As apple gets ready to launch its iphone 16 models in september, google has already released its pixel 9 series in august, ahead of its usual october schedule. here’s a look at google’s pixel 9 pro xl compared to the iphone 15 pro max since the iphone 16 isn’t out yet.
Design and build
the pixel 9 pro xl borrows some design elements from the iphone, but google has made it feel more premium. instead of using titanium like apple, google chose stainless steel for the chassis, making the pixel 9 pro xl heavier and bulkier than the iphone 15 pro max. it’s also the first time google has offered two “pro” models, similar to apple’s strategy.
Camera capabilities
the pixel 9 pro xl has a unique camera bar with three lenses: a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x zoom, and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens. this ultra-wide lens uses pixel binning to improve low-light performance, a feature we expect to see in the upcoming iphone 16 pro models. for now, the iphone 15 pro max’s ultra-wide camera only has 12 megapixels.
we’re saving a full camera comparison for when the iphone 16 pro max is released, but the pixel 9 pro xl is already taking great photos, which is typical for high-end smartphones.
AI features
the pixel 9 series is packed with ai features that apple hasn’t fully matched yet. for example, the “reimagine” feature lets you add ai-generated objects to existing photos, though google has limited some controversial uses. other ai tools include “add me,” video boost, and zoom enhance, which improve editing and zooming.
google also added call notes, similar to apple’s new call recording in ios 18.1, and an ai-powered pixel weather app that gives detailed local forecasts. the pixel 9’s screenshots app can remember where a screenshot came from and take you back to the original website, though this feature is a bit limited.
Gemini integration
google’s new ai, gemini, is now part of the pixel 9 series, replacing google assistant. this lets you have live conversations with the ai, though it requires a premium subscription. while this might take some getting used to, the gemini ai shows potential with better understanding of context. it will be interesting to see how it compares to the upgraded siri that apple is working on.
Conclusion
the pixel 9 pro xl has a strong set of features, especially when it comes to ai. but with the iphone 16 coming soon, it will be exciting to see how these two companies continue to compete in hardware and ai. we’ll check back on the pixel 9 pro xl later in 2024 and 2025 to see if apple can keep up with or beat google’s latest advancements.
