1. The Google Pixel series has always been the darling of Android enthusiasts and smartphone camera geeks, but a combination of sub-par hardware and lack of global availability meant they were always niche devices, coming nowhere close to the commercial success or mainstream recognition of the iPhone.
2. However, Google’s made efforts to change that in the past couple of years, starting with the excellent Pixel 6 series, which introduced new premium hardware headlined by Google’s first-ever custom-built silicon.
3. That momentum continues with the Pixel 7 series, easily the most well-rounded and refined Pixel phones ever made, with the Pro model finally offering the total package of premium hardware, refined software, and top performance. But is it better than the iPhone? Namely, the top dog iPhone 14 Pro Max? Let’s find out.
Which smartphone do you use and why did you choose it?
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Pricing and availability
4. Both phones are on sale now at major online retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and each company’s online stores. The Google Pixel 7 Pro starts at $899, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099.
Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max in a nutshell:
- 6.7-inch screen size on both
- Fingerprint on Pixel vs Face ID on iPhone
- Google Tensor G2 chip vs Apple A16 Bionic
- 12GB RAM vs 6GB RAM
- 128GB base storage on both, no microSD card support
- Triple camera on both, but Pixel has 5X tele lens, while iPhone has 3X
- Bigger battery on Pixel, but iPhone expected to last longer
- iPhone costs a lot more
5. Hardware and design: Nearly identical to last gen
Neither the Pixel 7 Pro nor the iPhone 14 Pro Max made major design overhauls over previous generations, so if you’ve seen or held the Pixel 6 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, these new phones will look and feel familiar.
6. The Pixel 7 Pro brings back the Pixel 6 Pro’s design language, with the most noticeable change being the horizontal camera visor bar switching to an aluminum framing instead of glass. The visor also now blends seamlessly into the rest of the aluminum chassis for a more polished look. Otherwise, the overall shape of the Pixel 7 Pro is virtually identical to the Pixel 6 Pro, save for a slightly reduced screen curvature. It’s also 2g heavier.
Which smartphone features are useful for you? Which don’t you use?
7. I do miss the two-tone colorway options of the Pixel 6 series; the 7 series only comes in solid colors. If you have the option to choose colors, I’d advise against getting the black (“Obsidian”) color. Not only is the color dull, at least compared to the matte pitch black of a phone like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but the glossy finish and darker color show smudges and dust that collects near the camera visor very easily.
8. I initially tested the black model and thought the phone looked “pretty good,” but I fell in love with the white color (“Snow”). It’s tied with the Xiaomi 12S Ultra as my favorite-looking phone of the year. Slapping a case on the Pixel 7 Pro all but covers up the phone’s original color, so you can always do that if you choose the Obsidian.
Phonetic Chart
