It’s time to compare two more phones from Google and Apple. This time around, we’ll be comparing the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16. In other words, Google’s flagship is going against Apple’s vanilla iPhone from 2024. In case you still own the iPhone 16, or are looking to switch from it, you may find this helpful. We’ve already compared the Pixel 10 Pro XL with the iPhone 17 recently, by the way.
These two phones are quite a bit different. They’re different in more or less every way. They do look quite a bit different, even though there are several similarities in that department. You won’t find much in common when it comes to specs either. Speaking of which, we’ll first list the specs of both phones and will then move to compare them across a number of other categories.
Specs
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
Apple iPhone 16
| Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | Apple iPhone 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 232 grams | 170 grams |
| Display | 6.8-inch Super Actual LTPO OLED display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Refresh rate | Smooth Display (1-120Hz) | 60Hz |
| Resolution | 2992 x 1344 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 | Apple A18 |
| RAM | 16GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0) | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Main camera | 50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 1/1.3-inch sensor size, 82-degree FoV) | 48MP (f/1.6 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor size, 1.0um pixel size, sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV) | 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF) |
| Telephoto camera | N/A | N/A |
| Periscope telephoto camera | 48MP (f/2.8 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom, 22-degree FoV) | N/A |
| Selfie camera | 42MP (f/2.2 aperture, 103-degree FoV) | 12MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1/3.6-inch sensor size, 1.0um pixel size, PDAF) |
| Battery size | 5,200mAh | 3,561mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, 25W Qi2 wireless (charger not included) | 30W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless, 15W Qi2 wireless, 4.5W reverse wired (charger not included) |
| Colors | Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, Obsidian | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine |
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16: Design
Let’s talk about the design. Both of these phones are made out of aluminum and glass. They both have flat displays with thin, uniform bezels. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, however, has a lot larger display, and a centered display camera hole up top. The Apple iPhone 16 has a pill-shaped cutout, the so-called Dynamic Island. That cutout is a lot bigger than the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s camera hole, that’s for sure.
Both devices have rounded corners, and their frames are flat all around. Those frames do curve a bit towards the edges, though. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a power/lock button on the right side, above the volume rocker keys. Those are the only buttons on the phone. The iPhone 16, on the flip side, has a power/lock button on the right, along with the Camera control key. On the left, you’ll find the volume rocker keys, along with the Action key.
If we flip the two phones around, you’ll notice completely different-looking backplates. The Pixel 10 Pro XL features a horizontal camera bar in the upper portion of the back side. There are three cameras included in there. The iPhone 16, on the flip side, has two vertically-aligned cameras in the top-left corner. Both camera setups do protrude on the back. Both phones also have their company’s logos in the middle of their backplates.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a lot taller, wider, and slightly thicker than the iPhone 16. It is also quite a bit heavier. It’s heavier by 62 grams, actually. None of that is surprising considering how much larger its display is, and thus the phone itself. Both devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16: Display
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it supports HDR10+ content. The refresh rate here is adaptive (1-120Hz) The peak brightness it offers is 3,300 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio you’re getting is around 88%. The display aspect ratio is 20:9. This display offers a resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels. Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects this display.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. That display supports HDR10 content and has Dolby Vision support, while it’s limited to 60Hz. The peak brightness here is 2,000 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 87%. The resolution this display offers is 2556 x 1179, while the panel is flat. The display aspect ratio here is 19.5:9, while the Ceramic Shield glass protects the panel.
Both of these displays are very good, actually. They’re both vivid and have great viewing angles. Both panels are also more than sharp enough. The touch response is good on both of them, and both get bright enough when you need them to, even though the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s panel has an advantage in that department. Both displays are also well-protected. There’s not much to complain about here. The Pixel 10 Pro XL does have the refresh rate aka smoothness advantage, though.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16: Performance
The Google Tensor G5 processor fuels the Pixel 10 Pro XL. That is the very first TSMC-made Tensor chip, and it is a 3nm processor. It is backed by 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The iPhone 16, on the other hand, utilizes the Apple A18 chip, a 3nm processor as well. That processor is backed by 8GB of RAM and NVMe flash storage. Both of those chips are very powerful, but the Apple A18 has the advantage in terms of raw power.
In day-to-day use, both smartphones are outstanding. They deliver a very fluid performance, with no lag. Yes, you may notice a skipped frame here and there, as on any phone, but in general, the performance is outstanding. With that being said, their OS’ are much different, as you probably already know, so do take note of that. While the fluidity is good, the general use is quite a bit different.
What about gaming? Well, both smartphones can handle basically anything you throw at them. However, the iPhone 16 still handles the most demanding titles better than the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Don’t get us wrong, you can play basically anything on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but that phone is not exactly made for gaming, so don’t expect it to shine with the most demanding titles. Neither phone has overheating issues or anything like that.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16: Battery
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL includes a 5,200mAh battery on the inside. The iPhone 16, on the other hand, has a 3,561mAh battery. Apple’s iPhones usually have smaller batteries than their Android counterparts, and this phone is also quite a bit smaller, so… there you go. With that being said, the iPhone 16 does offer better battery life in comparison. It’s actually quite noticeable too.
The iPhone 16, from what we’ve seen, can provide you with a couple of extra hours of screen-on time compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Sure, your mileage may vary due to different usage, but the iPhone 16 will offer better battery life regardless. The Pixel 10 Pro XL does not have bad battery life, not at all, but it’s not as great as what some of the competition offers, unfortunately.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL supports 45W wired, 25W Qi2 wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. The iPhone 16, on the flip side, supports 30W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. Google’s handset will charge faster via the cable, in around an hour and 20 minutes. The iPhone 16 takes around an hour and 40 minutes to do the same thing. Neither phone ships with a charger in the box, though.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16: Cameras
There are three cameras included on the back of the Pixel 10 Pro XL. A 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size) is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size) and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom).
What about the iPhone 16? Well, you’ll get one less camera on its back, as there are two located there. There is a 48-megapixel main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor size) and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV). The phone does not have a telephoto camera of any kind, unfortunately.
Both of these phones do a good job in the camera department. The images from the Pixel 10 Pro XL are more contrasty, as you’d expect, while the iPhone 16 provides photos that are closer to real life. They do provide different photos, so your preference will play a role, plus the scene itself. They both do a good job in low light, and we did prefer the Pixel 10 Pro XL photos most of the time. Both ultrawide cameras do a solid job, but cannot compete with the main shooters. Any photo that is 3x or above will likely look better on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, especially those 5x+ ones.
Audio
Stereo speakers are included on both of these smartphones. Both sets of speakers are loud enough, and they’re actually quite similar in terms of loudness. In fact, the sound quality coming from both of them is good, similar.
What neither phone includes is an audio jack, unfortunately. However, you can utilize their Type-C ports, if you’d like. If you prefer wireless audio, Bluetooth 6.0 is at your disposal on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, while the iPhone 16 offers Bluetooth 5.3.
The post Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Apple iPhone 16 appeared first on Android Headlines.
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