specpair

Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Google Pixel 9 Pro

Apple's iPhone 16 Plus delivers a refined flagship experience with exceptional build quality, iOS 18's smooth performance, and reliable computational photography, though it's hampered by a static 60Hz display and modest 20W charging. Google's Pixel 9 Pro counters with a superior 120Hz adaptive OLED screen reaching 3000 nits, more versatile camera system featuring a telephoto lens and 8K video capability, substantially faster 27W charging, and 16GB RAM for multitasking. Pixel 9 Pro's camera processing excels in real-world conditions, while iPhone 16 Plus offers tighter software integration and longer iOS support. At $100 more, the Pixel 9 Pro justifies premium pricing through its dynamic display technology, charging speed, and computational photography advantages. Choose iPhone 16 Plus for ecosystem loyalty and durability; select Pixel 9 Pro for cutting-edge display tech and camera versatility.

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
$899
8.1/10
VS
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google
Google Pixel 9 Pro
$999
8.7/10
Winner

Full Specifications

SpecApple iPhone 16 PlusGoogle Pixel 9 Pro
SoftwareiOS 18Android 14
Body
Weight199 g199 g
MaterialAluminum frameAluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
IP ratingIP68IP68
Dimensions160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm
Camera
Main camera48 MP50 MP, f/1.68, OIS
Front camera12 MP42 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@60fps Dolby Vision8K@30fps (Video Boost), 4K@60fps
Ultrawide12 MP48 MP, f/1.7, 123-degree
Telephoto48 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom
Memory
RAM8 GB16 GB
Storage options128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Battery
Capacity4674 mAh4700 mAh
Charging20W wired27W wired
Wireless charging25W MagSafe21W (Pixel Stand)
Display
Size6.7 inches6.3 inches
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLEDLTPO OLED
Resolution2796 x 12902856 x 1280
Refresh rate60Hz1-120Hz
Brightness (nits)20003000
Processor
CPUHexa-coreOcta-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520)
GPUApple GPU (5-core)Mali-G715 MC7
ChipsetApple A18Google Tensor G4
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBUSB-C 2.0USB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth5.35.3

Category Scores

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Value
8.0
8.1
Camera
8.2
9.1
Battery
7.9
8.5
Display
7.8
9.2
Performance
8.5
8.3

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 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

Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Google products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or the Google Pixel 9 Pro.