Google Pixel vs iPhone: The Battle of the Brands

Although Samsung has been Apple’s top rival for ages, a new competitor has entered the arena. Now, the battle of the brands involves Google Pixel vs iPhone. Which one will come out on top?

Technical Specifications of the iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 is powerful, slim and visually appealing. While it isn’t a huge upgrade from the previous generation, it’s still popular for a reason. In many ways, it’s the best model Apple has ever released. 

Here are the technical specifications of the iPhone 15:

• Display: 6.1 inch OLED Super Retina XDR Display. You get 

• Camera: A 48 megapixel (MP) main camera and a 12 MP front camera. Both the front and rear have 720p, 1080p or 4k video recording at 24, 25, 30 or 60 frames per second. 

• Body: The body is aerospace-grade aluminum. It has color-infused back glass, a ceramic shield front and an anti-fingerprint coating.

• Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB.

• Battery: Up to 26 hours of battery life with all-new USB-C charging instead of lightning.

• Dimensions: 5.81-inch length, 2.82-inch width and 0.31-inch depth.

• Weight: 6.02 ounces

As you can see, the iPhone 15 is a step up from every previous generation. For instance, the Super Retina XDR display has double the brightness in direct sunlight than the iPhone 14 does. Even though the joke is that Apple didn’t change anything this time around, it’s clear it focused more on functionality than visuals. 

Technical Specifications of the Google Pixel 8

The Google Pixel 8 seems to be a fierce competitor to the iPhone 15. It’s got a unique appearance and is packed full of the latest technology, making it a strong contender for the battle between the two brands.

Here are the technical specifications of the Google Pixel 8:

• Display: 6.2 inch OLED Actua Display. You get

• Camera: A 50 MP main camera and a 10.5 MP front camera. Both the front and rear have 1080p or 4k video recording at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second.

• Body: The body is aluminum. It has scratch-resistant glass and an anti-fingerprint coating.

• Storage: 128 GB. 

• Battery: Up to 24 hours of battery life with USB-C charging. 

• Dimensions: 5.9-inch height, 2.8-inch width and 0.41-inch depth.

• Weight: 6.6 ounces.

The Google Pixel 8 is built for practicality and ease of use. For instance, its high-clarity Actua display — which is over 40% brighter than what the Pixel 7 had — and fingerprint-resistant coating make everyday use slightly easier.

A Brief Comparison of Each Phone’s Tech Specs

Just based on the technical specifications, it seems Apple and Google were going after the same things with their next generation. For instance, they both focused on clear, glare-resistant displays. Also, it’s worth noting each brand made phones with very similar dimensions. 

The screen and body size are nearly identical on both models. Additionally, the Pixel is only slightly heavier than the iPhone. They’re so alike physically, so there’s much more emphasis on a few of their key characteristics. 

For starters, Apple’s 26 hours of battery life clearly beats Google’s 24. Even though it looks close, an extra two hours of scrolling or streaming is a lot when you think about it. Even though the Pixel’s front camera has two more MPs, its rear has two less — we’ll call that one a draw. Lastly, the option to get 512 MB of storage is obviously much better than 128 MB. 

Right away, it seems like Apple came out on top in the Google Pixel vs iPhone battle. However, you’d be mistaken to assume the iPhone 15 won already— the Google Pixel 8’s specifications are slightly below its competition, but you shouldn’t discount it yet. After all, there’s more to a phone than what you can fit in a bulleted list. 

An In-Depth Comparison of the Google Pixel vs iPhone 

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each phone’s features that should help you determine which brand wins the  Google Pixel vs iPhone battle.

Camera: Google Pixel 8 Wins

The iPhone 15’s camera is what really stands out to us. It has smart HDR to balance brightness, True Tone to correct color and automatic night mode. Its three optical-quality zoom levels include ultra-wide, standard and 2x telephoto. With those, you can get 10x digital zoom and 4x optical zoom.

One of Apple’s minor new features involves portrait mode. Instead of swiping toward it, it’s an option on the photos screen. Also, you can adjust the focus after you’ve taken the picture. Even though it’s simple, it’s one of those quality-of-life things.

In comparison, the Google Pixel 8’s camera quite literally focuses on the smaller picture. Macro Focus is the biggest draw for us since it allows for stellar close-ups. Admittedly, its other modes are impressive, as well. For instance, the Pixel 7’s ultra-wide lens was 12 MP — the 8’s is 48 MP. 

What’s more, the Pixel’s camera is packed full of fantastic features. You can choose from ultra HDR, astrophotography, night sight, Real Tone, motion autofocus and live HDR+ to enhance your photos. Tech reviewers called the Pixel 8’s camera outstanding, claiming it outperforms all others on the market. In the Google Pixel vs iPhone camera battle, the Pixel 8 wins.

Everyday Use: iPhone 15 Wins

The iPhone has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. It also has a 60 Hz refresh rate. The display’s contrast ratio — the difference between minimum and maximum brightness — is  2,000,000:1. Also, it has 460 pixels per inch (PPI).

Comparatively, the Pixel has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, a 60-120 Hz refresh rate, a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and a 428 PPI. While it doesn’t have as broad of a brightness range, it gets just as bright as the iPhone 15. Also, it might have fewer pixels, but its refresh rate is twice as high. 

Both phones have an IP68 rating — meaning they are dust and water-resistant — but their actual limitations vary. Although they can both survive being underwater for 30 minutes, the iPhone can withstand six feet, while the Pixel can only handle less than two. 

When it comes to the Google Pixel vs iPhone battle, both have anti-fingerprint coatings and strong glass. However, the iPhone 15’s Ceramic Shield has four times better drop resistance than previous generations. Without involving cases, the iPhone is more durable. 

Regarding ecosystems, at least one brand can finally rival Apple. Where one has Macbooks, iPads and Apple apps, the other has Chromebooks, Pixel tablets and Google apps. Apple’s ecosystem might have become more popular in the mainstream lexicon — Apple users or not, everyone has heard of FaceTime, AirDrop, iCloud and more — but you can always find alternative offerings on Google products. And if you use things like Gmail or Google Docs often, it might be worth it to buy into its ecosystem over Apple’s.

Special Features: Google Pixel 8 Wins

The iPhone 15 has the infamous dynamic island so you can swipe notifications with ease. It also has an upgraded, full-screen StandBy mode so you can view stocks, clocks or timers at a glance. Everything is powered by the new A16 bionic chip.

The Google Pixel 8 has a powerhouse feature that’s been sweeping the world — it uses artificial intelligence. Google Lens uses artificial intelligence technology to identify your surroundings and give you helpful information or interactive options. More importantly, the AI can translate 49 languages. Now, you can use your camera to read foreign languages in real time. It also lets you photoshop your pictures. 

The built-in Google Assistant identifies and filters spam calls. It even tells you who’s calling when it doesn’t pick up on spam, which is super helpful. Last but not least, the Pixel comes with a built-in virtual private network (VPN) from Google. In the Google Pixel vs iPhone special features battle, the Pixel 8 emerges victorious. 

The Winner of the Google Pixel vs iPhone Brand Battle

When it comes down to it, the Pixel 8 wins the Google Pixel vs iPhone battle. These two brands were closely tied, but the iPhone’s upgrades didn’t stand out to us. Ultimately, this model was no match for its competitor’s superior camera and AI-powered editing features.