Apple iPhone 15 vs Google Pixel 7: An iconic showdown

• Source: LiveMint leak

  Apple iPhone 15

  The entry-stage iOS phone

  Apple’s most popular version of its entry-stage signature smartphone gets a handful of iterative bumps in efficiency and imaging. It be even in a roundabout plan with the occasions, sporting a long-awaited USB-C port. The upgrades are welcome, but are they sufficient to ditch the versatile Android ecosystem for Apple’s walled garden?

  Pros

  • Greater peak brightness
  • Improved low-gentle images and video
  • Nearly unbeatable efficiency

  Cons

  • Disappointing 60Hz refresh charge
  • No major invent or characteristic upgrades
  • Serene an iPhone

• 

  Source: Google

  Google Pixel 7

  An all-around winner

  $510 $599 Attach $89

  Essentially the most refined Pixel liberate but delivers an distinctive day-to-day abilities, alongside side a couple of of Google’s novel and beneficial “AI”-powered positive aspects. Moreover pushing the Android envelope, this affordable flagship takes a couple of of the suitable images of the leisure on the market.

  Pros

  • Unmatched image quality
  • Helpful and participating algorithm-driven positive aspects
  • Impress that is exhausting to beat

  Cons

  • Will get supreme hot at some stage in heavy use
  • Battery lifestyles might maybe doubtless perhaps well even be better
  • Loses the benchmark battle bigtime

Nearly each smartphone in the Western Hemisphere runs on either Apple’s or Google’s software program, and the 2 companies’ have flagship smartphones snarl the suitable of their respective hardware prowess. So there’s no more lawful comparability to pressure house the diversities between iOS and Android than between the Apple iPhone 15 and Google Pixel 7.

Naturally, it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps be in a position to inquire of the group here at Android Police to be ever so moderately biased, however the iPhone is, truthfully, an tender phone. In spite of all the things, it be now not the #1 most attention-grabbing-promoting smartphone every 365 days for no motive.

However Android’s moreover potentially the most-ancient OS worldwide for a motive, and its implementation at some stage in the Pixel lineup is novel, cutting again-edge, and in total somewhat user-pleasant. And whereas the Pixel’s chipset doesn’t set up on the the same stage as Apple’s in-house SoCs (which, in the intervening time, nothing does), it delivers in the total ways it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps inquire of, and the mountainous majority of customers might maybe doubtless perhaps now not eye any slowdowns or efficiency concerns anyway. Whilst you already treasure Android’s customizable nature, the iPhone 15 doesn’t provide many compelling reasons to head over to the darkish side actual but.

Impress, availability, and specs

Announced on September 12, the novel slice of iPhones is in stores now. The iPhone 15 is extremely almost about the same in every market, with potentially the most attention-grabbing disagreement being eSIM plus physical Nano-SIM make stronger outside the US, when put next with exclusively dual eSim models stateside. It retains the old abilities’s $800 128GB beginning label, with $100 and $300 bumps for the 256 and 512GB models. It is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well clarify shining now on Apple’s web page online, and it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps also bag powerful financial savings in the event you trade in an frail phone (especially if it be but every other iPhone or flagship tool).

The Pixel 7’s been around for nearly a couple of 365 days (since October 2022, that is) and, as such, it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps continuously catch it at a discount. While Google can’t continuously match Apple with regards to physical efficiency, the novel iPhone’s acquired an uphill battle in front of it by strategy of value.

• 	Apple iPhone 15	Google Pixel 7
  SoC	A16 Bionic	Google Tensor G2
  RAM	6GB	8GB
  Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB
  Battery	3,877mAh	4,355mAh
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Working Machine	iOS 17	Android 13
  Entrance camera	12MP	10.8MP, f/2.2, 92.8° FoV
  IP Ranking	IP68	IP68
  Rear camera	48MP, 12 MP ultrawide	50MP huge (f/1.85), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 114° FoV)
  Impress velocity	20W, 15W wi-fi	20W wired, up to 20W wi-fi

A chasm of invent differences

Over the final decade-plus, Apple’s made a title for itself with a stark, sterile invent language that is turn out to be practically unbearably popular to many Android (and Windows…and Linux) customers. A major driver of that minimalist motif, the iPhone continues to encourage prominent flagship designs (we’re trying at you, Samsung Galaxy S23). The iPhone’s most popular iteration doesn’t deviate from Apple’s fashioned philosophy, but there are some noticeable invent updates when put next with past models.

