and without any problems.
In addition, with this phone we have 7 years of updates, an important milestone for those who put up with the phone a lot. Apple never says until when it updates, usually about 5/6 years, depending on the model and software version. We'll see if Apple says something in the future or remains at the "expense" of what comes, as it usually does.
iOS 17 is a minor update of iOS 16. Now with iOS 17.1 version brings greater stability and significantly improves the autonomy of all phones. iOS is a very neat layer, although increasingly complex and with some things that put me off, as the menu to customize the action button, for example, that little or nothing resembles the settings of any other aspect of the phone and that for my taste is... strange.
The connectivity of iOS with the Apple ecosystem is fantastic, which is why many people stay (we stay) within Apple. AirDrop, AirPlay, Handoff, are details that when you use them daily you value and appreciate. The connection with AirPods between devices is very comfortable, as well as the Apple Watch, which for me is still the best smartwatch on the market and the "anchor" of many to not leave iOS.
However, I find that notification control on Android is still superior to iOS, despite attempts to improve it.
On the other hand, I consider that the quality of apps on iOS is still superior to Android, especially at the aesthetic level, since Apple is much more demanding in this regard than Google, which seems to me a mistake, since you lose a little of the "experience" when using certain apps on Android, which feel taken directly from iOS and it feels... weird.
In short, we have two great operating systems, each with its strengths and weaknesses. However, today I do not understand the "war" between Android and iOS, since they are two excellent operating systems that work very well. That both have been taking "ideas" from each other is the best for us, and today they are at a very high aesthetic and functional level.
Google this year bet everything on AI, and over time I will be testing all those features. Apple seems to be going for it with iOS 18, we'll see what it has in store for us in that regard.
From iOS I would like a redesign of the general interface, since since iOS 7 have been with a very similar design and seeing the "Material UI" of Pixel, something like this in Apple would seem interesting to me. Also a better management of notifications.
On Android I would like to see more visual cohesion between native and third-party apps, as well as somewhat smoother animations.
Cameras.
Let's get down to what interests me most. The cameras. Both opt for a similar camera system, with 3 main lenses, one ultra-wide-angle, one wide-angle, 2x zoom and 5x optical zoom, periscopic on the Pixel and tetraprism on the iPhone.
The technical characteristics of the Pixel cameras are as follows:
Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide angle), 1/1.31" sensor size, OIS. It sports a GNV ISOCELL, as opposed to the GN1 ISOCELL equipped by previous Pixels.
Telephoto camera: 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (telephoto), 1/2.55" sensor size, 5x optical zoom.
Ultra wide-angle camera: 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultra wide-angle).
The camera features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max are as follows:
Main camera: 48MP, f/1.78, 24mm, 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS.
Telephoto camera: 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm, 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 5x optical zoom.
Ultra wide-angle camera: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
On paper, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has identical photographic hardware to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, except for the telephoto lens.
However, in the Pixel all the sensors have been modified this year, all already having a similar resolution and the telephoto lens has noticeably improved its focal length to offer, in theory, better photographic quality in low light conditions.
A priori I thought that the results would be similar, but surprisingly they are not. The processing of the iPhone and the Google are totally opposite, which I don't think is a bad thing, since both offer a particular "look" of their own, which can be liked more or less, but that's what post-processing is for.
Let's get down to business.I put the photos together, so as not to fill everything with photos and try to do everything in a single thread. The ones on the left are from the Pixel and the ones on the right are from the iPhone.
If anyone wants to see the original photos:
In daytime photography, in backlit scenes both do a good job. In the first photo, taken with the 5X zoom, shortly after sunrise and with the sun still low, both take a pretty good shot. However, the iPhone, as it always tends to do, takes a fairly warm shot, to the detriment of the Pixel, which tends to take cooler pictures. Neither does a white balance like the actual scene.
Going more in depth, the iPhone has more contrast, perhaps a bit too much contrast, the Pixel perhaps lacks a bit of contrast to its detriment, and the Pixel's definition and detail is distinctly superior.
