| iPhone | Google Pixel |
|---|---|
|
|
| Wins 86.10% of 1k fights | Wins 13.90% of 1k fights |
When it comes to battery life, reliability, support, and ecosystem Apple's flagship phone is the better choice for most people, even if you don't own a MacBook or any other Apple products. Keep on scrolling for a detailed review of this matchup.
iPhones are some of the most expensive phones on the market and generally cost a bit more than similarly spec'd Pixel phones. With the exception being the Pixel Fold is more expensive than an iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1TB of storage.
The Google Pixel Fold, at the time of writing, will run you a staggering $1,700+ for only 256GB or storage. This makes an Apple product look like a bargain, given the highest storage option for the iPhone is priced at $1,599.
But, excluding foldables, Pixels are generally more affordable than iPhones and they frequently go on sale.
iPhones hold their value for much longer than Pixels. I recently decided to part ways with my Google Pixel 8 Pro with 512GB of storage. I was fortunate enough to get it on sale for around $999 (sale price, retails around $1179) but the most I was able to sell it for was $670.
Keep in mind that I was selling the phone in mint condition and a mere 6 months after it was released. This means in only a span of 6 months, the phone lost nearly half its value.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, by contrast, was 7 months old at the time of writing, and goes for $1,000 for the 256 GB model. This is a drop of only $200 or around 16%. If you want something that will hold its value longer, the iPhone is the clear choice.
When it comes to artificial intelligence features, the Google Pixel completely destroys the iPhone. Granted, iPhones aren't presently optimized for AI features, but even when it comes to voice assistants Apple falls drastically short.
Siri is pretty terrible, while Google Assist is the next best thing to Iron Man's Jarvis. Google also has its own ChatGPT competitor, Gemini, formerly known by the much less appealing name Bard.
Gemini is certainly no ChatGPT but it does excel in academic assistance and research. In my experience, it actually writes cleaner, less complex code than ChatGPT.
However, I never write code using my phone or use any AI features for productivity. For tasks like these, I always grab a laptop or if I'm really desperate, my tablet. So, having AI on my phone really isn't a big deal but if you absolutely need the latest in artificial intelligence, grab a Pixel.
For me, Air Pods and the Beats Studio Plus are better than Pixel Buds. The reason I included the 'for me' part in the previous sentence is that Google's top tier ear buds trigger fogginess and headaches whenever I wear them.
I'm one of the unfortunate souls who suffers from migraines with aura. This means that I am prone to getting intense headaches accompanied by nausea and seeing rainbows. These rainbows, while pretty, severely distort my vision and cause dizziness.
There is no cure for this currently, so I just try and do my best to avoid triggers. Bright lights, lack of sleep, and inner ear pressure can trigger migraines. And the Pixel Buds, due to their design, give me a horrible 'plugged ear' feeling with immense inner ear pressure.
The array of microphones causes immense inner ear pressure that only intensifies if I turn the ANC on. Studio Buds and Air Pods on the other hand, feel great. There is no pressure, and while I cannot use noise cancelation due to my condition, the transparency mode is very comfortable.
I do wish I could use the Pixel Buds because I prefer it's touch controls and overall aesthetic. The Coral color is similar to the color scheme I currently have on my CRM Software, SuperEasyCRM.com and they give you a very immersive experience with Google Assistant.
As long as you can handle that dreaded 'plugged ear feeling' the Google Pixel Buds are great, if not, go with the Beats Studio Buds +.
Since Apple has been building an ecosystem of hardware and software for it's products a lot longer than Google has, iPhones have much better support. Simplicity is key when it comes to tech, and no one does it better than Apple.
This doesn't mean that Google is complete without its ecosystem. If you're like me and spend more time on your laptop than you're phone, you'll probably appreciate being able to send text messages from your computer. Pixel owners can do this by opening using Google Message's web app.
Granted, it's not nearly as cool or convenient as a dedicated desktop application such as iMessage, but it gets the job done. For Windows users with a Pixel phone, the Windows Phone app allows you to make and receive phone calls on your phone, like MacBook users can...at least in theory.
In practice, the Windows Phone Link desktop application is virtually unusable. I've tried to use the app on my ASUS Rog Flow X16, a Dell XPS, and a Lenovo ThinkPad and calls were choppy and robotic. Also, responding to SMS caused the app to lag or crash frequently.
Like many others have said before me, if you want an ecosystem, pay the 'Apple Tax' and get yourself an iPhone.
The iPhone, given its market share, dominates the accessories department. This is an area that's vital to me as I treat my devices like Pokemon. I love to try different builds, customize them, put them up against other people's gadgets in fictional battles.
iPhones, unlike Pixels, have native Magsafe compatibility which opens up a whole new world of chargers, wallets, and even fidget spinners. You can purchase a Magsafe case for your Pixel, but in my experience, the magnet strength is not as great.
I didn't talk about the camera, processor, display, or anything super techy because, to the average consumer, these things are virtually the same. Most people don't care enough to notice the difference between a 60 Hz refresh rate and a 120 Hz refresh rate.
In addition, they do not care about the difference between Google's Tensor and Apple's Bionic chipset. Most of us want a phone that's easy to use and works well with our other tech. When it comes to both of those categories, the iPhone is the clear winner here if your budget allows it.
But, in the end, the best phone is which ever one you like the best. There is truly no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to tech. So, pick what you like and can afford. Whichever phone you get, you'll want to download a game or two. Roblox and Minecraft run great on either platform; check out which one of these is better in the Roblox versus Minecraft battle simulator.
Posted by: Matt Irving on 05/05/2024
