Google Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which is Better

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a direct rival to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is because both smartphones are premium phones from Google and Apple respectively. But, which is the better smartphone of these two?

After comparing the specs and performance of both smartphones, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers more power when it comes to gaming and rendering graphics. However, the Pixel 8 Pro gives you more flexibility, is cheaper, and gives you more freedom via software customization.

Let me show you what I mean by comparing the similarities and differences between both phones.

Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Similarities

Features	Pixel 8 Pro	iPhone 15 Pro Max
Display Size	6.7-inches	6.7-inches
Display Panel	LTPO OLED	LTPO OLED
Display Features	120Hz, HDR10+	120Hz, HDR10+
microSD Card	NO	NO
3.5mm Jack	NO	NO
Wireless Charging	YES	YES
Waterproof	YES – IP68	YES – IP68

Display Size and Features

The size and features of the display of both phones are one area where they’re similar. Both the Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have a similar 6.7-inch display. Both phones also have the LTPO OLED display panel that supports 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, etc.

Other Similarities

Other similarities between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google Pixel 8 Pro are, USB type-C charging ports, no microSD card slot, no 3.5mm headphone jack port, wireless charging, IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min), Nano-SIM and eSIM, 4K video recording, etc. But there are also lots of differences.

Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Differences

Features	Pixel 8 Pro	iPhone 15 Pro Max
Screen	Curved	Flat
Chipset	Google Tensor G3	Apple A17 Pro
GPU	Immortalis-G715s MC10	Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
Software	Android 14	Apple iOS 17
Rear Camera	50 + 48 + 48MP	48 + 12 + 12MP
Battery	5050mAh	4441mAh
Security	Fingerprint	FaceID
Satellite Comm	N/A	Emergency SOS via satellite
Price	$999	$1,199

Display and Design

Although the Pixel 8 Pro has a similar display size and features as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it has a different display design. The Pixel 8 Pro has a curved display while the display of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is flat.

The rear design of both phones is also very different. Pixel 8 Pro has a camera module that runs across its rear back panel while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a rear camera that sits on the top left corner. The iPhone has a bigger punch hole (Dynamic Island) on its screen while the Pixel phone has a single punch hole on its screen.

Chipset and Performance

Both smartphones also have different performances. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features the new Apple A17 Pro chipset while the Google Pixel 8 Pro features the Google Tensor G3. Both chipsets are 5G chipsets but the chipset in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is more powerful.

The Apple A17 Pro chipset in the iPhone is more power efficient and has a more powerful GPU than the Tensor G3 chipset in the Pixel 8 Pro. So, when it comes to performance such as playing games, rendering graphics, etc. the iPhone 15 Pro Max is better than the Pixel 8 Pro.

Software, UI, and Customization

Software is another area where both phones are different. iPhone 15 Pro Max runs Apple iOS 17 while the Google Pixel 8 Pro runs Android 14 software. The icons, UI, and UX on both phones are different. Choosing which software to use is based on user preference.

However, the UI of the Pixel 8 Pro is more customizable than that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. So, if you own the Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll have more freedom to customize things and if you’re like me, you’d probably like that.

Camera: Photography and Videography

The camera system is another area where both phones are different. The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a 48MP primary camera while the Google Pixel 8 Pro has a 50MP primary camera.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 12MP telephoto camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera to complete the rear cameras. In contrast, the Pixel 8 Pro has a 48MP telephoto camera and a 48MP ultra-wide camera.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max shoots better videos than the Pixel 8 Pro. This is because of its improved stability features, cinematic modes, etc. However, the Pixel 8 Pro takes better photos and has more interesting camera features. You can read about these impressive Pixel 7 Pro camera features coming to the Pixel 8 Pro.

Battery and Charging

The Pixel 8 Pro has a 5050mAh battery while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 4441mAh battery. The Pixel 8 Pro supports 30W wired and 23W wireless charging while the iPhone 15 Pro Max supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging.

The battery of both phones can last you more than 9 hours of intensive use. If you’re a light user, both phones can give you more than 24 hours of battery use.

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Price

The price of the Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB) is $999 while the price of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) is $1,199. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is more expensive but both phones are available for purchase. You can use the details in the tables below to buy one or both phones.

Buy Google Pixel 8 Pro

Google Pixel 8 Pro	Price
Buy on Amazon	$999.00
Buy on Amazon(UK)	£999.00
Buy on Amazon(EUR)	€1,099.00

Buy Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 15 Pro Max	Price	Storage
Buy on BestBuy	$1,199	256GB
Buy on Amazon(UK)	£1,199	256GB
Buy on Amazon(EUR)	€1,199	256GB

Google Pixel 8 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a better-performing smartphone than the Google Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel 8 Pro is cheaper and gives you similar values as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

If you like curved-screen phones then buy the Pixel 8 Pro but if you love playing games a lot, then you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max. For the price and features it offers, I’ll recommend the Google Pixel 8 Pro ahead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.