Apple iPhone 16 ProvsGoogle Pixel 9
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Apple iPhone 16 Pro wins
Verdict
Apple iPhone 16 Pro wins 2 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Apple iPhone 16 Pro is the overall winner, taking 2 of 5 categories — camera is its standout. It costs USD 999 — USD 200 more than the Google Pixel 9. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro takes Performance — led by performance score (1,650,000 pts).
- Too close to call between Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9.
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro takes Camera — led by telephoto lens (Yes).
- Google Pixel 9 takes Battery — led by battery (4,700 mAh).
- Google Pixel 9 takes Price — led by price (799 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,650,000 pts vs 1,000,000 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want a sharper screen — 460 ppi vs 422 ppi.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want sharper selfies — 12 MP vs 10.5 MP.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want better video quality — 98 pts vs 93 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you want a better camera — 154 pts vs 143 pts.
Choose Google Pixel 9 if you want…
- Choose Google Pixel 9 if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Google Pixel 9 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,700 nits vs 2,000 nits.
- Choose Google Pixel 9 if you want longer battery life — 4,700 mAh vs 3,582 mAh.
- Choose Google Pixel 9 if you want a lower price — 799 USD vs 999 USD.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro
- Google Pixel 9
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto lens
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video quality
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera quality
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 999.
Google Pixel 9
Choose Google Pixel 9 if display matters most. It costs USD 799, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
- A18 Pro performance
- Excellent 4K/120 video
- Premium build
- Pricey
- Battery is modest
- 27 W charging is slow
Google Pixel 9
- Best-in-class photo processing
- Clean Android
- 7 years of updates
- Tensor chip trails rivals
- 27 W charging
- Average battery life