Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Google Pixel 8 Pro
Side-by-side specifications, scores and verdict.
Quick Verdict
Both flagships deliver excellent experiences, but they cater to different priorities. iPhone 16 Plus emphasizes elegant design and seamless ecosystem integration with its A18 chip, achieving impressive performance in a lighter 199g frame. Pixel 8 Pro counters with superior computational photography through its Tensor G3 processor, offering a versatile camera system featuring 48MP ultrawide and 5x optical zoom capabilities that iPhone 16 Plus lacks. Display quality favors Pixel 8 Pro's 120Hz LTPO panel (2400 nits) over iPhone's 60Hz Super Retina XDR (2000 nits), while Pixel's larger 5050mAh battery outpaces iPhone's 4674mAh despite similar real-world endurance. At $100 more, Pixel 8 Pro justifies premium pricing through camera versatility and screen refresh rate, making it ideal for photography enthusiasts and Android users. iPhone 16 Plus remains the better choice for Apple ecosystem loyalists prioritizing elegance and performance consistency.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 14 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 213 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.68, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 10.5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MP, f/1.95, 125.5-degree |
| Telephoto | — | 48 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 5050 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 23W (Pixel Stand) |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2992 x 1344 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2400 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Google Tensor G3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Pros
- Outstanding camera system with 5x telephoto
- Seven years of OS and security updates
- Bright 2400-nit Super Actua display
- Built-in temperature sensor
- On-device AI features
Cons
- Tensor G3 prone to thermal throttling
- Slow 30W wired charging
- Heavy at 213 g
- Expensive at launch
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