Apple iPhone Air vs Google Pixel 4 XL
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone Air and Google Pixel 4 XL sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Google Pixel 4 XL is the cheaper of the two at $899 versus $1,199, a difference of about $300. The Apple iPhone Air is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone Air stands out for thinnest iphone ever at 5.6mm, while Google Pixel 4 XL is praised for astrophotography mode was groundbreaking. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone Air if…
- →Thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm
- →Only 165g with titanium frame
- →A19 Pro chip in ultra-slim design
Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if…
- →Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- →90Hz smooth display
- →Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone Air
Pros
- Thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm
- Only 165g with titanium frame
- A19 Pro chip in ultra-slim design
- 3x more scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2
Cons
- Smaller 3149 mAh battery limits endurance
- Only 2x telephoto (no periscope)
- No ultrawide camera
- $1199 for fewer cameras than Pro
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 Air | Google Pixel 4 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 10 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 165 g | 193 g |
| Material | Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 155 x 73 x 5.6 mm | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9, Center Stage | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dual Capture | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.8, 2x optical zoom | 16 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3149 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 11W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | P-OLED |
| Resolution | 1290 x 2796 | 3040 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) |
| GPU | 6-core GPU | Adreno 640 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 |
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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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