Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 4 XL
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 13 Pro Max dominates with its superior A15 Bionic processor, stunning 120Hz Super Retina XDR display (1000 nits), and significantly larger 4352 mAh battery lasting considerably longer than the Pixel 4 XL's 3700 mAh. Camera systems differ philosophically: iPhone excels at versatility with four cameras including 3x telephoto and 4K ProRes recording at 60fps, while Pixel 4 XL relies on computational photography with its dual 12.2MP/16MP setup achieving excellent results at lower resolutions. Pixel's 90Hz display and USB-C are respectable, but the aged Android 10 OS and missing 5G connectivity severely limit longevity. Storage maxes at 128GB versus iPhone's 1TB option. At $200 apart, the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers substantially better performance, camera flexibility, and future-proofing despite higher cost. Pixel 4 XL remains solid for photography enthusiasts on tighter budgets, but the generational gap is significant.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
- →ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- →Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- →ProRes video recording up to 4K
Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if…
- →Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- →90Hz smooth display
- →Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Pros
- ProMotion 120Hz display arrived for first time on iPhone Pro
- Best-in-class battery life among 2021 iPhones
- ProRes video recording up to 4K
- Macro photography with ultrawide camera
- Cinematic mode for shallow depth-of-field video
Cons
- Very heavy at 238 g
- Notch still present despite slimmed-down design
- Lightning connector limiting transfer speeds
- Large size is unwieldy for smaller hands
Google Pixel 4 XL
Pros
- Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- 90Hz smooth display
- Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
- Excellent telephoto camera for portraits
- Face unlock with 3D face recognition
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- Large forehead bezel for Soli radar
- No fingerprint scanner at all
- Motion Sense was gimmicky and limited
- Battery life was mediocre
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Google Pixel 4 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 10 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 238 g | 193 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision ProRes | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 3x | 16 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4352 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 11W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | P-OLED |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 640 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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