Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Specs, Camera & Battery
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.8-inch Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (with Google Tensor G5) that was released on August 20, 2025, against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is powered by Apple A18 Pro and came out 11 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Price Comparison
| Model | Base Spec Price (USA) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | $1,199 (Best Buy) | Price for the 256 GB unlocked version. Higher storage options cost more. (PhoneArena) |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | $1,199 (AT&T) | Also has 256 GB as base model for Pro Max. Higher-storage versions are more expensive. (Best Buy) |
Key Differences
| Category | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 16GB vs 8GB – Offers smoother multitasking and better handling of heavy apps. | 8GB is still efficient but less than Pixel. |
| Bluetooth | v6.0 – Provides better stability and efficiency for wireless connections. | Older Bluetooth version. |
| Release Date | 11 months newer – More up-to-date hardware and software optimizations. | Older device by comparison. |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint scanner – Additional unlock option besides face recognition. | Face ID only. |
| Charging | 45W vs 30W – Faster wired charging, reducing wait times. | Slower at 30W. |
| CPU Cores | +2 more cores – Handles parallel tasks more efficiently. | Slightly fewer CPU cores. |
| Performance (AnTuTu) | 1508K – High performance, but lower than iPhone. | 1855K (+23%) – Better overall benchmark score. |
| Sound | Standard stereo output. | Dolby Atmos support – Richer, more immersive audio. |
| GeekBench 6 (Single-Core) | 2320 points. | 3564 points (+54%) – Much faster for single-core tasks like app launching. |
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and tests
Display Comparison (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | OLED | OLED | Both use OLED for deep blacks and vibrant colors. |
| Size | 6.8 inches | 6.9 inches | iPhone has a slightly larger screen. |
| Resolution | 1344 × 2992 px | 1320 × 2868 px | Pixel offers a slightly sharper resolution. |
| Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 19.5:9 | Pixel is slightly taller/narrower. |
| PPI | 486 ppi | 460 ppi | Pixel has higher pixel density (sharper). |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz (Adaptive 1–120 Hz) | 120 Hz (Adaptive 1–120 Hz) | Both provide smooth scrolling and gaming. |
| Max Brightness | 3300 nits | 2000 nits | Pixel is significantly brighter outdoors. |
| HDR Brightness | 2200 nits | 1600 nits | Pixel handles HDR better. |
| HDR Format | HDR10+ | Dolby Vision | Pixel supports HDR10+, iPhone supports Dolby Vision. |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | – | Pixel has tougher screen protection. |
| Screen-to-Body | 89.5% | 92.3% | iPhone has thinner bezels. |
| Special Features | DCI-P3, Always-On | DCI-P3, Always-On | Both feature wide color gamut & Always-On Display. |
| Extra Tests | – | 99.6% RGB, 240Hz PWM, 1ms response, ∞ contrast | iPhone shows superior lab-tested display performance. |
Design & Build (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 162.8 mm | 163 mm | Very close in size. |
| Width | 76.6 mm | 77.6 mm | iPhone is slightly wider. |
| Thickness | 8.5 mm | 8.25 mm | iPhone is a bit slimmer. |
| Weight | 232 g | 227 g | iPhone is lighter. |
| Waterproof | IP68 | IP68 | Both offer top-level water resistance. |
| Cooling | Vapor chamber | – | Pixel has advanced cooling for gaming. |
| Rear Material | Glass | Glass | Same premium material. |
| Frame Material | Metal | Metal | Same durable build. |
| Colors | White, Black, Gray, Green | White, Black, Silver, Gold | Different style options. |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint (in-display) | Face ID only | Pixel offers both fingerprint & face unlock flexibility. |
Performance (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset (SoC) | Google Tensor G5 | Apple A18 Pro | iPhone chip is generally more powerful. |
| Max Clock Speed | 3.78 GHz | 4.04 GHz | iPhone clocks higher. |
| CPU Cores | 8 (1+5+2) | 6 (2+4) | Pixel has more cores, iPhone cores are faster. |
| Architecture | Cortex-A520, A725, X4 | Sawtooth, Everest | Different architectures tuned for efficiency vs raw speed. |
| Manufacturing | 3 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (TSMC) | Both use cutting-edge 3nm process. |
| Neural Processor | Yes (NPU) | Neural Engine | Both have AI acceleration. |
| Graphics (GPU) | PowerVR DXT-48-1536 | Apple A18 Pro GPU | iPhone’s GPU is stronger. |
| GPU Shading Units | 768 | 768 | Same number of units. |
| GPU Clock | 1000 MHz | 1490 MHz | iPhone GPU is faster. |
| FLOPS | ~1536 GFLOPS | ~2289 GFLOPS | iPhone has significantly more GPU compute power |
Memory & Storage (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAM | 16 GB (LPDDR5) | 8 GB (LPDDR5X) | Pixel has double the RAM, iPhone uses newer LPDDR5X. |
