Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Which flagship could win?
That's why a Pixel 10 Pro X vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max face-off preview is necessary to determine how these best phone contenders compare to one another for that coveted best phone title.
In our iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL comparison, Apple's flagship narrowly came out on top — driven largely by excellent camera and battery performances.
Google doesn't intend on coming up short with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which is tipped for bigger upgrades alongside its sibling in the Pixel 10 Pro. Not only is it rumored to be powered by the Tensor G5 chip, but you can bet that Google's going to be making greater strides around its software and new AI features.
Pixel 10 Pro XL (rumored)
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Price
$1,099
$1,199
Display
6.8 inches
6.9 inches
Refresh Rate
120Hz adaptive
120Hz adaptive
CPU
Tensor G4
A18 Pro
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear Cameras
50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto (5x zoom)
48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (5x optical zoom)
Front Camera
42MP
12MP
Battery
5,060 mAh
4,685 mAh
Colors
Obsidian, Porcelain, Moonstone, and Jade
Black, White, Desert and Natural Titanium
Size
N/A
6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches
Weight
N/A
8 ounces
Depending on what storage models Google ends up giving the Pixel 10 Pro XL, it could see a price hike. Just as a refresher, the current Pixel 9 Pro XL fetches for $1,099 with the base 128GB model. With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, a price hike could be in its future if Google ends up ditching the 128GB model and opts to make 256GB the base option.
That means the Pixel 10 Pro XL could inherently get a price hike because of this. If this ends up happening, then there would be no price advantage with the Pixel 10 Pro XL because it'd be the same price for what the iPhone 16 Pro Max commands right now.
We know a lot about what the Pixel 10 Pro XL might look like, given the numerous rendered images shared by leakers (and Google itself).
From the looks of it, Google isn't changing the formula with the Pixel 10 Pro XL's design, as the phone largely flaunts the same aesthetics as last year's model. This consists of rounded corners and the same elongated pill shaped camera bar on the back of the phone.
One promising design change we're thrilled to potentially get with the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the magnets needed to support for Qi2 charging. Everyone thought the Pixel 9 Pro XL would come with proper Qi2 support, but it didn't come to fruition. With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, it stands to benefit in a great way.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is still an incredibly well-built phone, but it too recycles the design of its predecessor. The only meaningful change is the addition of the Camera Control on the side of the phone.
Even though the designs of these phones don't differ from their predecessors, it could ultimately come down yet again to the color options. Apple keeps to the same neutral tones it's leaned on for years with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, whereas Google is tipped to again inject a little bit of color to its flagship.
Based on recently leaked renders, the Pixel 10 Pro XL will be available in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Moonstone, and Jade. Meanwhile, you have only three options with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Google already has the upper hand here because the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the brightest display that we've ever tested with a staggering peak brightness output of 2,649 nits. Given how the iPhone 16 Pro Max topped out at 1,553 nits, it's a safe presumption that the Pixel 10 Pro XL will still come out on top — but by how much more is the question.
Specs leaks for the Pixel 10 Pro XL hint at a similar 6.8-inch display as its predecessor, with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 2992 x 1344 resolution. Google is tipped to make one new addition with the display, an improved PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming, that would ease eye strain by switching to a 480Hz PWM dimming display.
After coming up short in our 200 photo shootout with the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google has a huge challenge ahead to redeem itself.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max's triple camera system, which consists of a 48MP main shooter, 48MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto with 5x zoom, edged out the Pixel 9 Pro XL in nearly every category — including telephoto and low light performances.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Pixel 10 Pro XL is getting any major hardware upgrades. In fact, rumors point to the same triple camera system as before, which would be made up of a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto with 5x zoom.
We're hoping that the sensors and apertures are a little different. If not, then it's going to come down to what new image processing algorithms Google has in place for its new phone.
Despite this, we're hopeful that Google could amplify its camera capabilities with new AI-assisted tools and features. The current tools on the Pixel 9 Pro XL already beat out anything that Apple offers with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so Google could widen its gap in this area.
There have been leaks around new AI-editing tools that could be coming to Google Photos, like a new Help Me Edit tool that lets users make edits through a text box. For Apple, we'll have to wait until a later time to see if the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get more camera tools with help from Apple Intelligence.
Out of all the changes tipped to come to the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the most notable one has to be the Tensor G5. A promising tip reportedly says that Google's turning to chip maker TSMC for its Tensor G5 chip, which is supposedly being made using a 3-nanometer manufacturing process — an improvement over the 4nm process with the current Tensor G4.
While this is all promising, there's still the matter of how much of a significant performance boost it will give the Pixel 10 Pro XL. That's because the A18 Pro's performance with the iPhone 16 Pro Max easily proved how much of a gap there was against the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Various performance tests we conducted painted the A18 Pro as the winner, but the Tensor G5 could finally prove that Google can step up to the plate with something just as formidable.
