Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: How its stacks up against the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max – Every difference that you wanted to know

This year, there are two pro Pixel phones vying for buyers’ attention. There is the standard 6.3-inch Google Pixel 9 Pro and a higher-end model called the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL with a larger 6.8-inch display and bigger 5,060mAh battery (versus 4,700mAh in Pixel 9 Pro). It goes without saying that the top-tier Pixel 9 Pro XL goes up against the iPhone 15 Pro Max in every sense of the word.

There’s a brand-new Tensor G4 chip and lots of AI thanks to Google’s Gemini integration inside the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max meanwhile dominates the super-premium smartphone space with a bevy of cool features including the industry-leading A17 Pro chip. Apple Intelligence may not be as “high-profile” but it’s just the start, and probably, it will get better with time.

Without further ado, here’s a quick comparison between the Pixel 9 Pro XL and iPhone 15 Pro Max to see how the two stack up against one another.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL versus Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max — step-by-step breakdown

1. Design: There is no denying that the Pixel 9 Pro XL draws some inspiration from the iPhone 15 line-up. The flat sides, the rounded corners, they are all reminiscent of the iPhone. In fact, take the camera visor away and you’ll be hard-pressed to know the difference. Google has completely revamped the design this year. At 8.5 mm, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly thicker than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
2. Build: The Pixel 9 Pro XL has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. The sides are made of metal. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a glass back and ceramic shield front, both sourced from Corning. The outer frame uses Titanium. Both phones are IP68 rated for dust and water resistance.
3. Display: The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch OLED display with a maximum of 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
4. Processor: The Pixel 9 Pro XL is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 chip. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has Apple’s A17 Pro under the hood.
5. Memory: The Pixel 9 Pro XL has 16GB of RAM by default. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has only 8GB RAM.
6. Software: The Pixel 9 Pro runs Android 14 and is eligible for seven years of updates. The iPhone 15 Pro Max boots iOS 17 and will get security updates for a minimum of five years from the first supply date, according to Apple. Also, AI is a big sell in both devices. While Google has Gemini, Apple has something it calls Apple Intelligence that integrates, among other things, OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
7. Camera: The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 50-megapixel wide, 48-megapixel ultrawide, and another 48-megapixel 5x telephoto. The front camera is a 42-megapixel. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and another 12-megapixel 5x telephoto. The front camera is a 12-megapixel.
8. Battery, charging: The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060mAh battery and supports 37W fast wired and 23W Qi wireless charging. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 4,422mAh battery and supports 27W wired and 15W MagSafe (Qi2) wireless charging.
9. Connectivity: The Pixel 9 Pro XL supports Wi-Fi 7. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has Wi-Fi 6E.
10. India prices: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is priced at Rs 1,24,999 for 16GB/256GB and Rs 1,39,999 for 16GB/512GB. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is priced at Rs 1,54,000 for 256GB, Rs 1,73,900 for 512GB, and Rs 1,93,500 for 1TB.