Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 4 XL
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 17 Pro Max is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max stands out for 48mp periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom, 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 17 Pro Max if…
- →48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- →4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- →Up to 2TB storage
Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if…
- →Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- →90Hz smooth display
- →Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Pros
- 48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- 4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- Up to 2TB storage
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- Spatial Video recording
Cons
- 227g is heavy
- Still 27W wired charging
- $1199 starting price
- Aluminum unibody less premium feel than titanium
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 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 4 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 10 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 193 g |
| Material | Aluminum unibody frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163 x 78 x 8.3 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@120fps ProRes, Spatial Video | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, f/2.8, 8x optical zoom, periscope | 16 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP, f/2.2 | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4823 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 11W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | P-OLED |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 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 (Thunderbolt) | 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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