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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max crushes the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL for photography with its superior 5x optical zoom lens. You'll love the iPhone’s 48MP main camera, which delivers stunning detail, especially in low-light conditions. On the flip side, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a brighter 6.8" display with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making it a fantastic option for outdoor use in 2026. In real-world use, the iPhone's battery lasts up to 29 hours of video playback,. For gamers, the Pixel's 16GB RAM gives it an edge, making multitasking a breeze.
📱 Display: 6.7" vs 6.8"🔋 Battery: 4422 mAh vs 5060 mAh📷 Camera: 48 MP vs 50 MP
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
★4.8
(895)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro)
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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
★4.4
(986)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G4
Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
6.7" (6.69" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)Winner
Refresh Rate
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
1–120Hz (Adaptive)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Tensor G4
RAMKey
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
8 GB (LPDDR5)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
16GB LPDDR5XWinner
Storage
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)Winner
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
48MP Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OISWinner
Ultra-Wide Camera
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), 100% Focus Pixels, Macro photography support
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
4422 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback (25 hours streamed)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
5,060 mAh (Typical)Winner
Wireless Charging
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
MagSafe up to 15W; Qi2 up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Up to 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
7.81 oz (221 g)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
7.80 oz (221 g)
Dimensions
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
6.29" x 3.02" x 0.32" (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm)
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
6.4" x 3.0" x 0.3" (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Android
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB; Dual Band GNSS
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
★4.8(895)Best Buy
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
★4.4(986)Amazon
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(895)Best Buy | ★4.4(986)Amazon |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates |
Processor | Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Google Tensor G4 |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro) | Arm Mali-G715 MC7 |
RAM | 8 GB (LPDDR5) | 16GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1) |
Display Size | 6.7" (6.69" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Actua LTPO OLED |
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 pixels (460 ppi) | 1344 x 2992 pixels (QHD+), 486 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) | 1–120Hz (Adaptive) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor) | 2,000 nits (HDR) / 3,000 nits (Peak) |
Main Camera | 48MP Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), 100% Focus Pixels, Macro photography support | 48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus |
Telephoto Camera | 12MP 5x Telephoto (120 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus | 48MP Telephoto (5x optical, f/2.8), Quad PD AF, OIS |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x optical zoom steps (10x optical zoom range) | 5x Optical Zoom (Optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 25x | Up to 30x Super Res Zoom |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording; Log video recording (ACES compliant); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 8K@30fps (via Video Boost); 4K@24/30/60fps |
Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps, ProRes support | 42MP Front (f/2.2, 103° FOV), Dual PD AF |
Battery | 4422 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback (25 hours streamed) | 5,060 mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher; USB 3 speeds supported | Up to 37W (charges up to 70% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger) |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 15W; Qi2 up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W | Up to 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB; Dual Band GNSS |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Aerospace-grade titanium design; Textured matte glass back | IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back) |
Dimensions | 6.29" x 3.02" x 0.32" (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm) | 6.4" x 3.0" x 0.3" (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm) |
Weight | 7.81 oz (221 g) | 7.80 oz (221 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; Temperature sensor; VPN by Google One |
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Rating:★4.8(895)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro)
RAM:8 GB (LPDDR5)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.7" (6.69" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2796 x 1290 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz)
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor)
Main Camera:48MP Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Ultra-Wide Camera:12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), 100% Focus Pixels, Macro photography support
Telephoto Camera:12MP 5x Telephoto (120 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus
Optical Zoom:0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x optical zoom steps (10x optical zoom range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 25x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording; Log video recording (ACES compliant); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
Front Camera:12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps, ProRes support
Battery:4422 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback (25 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher; USB 3 speeds supported
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 15W; Qi2 up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
USB:USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output
Durability:IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Aerospace-grade titanium design; Textured matte glass back
Dimensions:6.29" x 3.02" x 0.32" (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm)
Weight:7.81 oz (221 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Apple Intelligence support; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite
✓ Pros:
- • First iPhone to support Apple Intelligence features
- • 5x optical zoom tetraprism lens significantly improves long-range photography
- • USB-C port with USB 3.0 speeds (10 Gb/s) enables professional workflows
- • Titanium frame makes it lighter and more durable than previous Pro Max models
- • Excellent battery life and Always-On ProMotion display
✗ Cons:
- • Charging speed is capped at 27W wired and 15W wireless (slower than newer models)
- • Base model starts at a higher price point (no 128GB option)
- • Large physical footprint can be difficult to use one-handed
- • No physical SIM tray in US models (eSIM only)
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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Rating:★4.4(986)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G4
Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7
RAM:16GB LPDDR5X
Storage:128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Actua LTPO OLED
Resolution:1344 x 2992 pixels (QHD+), 486 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Adaptive)
Peak Brightness:2,000 nits (HDR) / 3,000 nits (Peak)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus
Telephoto Camera:48MP Telephoto (5x optical, f/2.8), Quad PD AF, OIS
Optical Zoom:5x Optical Zoom (Optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x)
Digital Zoom:Up to 30x Super Res Zoom
Video Recording:8K@30fps (via Video Boost); 4K@24/30/60fps
Front Camera:42MP Front (f/2.2, 103° FOV), Dual PD AF
Battery:5,060 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:Up to 37W (charges up to 70% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger)
Wireless Charging:Up to 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB; Dual Band GNSS
USB:USB Type-C 3.2
Durability:IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back)
Dimensions:6.4" x 3.0" x 0.3" (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm)
Weight:7.80 oz (221 g)
Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock
Extras:Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; Temperature sensor; VPN by Google One
✓ Pros:
- • Industry-leading 7-year software support commitment
- • Super Actua display is exceptionally bright (3,000 nits peak)
- • Versatile camera system with 5x optical zoom and high-res 42MP selfie camera
- • Deep AI integration with Gemini and exclusive features like Video Boost
- • Premium build with uniform bezels and Gorilla Glass Victus 2
✗ Cons:
- • 8K video recording is not native on-device (requires cloud-based Video Boost processing)
- • UFS 3.1 storage is slower than the UFS 4.0 standard found in competitors
- • Heavy gaming performance lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 rivals
- • Charging speed (37W max) is slower than many flagship peers
- • Optical fingerprint sensor replaced by ultrasonic, but still requires good placement
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Which one is better?
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its 5x optical zoom crushes the Pixel 9 Pro XL's camera capabilities. That said, grab the Pixel 9 Pro XL if you need a brighter display and excellent software support - it offers 7 years of updates.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if: you prioritize photography with a 5x optical zoom, you want a longer-lasting battery for video playback, or you enjoy the iOS ecosystem.
Choose the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL if: you need a stunning display for outdoor use, you prefer longer software support, or you want more RAM for multitasking. (6.8" display, 5060 mAh battery)
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max excels if you value first iphone to support apple intelligence features. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is better if you prioritize industry-leading 7-year software support commitment. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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