In this first shot I would go with the Pixel photo.
In daytime shots, this shot taken at 0.5X, we again observe a warmer shot on the iPhone and cooler on the Pixel, with the Google model's white balance being more realistic. The iPhone has slightly more noise, but has more definition and deforms the image less than the Google model. The Pixel overexposes the scene, with the iPhone doing a better job with lighting.
In this shot I'm sticking with the iPhone.
Now the same shot at 1X, we observe similar behavior in both cameras. HDR does a better job on the iPhone, but overexposes slightly more than the Pixel. On the subject of definition and sharpness, I see them on par, perhaps slightly the Pixel is superior in definition, but the differences are negligible.
In this shot I'm sticking with the Pixel.
The following shot of the same scene at 2X, in which both do an "optical quality crop", we observe a homogeneous behavior in both phones. In terms of "cropping", I consider that the Pixel maintains better quality than the iPhone, as I observe better detail and sharpness in the decorative elements of the pillars and in the railings of the railings.
The iPhone does a better job with the lighting, the Pixel perhaps overexposes a bit too much, especially in the upper glass area.
In this shot I have a hard time deciding. I think I'd pick the iPhone, but I like both, really.
The last shot, with the 5X zoom, in neither the white balance is perfect, as both tend to a warmer tone. In terms of sharpness and detail the Pixel is clearly superior to the iPhone, with details of ornamental elements being better observed on the Google. Light treatment is better on the Pixel than on the iPhone.
In this shot I'm sticking with the Pixel.
In another daytime shot, taken at 1X, we note that, interestingly, the white balance on the Pixel is warmer than on the iPhone. HDR on both works well, the Pixel controls the highlights better, the iPhone overexposes the scene a bit. I like the contrast better on the Pixel. Detail and sharpness is better on the Pixel.
In this shot the Pixel wins.
Another of the same scene, taken with the 5X zoom, the Pixel again tends to a warmer balance than the iPhone, has higher contrast, although I think the iPhone has better lighting control. In terms of sharpness and detail both offer similar detail, somewhat higher on the Pixel, but in this case the differences are very small.
The iPhone offers a more "real" image, while the Pixel offers a photograph with a more visually appealing look. I personally like the Pixel's better.
In the next photo, taken with the 1X, already at dusk, we observe that the iPhone tends to a warmer white balance, the Pixel being more realistic in this scene, cooler. The iPhone contrasts the photo more and controls the highlights better than the Pixel. The Pixel has more definition and detail.
In this shot I would go with the Pixel.
In the next shot, also at 1X, we observe a tree, at sunset. Warmer white balance on the iPhone, cooler on the Pixel. In this case the HDR works better on the iPhone, giving much more information from the tree than the Pixel. Detail in this case is similar, perhaps slightly better on the Pixel.
In this scene I'm sticking with the iPhone.
Next photo, with the 5X zoom, I consider the Pixel a direct winner. The HDR does a good job, good detail and sharpness for the low light that was in the environment. The iPhone takes a much darker shot, leaving less detail, sharpness and definition than the Pixel.
In this photograph, taken at 2X "optical" on both, we observe something similar to the other photograph. Same white balance and better HDR work on the iPhone. At detail level both are similar.
In this picture I'm sticking with the iPhone.
This scene of a door, quite dark, in 5X, in the Pixel the night mode was activated, not so in the iPhone. Although the Pixel gets more light (because of the night mode), I consider that the iPhone photograph, despite being darker and having more noise, I see more sharpness and better control of the lights.
I'll stick with the iPhone photograph.
A photograph of a new Hyundai Kona. The iPhone with a warmer white balance, the Pixel cooler, somewhat more realistic. I notice more detail in the iPhone, and better HDR in the Pixel.
I would go with the iPhone photograph.
Another shot at 2X. Same white balance as the rest of the photos, slightly more realistic on the Pixel, the iPhone in low light tends to take warmer photos. HDR works better on the Pixel, giving a much more vivid and better processed scene.
Here a clear win for the Pixel.