Essentially the most evident is the pass to a USB-C connector. While it be the outcomes of a now not too long in the past applied EU law, it be been a truly very long time coming. Some long-time frame Apple enthusiasts might maybe doubtless perhaps decry the lack of their most standard Lightning connector, but total it be a actual element for the industry and the iPhone.

Other invent changes are more refined, but tranquil noticeable. The phone’s edges are particularly more rounded than the historically boxy iPhones of the past. A rather frosted glass replaces the beforehand excessive-gloss relief panel. And Apple’s iconic camera notch has now disappeared from the contaminated mannequin iPhone, following its disappearance from the Expert and Expert Max variations final 365 days.

In its position, the Dynamic Island truly serves as a minute secondary point out for notifications and data from apps running in the background. It hides now not most productive the selfie camera, but moreover the Face ID array, without taking up any of the order veil house assigned to apps. It be a minute pork up, but a actual one which makes the iPhone more convenient (and we inquire of to eye something equal on Android telephones in due direction).

The Pixel 7 retains the fashioned invent of its predecessor, but makes some minor improvements. The “visor-model” camera bar (one of the well-known few smartphone designs that is continuously stable on a flat surface with out a case) is now made of the the same top class aluminum as the frame, rather than crack-sensitive glass.

It moreover curves more fluidly into the phone’s sides, which, coupled with the moderately shriveled point out bezel, makes the total tool look and feel more cohesive. Happily, the Pixel 7’s moreover a little bit of of smaller than the Pixel 6, but it tranquil is in the market in at almost a couple of centimeter taller and 27g heavier than the iPhone 15.

Each gadgets claim IP68 mud and water resistance, however the iPhone takes it a step farther with claims of safety down to 6 meters for half-hour. And whereas we produce now not continuously assign somewhat a lot of stock in producer water-resistance rankings translating to the true world, iPhones have survived plenty of meters underwater for days on on the least one event, so we predict about Apple here.

Two impossible displays

A transient take into legend on the spec sheet exhibits promise for potentially the most popular iPhone’s point out capabilities. The iPhone 14’s less-than-excellent peak brightness has elevated to 2,000 nits, which wants to be bigger than sufficient to use the iPhone 15 in advise sunlight. A trademark of the Retina point out family, its excessive resolution and pixel density make certain that neat lines no subject how terminate to the veil you bag. And the Dolby Imaginative and prescient make stronger implies a good wider coloration gamut and better distinction handling than most other smartphones.

However there’s one evident put. This $800 phone, launched in 2023 by one of potentially the most standard electronics producers ever, is proscribed to a 60Hz refresh charge. In comparability, the Samsung Galaxy A14, without insist one of 2023’s most attention-grabbing value smartphones boasts a 90Hz refresh charge at a label of actual $200. The relative choppiness of a 60Hz might maybe doubtless perhaps now not be something to bag worked up over, but it be entirely shapely that Apple’s allowed its shining beacon of smartphone invent to be overshadowed by entry-stage offerings in any technique.

Producing 90 frames per 2nd, the Pixel 7’s point out has no such lacking positive aspects. Its HDR10+ make stronger formulation it provides equal coloration house protection, with a almost about the same facet ratio and every pixel density and peak brightness most productive marginally under the iPhone’s. It moreover sports the excessive-pause Gorilla Glass Victus, which is almost about the same to Apple’s Ceramic Protect glass in scratch and crack resistance (which is enormous, on every counts).

