The Pixel 9 Pro excels in computational photography and AI features with superior zoom capabilities, while the iPhone 16 Pro offers better overall performance, longer battery life, and a more mature ecosystem with exclusive apps. The choice depends on whether you prioritize camera AI processing or raw speed and ecosystem lock-in.
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Google's flagship smartphone with AI-powered computational photography and 5x optical zoom
Apple's 2024 flagship with A18 Pro chip and Camera Control button
Main Camera Zoom. Processor Performance (Geekbench 6). Battery Life (real-world). Display Refresh Rate. Night Mode Performance. Price (starting). Video Recording (max)
Choose the Pixel 9 Pro if you're a photography enthusiast who values advanced computational imaging, superior zoom, and AI-powered editing tools. Choose the iPhone 16 Pro if you prioritize raw processing power, longer battery endurance, premium video capabilities, and integration with other Apple devices in an established ecosystem.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: $999 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 512 ppi (QHD+) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 120 Hz LTPO | iPhone 16 Pro: 1-120Hz ProMotion
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 5x optical (48MP) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 50MP f/1.68 OIS | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 5050 mAh | iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 7 years | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 16 GB | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 256GB | iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 199g | iPhone 16 Pro: 199 g
Google Pixel 9 Pro: IP68 | iPhone 16 Pro: IP68 (6 m, 30 min)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Gorilla Glass Armor | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Processor Performance (AnTuTu Benchmark)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Tensor 4: ~1,200,000 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 2500 nits peak | iPhone 16 Pro: 2000 nits
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 10x optical, 30x digital | iPhone 16 Pro: 5x + 12x (dual periscope)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 1,650,000 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 3000 nits | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Yes, main + ultrawide | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: $799 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Magic Eraser, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, Real Tone | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Traditional with camera bar accent | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 12 GB | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: $999 | iPhone 16 Pro: $999
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 30W wired | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 7 years Android OS + 7 security | iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 @ 3.0GHz | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 30W | iPhone 16 Pro: 45W
Google Pixel 9 Pro: ~210 minutes | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 3000 nits | iPhone 16 Pro: 2,000 nits
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 16GB / 32GB | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 128GB | iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: IP68 rated | iPhone 16 Pro: IP69 (6m for 30 mins)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Magic Eraser, Best Take, Real Tone, Advanced HDR+ | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: $799 (Pixel 9) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Google Tensor G4 (custom AI chip) | iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 4 main models (Pixel 9-9 Pro XL) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: ~0.5GB (minimal) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 6.3 inches | iPhone 16 Pro: 6.27 inches
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 2,500 nits | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 50MP | iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP (12MP output)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 50MP f/1.68 with OIS | iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP with f/1.8 aperture
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 5x optical + 20x digital | iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 16GB | iPhone 16 Pro: 8GB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 2,889 | iPhone 16 Pro: 3,358
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 5x | iPhone 16 Pro: 3x
Google Pixel 9 Pro: ~23 hours | iPhone 16 Pro: ~26 hours
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 120Hz OLED | iPhone 16 Pro: 120 Hz ProMotion
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 8K @ 30fps | iPhone 16 Pro: 4K @ 120fps
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 50MP f/1.68 with OIS | iPhone 16 Pro: 12 MP
Google Pixel 9 Pro: 7 years (until 2031) | iPhone 16 Pro: 6-7 years (typical)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hrs
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro (3nm)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, sensor-shift
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 5× optical (12 MP, 120mm eq.)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 187g
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 mm
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: $999
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Titanium frame, textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: USB-C (USB 3), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, UWB, MagSafe
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 2622×1206 (460 ppi)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 27W peak
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 48 MP f/1.78
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: $759 (Certified Refurb)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: None
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: iOS 18
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 titanium
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 5x maximum
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 512GB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 5x optical
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 3,000 nits
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: ~45 minutes (45W)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years guaranteed
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 27
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 128
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: f/1.78
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 4K 60fps
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 2,580
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline A18 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps, ProRes
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 12x dual telephoto system
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 Titanium
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 30% faster
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: ƒ/1.2
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 33 hours
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 3x (with improved processing)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hours
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical zoom
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: $1099
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP (120°)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: ~33 hours
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 6-core GPU
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 8GB
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 25W
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 2,000 nits (HDR)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline (A18 Pro)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 1/1.27" (larger)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP 5x optical
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 22
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Standard baseline
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: A18 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Full autofocus
Google Pixel 9 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 256 GB
How to choose between Google Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro
Compare Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro. Contains 122 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Google Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro.
Which phone has better zoom for photography?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro has superior zoom with 5x optical zoom compared to iPhone 16 Pro's 3x optical zoom. The Pixel's periscope telephoto lens excels at zoomed shots, reaching 30x digital zoom with AI Super Res Zoom maintaining quality. However, iPhone 16 Pro's 3x zoom is still excellent for most scenarios and has better low-light zoom performance.
The iPhone 16 Pro with A18 Pro chip is significantly faster with a Geekbench 6 single-core score of 3,358 vs Pixel 9 Pro's 2,889 (16% faster). This advantage translates to faster app launches, smoother gaming, and quicker video exports. The Pixel 9 Pro's performance is still excellent but slightly behind in raw computational speed.
iPhone 16 Pro lasts approximately 26+ hours in real-world use, about 3 hours longer than the Pixel 9 Pro's ~23 hours. Apple's optimized power management and larger battery capacity (3,582 mAh vs 4,700 mAh nominal) provide superior longevity, though the Pixel's larger battery partially compensates through efficiency.
Is the Pixel 9 Pro's night mode really better than iPhone 16 Pro?
Yes, the Pixel 9 Pro's night mode is more advanced thanks to AI-powered computational photography with features like Astrophotography mode and enhanced Magic Eraser. Independent testing shows Pixel captures brighter, more detailed night photos. However, iPhone 16 Pro's night mode is very strong for most situations and handles low-light video better.
Which phone is better for video recording?
The iPhone 16 Pro is superior for video with 4K recording at 120fps and ProRes support for professional editing, preferred by filmmakers. The Pixel 9 Pro offers 8K @ 30fps and excellent video stabilization but lacks the professional-grade tools. For serious videography, iPhone 16 Pro is the clear choice.
How to Choose Between Google Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro
Main Camera Zoom: Google Pixel 9 Pro has 5x optical zoom, while iPhone 16 Pro has 3x optical zoom.
Consider: Processor Performance (Geekbench 6)
Processor Performance (Geekbench 6): Google Pixel 9 Pro has Tensor 4: 2,889 single-core, while iPhone 16 Pro has A18 Pro: 3,358 single-core.
Battery Life (real-world): Google Pixel 9 Pro has ~23 hours, while iPhone 16 Pro has ~26 hours.
Display Refresh Rate: Google Pixel 9 Pro has 120Hz OLED, while iPhone 16 Pro has 120Hz ProMotion OLED.
Night Mode Performance: Google Pixel 9 Pro has Superior AI-powered processing, while iPhone 16 Pro has Strong computational photography.
Price (starting): Google Pixel 9 Pro has $999, while iPhone 16 Pro has $999.
Video Recording (max): Google Pixel 9 Pro has 8K @ 30fps, while iPhone 16 Pro has 4K @ 120fps.