However, early reports hint that the Tensor G5 would lag behind chips from Qualcomm and Apple — with a later report backing up this sentiment. Needless to say, it doesn't look good for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Hopefully optimizations that Google's been working on with Android 16 could result in improvements that could push the needle towards its upcoming phone.
Those optimizations could end up being critical at boosting the Pixel 10 Pro XL's battery life over the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple certainly does not disappoint in this area because the iPhone 16 Pro Max achieved a time of 18 hours and 6 minutes on Tom's Guide's battery benchmark test — whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL came in shorter at 14 hours and 37 minutes.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is reportedly getting a larger 5,200 mAh battery, an increase over the Pixel 9 Pro XL's 5,060 mAh battery capacity. Paired with power optimizations with the Tensor G5 and Android 16, the Pixel 10 Pro XL could at the very least match the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Exceeding it would be a tough challenge though.
Likewise, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is tipped to gain a slightly faster wired charging speed to 39W, which despite being a minor increase over the 37W, would likely still charge faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
We already have a good idea how the software powering Pixel 10 Pro XL and iPhone 16 Pro Max, mainly because the iOS 26 beta has been available for some time — along with the Android 16's rollout this summer to the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Apple made significant visual changes to its interface with iOS 26, like its new Liquid Glass material design and other changes to the lock screen. There's also a slew of other helpful features and changes that we've tested, like its new Camera app layout, Hold Assist with phone calls, and even the new Call Screen feature. With the latter, we've tested the iOS 26 Call Screen against the Pixel 9 Pro's similar feature — and determined Google's version to be superior.
While we do have a good idea of what the final iOS 26 release for the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be like, Google could still throw in a few surprises around Android 16 for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Chief among them would be new Google AI features, possibly around more multimodal AI support with Gemini. There's even the Android 16 desktop mode that was quietly introduced at Google I/O 2025.
Unless Apple Intelligence makes a big push, the Pixel 10 Pro XL could still be the AI phone to beat for the foreseeable future.
Based on all the rumors we know around the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google has a lot to prove to convince people it's going to be much better than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple's flagship model is continually a best phone contender, despite newer phones coming out after it like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13.
Google could again lean on what it does best, which is to bring new AI features that could tip the scales towards the Pixel 10 Pro XL's favor — more so when the hardware upgrades don't seem as dramatic. At the same time, pricing could end up being the biggest differentiator considering how this has been a staple asset for the Pixel series.
And keep in mind that the Pixel 10 Pro XL will have to compete with the new iPhone 17 Pro Max come September. Stay tuned for that comparison.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Apple CEO drops bombshell about its future
Apple CEO drops bombshell about its future originally appeared on TheStreet. Apple is notoriously close-to-the-vest when it comes to making announcements, preferring to keep loyal fans and die-hard investors in the dark until the timing is right. The company's "one more thing" mentality, reflected by founder Steve Jobs's surprising product reveals at Apple keynote conferences, appears shared by current CEO Tim Cook. In contrast to other big tech leaders, including Elon Musk, Cook often lets Apple's products do the talking. As a result, investors often look closely at Cook's comments during conference calls, looking for clues to what he may have planned for the company next. During Apple's second-quarter earnings conference call, Cook may have dropped his guard a little when he offered an interesting response about Apple's massive cash stockpile and artificial intelligence ambitions. CEO Tim Cook says Apple is open for business Apple reported a solid June quarter that outpaced analysts' expectations. Revenue was a whopping $94 billion, up 10% year over year, and almost $5 billion better than Wall Street expected. Net income was over $23 billion, resulting in earnings per share, or EPS, of $1.57, up 12% from one year ago, and 14 cents ahead of company's massive profit lifted its cash hoard to about $36 billion from roughly $30 billion last year, giving it plenty of financial firepower to invest in its products and software. And that's precisely what investors want to see happen. While competitors like Google have gone all in on artificial intelligence, developing the AI chatbot Gemini, Apple's AI strategy has been criticized as too little, too late. The company's arguably slow development of AI solutions relative to peers has left many investors wondering if Tim Cook's number-crunching mindset sets Apple on a course of missing out on the most significant opportunity since the dawn of the Internet. However, during Apple's earnings conference call, Cook acknowledged that he'd consider accelerating Apple's AI efforts by using its massive cash war chest. When Citi analyst Atif Malik asked about the prospects of 'big M&A," Cook responded bluntly. 