The final well-known point out characteristic truly sits at some stage in the point out itself (or, in Apple’s case, it truly doesn’t). The Pixel 7’s in-point out fingerprint reader improves on the consistency and velocity of the Pixel 6’s, whereas Apple tranquil stubbornly refuses to embody Contact ID on the iPhone 15, as a replacement defaulting to Face ID for biometric security.

As somewhat a couple of as two software program suites might maybe doubtless perhaps well even be

There is a veritable gulf between the 2 telephones’ working techniques. Apple’s long-most standard iOS is tailored to elevate out a lot of the organizing for customers, alongside side variously closely integrated apps admire iMessage and the tightly managed “walled garden” of the App Store. Apple’s spent years tailoring the iOS abilities to potentially the most modern, refined UX/UI designs that it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps be in a position to evaluate, which is a gargantuan section of why its telephones, laptops, and tablets are so standard.

In clarify for you to receive a tool and have it work moderately simply shining away with few to no settings changes or studying curves, Apple merchandise are for you. The software program’s visually tender (to most of us, anyway) shining out of the field and has the total positive aspects of us need for on a customary basis initiatives.

However iOS is moreover more inflexible by strategy of customization and specialization. Where iOS performs effectively for the moderate user shining off the bat, Android provides critically more flexibility, especially for energy customers such as the expensive readers of Android Police. In spite of all the things, in the event it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well also honest have spent a minute fortune on a smartphone, it had better give you entire preserve watch over of its every feature, shining? If that assertion resonates with you, Android’s potentially your most attention-grabbing guess.

Arguably, potentially the most attention-grabbing strength of iOS is now not always actual its invent and interface, but its ecosystem. That “walled garden” that makes Apple appear a little bit of of pretentious moreover serves to make certain that a excessive fashioned of app efficiency and reliability. iOS is moreover a little bit of of more on high of privacy notifications than Android.

After which there’s the mountainous array of Apple gadgets that work seamlessly alongside every other. MacBooks, AirPods, iPhones, and Apple Watches all pair and focus on with every other flawlessly. So in the event it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well effectively be actual into a streamlined abilities and produce now not are attempting to mess with pairing a brand novel designate of headphones or figuring out wi-fi file sharing, Apple’s working system rankings but every other point.

Talking of ecosystems, every Android phone producer has its have update agenda. Some are longer than others. Apple’s continuously had a if truth be told generous software program update policy, in total supporting iPhones for approximately 6 years forward of sunsetting their eligibility for recent iOS variations. Starting with the Pixel 6, Google adopted a equal policy, for five years of make stronger rather then 6. Pointless to snort, the velocity of the order update releases determines how many paunchy updates every will bag, however the promised collection of years makes us entirely assured that every telephones will likely be completely viable in 2027, and doubtless later.

However here is Android Police, now not iOS Police. You’re potentially now not reading this on an iPhone, or since you already use one. So that it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well effectively be potentially asking your self in the event you ought to tranquil if truth be told swap from Android to iOS. It is miles doubtless (and doubtless now not that painful) to port your data to iOS from Android (despite the incontrovertible truth that your mileage might maybe doubtless perhaps well also honest vary in conserving with tool and provider). However in the event it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well also honest have ancient Android for a if truth be told intensive size of time, it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps potentially have some complaints about iOS. Whilst it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well effectively be already a fan of Android’s customizable interface, compatibility with non-Apple accessories, customized notification shipping, and total app abilities, is the iPhone 15 value relearning a entire OS? The answer’s a supreme definite no.

And that’s the reason forward of even stepping into the envelope-pushing characteristic sets Google sneaks into potentially the most popular Pixel telephones. The novel Tensor chipset positive aspects if truth be told excellent cores that enable a slew of Google-developed, algorithm-based entirely positive aspects (in total, misleadingly, known as AI) equal to Live Translate, Face Unblur, and industry-leading imaging software program.