| Channels | 4 | 4 | Same efficiency for memory bandwidth. |
| Storage | 256 GB (UFS 4.0) | 256 GB (NVMe) | iPhone’s NVMe is faster, Pixel’s UFS 4.0 is also high-speed. |
| Memory Card | No | No | Neither supports microSD. |
Battery (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5200 mAh | 4685 mAh | Pixel has a larger battery. |
| Max Charge Power | 45W | 30W | Pixel charges faster. |
| Wireless Charging | 23W | 15W | Pixel supports faster wireless charging. |
| Reverse Charging | Yes (wireless) | Yes | Both can charge accessories. |
| Fast Charging | 57% in 30 min | 46% in 30 min | Pixel is quicker. |
| Full Charge Time | 1h 33m | 1h 57m | Pixel charges faster overall. |
| Battery Life (tests) | n/a | ~35 hrs total | iPhone has verified excellent endurance. |
Cameras (Main) (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Sensor | 50 MP (Samsung GNV) | 48 MP (Sony IMX803) | Pixel slightly higher megapixels, iPhone larger pixels. |
| Video Recording | 8K @30fps, 4K @60fps | 4K @120fps | Pixel has 8K, iPhone excels in high-frame 4K. |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, 5x zoom | 12 MP, 5x zoom | Pixel has higher-resolution zoom lens. |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP, f/1.7 | 48 MP, f/2.2 | Pixel ultrawide is brighter. |
| Camera Score (DxOMark) | 163 (+4%) | 157 | Pixel ranks slightly higher overall. |
Selfie Camera (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 42 MP | 12 MP | Pixel offers much higher resolution. |
| Aperture | f/2.2 | f/1.9 | iPhone lets in more light (better low light). |
| Stabilization | Digital | Optical | iPhone has better video stabilization. |
| Front Camera Score | n/a | 151 | iPhone tested very strong. |
Connectivity (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Both cutting-edge. |
| Bluetooth | v6.0 | v5.3 | Pixel has the newer version. |
| USB | Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort | Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort | Both modern & versatile. |
| GPS Systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC | iPhone supports more satellites. |
| SIM | 1x Nano + eSIM | eSIM only | Pixel keeps physical SIM flexibility. |
Sound (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo + Dolby Atmos | iPhone offers richer spatial sound. |
| Headphone Jack | No | No | Neither includes a jack. |
Other Features (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
| Feature | Pixel 10 Pro XL | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass + Metal | Glass + Metal | Premium on both. |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint (in-display) | Face ID | Pixel offers fingerprint unlock, iPhone Face ID. |
| Durability | IP68 | IP68 | Same waterproofing. |
| Cooling | Vapor chamber | – | Pixel has advanced cooling. |
| Sensors | All basics + Fingerprint | All basics + Face ID | Each has unique biometric hardware. |
| Price at Launch | $1199 | $1199 | Same starting price. |
| Release | Aug 2025 | Sept 2024 | Pixel is newer. |
FAQs (Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max)
Q1: Which phone has better performance?
- The iPhone 16 Pro Max is faster in benchmarks (higher CPU & GPU performance, better single-core power).
Q2: Which phone has better battery life?
- The Pixel 10 Pro XL charges faster and has a bigger battery, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max has proven longer tested endurance (up to 35 hours total).
Q3: Which camera is better?
- Pixel 10 Pro XL scores slightly higher in DxOMark and supports 8K video, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max excels in 4K at 120fps and better video stabilization.
Q4: Which phone is better for selfies?
- The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a higher-resolution 42 MP front camera, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers more consistent quality and ranks higher in DxOMark (151 points).
Q5: Which phone has the better display?
- The Pixel 10 Pro XL has much higher brightness (3300 nits vs 2000 nits) and HDR10+, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max supports Dolby Vision and has thinner bezels.
Q6: Which phone is more durable?
- Both have IP68 waterproofing and glass + metal frames, but the Pixel includes Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.
Q7: Do they support SIM cards?
- Pixel 10 Pro XL supports 1 Nano SIM + eSIM, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is eSIM only.
Q8: Which phone is better for audio?
- The iPhone 16 Pro Max has Dolby Atmos stereo speakers with more immersive sound.
Q9: Which one is newer?
- The Pixel 10 Pro XL launched in August 2025, almost a year after the iPhone 16 Pro Max (September 2024).
Q10: Which phone should I buy?
- Choose Pixel 10 Pro XL if you want: bigger battery, faster charging, brighter display, better zoom camera, fingerprint unlock, and newer hardware.
- Choose iPhone 16 Pro Max if you want: the fastest performance, longer tested battery life, Dolby Atmos sound, Face ID, and Apple’s iOS ecosystem.
