iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Pixel 10 Pro XL: Main differences
The upcoming Pixel 10 Pro XL will inevitably have to contend with the iPhone 17 Pro Max this fall. Which one should you get, though?
Intro
Little remains until we see what Apple has been secretly preparing for us: the iPhone 17 range is coming soon!
In the meantime, Google recently announced the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the company's most advanced phone for 2025. Although it appears largely identical to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, appearances may be deceiving, as the new flagship packs some notable upgrades on the inside.
Meanwhile, Apple is also releasing a new range of devices next month, ones that will reinvigorate the iPhone range with upgraded design and hardware.
But which one should you consider, and which one should find its place in your pocket?
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Pixel 10 Pro XL differences:
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Same flat titanium design with glass back | Flat sides, curved corners |
| A redesigned rear camera island, Pixel-like | A large camera strip at the back |
| 6.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display | 6.8-inch Super Actua OLED display |
| 3,000 nits of brightness | 3,300 nits of brightness |
| Apple A19 Pro chipset (3rd-gen 3nm) | Google Tensor G5 (3nm) |
| Possibly 12GB of RAM | 16GB of RAM |
| 256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage versions | 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage versions |
| 48MP+48MP+48MP camera system | 50MP+48MP+48MP rear camera, 100X Pro Res Zoom |
| 24MP FaceTime camera in a smaller Dynamic Island notch | 42MP selfie camera |
| ~4,700+ mAh battery | 5,200+ mAh battery |
| Up to 40W wired, 25W wireless charging | 45W wired, 25W wireless charging |
| MagSafe 2.0 | Pixelsnap |
| iOS 26 | Android 16 |
| $1,249 price tag expected ($50 higher than before) | Same price as before ($1,199) |
Table of Contents:
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Design and Size
Some changes for the iPhone, business as usual for the Pixel
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will retain the general shape and form of previous large iPhones, utilizing a premium titanium frame with the all-encompassing flat design language.
However, as Apple strives to differentiate the newer models from the older ones, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get a larger camera island at the rear, a rectangular-shaped rather than a squarish one. That will bring the iPhone closer to the Pixel 10 lineup in terms of design language, which is something we never imagined we'd say.
This new design language applies to all models except for the regular iPhone (Image Credit-Weibo)
In the other corner, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is scoring a familiar design language, one that doesn't stray away from the design chops of previous Pixels and looks immediately familiar to anyone who has used or seen a Pixel device in the past few years.
We have a flat aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 up front and in the rear, and the oversized camera strip. No extra fluff, just the core basics that all Pixel phones have delivered for a long time.
Size-wise, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to be the thicker device here, with a projected thickness of 8.73 mm. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is shaping up to be ever-so-slightly thinner at around 8.5 mm, but it will be challenging to notice this minor difference in real life, that's for sure.
Yet, the Pixel 10 Pro XL will actually be heavier at around 232 gr, around 5gr more than what we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to weigh. Not much, but still worth mentioning.
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Dimensions 163 x 77.6 mm | Dimensions 162.8 x 76.6 mm |
| Thickness ~8.73 mm | Thickness 8.5 mm |
| Weight ~227 gr | Weight 232 gr |
The iPhone will continue to be the device with a more varied button lineup. The Action Button and the Camera Controls key are returning this fall, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL has no fun extra buttons apart from the standard volume/power button combo. There are also rumors that the iPhone could score an extra Camera Control button on the top frame, but we are skeptical.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is available in Moonstone, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Jade colors. Meanwhile, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to be available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and a new copper-like color, which looks decent.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is available in Moonstone, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Jade colors. Meanwhile, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to be available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and a new copper-like color, which looks decent.
Display Differences
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will roll out with a 6.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR screen with thin bezels, with ProMotion refresh rate and hopefully higher peak brightness than the 2,000 nits previous iPhones maxed out at. Other than that, we expect the display of the iPhone to be spectacular in terms of colors and other properties.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL, on the other hand, boasts a slightly smaller 6.8-inch Super Actua OLED display, with 1-120 Hz refresh rate. The highlight here is the peak brightness, 10% higher than the previous Pixel 9 Pro XL and capable of reaching 3,300 nits of peak brightness, which is an astonishing result!