In most cases, Google’s novel positive aspects pork up the smartphone abilities in ways from minute to profound. The tradeoff is that, periodically, Google pushes a admire novel characteristic that doesn’t play good with everybody’s custom setup, and outcomes in system defects here and there. Updates to the Pixel 6 had been especially mistaken offenders. That is, fortuitously, turning into less fashioned as Google refines its pattern processes, but it tranquil happens, albeit now not ceaselessly ever. Two years after adopting its custom Tensor chipset, we’re optimistic that Google’s ever-improving pattern processes will proceed to in the reduction of rollout inconsistencies.

Replace-leading efficiency, or merely excessive-pause?

We set up now not have any major complaints regarding the Pixel 7’s efficiency. Its strong point Tensor G2 chipset runs popular apps effectively, with few to no noticeable slowdowns, and actual multitasking capability. However it completely’s now not intended for uncooked, pixel-pushing energy so powerful as it be designed around enabling those attention-grabbing and lifestyles-improving “AI”-powered Android positive aspects.

That identical Tensor G2 chipset moreover delivers connectivity upgrades thanks to a brand novel modem, with Android Police experts having zero well-known connectivity concerns in somewhat a whereas the usage of either the Pixel 7 or 7 Expert. Between the efficient processor, 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage, the Pixel 7 will fulfill most of us with regards to hardware energy and the phone’s ensuing, actual-world efficiency.

However the iPhone’s in a sure world with regards to crunching numbers. Consistent with industry-fashioned benchmark suites admire AnTuTu and 3DMark, Apple’s A16 Bionic chipset blows the Tensor G2 out of the water. It even beats the vaunted Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in most conditions. Whilst you mechanically use your phone for resource-intensive initiatives, potentially the most popular iPhone does provide a leg up on the competition.

In most actual-world usage, despite the incontrovertible truth that, it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well doubtless now not understand as powerful of a disagreement as the benchmarks suggest. Each chipsets are efficient, every will proceed to work simply for years, and neither will limit most each day initiatives (despite the incontrovertible truth that the Pixel 7 does tend to bag hot somewhat immediate).

Interestingly, the iPhone 15 tranquil has most productive 6GB of RAM, even if 8GB has been fashioned on Android flagships for a whereas. Thanks over again to iOS’s streamlined code, it doesn’t need the the same form of memory overhead. So produce now not pains that the iPhone’s 6GB system memory provides a bottleneck.

When battery capacity misleads on battery lifestyles

The Pixel 7’s 4,355mAh battery can store practically one entire amp-hour more vitality than the iPhone 15’s 3,349mAh cell. Naturally, which formulation the Pixel ought to tranquil have technique better battery lifestyles, shining? No longer necessarily, and if the iPhone 14’s numbers are the leisure to head on, very likely now not.

Going relief to the efficiency of Apple’s powerful-popular working system, it simply gets more done with fewer transistors and fewer electricity. Our chums over at Tom’s Book ran a standardized take a look at of battery lifestyles and final 365 days’s iPhone 14 clocked a further 2+ hours over the Pixel 7. We produce now not but have actual-world measurements of the iPhone 15’s efficiency, but it be extremely now not at menace of have taken a if truth be told mountainous step relief.

Pointless to snort, capacity is most productive one section of the battery dialogue. Charging’s the opposite. The Pixel 7 prices up to 5 watts faster than the iPhone 15, but every advertise 0% to 50% in half-hour, and it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps also likely catch charging speeds very equal at some stage in the board. However produce now not overlook the charging-adjacent, accent-pleasant MagSafe abilities. Android telephones call it Qi2, but it opens the door to use a mountainous collection of beforehand Apple-most productive charging gadgets and other accessories to be used with Android telephones.

Essentially the most popular Pixel and Samsung Galaxy lineups are the well-known to boast huge-ranging make stronger for the convenient fashioned, but now not like iPhones, they produce now not have the magnets interior, so it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps need a strong point case. The Top Manufacture Day after day case, one of the well-known most attention-grabbing Pixel 7 conditions, is one such example. Without the necessity for an adapter case or stick-on magnet, despite the incontrovertible truth that, Apple does eke out a minute fetch here in the charging, accent, and convenience departments.

Can iPhone cameras match the slay-notch Pixel?

