Design and Display
The Pixel 10 and iPhone 16 both showcase premium builds with aluminum frames, reinforced glass, and IP68 water and dust resistance. Apple equips the iPhone 16 with its second-generation Ceramic Shield, claiming three times more scratch resistance, while Google uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the Pixel 10.
The Pixel 10 is thicker and heavier, accommodating a larger 4,970 mAh battery and Qi2 magnets for its new Pixelsnap ecosystem. This makes it compatible with MagSafe accessories, a first for Android. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 keeps a thinner, more compact body, adding two new buttons: Capture Control and the Action button. While the Action button is praised, Capture Control feels awkward in practice. The Pixel 10’s 6.3-inch OLED offers 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness, outperforming the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch 60Hz panel.
Performance and Software
Apple’s A18 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 16 remains unmatched in raw performance, with leading CPU and GPU benchmarks. The Pixel 10 debuts Google’s fully custom Tensor G5 chip, tuned for AI-first performance rather than benchmarks. It delivers major AI upgrades such as proactive suggestions, enhanced Gemini Nano execution, and real-time transcription.
While the iPhone excels in gaming and heavy workloads thanks to better thermal management, the Pixel 10 stands out with unique AI features not found in iOS. Apple’s major AI upgrade, Siri’s transformation under Apple Intelligence, has been delayed until 2026 or beyond, giving Google an early lead in practical AI-driven features.
Camera
For the first time, the Pixel 10 introduces a telephoto lens on its base model, offering a full triple-camera system with a 5x optical zoom. The iPhone 16 sticks to a dual-lens setup, relying on wide and ultra-wide sensors. While Apple maintains a lead in video quality and selfies, the Pixel 10 gains the advantage in zoom and natural skin tone capture.
Google also adds new AI tools like Camera Coach, Auto Best Take, and photo authenticity verification. Despite smaller sensors than its predecessor, the Pixel 10 delivers competitive results. Apple edges out slightly in overall video consistency, but Google’s hardware versatility gives the Pixel an edge for photography enthusiasts.
Battery and Charging
Google gave the Pixel 10 a massive 4,970 mAh battery compared to the iPhone 16’s 3,561 mAh. This translates to significantly longer browsing and video playback times, though the iPhone performs better in gaming endurance. Charging speeds are comparable, but the Pixel 10 supports Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, a MagSafe-like feature new to Android.
This feature, combined with Pixelsnap accessories, positions Google’s device as more future-ready in the charging department. Apple’s MagSafe remains a staple at 25W, but Pixel now provides an equally strong option with broader accessory support.
Final Verdict
The iPhone 16 offers industry-leading performance, compact design, and excellent video recording, but feels dated with its 60Hz screen and lack of a telephoto camera. The Pixel 10, priced at $799, counters with a 120Hz brighter display, larger battery, triple cameras, and AI-first features that could tempt long-time iPhone owners to switch.
While Apple continues to dominate raw power and video quality, Google’s Pixel 10 shines as the more innovative option for everyday use. For those considering a jump from iOS to Android, this could be the most compelling Pixel yet.
