Apple iPhone 15 Plus vs Google Pixel 9 Pro
The Verdict
iPhone 15 Plus excels with its larger 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display and streamlined iOS experience, though it's limited to 60Hz refresh rates and older A16 Bionic chip. Pixel 9 Pro counters with a more compact 6.3-inch display featuring LTPO technology enabling 1-120Hz adaptive refresh, superior computational photography via Tensor G4, and significantly better cameras: 50MP f/1.68 main with OIS, 48MP telephoto with 5x zoom, and exceptional 42MP front camera. Performance-wise, Tensor G4 handles most tasks admirably despite lagging in raw benchmarks versus A16. Battery capacity slightly favors Pixel (4700 vs 4383 mAh), complemented by faster 27W charging. Storage reaches 1TB on Pixel versus 512GB max on iPhone. For content creators and photography enthusiasts, Pixel 9 Pro's advanced camera system and Magic Eraser capabilities justify the $100 premium. iPhone 15 Plus better suits those prioritizing ecosystem consistency and longer software support longevity. Recommend Pixel 9 Pro for camera performance; iPhone 15 Plus for simplicity and longevity.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Plus if…
- →Outstanding battery life from large 4383 mAh cell
- →Dynamic Island replaces notch on a non-Pro model
- →48 MP main camera is a major upgrade over iPhone 14 Plus
Buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro if…
- →Compact flagship size with no spec compromise
- →Identical triple camera system to the XL model
- →Bright 3000-nit LTPO display
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Pros
- Outstanding battery life from large 4383 mAh cell
- Dynamic Island replaces notch on a non-Pro model
- 48 MP main camera is a major upgrade over iPhone 14 Plus
- First USB-C port on a standard Plus model
- Large display great for media consumption
Cons
- Capped at 60Hz with no ProMotion upgrade
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 transfer speeds
- No telephoto camera
- No always-on display
- Bulky and heavy for everyday use
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Pros
- Compact flagship size with no spec compromise
- Identical triple camera system to the XL model
- Bright 3000-nit LTPO display
- Seven years of software support
- 16 GB RAM for advanced AI features
Cons
- Smaller 4700 mAh battery limits endurance
- Slow 27W wired charging
- Tensor G4 trails competitors in benchmarks
- Premium pricing
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Google Pixel 9 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 14 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 201 g | 199 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.68, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 42 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 8K@30fps (Video Boost), 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MP, f/1.7, 123-degree |
| Telephoto | — | 48 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4383 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 27W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 21W (Pixel Stand) |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2856 x 1280 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 3000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Mali-G715 MC7 |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Google Tensor G4 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
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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