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Size 6.9" | Size 6.8" |
| Brightness ~3000 nits (peak) | Brightness 3000 nits (peak) |
We've heard that Apple might employ a slightly smaller Dynamic Island notch up front thanks to using smaller and more space-efficient elements, which would increase the screen real estate.
In terms of biometrics, the Pixel 10 Pro XL continues Google's affair with ultrasonic fingerprint scanners, which deliver quick and accurate biometrics, while Apple is unlikely to move away from the well-established Face ID system anytime soon.
Also read:
Performance and Software
A 3nm conflict in the making
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max will be the third device to employ a 3nm chipset. The upcoming A19 Pro chip will surely increase the upper limits of mobile performance, just as most of its predecessors have. We expect nothing short of superb raw performance, as well as even better efficiency than before, which will hopefully improve battery life even further.
Meanwhile, significant changes have finally come to the Pixel 10 Pro XL as well. It's equipped with the Tensor G5 chip, the first 3nm Tensor chip made by TSMC and also the first truly custom one. It might very well spell the end of underperforming Tensor chips and usher in a new performance and efficiency era for the Pixel range.
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Chip Apple A19 Pro | Chip Google Tensor G5 |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB | RAM, Storage 16/256GB 16/512GB 16/1TB |
In terms of memory and storage, which also add up to the performance, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could arrive with 12GB of RAM, a major increase over the 8GB one on previous jumbo iPhones.
The reason could be trivial: more headroom is needed to ensure the smooth on-device Apple Intelligence processing for years to come. Apple might want to ensure that the phone will run its AI processes smoothly for as long as it's supported. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely once again be available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL, on the other hand, features 16GB of RAM, and while most of Google's AI processing is done in the cloud, having more of the vital hardware component has never hurt anybody. The flagship Pixel is also available in either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB versions.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL arrives with Android 16 and will be supported for seven years. The highlight of Android 16 is the Material 3 Expressive redesign that will likely get released in early September (possibly coinciding with the Pixel 10 launch) and will freshen up the aesthetics of the OS.
New here is the Magic Cue feature which is a proactive agent that intelligently suggests relevant actions based on your unique data. For example, if someone messages you about a lunch reservation, Magic Cue will scour your Gmail for reservation confirmation emails and automatically recommend a relevant answer right there in the thread, acting as your virtual butler agent of sorts.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will arrive with iOS 26, a software update that should have been called iOS 19, but for consistency's sake, Apple renamed all of its operating systems. This one also comes with a redesign, dubbed Liquid Glass, and it's consistent across all platforms. iOS 26 also scores many other changes; read more about them here.
Camera
Triple-camera champs
The iPhone will continue to use a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultrawide, just like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but the periscope is possibly also getting a 48MP camera upgrade.
That one will max out at 5X optical zoom, but Apple might achieve significantly more powerful and longer hybrid zoom thanks to in-sensor cropping with the periscope. Who knows, we might get up to 50X zoom with the next iPhone, or more.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has scored a camera setup that's mostly similar to the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
It boasts a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide, a 48MP periscope with 5X zoom, and a high-res 42MP front-facing camera. The highlight here is the periscope camera, however, which has scored the ability to zoom up to 100X thanks to an upgraded Pro Res Zoom. This brings the Pixel on par with most high-end Android flagship phones, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and others.
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Main 48 MP, f/1.8 24 mm 1/1.28" sensor | Main 50 MP, f/1.68 24 mm 1/1.31" sensor |
| Ultrawide 48 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/3.06" sensor | Ultrawide 48 MP, f/1.7 13 mm 1/2.55" sensor |
| Telephoto/periscope 48 MP, f/2.8 5X zoom (120 mm) 1/3.06" sensor | Telephoto/periscope 48 MP, f/2.8 5X zoom (113 mm), 100X Pro Res Zoom 1/2.55" sensor |
An upgrade is expected at the front of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. To "commemorate" the expected slimming of the Dynamic Island, Apple is reportedly increasing the resolution of the FaceTime camera from 12 to 24MP.
