Google Pixel 9 Pro / Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

It is a higher-resolution panel in the same body as the Pixel 9; 495 ppi renders text and photo edges more sharply. Because the corners are rounded, the visible area is slightly smaller than the measured diagonal.

ProMotion changes the refresh rate with the content: it rises to 120 Hz for scrolling and drops on still images to save battery. The Always-On display shows the time and notifications dimmed while locked.

The LTPO panel drops as low as 1 Hz for static content and the always-on display to save power, and rises to 120 Hz when scrolling. Google notes 120 Hz is not available in every app.

HDR brightness is measured with the whole screen lit and peak brightness with only 5% lit; the peak applies to small bright areas in sunlight.

The finishes are the reverse of the Pixel 9, which has a glossy back and a matte frame. The aluminium in the housing is 100% recycled.

Google notes the protection can diminish with wear, repair or drops and that liquid damage voids the warranty.

It is the same chip as the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL; there is no performance difference.

There is no card slot; storage and colour options vary by region.

Pro controls allow full 50 MP capture; the Pixel 9 only saves binned 12.5 MP photos. Optical quality is offered at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x.

Magnification beyond 5x is done in software; Google says 10x still gives near-optical quality. A multi-zone laser (LDAF) sensor assists focusing.

Video Boost processes recorded video on Google’s cloud servers to improve colour, lighting and stabilisation, so the result is not available immediately and an internet connection is needed. 8K and Super Res Zoom Video are only available with Video Boost on.

Log recording gives a flat image for colour grading; Action mode reduces shake with software stabilisation and crops the image to 2.8K.

The battery matches the Pixel 9’s capacity. Figures come from pre-production tests in the US using a median user profile.

No charger is included. 37 W wired charging is only on the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The UWB chip measures distance and direction to compatible devices and tags with centimetre-level precision; the standard Pixel 9 lacks it.

The rear temperature sensor measures surface temperatures of objects through the Thermometer app; the standard Pixel 9 lacks it.

The period counts from the first sale date on the US Google Store. Satellite SOS works only in the US.

The size matches the Pixel 9; it weighs 1 g more.

2000 nits is a peak reached with automatic brightness in sunlight; manual brightness stays lower.

Storage cannot be expanded later. 4K 60 fps ProRes recording works only to external storage.

The tetraprism design folds light inside the body so a 120 mm focal length fits in the thin case. Values above 5x are digital zoom and lose detail.

The 10 Gb/s speed needs a USB 3 capable cable; the charge cable in the box does not provide it. DisplayPort output can drive an external display at 4K HDR.

No power adapter is included. Qi2 support brings magnetic alignment to compatible chargers beyond MagSafe.

Dual-frequency GPS uses two satellite frequencies together to reduce position drift between tall buildings. mmWave 5G works only on the US model and with carriers that offer it.

The phone can store eight or more eSIM profiles; two lines can be active at once.

It replaces the ring/silent switch of earlier models; pressing and holding runs the chosen function.

Water and dust resistance is not permanent and can decrease over time.

Apple released this fix in October 2023; heat reports continued with later versions, see owner experiences.