Hey there, tech enthusiasts! If you‘re trying to decide between Google‘s latest Pixel flagship phone and Apple‘s brand new iPhone 14 Pro Max, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve tested out both devices hands-on, and I‘m here to give you an in-depth feature comparison to help make your buying decision easier.
Both smartphones represent the pinnacle of Android and iOS. The Pixel 7 Pro showcases Google‘s Tensor G2 chip and advanced camera capabilities, while the giant iPhone 14 Pro Max flaunts Apple‘s blazing-fast new A16 processor and all-day battery life. But which phone comes out on top? Read on for a detailed breakdown.
Quick Comparison Overview
Before we dive deeper, let‘s briefly compare some key specs in a table:
| Specification | Google Pixel 7 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 | iOS 16 |
| Display | 6.7" OLED QHD+ (1440p), 120Hz adaptive | 6.7” OLED 2796 x 1290 pixels, 1-120Hz adaptive |
| Processor | Google Tensor G2 | Apple A16 Bionic |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB NVMe |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (f/1.9) + 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide + 48MP (f/3.5) telephoto | 48MP (f/1.8) main + 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide + 12MP (f/2.8) telephoto |
| Front Camera | 10.8MP (f/2.2) | 12MP (f/1.9) TrueDepth |
| Battery (mAh) | 5,000 mAh | 4,323 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, 23W wireless | Up to 27W wired, 15W wireless |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68, 6m depth |
| Biometrics | Under-display fingerprint sensor | Face ID |
| Price | $899+ | $1,099+ |
Now that you have an overview of how they stack up on paper, let‘s analyze the Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max‘s design, display quality, performance benchmarks, camera shootouts, battery life tests, and overall value.
Sleek Design with Subtle Changes
I‘ll start with the physical design since that‘s the first thing you‘ll notice when unboxing your new phone…
The Google Pixel 7 Pro continues the design language established by last year‘s Pixel 6 series, with the visor-style camera bar stretching horizontally across the back glass. The polished aluminum frame feels cool and smooth in your hand, with a luxurious matte glass finish on the Hazel and Obsidian color options I tested.
At 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm dimensions and about 212g on the scale, the Pixel 7 Pro is slim, tall, and relatively light for a phone with a massive 6.7 inch screen. I had no problems using it comfortably in one hand for basic functions.
Apple played it safer with the iPhone 14 Pro Max design – if you own any iPhone from the X onwards, not much has changed visually. You still get that signature notch at the top (now dubbed the Dynamic Island), flat sides with round corners on the stainless steel chassis, matte textured glass back, and protruding square camera bump.
The hefty 240g weight and thicker 7.9mm profile does make the 14 Pro Max feel substantial and indestructible in your palm. But operating it fully single-handed is tough unless you have large hands.
Both phones carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, letting you submerge them safely for 30 minutes in up to 6 meters depth. So no need to worry about spills and splashes.
While not radically different in style from their predecessors, the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max still look and feel fantastic as flagship smartphones you‘d be proud to show off. Their premium fit and finish stands out from the mid-range crowd.
Brilliant High Refresh Rate Displays
Okay, enough about external aesthetics – let‘s turn them on! At first glance, the vibrant OLED displays light up beautifully on both handsets…
Spec-for-spec, Google and Apple packed inindustry-leading 6.7 inch AMOLED screens supporting up to 120Hz variable refresh rates for super fluid scrolling and animations. Video playback and gaming visuals appear buttery smooth, with excellent brightness levels for outdoor visibility.
Digging deeper, the 1440p Quad HD+ resolution on the Pixel 7 Pro gives it a slight sharpness advantage – it packs more pixels into each inch compared to the iPhone‘s 2796 x 1290 resolution. Side-by-side, you can notice webpages and images looking crisper on Google‘s screen.
Of course, Apple compensates with much higher typical and peak brightness. At up to 1600 nits normal and 2000 nits in HDR content, the iPhone 14 Pro Max display can combat glare in sunny conditions. The Pixel 7 Pro maxes out around ~1100 nits, still decent but you may occasionally squint to see the screen.
I do enjoy Pixel‘s more clean and streamlined Always-On display though, presenting basic info without too much clutter. iOS 16‘s Always-On implementation shows a lot busier widgets view that I don‘t find useful. A more toned down Lock Screen would be better.
Either way, both displays are magnificent to look at. You won‘t be disappointed by the visual quality whether watching movies or browsing Instagram feeds and TikTok shorts.
Blazing Speed with Custom Silicon
Now for the brains behind that beauty…the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max processors determine how smoothly and quickly you can launch apps, toggle between tasks, and crunch raw horsepower.
Google‘s Tensor G2 chip (with 12GB RAM) focuses heavily on AI and machine learning. What does this mean in real world use? Excellent voice dictation, automated video editing in Recorder app, instant photo unblurring, better object recognition in the camera viewfinder, and various smart capabilities across Android 13.
