Design & Build
iPhone 16 keeps Apple’s clean, sharp look with flat sides. It’s slim, colorful (pink, teal, ultramarine, black, and more), and now has two handy buttons: the Action button (shortcuts) and a new Camera Control button (perfect for quick snaps). Plus, it supports MagSafe and has a USB-C port.
Pixel 9 looks softer with rounded edges, made of recycled aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It feels solid, is water/dust resistant, and comes in playful colors like Peony, Wintergreen, and Obsidian.
Verdict: iPhone = sleek and minimal. Pixel = modern and friendly. Both feel premium.
Screen & Experience
iPhone 16: 6.1″ OLED, super sharp, excellent color accuracy, but only 60 Hz refresh rate.
Pixel 9: 6.3″ OLED, just a little bigger, and much smoother at 120 Hz refresh rate. Also brighter in direct sunlight.
Verdict: iPhone looks stunning for photos and videos. Pixel feels smoother, especially for scrolling, gaming, or fast animations.
Performance & Software
iPhone 16 runs on Apple’s new A18 chip — super efficient, fast, and built for Apple’s upcoming “Apple Intelligence” features. iOS is buttery smooth but only gets 5 years of updates.
Pixel 9 has Google’s Tensor G4 chip with 12GB RAM. It leans heavily on AI features like smarter photo editing, live translations, and voice tools. Google promises 7 years of updates.
Verdict: iPhone = raw performance king with Apple’s tight ecosystem. Pixel = smart AI features and longer support.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 16: About 22 hours of video playback, supports MagSafe wireless charging and fast wired charging.
Pixel 9: Bigger 4700mAh battery, lasts a full day easily, charges a bit faster (27W wired), but wireless charging isn’t as strong as MagSafe.
Verdict: Both last a full day. Pixel = slightly bigger tank, iPhone = better wireless charging options.
Cameras
iPhone 16: 48MP main camera + 12MP ultrawide. New Camera Control button makes it easy to capture quickly. Great for video, cinematic effects, and Apple’s polished image processing.
Pixel 9: 50MP main + 48MP ultrawide. Google leans into AI — you can literally remove people from photos, sharpen blurry shots, and get creative edits instantly.
Verdict: iPhone = great all-around photos and unbeatable video. Pixel = still the king of computational photography and editing tricks.
Price & Value
iPhone 16 starts around $799–$899.
Pixel 9 is in the same ballpark, usually $799, and often discounted faster than iPhones.
Which to Choose?
Get the iPhone 16 if you love Apple’s smooth ecosystem, reliable updates, long-lasting resale value, and top-tier video recording.
Get the Pixel 9 if you want the latest AI tricks, a super smooth display, more years of updates, and a slightly better value for money.