The Google Pixel has always been designed to be “the iPhone of Android,” and the Pixel 6 Pro comes the closest to achieving that goal. In addition to sporting its own silicon for the first time, the Pixel 6 Pro also sees additional changes to the Android 12 software that make it different from typical Android devices and, dare we say it, more like an iOS. The iPhone 13 Pro, on the other hand, is a somewhat iterative update over last year’s iPhone 12 Pro, with most of the big updates involving hardware components that Android phones have offered for years, such as larger camera sensors and a high refresh display.
The iPhone vs. Pixel debate is fun every year for tech enthusiasts, but this is probably the first year that this debate matters (only minimally, but still) to the average consumer. Both smartphones come with features that can improve your daily activities and enhance your professional endeavors. Since cameras are the focal point of the exterior design of both units, you can expect the two smartphones to offer the best in mobile photography. Even though at the time of release the Pixel 6 Pro cost only $100 less ($899) than the $999.99 iPhone 13 Pro, you will still spend big bucks with both devices.
Pixel 6 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro
Design
The iPhone 13 Pro Max follows the boxy aesthetic that Apple brought back with the iPhone 12, which makes the iPhone instantly recognizable at a glance. The Pixel 6 Pro did the same this year; the visor bar camera array on the back of the Pixel, combined with the two-tone finish, makes it unmistakable. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 Pro’s full-width camera array makes it one of the first phones in recent years to sit comfortably on my desk, either face up or face down. However, the Pixel 6 Pro is slippery without a case, and this is a problem given its considerable size. Even the iPhone 13 Pro will force you to use a case to get rid of its huge rectangular camera cluster, and the notch is still annoying. Sure, you learn to ignore it and it is 20 percent smaller this year, but let’s hope the iPhone 14 brings the hole camera with it.
Looking at the phones by numbers, the Pixel 6 Pro is considerably larger at 6.5 x 3.0 x .035 inches compared to the iPhone 13 Pro’s 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches. However, despite the size disparity, the Pixel 6 Pro weighs only 0.2 ounces more than the iPhone 13 Pro, which weighs 7.2 ounces. The weight is a bit surprising, but the size difference was to be expected given that the Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.7-inch display compared to the iPhone 13 Pro’s 6.1-inch display.
Display
Speaking of high-end devices, the Pixel 6 Pro offers a 6.71-inch AMOLED display, in contrast to the OLED variants used on last year’s Pixel 5 (and the iPhone 13 Pro). This enables it to display extraordinarily deep blacks and rich colors, and when combined with a 120 Hz refresh rate, it looks truly seductive. In addition, with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels, the display offers 512 pixels per inch. This is in contrast to the 460 ppi of the iPhone 13 Pro, which does not look as lush, although that is not a problem.
However, while you might think the Pixel has a superior screen, our review found jittering problems when using 120 Hz mode, a problem exacerbated by a number of third-party apps. Add to this the unreliability of the on-screen fingerprint sensor, and the Pixel’s display loses a prominent position.
Performance
Google is finally taking on Apple with its own custom Tensor chip, and while there are some clear advantages over the Qualcomm chips used in the past, it is not surprising that the A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 Pro remains the clear champion of raw power. In real-world use, both phones are excellent. We loaded dozens of Google Chrome tabs, apps, picture-in-picture videos and games during our review of each phone, and neither skipped a frame. Unlike last year’s Pixel line, I was able to boot up games such as Call of Duty Mobile and play them without a problem even at the highest settings. However, when looking at the benchmarks, the iPhone’s advantage is much more clearly seen.
In the Geekbench 5 overall performance test, the iPhone 13 Pro holds the new mobile record with 4,718. The Pixel 6 Pro stops at 2,760 points, almost 2,000 less. This is a lesson in how powerful our phones are right now, given how solidly the Pixel 6 Pro handles everything we put before it, but as far as longevity is concerned, the iPhone 13 Pro should still be fast enough in 3 or 4 years, when the Pixel 6 Pro will show its age.
Cameras
The camera has always been the Pixel’s strong point, and it seems that Google has tried to capitalize on this with the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro has a three-lens rear configuration, including a 50-megapixel wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens. The iPhone 13 Pro also has a three-lens configuration, although in its case each camera (wide, ultrawide and telephoto) contains only 12MP.
Thus, one might assume that the Pixel is ahead of the iPhone in terms of taking impressive photos. In practice, it is not that simple, because software always plays an important role in determining camera performance. For example, while our tests with the Pixel 6 Pro so far have found that it generally takes excellent and detailed photos in the vast majority of cases, we have found the same with the iPhone 13 Pro, even though its specifications are superficially not so impressive.
Software
We all know the drill when it comes to comparing software: iOS and Android are both good in different ways, and choosing a favorite depends on what you are already used to and your priorities. Needless to say, Android 12-which the Pixel 6 Pro has been using since the beginning-offers one of the best stock Android updates in years, with a revamped design, a new notification shade, support for digital car keys, and many cool camera features (such as the magic eraser). In contrast, iOS 15 offers the iPhone 13 Pro some welcome new features, most notably Focus Mode (which allows users to set custom “do not disturb” modes for different situations).
Battery life and charging
From a strictly hardware standpoint, the Pixel 6 Pro should be the winner as its 4,614 mAh battery outperforms the iPhone 13 Pro’s 3,095 mAh battery. However, as of last year, Apple has always had a secret sauce when it comes to extracting the best battery life from its phones, and this is once again the case. While my experience with the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life has been very positive, reports on the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life vary widely. Some feel that it is well below the competition. As you will see by taking a look at our report above, most people rate the battery life of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro as all-day or all-day and beyond.
Despite Google’s adoption of 30W fast charging, charging speeds between the two phones remain virtually identical due to the iPhone 13 Pro’s small battery size. Apple’s 20W charging takes the iPhone 13 Pro to 25 percent in 15 minutes and 53 percent in 30 minutes. The Pixel 6 Pro mirrors this almost identically, reaching 51% in 30 minutes. Both require the separate purchase of a 20W or 30W charger, as Apple and Google only include a USB-C to lighting and USB-C to USB-C cable in the package, respectively.
Extra features
Both phones feature 5G, including support for the faster 5G mmWave bands. This covers all carriers, unlike the standard Pixel 6, which does not support mmWave on T-Mobile. Apart from that, the Pixel 6 Pro leads the way in terms of special features. It offers a wide range of software-based tricks and tweaks, ranging from the aforementioned Magic Eraser (which allows you to retouch photos in Photoshop) and Motion Mode (which allows you to give motion to photos), to Wait Times and Direct My Call, which eliminate the hassle of dialing toll-free numbers and navigating automated phone menus.
All of these features may be minor, but together they turn the Pixel 6 Pro into a truly useful and convenient device. In contrast, the iPhone 13 Pro relies on recurring special features such as Face ID and Memojis, which are nice enough, but certainly not new.
Price and availability
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is currently available from Apple, with prices starting at $999. Virtually all retailers sell it, while all major carriers support it on their networks. The Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899, while the 512 GB version comes in at $1,099. It can be ordered directly from Google, while it will also be widely available elsewhere and supported by all major networks.
Final Words
If you are people who hang on to their phone for at least 4-5 years, the iPhone 13 Pro will be the better device than the Pixel 6. The performance of the A15 Bionic is so much better than what is needed for this phone that it will still be more than capable in 4-5 years, while Google’s Tensor will feel its age in the next two years. Although battery life is less decisive, there is no doubt that the iPhone 13 Pro is more long-lived than the Pixel 6 Pro.