A wide-angle shot at night. In this shot I consider that both deform relatively little the extremes. In the iPhone, in addition to a warmer white balance, we observe more noise in the image and better control of the lights, which is seen in the illuminated turret. In detail the Pixel wins by quite a bit.
I have a hard time deciding which one is better, I think I would go with the Pixel one.
Another wide angle shot, of a nice DS3. The Pixel illuminates the scene much better and has a bit more detail, as you can see on the car tire or the building. The lights are better controlled on the iPhone. I think the iPhone distorts the image somewhat less.
Here I'll stick with the Pixel one.
A photo of a cloud already getting dark, at 5X. The iPhone I think does a better white balance, but the detail and definition is better on the Pixel.
Very similar photo between the two. I think I would go with the iPhone.
Another photo of a street lit by streetlights taken at 5X. The Pixel does something weird with streetlights, but it has better white balance and sharpness. It also controls the highlights better, as you can see in the trees where you can see more detail in the lit areas than on the iPhone. The iPhone has much more noise and is warmer, which is a bit excessive in this photograph.
I'll stick with the Pixel one.
The last one, at 2X. The iPhone has a warmer shot and I think it matched the actual scene better than on the Pixel. The Pixel gives more light to the dark areas. Detail level is similar, slightly better on the Pixel.
Again I'm having a hard time deciding between the two, maybe I'd go with the iPhone.
In summary, I consider that both offer a very good photographic level, each one with its own particularities, which I consider positive, since it allows offering different photographic styles and "looks" that will make the user choose what he/she prefers, just as it happens with professional cameras.
The jump in the iPhone between cameras I find more consistent, seeming that there is hardly any difference between cameras. On the Pixel I do find differences between the three cameras, particularly with the telephoto lens. Also the jump between cameras is smoother and more homogeneous on the iPhone, although the Pixel does not do badly at all.
I like the Google Pixel 8 Pro's processing better overall than the iPhone's. In RAW both offer impressive photo quality, with amazing detail quality and sharpness for mobile.
The truth is that both phones take very good pictures and I don't think any photo enthusiast will be disappointed with either phone.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max vastly improves the processing over the iPhone 13 Pro Max I have, which is absolute garbage at the processing level.
The Pixel 8 Pro continues Google's good track record in this regard.
As for video I haven't tested it much, but the iPhone is quite a bit better in terms of white balance, lighting control and stabilization. In this regard, the iPhone is a step above the Google.
The selfie camera is good on both, again, slightly warmer on the iPhone and cooler on the Pixel, but they offer good detail and face information. Neither is a must-have for me. Both have autofocus.
Conclusions.
We have two awesome phones and it will ultimately depend more on what you are used to using more than anything else.
The iPhone is better built, is noticeably faster when you play games or place demands on the phone, has a relatively longer battery life, and shoots better video.
The Pixel offers a slightly superior camera in photography and more advanced AI software.
The differences between the two are quite small, although there are some, and that is what I wanted to reflect in this "comparison".
Google, since the Pixel 6, I consider that it has made a very important leap, being attractive and very good phones, especially in photography, although the Tensor falls somewhat short for the full potential of the phone, although it does not take away that for normal use, it has more than enough power, but in the end, if you want to go further and use the functionalities of the AI... there it falls somewhat short. After having had a 7 Pro, this 8 is another leap in the right direction, improving many aspects of the previous year's model.
The iPhone, as a user of one since I don't even know, is a very mature product... and boring. Having a 13 Pro Max, removing the smaller bezels, the Dynamic Island and camera improvements (notable, but not enough to justify a change on my part), in all other respects is ... the same iPhone as always. Which is not bad, not at all, but today an annual change seems to me totally unjustified, bi-annual, I do not see it either and I would say even tri-annual. Who has an iPhone 11 Pro or earlier, if you notice a big change, but from a 12 to 15 the change are details, which, at the end of the day, few will notice, such as 120hz, a better camera or more power.
Also note that the Pixel costs about €250 less than the iPhone (128GB base vs 256GB base, that too).
And you, which one would you choose?