'We've acquired around seven companies this year,' said Cook on the call. 'We're very open to M&A that accelerates our road map… We are not stuck on a certain size company.' Cook said he didn't have anything to announce currently, but his willingness to consider a big deal could mean that reports of interest in Perplexity, a major AI player, may have merit. Buying Perplexity could make sense for Apple Cook aims to accelerate Apple's development timeline, ostensibly via internal research and development and smaller bolt-on deals. However, if he really wanted to, he could do a deal to acquire Perplexity that could, as he put it, 'help us accelerate a road map.'Perplexity provides an AI chatbot similar to Google and OpenAI's ChatGPT, but there are key differences. It has its own in-house model, Sonar, that's built on Meta Platforms' Llama open source code. It's also leaned on rival chatbots, including DeepSeek's R1. Subscribers to its Pro tier can also toggle between other large language models, including OpenAI, Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and Elon Musk's Grok. Acquiring Perplexity would instantly give Apple an established model for monetizing AI. Perplexity operates on a freemium model, with a no-cost introductory subscription and paid service. Perplexity prioritizes real-time insight with direct responses — a design that arguably matches Apple's deep focus on user experience. In short, Perplexity's desire for a better chatbot user experience aligns nicely with Apple's approach, historically. Perplexity would cost Apple a pretty penny Cook says Apple has acquired seven companies this year, about one 'every several weeks.' Those deals, however, are small and haven't cost the company much of its war chest. Buying Perplexity would be a different story. Perplexity, which launched in 2022 around the same time as ChatGPT, has over 22 million monthly active users. Its annualized revenue could hit $150 million this summer, according to About Chromebooks data, up from an ARR of $63 million exiting last year. The company's rapid user growth translated into Perplexity answering 780 million queries in May, according to which was up from 230 million in August 2024. Also in May, its website recorded 153 million visits, about triple the number from March. Perplexity isn't publicly traded, is currently reportedly valued at $18 billion, and its AI search market share is about 6%.Apple CEO drops bombshell about its future first appeared on TheStreet on Aug 3, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Apple crushes earnings expectations, but stays mum on a major asset
Apple crushes earnings expectations, but stays mum on a major asset originally appeared on TheStreet. Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) reported its third-quarter earnings on July 31, beating Wall Street expectations on almost every front — from profit and revenue to iPhone sales and gross margins. The tech giant posted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.57, well above the expected $1.43, and $94.04 billion in revenue, exceeding forecasts of $89.53 billion. This marks Apple's largest quarterly revenue growth since December 2021. 'It was an exceptional quarter by any measure,' said CEO Tim Cook, speaking to CNBC after the report dropped. Apple's most important business — the iPhone — led the charge. iPhone revenue surged 13% year-over-year to $44.58 billion, boosted in part by strong sales of the iPhone 16, which Cook said saw 'strong double-digit' growth over its predecessor. Investors are keeping an eye on the tech behemoth for another reported addition. A new Fortune report revealed that Apple is in early discussions with fellow tech giants Airbnb and Google to introduce stablecoins, aiming to bring them into the mainstream for facilitating cross-border payments and reducing trading costs. Stablecoins could enable Apple to maximize transaction fees around the world, sources say — an indication that the technology company is making bigger moves into digital finance. Analysts, however, are not expecting a huge revenue boost, as Trump has threatened a 25% tax on iPhones unless they are made in the US, resulting in margin pressure on quarter three and quarter also has uncertainty around its $20 billion-per-year agreement with Google, which is at risk as a judge considers how to rule in the DOJ's antitrust case, as per reports. Reports also mention analysts like BofA's Wamsi Mohan say the attention will be on margin performance and iPhone revenue, which they see rising slightly to $39.8 billion. While Apple has not directly entered the crypto industry, it has eased up previous restrictions on crypto applications. Further, as of May, Apple Pay also supports stablecoin transactions with payment service provider, Mesh. The integration allows consumers to spend USDC and USDT at checkout and convert them to fiat in real-time. Apple crushes earnings expectations, but stays mum on a major asset first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 31, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Veteran analyst spots unexpected star in Apple's earnings report
