Pixel 10 vs iPhone 16: The $800 flagship that schools Apple

Google’s Pixel 10 is now official, and it’s ready to challenge Apple’s iPhone 16 head-on. These are the standard, base flagship models in their respective lineups, both targeting the $799 price range. This year, however, Google seems determined to go beyond just competing — it’s pushing into areas where Apple’s base iPhone still feels stuck.

While the iPhone 16 leans on raw power with the ultra-fast A18 Bionic, it still ships with a dated 60Hz display and only a dual-camera setup. Apple Intelligence is also just getting off the ground, leaving its AI story half-finished.

The Pixel 10, in contrast, debuts Google’s first fully custom Tensor G5 chip, a brighter 120Hz OLED screen, a new triple-camera system with a 5x telephoto, and Google’s most ambitious wave of AI features yet. It also packs a much larger battery and brings Qi2 magnetic charging with Google’s new Pixelsnap accessories.

Pixel 10 vs iPhone 16 differences:

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Tensor G5	A18 Bionic
6.3” OLED, 120Hz, 3,000 nits peak	6.1” OLED, 60Hz, 2,000 nits peak
Triple cameras with 5x telephoto	Dual cameras, no telephoto
Advanced AI features	Basic AI features
4,970 mAh battery	3,561 mAh battery
30W wired charging 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless	20W wired charging 25W MagSafe magnetic wireless

Table of Contents:

• Design
• Display
• Performance
• Camera
• Battery
• Specs
• Summary

Read more:

• iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10
• Pixel 10 vs Galaxy S25
• Pixel 10 vs Pixel 10 Pro

Design and Size

The iPhone 16 is much more compact

Both phones are built to flagship standards: aluminum frames, toughened glass, and IP68 dust/water resistance. Apple uses its second-gen Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16, while Google relies on Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Thickness 8.6 mm	Thickness 7.8 mm
Dimensions 152.8 x 72	Dimensions 147.6 x 71.6
Weight 204 grams	Weight 173 grams

The Pixel 10 is heavier and thicker, partly to house a larger 4,970 mAh battery and magnets for Qi2 magnetic charging — powering Google’s new Pixelsnap ecosystem of accessories like a magnetic charger and ring stand.

Apple kept the iPhone 16 compact and added two new buttons: the Capture Control button for zoom and exposure tweaks, and the Action button from the Pro models. Both enhance physical interaction, though the Capture Control’s placement can feel awkward.

Pixel 10 in Lemongrass

Pixel 10 in Obsidian

Pixel 10 in Frost

Pixel 10 in Indigo

Pixel 10 colors include Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Lemongrass, while iPhone 16 colors consist of Pink, Teal, Ultramarine, White, and Black.

Display Differences

The Pixel 10 clearly outclasses the iPhone 16 here. Its 6.3-inch OLED runs at 120Hz and hits up to 3,000 nits peak brightness — one of the brightest displays in any phone. The iPhone 16 sticks with a 6.1-inch OLED at just 60Hz. In our tests, its brightness reached ~1,012 nits, well short of the Pixel.

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Size 6.3"	Size 6.2"
Brightness 3000 nits (peak)	Brightness 2000 nits (peak)

Biometrics-wise, the Pixel 10 uses an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and face unlock, while the iPhone 16 continues with Face ID, which remains the gold standard for security and reliability.

Performance and Software

The Pixel is probably less powerful, but it can do things the iPhone can't

The iPhone 16 is powered by the A18 Bionic, built on TSMC’s N3E 3nm node. It delivers massive CPU and GPU gains, making it the most powerful mobile chip available today. Games and pro apps run effortlessly, and Apple’s thermal structure helps sustain performance.

The Pixel 10 introduces the Tensor G5, Google’s first fully custom SoC, also on 3nm. It’s not chasing Apple in raw speed but instead optimizes for AI. The chip is 34% faster on CPU tasks, 60% faster on TPU AI acceleration, and runs Gemini Nano 2.6× faster than before. An all-new ISP supports low-light video and default 10-bit HDR.