The iPhone might finally score 8K video-recording, despite the low demand for this feature. The Pixel could possibly also score 8K video-recording: the sensor that was featured on the Pixel 9 Pro XL was already capable of doing that, but the functionality was likely dropped due to heat concerns.
Another cool new feature with the Pixel camera is a built-in Camera Coach, which does exactly what it says on the tin. The feature will provide visual nudges and guidance on how to improve every shot you take, leveling up your camera game.
Battery Life and Charging
Small moves, big results?
The Pixel 10 Pro XL arrives with a massive 5,200 mAh battery, some 200 mAh larger than its predecessor, and actually the largest one ever fitted on a Pixel phone. Sorry, Pixel 9a, your record was merely a fleeting moment, quickly grasped by a faster and more premium flagship, as it should be!
Another surprising development here is the charging speeds. The Pixel 10 Pro XL supports 45W wired and 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging, making it the fastest charging Pixel phone so far.
Last year's iPhone 16 Pro Max featured the largest battery ever fitted on an iPhone. At 4,685 mAh, it pushed the limits for Apple. Could we get another record this year with the iPhone 17 Pro Max? Yes, actually, as the rumor mill tells us to expect a battery in the 5,000mAh ballpark. A proper milestone for the iPhone which would pair exceptionally well with the efficiency of Apple's mobile chips.
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Battery size ~4,700 mAh | Battery size 5,200 mAh |
Charging speeds 27/40 wired 25W wireless charging MagSafe USB-C | Charging speeds 45W wired 25W wireless charging Pixelsnap USB-C |
Charging-wise, the iPhone will likely repeat the charging configuration of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with 27W wired charging (that could jump to 40W in certain scenarios) and 25W MagSafe 2.0.
The Pixel has also scored its version of MagSafe, dubbed Pixelsnap, which features magnets embedded right into the phone itself and allows you to attach all kinds of accessories to the back, including MagSafe ones. Google has a range of Pixelsnap accessories, and all official new Pixel 10 cases are Pixelsnap comaptible out of the box.
Specs Comparison
Here's how the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Pixel 10 Pro XL specs compare in terms of specs.
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.73 mm 221 gr | Size, weight 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm 232 gr |
| Screen 6.9" OLED 120Hz ProMotion ~3,000 nits peak brightness | Screen 6.8" OLED 120Hz 3,300 nits peak brightness |
| Processor A19 Pro 3nm | Processor Tensor G5 3nm |
| Versions: 12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB LPDDR5 | Versions: 16GB/256GB 16GB/512GB 16GB/1TB LPDDR5 |
| Cameras: 48MP main 48MP ultra 48MP 5X zoom 24MP front | Cameras: 50MP main 48MP ultra 48MP 5X zoom 100X Pro Res Zoom 42MP front |
| Battery: 4,700+ mAh | Battery: 5,200 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 27W wired 25W wireless MagSafe 2.0 | Charging: USB-C 45W wired 25W Qi2.2 wireless Pixelsnap |
Summary
The Pixel is official, and it's shaping up to be a pretty serious rival to the iPhone this year. Instead of focusing on the design and style, Google is improving the basics.
To sum up, we get better performance and efficiency, a brighter display, a bigger battery with faster charging, new zooming capabilities, and a new Pixelsnap system for accessories. All of that with an unchanged price tag of $1,200 sounds like a pretty good deal!
Meanwhile, Apple is a wildcard. While it may seem that we aren't getting that many improvements this year, we could get surprising upgrades to just about any aspect of the phone. One thing is for certain, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will continue honing its super-premium design with a potent hardware setup that's perfectly suited for the upcoming iOS 26 update. A new camera strip at the rear could summarize most of the major changes here.
Price-wise, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to be some $50 more expensive than the previous generation, which would be the first time Apple has raised the prices in years.
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