Veteran analyst spots unexpected star in Apple's earnings report originally appeared on TheStreet. Apple () just crushed it with its Q3 numbers. However, beyond the headline glow, Wedbush's Dan Ives spotted something everyone else might be missing. It wasn't just about iPhone or AI, but more about Apple's future, and the high-stakes it's involved in at this time. 💵💰💰💵 In the next few quarters, we might see that tailwind play out even more, and nudge the Cupertino giant back in Wall Street's good graces, potentially kickstarting a powerful rally. Apple's Q3 shows broad strength with record revenue, margins, and an iPhone milestone Apple posted a remarkably strong quarterly report, posting record Q3 sales of $94.04 billion, up 10% year-over-year. Similarly, its diluted EPS of $1.57 represented an eye-catching 12% gain. Also, net income came in at a superb $23.43 billion, highlighting operational strength, despite external cost revenue came in at an all-time high of $27.42 billion, jumping 13% year-over-year. iPhone sales rose 13.5% to $44.58 billion, led by demand resilience, while marking a major milestone in the shipment of Apple's three billionth iPhone. Mac sales bounced 15% to $8.05 billion, somewhat offsetting the 8% drop in iPad revenue, which landed at $6.58 billion. Additionally, wearables, home, and accessories added $7.4 billion to the top line. Gross margin surged to 46.5%, despite the $800 million tariff-related hit, underscoring robust leverage across hardware and services. Regional performance was a critical driver, with revenue in Greater China rising 4%, reflecting sequential improvement. Looking ahead, Apple expects to post mid-to-high single-digit top-line growth in Q4, with services projected to maintain its 13% clip. Gross margin guidance is impeccable, coming in between 46% and 47%, even with Apple preparing for another $1.1 billion in tariff impact. Nevertheless, Apple enters the back half of FY2025 with healthy momentum and multiple growth catalysts. Wedbush calls China 'star of the show' as Apple clears the bar in Q3 Following Apple's strong Q3 earnings print, Wedbush didn't hold back in saying that the iPhone beat in China was 'the star of the show.' Analyst Daniel Ives hailed the results as 'much better than expected,' with Apple posting comfortable beats across both lines on the back of standout strength in iPhone and stood out was the rebound in Greater China. Apple reported $15.37 billion in sales from the region, up 4% year-over-year, its first return to positive expansion in the past several quarters. 'This was a major step in the right direction for Cook and Cupertino,' Ives said, noting that the Chinese performance blew past Wedbush and Street expectations. Government stimulus also helped drive the surprise upside, especially in iPhone sales, which leapt to $44.58 billion globally, smashing the $40.29 billion estimate. On top of that, Wedbush reaffirmed its Outperform rating and $270 price target. Still, Ives struck a cautionary note on AI. He's warned that Apple must move much quicker in the'4th Industrial Revolution,' suggesting that embracing external partnerships with the likes of Perplexity could help close out the innovation gap. Nevertheless, Wedbush's broader thesis is that Apple remains a durable tech leader with plenty of room to reaccelerate. Tim Cook says China is stabilizing, and Apple Intelligence is already reshaping the user experience Tim Cook leaned in bullishly as he addressed the China question in Apple's Q3 earnings call. Cook acknowledged a 2% year-over-year drop in the quarter but said that, excluding foreign exchange headwinds, results were mostly flat. Also, he noted tremendous progress compared to the December quarter, when revenue had dropped 11%. Cook credited recent stimulus support. 'I do think the subsidies played a favorable impact on the results.' However, in complementing Apple's deeper structural wins, he highlighted product momentum, noting that Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches draw in mostly first-time iPhone is holding firm, too. 'iPhone was the top two models in urban China, and iPad was the top two tablets in urban China,' Cook said. To support that argument, research from Canalys shows that Apple may be turning a corner in China. iPhone shipments surged 4% last quarter, clocking its first gain since late 2023, even as overall smartphone sales slipped. On AI, Apple put the spotlight on delivery. 'We built our own highly capable foundation models,' Cook said, highlighting features like Genmoji, Image Wand, and Writing Tools now live across multiple languages, backed by strong privacy. As for Siri's big upgrade? It's still cooking. 'We need more time,' Cook admitted. Siri delays stoke concern, but Apple's playing a longer AI game Tim Cook didn't sugarcoat the timeline on Siri, especially as Apple looks to meet a lofty quality bar. Investor sentiment surrounding the delay has been mostly mixed over the past several months. Citi warns that delays in AI-Siri integration could negatively impact iPhone upgrade intent while trimming near-term projections. UBS also flagged 2025 as light on transformational AI growth unless Siri delivers. Nevertheless, if Apple nails execution, some experts feel the Siri relaunch will be a great AI growth catalyst for the iPhone and services stack. A big part of Apple's competitive edge is its privacy-first posture, which should resonate with consumers wary of cloud-based assistants. There's also strategic movement. Apple is looking to explore external model integrations with ChatGPT or Claude to boost Siri's capabilities. More News: Warren Buffett unloads $1.2 billion of this popular tech stock Wall Street firm drops bold S&P 500 call after White House trade moves Jim Cramer sounds off on tariffs, hot economy, and interest rate pressures Hence, despite the delay in the flagship update, Apple Intelligence has been quietly expanding, with over 20 features live and usage metrics trending up. Hence, if Siri's reboot lands as expected in 2026, it could add new layers to Apple's illustrious growth story. Veteran analyst spots unexpected star in Apple's earnings report first appeared on TheStreet on Aug 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared. Error al recuperar los datos Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos
