Google Pixel 7 vs. Apple iPhone 14

Smartphone users are spoiled for choice when it comes to great devices this year. No sooner had Apple announced the iPhone 14 in September than Google followed it up with the Pixel 7, which, much like its iOS rival, takes the features that made its predecessors so popular and adds a few more to do good measure. In addition to the superb camera and long battery life of previous generations, it offers compatibility with the newly revealed Pixel Watch while also offering an attractively redesigned rear camera module.

The question is, how does it compare to the iPhone 14? We answer this question by looking at the different features of each and comparing them to each other. This way, you should be able to decide which smartphone is right for you.

Specifications

Design, display and durability

While neither phone is reinvented, the Pixel 7 at least tries something noticeably different with its design. While the Pixel 6 featured a horizontal glass camera visor, the seventh generation opts for aluminum this time around. That means it ditches the black, darkened look of the Pixel 6 and introduces something a bit sharper and more striking. On top of that, the Pixel 7 is also ditching the two-tone coloring of the Pixel 6’s rear, instead opting for a single all-over hue, which you can have Obsidian (essentially black), Snow, or Lemongrass (clear green).

The iPhone 14, however, doesn’t change anything from the iPhone 13. To be honest, the latter was hardly an ugly duckling, but Apple’s lack of adventure arguably marks it off a bit. iOS device.

Moving on to displays, the Pixel 7 sports a 6.3-inch AMOLED panel, capable of supporting a good 90Hz refresh rate. It also packs 2400 x 1080 pixels, or 416 pixels per inch (ppi). As for the iPhone, its 6.1-inch Super Retina OLED display surpasses the Pixel in terms of resolution at 2532 x 1170 pixels (or 460 ppi). Unfortunately, it has a refresh rate of just 60Hz, which robs it of the kind of smoothness and fluidity (in scrolling and animations) enjoyed by Google’s device.

As such, the Pixel wins this round by a narrow – but not negligible – margin. Both phones carry an IP68 rating, so neither has the edge in terms of durability.

Winner: Google Pixel 7

Performance, range and charging

The Pixel 7 runs on Google’s own Tensor G2 chip, which succeeds last year’s version. It is built using a 5nm manufacturing process, so it will prove powerful enough to handle most tasks and applications, especially when paired with 8GB of RAM. However, our review of the Pixel 7 revealed that it can struggle with more demanding video games, which can’t be said for the iPhone 14. The latter uses the same A15 Bionic chip as its predecessor, and while that may Seeming like an act of rigor on Apple’s part, it still handles computationally intensive work without any difficulty.

Both devices come with the same amount of internal memory as standard: 128GB. This can be increased up to 256GB on both models, while the iPhone also adds the option to go up to 512GB for an additional $300. Neither has a microSD card slot, so you might have to be careful with downloads and photos if you opt for basic storage.

As for the battery, the iPhone 14 houses a 3,279mAh cell, while the Pixel 7 offers a bulkier 4,355mAh counterpart. In theory, that should mean Google’s device comfortably outlasts rival Apple, but our reviews of each device revealed that they’re both more or less equally reliable. In other words, you’ll get just over a day’s worth of use out of each if you’re a moderate or heavy user, while lighter users can go almost a second day before needing to recharge. . With charging, the Pixel 7 supports fast charging at 30W, with the iPhone 14 charging at 20W. Either way, both phones will charge at around the same rate, with both manufacturers claiming 50 % in about half an hour.

Winner: Apple iPhone 14

Cameras

As we’ve seen with the designs of both phones, neither the Pixel 7 nor the iPhone 14 deviate significantly from their respective predecessors when it comes to their cameras. The Pixel’s rear camera setup includes a 50MP wide lens (the same as the Pixel 6) and a 12MP wide-angle camera with a 114-degree field of view. As for the iPhone 14, it has the same basic dual-lens rear camera setup as the iPhone 13, with a 12MP primary (wide) lens and a 12MP wide-angle camera. That said, the main lens has a bigger sensor and a bit more pixels, while there’s also a new 12MP front camera with autofocus and photography improvements. in low light.

Of course, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and for several years now, Google Pixel and the iPhone have easily offered the best camera phones. This is also the case with their latest generations, with the primary lens of the Pixel 7 producing excellent punching shots. Likewise, its ultra-wide lens also delivers well-balanced shots with plenty of color, detail, and vibrancy, which can also be said for the iPhone 14’s ultra-wide camera.

The same goes for the primary lens of the iPhone, which means the two devices are pretty much identical when it comes to photography. With both capable of shooting 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps), that means we have another bond.

Winner: Tie

Software and updates

iPhone 14 runs on iOS 16, while the Pixel 7 uses Android 13. Both operating systems have their strengths and weaknesses, with Android 13 updating its overall design to incorporate larger icons and more user-friendly menus. On the other hand, our Pixel 7 Pro review revealed that it can be a bit buggy at times, with formatting issues, problems opening and exiting games, and unwanted shadows, sometimes causing the user to restart the phone completely. This is not to say that most or even a significant number of users will experience such issues, but it does raise a question mark that may require some time (i.e. software updates) to answer.

This is not something that can be said about the iPhone 14, which above all offers a very simple and simple user experience. It will also likely provide the user with more basic software updates, because even though Google has committed to three major updates (and five years worth of security updates), Apple will likely exceed that by two. or three years.

Winner: Apple iPhone 14

Special Features

The Pixel’s main feature is that it’s compatible with Google’s new smartwatch, the aptly named Pixel watch. The latter offers users the ability to monitor their health and fitness (via a partnership with Fitbit) while also offering a very welcome Emergency SOS feature that will call 911 under certain circumstances.

Funnily enough, the iPhone 14 also comes equipped with its brand new Emergency SOS Over Satellite feature, allowing it to send emergency messages even without a phone signal. Additionally, it also has a collision detection feature that detects sudden increases in G-force (and sounds associated with car crashes). This resulted in people inadvertently call emergency services while riding a roller coasterbut it could save the lives of many people.

Besides these new additions, both phones have special features seen with previous generations. This includes 5G support, Face ID on the iPhone, AI-powered features on the Pixel (such as spam call detection), and contactless payment methods for each respective device.

Winner: Tie

Price and availability

The Google Pixel 7 is available direct from Google and costs $599 for the 128GB model or $699 for the 256GB version. It’s supported by all major carriers and widely sold by retailers.

The Apple iPhone 14 starts at $799, with the 256GB and 512GB models costing $899 and $1099 respectively. It can be purchased directly from Apple or purchased through any number of third-party retailers. It is also supported by all major networks.

Big winner: Apple iPhone 14

The two phones are perfectly matched, but the The iPhone 14 wins in a few important areas, giving it an overall win. Its performance surpasses that of the Pixel 7, while also offering smoother and more reliable software. Otherwise, both smartphones excel in similar areas, with attractive designs, crisp displays, long-lasting batteries, and great cameras. Of course, if you prefer Android, then the Pixel may still be the way to go, but if you don’t have a preference, there’s no denying that the iPhone 14 is a bit more capable overall.

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