Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 5a
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Google Pixel 5a sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Google Pixel 5a is the cheaper of the two at $449 versus $1,199, a difference of about $750. 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 5a is praised for large 4680 mah battery for excellent endurance. 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 5a if…
- →Large 4680 mAh battery for excellent endurance
- →IP67 water resistance (first a-series with it)
- →Great computational photography at $449
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 5a
Pros
- Large 4680 mAh battery for excellent endurance
- IP67 water resistance (first a-series with it)
- Great computational photography at $449
- Headphone jack retained
- Clean stock Android experience
Cons
- 60Hz display
- Slow 18W charging
- No wireless charging
- Only available in the US and Japan
- Snapdragon 765G is mid-range
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 5a |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 183 g |
| Material | Aluminum unibody frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum unibody, polycarbonate coating |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 163 x 78 x 8.3 mm | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 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@60fps |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, f/2.8, 8x optical zoom, periscope | — |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 128 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4823 mAh | 4680 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.34 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | OLED |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 700 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz + 1x2.2 GHz + 6x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | 6-core GPU | Adreno 620 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G |
| 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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