📢 Your product here
WhichPhoneToBuy

Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9 each come out ahead on 4 counts, so it comes down to which strengths matter to you.

Which should you buy?

Pick the Apple iPhone 16 Pro for

  • Faster wireless charging: 25 W vs 15 W
  • More compact: 3.2 mm shorter
  • Optical zoom (5×), which the other lacks
  • More storage: up to 1 TB vs 256 GB

Pick the Google Pixel 9 for

  • Bigger battery: 4,700 vs 3,582 mAh (31% more)
  • Brighter display: 2,700 vs 2,000 nits peak
  • More RAM: up to 12 GB vs 8 GB
  • Cheaper at launch: $799 vs $999

Size comparison

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is 3.2 mm shorter, 0.5 mm narrower and 0.3 mm thinner than the Google Pixel 9.

  • Apple iPhone 16 Pro149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 mm
  • Google Pixel 9152.8 × 72 × 8.5 mm

Specs side by side

LaunchApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
AnnouncedSeptember 9, 20241August 13, 2024
ReleasedSeptember 20, 20241August 22, 2024
Launch price$999$799 (better)
BodyApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
Size149.6 × 71.5 × 8.3 mm152.8 × 72 × 8.5 mm
Thickness8.3 mm8.5 mm
Weight199 g198 g
FrameTitaniumPolished metal
BackTextured matte glassSilky matte glass
Water resistanceIP68IP68
ColoursBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert TitaniumPeony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, Obsidian1
DisplayApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
Size6.3"6.3"
TypeOLEDActua
Resolution1206 × 2622 (better)1080 × 2424
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Peak brightness2,000 nits2,700 nits1 (better)
ProtectionCeramic ShieldGorilla Glass Victus 2
Performance and softwareApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
ChipsetA18 ProGoogle Tensor G4
CPU6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency)1x 3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 + 3x 2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 + 4x 1.9 GHz Cortex-A5201
Ships withiOSAndroid 14
OS updates—7 years (to Aug 2031)
Security updates—7 years (to Aug 2031)
MemoryApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
RAM8 GB12 GB (better)
Storage128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB (better)128 GB / 256 GB
Card slot—No1
CamerasApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
Rear48 MP Main, OIS 48 MP Ultrawide 12 MP Telephoto (5× optical), OIS50 MP Main 48 MP Ultrawide
Main camera48 MP50 MP
Optical zoom5× (better)None
Front12 MP10.5 MP
Video4K Dolby Vision at 120 fps4K
BatteryApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
Capacity3,582 mAh14,700 mAh (better)
Wired charging—27 W1
Wireless charging25 W (better)15 W
Reverse wireless—Yes1
ConnectivityApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
5GYesYes1
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth5.35.3
NFCYesYes
USBUSB-C, USB 3 (10Gb/s)USB-C 3.2
Headphone jack—No1
eSIMYesYes
Satellite messagingYesYes
FeaturesApple iPhone 16 ProGoogle Pixel 9
Fingerprint—Under display1
Stereo speakers—Yes1

Highlighted: the better value where one is clearly better. Sources for each phone are listed on the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9 pages.

Quick answers

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro bigger than the Google Pixel 9?
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is 3.2 mm shorter, 0.5 mm narrower and 0.3 mm thinner than the Google Pixel 9.
Which has the bigger battery, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro or the Google Pixel 9?
The Google Pixel 9 has the bigger battery: 4,700 mAh against 3,582 mAh. Real battery life also depends on the chip and screen.
Which was cheaper at launch?
The Google Pixel 9 launched at $799, against $999 for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro (US launch prices; street prices drop over time).

More comparisons