In this article, we’ll compare two compact phones, one from Google and the other from Apple. In other words, we’ll be comparing the Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16 . The Pixel 10 Pro is Google’s current compact flagship, while the iPhone 16 is no longer the latest vanilla iPhone, but many people still use it. These two phones are both compact, but they’re quite different, generally speaking, even though there are similarities between them.
As per usual, we’ll first list the specifications of both phones, and will then move to compare them across a number of other categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. If you’re interested in one of these compact phones, read on.
- Specs
- Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Design
- Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Display
- Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Performance
- Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Battery
- Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Cameras
- Audio
Specs
Google Pixel 10 Pro
Apple iPhone 16
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | Apple iPhone 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.6 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 207 grams | 170 grams |
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Actual LTPO OLED display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Refresh rate | Smooth Display (1-120Hz) | 60Hz |
| Resolution | 2856 x 1280 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 | Apple A18 |
| RAM | 16GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0) | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Main camera | 50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 1/1.3-inch sensor size, 82-degree FoV) | 48MP (f/1.6 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor size, 1.0um pixel size, sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV) | 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF) |
| Telephoto camera | N/A | N/A |
| Periscope telephoto camera | 48MP (f/2.8 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom, 22-degree FoV) | N/A |
| Selfie camera | 42MP (f/2.2 aperture, 103-degree FoV) | 12MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1/3.6-inch sensor size, 1.0um pixel size, PDAF) |
| Battery size | 4.870mAh | 3,561mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, 15W Qi2 wireless (charger not included) | 30W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless, 15W Qi2 wireless, 4.5W reverse wired (charger not included) |
| Colors | Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, Obsidian | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine |
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Design
When you look at these two phones side-by-side, you’ll notice how different they look. However, there are similarities here. You’ll notice that their corner curvature is somewhat similar, even though not identical. They have a similar shape overall, while both of their frames are flat all around, though they do curve a bit towards the edges, for comfort’s sake. They both use an aluminum frame and a glass back.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro has a display camera hole up top, which is centered. In that same spot, the iPhone 16 includes a Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout. Both smartphones have thin, uniform bezels. They’re a bit thicker than on most flagships, though. The Pixel 10 Pro has physical keys on the right side. Its power/lock key sits above the volume rocker buttons. The iPhone 16, on the other hand, has them both on the right and left side. On the right, it has a power/lock key and a Camera Control button. On the left, its volume rocker buttons are located, along with an Action Key.
If we flip them around, you’ll notice that both phones have flat backplates. They do look notably different thanks to different camera layouts. The Pixel 10 Pro includes a camera visor on the back, a horizontal one at the top of the backplate. The iPhone 16 has two vertically-aligned cameras in the top-left corner. Both camera setups protrude on the back, but the Pixel 10 Pro’s camera visor’s protrusion is definitely more noticeable.
Both phones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, and they’re both slippery in the hand. Still, thanks to their size, they are comfortable to use. The iPhone 16 is more compact, though, and it has a more compact display.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Display
The Google Pixel 10 Pro features a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display. That panel is flat, and it has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). The resolution here is 2856 x 1280, while the peak brightness is 3,300 nits. HDR10+ content is supported, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 88%. The display aspect ratio is 20:9, while this display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning.
The Apple iPhone 16 , on the other hand, includes a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. This panel has a 60Hz refresh rate, and its resolution is 2556 x 1179 pixels. The peak brightness here is 2,000 nits, while HDR10 and Dolby Vision are both supported. The screen-to-body ratio here is around 87%, while the display aspect ratio is 19.5:9. This display is protected by the Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen).
Both of these displays are good, but the Pixel 10 Pro has several advantages. It has a high refresh rate for smoothness while scrolling and in general. It can also get a bit brighter when needed. Other than that, they’re both very good. They’re vivid, sharp, and have good touch response and good viewing angles. Both of them are also well-protected, so no worries there.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Performance
The Google Tensor G5 processor fuels the Pixel 10 Pro. That is a 3nm processor, and the first Tensor chip to be manufactured by TSMC. That chip is backed by 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and either UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0 flash storage. Only the 128GB storage model utilizes UFS 3.1, by the way.
The Apple iPhone 16, on the flip side, is fueled by the Apple A18 processor. That is also a 3nm chip. It is backed by 8GB of RAM and NVMe flash storage. Neither one of these two smartphones offers expandable storage via a microSD card, unfortunately. So be careful when choosing how much storage you need, as they both come in various flavors.
Both phones do offer great performance, though. They’re both very snappy on a daily basis, no matter what you end up using them for. Getting them to slow down is not an easy task. If you’re wondering about gaming, neither of these two phones is a gaming phone per se, but they can both get the job done. The iPhone 16 is a better choice for graphically demanding games, though, but both can run basically anything you throw at them. Overheating is not an issue with either of them.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Battery
The Google Pixel 10 Pro features a 4,870mAh battery, while the iPhone 16 comes with a 3,561mAh unit. The iPhone 16 does have a smaller display, plus iPhones usually have notably smaller batteries than their Android counterparts. That doesn’t have to mean much, though, and these two phones are a good example. Why? Well, because the iPhone 16 does offer better battery life than the Pixel 10 Pro.
It offered around 20% more screen-on time for us, approximately. It all depends from day to day, sometimes it was a bit less, sometimes a bit more. The point is, we were able to get better battery life from the iPhone 16. Neither phone is bad in that regard, though, not at all. On the flip side, neither is exactly close to the best battery life smartphones on the market either. There are phones out there that offer a lot more.
The Pixel 10 Pro supports 30W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. The iPhone 16 supports 30W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless, 15W Qi wireless, and 4.5W reverse wired charging. The Pixel 10 Pro charges faster with a compatible charger, in an hour and a half, approximately. It will take the iPhone 16 10-15 minutes more to do the job. Do note that neither phone comes with a charger, so you’ll need to get one separately.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16: Cameras
The Google Pixel 10 Pro has three cameras on the back. The main camera is a 50-megapixel unit (1/1.31-inch sensor size). It is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV). The third camera on the back is a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom).
The Apple iPhone 16, on the other hand, has two cameras on the back. Its main camera is a 48-megapixel unit (1/1.56-inch sensor size). The second camera on the back is a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV). The Pixel 10 Pro has a 42-megapixel selfie camera, while the iPhone 16 includes a 12-megapixel one.
Both phones are quite capable when it comes to pictures and videos. They’re nowhere near the best out there, though. The Pixel 10 Pro provides contrasty images, that do look unrealistic, but people do tend to like them a lot. They have that known Pixel look. The iPhone 16’s camera prefers warmer tones, and images do look closer to real life. The Pixel 10 Pro easily wins the telephoto comparison, and it also does a better job with ultrawide shots. The iPhone 16 is the phone to get if you’re planning to use video recording more.
Audio
Both phones do come with stereo speakers. Those speakers offer similar loudness, and they’re quite good in general. They’re loud enough, and the sound output quality is not bad either. There’s not much to complain about.
There is no audio jack on either phone, unfortunately. However, you can connect your wired headphones via the Type-C port on the two phones. If you prefer wireless audio, the Pixel 10 Pro supports Bluetooth 6.0, while the iPhone 16 supports Bluetooth 5.3.