Historically, Apple’s user-pleasant imaging software program’s produced some if truth be told impossible point-and-shoot outcomes for even defective amateur smartphone photographers. Only in the near past, despite the incontrovertible truth that, Pixel telephones have taken the next coast and shown us actual how automatic an “auto mode” can if truth be told be. A mixture of refined software program and novel, Tensor-powered algorithms provides the Pixel 7 and 7 Expert the most attention-grabbing smartphone image quality on the market. It focuses immediate, saturates completely, and delivers balanced publicity phases in almost about any lighting fixtures. We would be exhausting-pressed to search out any well-known faults with the Pixel’s images.

However Apple is now not always occurring with out a battle. The pass from a trip of the mill 12MP sensor to a 48MP sensor with non-major pixel binning all but ensures better low-gentle efficiency and more fixed publicity phases from potentially the most popular iPhone. Enhanced distinction and HDR algorithms, greatly improved Night Mode, and a little bit of of sudden 2X optical zoom spherical out the sizable upgrades to Apple’s entry-stage camera configuration. Add the improved efficiency of the A16 Bionic SoC, and the iPhone looks to compete more closely with Google’s flagship.

On the pause of the day, most productive actual-world image testing can pick this one for definite, and we’re tranquil cooking that up as we focus on. If past indications are the leisure to head by, we inquire of the Pixel 7’s image quality to be better than the iPhone 15’s (especially at night), however the variation might maybe doubtless perhaps now not be almost about as stark as between the Pixel 7 and iPhone 14.

Which is shining for you?

Let’s originate one element completely definite: As an Android-centric newsletter, we esteem praising excessive-quality Android gadgets as powerful as criticizing disappointing ones. And it be continuously value pointing out the things that iOS does better than Android, in section because that consciousness can merit persuade Android developers to put into effect our most current positive aspects. So if there’s ever a time when an iPhone makes a bigger option than a popular Android Police current, we might maybe doubtless perhaps now not hesitate to point it out.

However the iPhone 15 is now not always that option, on the least now not in the event it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well effectively be already ancient to Android. It be a elegant smartphone, to originate definite, but it falls prey to some of now not-unfamiliar Apple pitfalls. Naturally, in the event you admire Apple’s restrictive ecosystem, you admire it, and in the event you produce now not, you produce now not — it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps be in a position to’t pressure it. However at its sticky label label of $800 when put next with the Pixel 7’s now-fashioned $450 sale label, there’s no technical or value-based entirely argument to pick Apple over Android this time around.

We esteem the luminous, daring point out, necessary processing energy, impossible selfie quality, and actual battery lifestyles, but it be now not value switching over to a totally novel working system and interface language actual for this iterative iPhone update.

The truth is, in the event you are reading this from an iPhone, maybe have terminate this chance to eye how tender it might maybe maybe doubtless perhaps well even be to swap from iOS to Android. In spite of all the things, Google’s most popular Pixel releases had been amongst the most attention-grabbing Android telephones we now have reviewed, and we inquire of that to proceed with the upcoming Google Pixel 8.

With all that acknowledged, we’re now not trying to be harsh; by all accounts the iPhone 15 is an tender phone that it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps practically indubitably be gratified with (as long as it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps be in a position to comfortably navigate iOS). And despite the incontrovertible truth that it is now not almost about the the same value as the Pixel 7, it be tranquil very powerful a excessive-pause phone. It might maybe maybe doubtless perhaps well without insist final for plenty of years, and it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well doubtless now not understand any efficiency concerns rapidly, if ever. Furthermore, it be understandable that some of us are closely invested in MagSafe chargers, Apple headphones (without Android-pleasant excessive-res Bluetooth codecs, for that subject), and other accessories that work better or exclusively with Apple gadgets.

Whilst it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well effectively be in that camp, know you bag pleasure from the usage of iOS, and need a brand novel iPhone that’ll final for years, produce now not pains. There is no motive to elevate off on procuring the iPhone 15 in the event it is doubtless you’ll doubtless perhaps well effectively be a diehard Apple fan.