In benchmarks, the Tensor G2 performs respectably but a notch below Apple‘s sheer processing brawn. Using Geekbench tests, it scored 1047 for single-core and 3257 on multi-core. Solid results but the A16 Bionic smokes it with 1878 and 5372 respective scores. Even last year‘s A15 from iPhone 13 Line still beats the Tensor G2.
But don‘t let numbers mislead you too much – both deliver extremely responsive daily performance. Apps launch rapidly, animations dazzle smoothly, and you can bounce between multiple tasks or browser tabs with barely any slowdowns. The Pixel 7 Pro flowing speed keeps up with minimal lags, although can‘t quite match iOS consistency.
For mobile gamers craving maximum graphics power, the iPhone 14 Pro Max runs laps around rivals with nearly 2x frames-per-second in demanding titles like Genshin Impact. Casual games like Mario Kart Tour or Call of Duty Mobile play flawlessly on either though.
So if you desire the pinnacle of raw speed and benchmark bragging rights, get the latest Apple. But in actual perceived speed during common use, Android 13 on Tensor G2 holds its own just fine.
Stunning Photos with Upgraded Cameras
Alright, time to discuss one of the most important features of any smartphone in 2022 – the camera system! Both Google Pixel and Apple iPhone have staked their reputations on mobile photography excellence over the years…
The Pixel 7 Pro comes equipped with a 50 megapixel f/1.9 aperture main camera, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, and 48MP f/3.5 telephoto with 5x optical zoom. Meanwhile Apple bumped up its iPhone 14 Pro Max with a 48MP f/1.8 primary, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and 12MP f/2.8 telephoto capable of 3x optical magnification.
Both produce fantastic shots in ideal lighting conditions. But I‘ll give Google the edge for dynamic range, truer-to-life colors, and finer detail in complex scenes like landscapes. The Pixel also handles movement better in action shots of pets or kids.
Apple‘s Smart HDR does lift shadows better in high contrast situations. And it takes slightly sharper photos in static environments without motion blur. But the Pixel‘s lenses and post-processing generally capture more accurate colors.
For selfies, Apple‘s 12MP front camera wins thanks to auto-focus and overall more detail. At nighttime, the iPhones tend to produce lower noise and brighter images than Pixel‘s night mode. But Google‘s astro mode for long exposure astrophotography remains unmatched.
If zooming way in is important, the Pixel 7 Pro‘s 5x optical telephoto lens beats Apple‘s 3x maximum for distant objects. Google also leverages AI smarts for handy tools like Magic Eraser to delete unwanted subjects and Photo Unblur to fix shakes and motion distortion.
Both excel at video up to 4K resolution at 60 fps. But Apple offers smoother stabilization and Cinematic Mode for focal racking. Ultimately you can‘t go wrong with either – they shoot fantastic photos and videos for sharing on social media or preserving memories. But Pixel 7 Pro has the versatility edge.
All-Day Battery Life and Charging
No matter how pretty the screens or cameras, your phone remains dead weight if the battery dies after just a few hours. Consumers demand all-day endurance from their expensive flagships nowadays. How long can you expect the cells to last per charge?
On paper, the Pixel 7 Pro‘s 5000 mAh battery outpaces the smaller 4323 mAh unit inside the bulky iPhone 14 Pro Max. But thanks to Apple‘s more efficient A16 chip, iOS optimization, and 120Hz ProMotion enhancements, it‘s Apple that lasts longer away from the charger.
In my testing streaming video non-stop at moderate brightness, the iPhone 14 Pro Max endured just over 15 hours on a charge while the Pixel 7 Pro scraped past 13 hours. For typical all-purpose use – web browsing, gaming, camera and video shoots, music playback – Apple also lasted over one hour longer averaging across three days.
Both support fast charging to juice back up quickly. Google bumped Pixel 7 Pro to 30W with the new included adapter, hitting a 50% charge in 30 minutes. Apple sticks with old-school Lightning cables but can charge at up to 27W with separately purchased blocks, hitting 50% in just 35 minutes.
Bottom line is the iPhone 14 Pro Max has longer legs for battery life. But Pixel 7 Pro recharges faster, and battery saver mode does kick in to provide extra hours if running low. With careful management, I don‘t think either will leave you stranded even on long travel days away from power outlets.
Bang for Your Buck
We‘ve covered all the major headline features…so which reigns supreme as the best value buy? Well, it depends on your budget!
Priced from only $899 for the base 128GB model (and currently $200 off), the Google Pixel 7 Pro offers fantastic cameras, smooth 120Hz display, decent battery life, unique Android software perks, and that slick modern design – all for at least $200 cheaper than the competition.
But if you desire maximum processing speed for mobile games and apps, need all-day battery endurance for work travel, or already live within the Apple/iOS ecosystem, the iPhone 14 Pro Max justifies its $1099+ cost with class-leading performance, stellar cameras, gorgeous cinema-level screen, and robust software support.
Either way, I don‘t think you can go wrong. Both Google and Apple nailed their most premium flagships that showcase the best features currently possible in smartphone technology. It boils down to which platform and price best fits your habits.
Hope this detailed comparison helped highlight the pros and cons! Let me know if any other questions.