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Chip Google Tensor G5	Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Process 3nm	Process 3nm
RAM, Storage 12/128GB 12/256GB LPDDR5X RAM Zoned UFS	RAM, Storage 8/128GB 8/256GB LPDDR5X RAM NVMe

AI is where the Pixel separates itself. Features include:

• Magic Cue: proactive suggestions (e.g., surfacing your flight info when calling the airline).
• Gemini Live: visual AI that overlays help on your screen or camera view.
• Take a Message: transcribes declined/missed calls and offers suggested actions.
• Pixel Journal and NotebookLM integration for smarter productivity

Apple Intelligence is still rolling out. Some features (like improving text or image generation) are available in iOS 18.1, but Siri’s long-promised upgrade has been delayed into 2026 (some reports even claim 2027).

Camera

The base iPhone could use a telephoto camera

For years, Apple has played it safe with a dual-camera setup on its base iPhones, while Google’s standard Pixels were limited in versatility too. That changes in 2025: the Pixel 10 finally gains a dedicated telephoto lens, giving it true triple-camera flexibility at the entry flagship tier. The iPhone 16, meanwhile, continues with just a wide and ultra-wide combo, betting instead on refinements like Spatial Video for Vision Pro.

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Main 48 MP, f/1.7 1/2" sensor size	Main 48 MP, f/1.6 1/1.56" sensor size
Ultrawide 13 MP, f/2.2 1/3.1" sensor size	Ultrawide 12 MP, f/2.2 Unknown sensor size
Telephoto 10.08 MP, f/3.1 5X zoom 1/3.2" sensor size	Telephoto None

Apple added Spatial Video support for Vision Pro, but the iPhone 16 still doesn't come with a telephoto versatility. There's the iPhone 16’s Capture Control button helps switch zoom/exposure modes quickly, but as we said earlier — it's not exactly comfortable.

Google layers in AI:

• Camera Coach: real-time tips for better framing, lighting, and angles.
• Auto Best Take: analyzes up to 150 frames for the best group shot.
• C2PA Content Credentials: embedded photo authenticity.

Apple still excels in video stabilization and color accuracy, but Google’s 5x zoom lens and AI-driven editing give the Pixel 10 a big leap in versatility.

Battery Life and Charging

Apple's MagSafe system is no longer one of a kind

The Pixel 10 has a huge battery capacity of 4,970 mAh vs the iPhone 16’s 3,561 mAh. Google claims 30 hours on a single charge, and I have a feeling it would outlast the iPhone by a wide margin.

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Battery size 4,970 mAh	Battery size 3,561 mAh
Charging speeds 30W wired 15W wireless charging USB-C 3.2	Charging speeds 25W wired 15W wireless charging USB-C 2.0

The Pixel 10 is the first major Android phone to support Qi2 magnetic wireless charging with Pixelsnap accessories, offering MagSafe-like convenience on Android. Apple’s MagSafe remains excellent at 25W, but the Pixel now finally matches that feature.

Specs Comparison

Here's a quick overview of the Pixel 10 vs iPhone 16 specs:

Pixel 10	iPhone 16
Size, weight 152.8 x 72 x 8.6 mm, 204 g	Size, weight 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm, 173 g
Screen 6.3" OLED 120Hz	Screen 6.1" OLED 120Hz
Processor Tensor G5 3nm	Processor A17 Bionic 3nm
Versions: 12/128GB 12/256GB ---	Versions: 12/128GB 12/256GB 12/512GB
Cameras: 48 MP main 13 MP ultra 10.8 MP 5X zoom 10.5 MP front	Cameras: 48 MP main 12 MP ultra --- 24 MP front
Battery: 4,970 mAh	Battery: 3,561 mAh
Charging: USB-C 30W wired 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless	Charging: USB-C 25W wired 25W MagSafe magnetic wireless

Summary

The iPhone 16 is a powerhouse of performance with the A18 Bionic chip and exceptional video quality, but it feels conservative. A 60Hz screen, dual cameras, and a modest battery were weaknesses in 2024, and even more so in 2025.

The Pixel 10, meanwhile, is more ambitious. Its larger battery, 120Hz OLED display, triple cameras with 5x zoom, and deep AI features like Magic Cue and Camera Coach make it look like the more forward-thinking device. Add Qi2 magnetic charging and Pixelsnap accessories, and it finally matches Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem.

At the same $799 price, the phone that offers more for your money is apparent — the Pixel 10 sounds like the more sensible choice. Of course, we will be back with our test results and camera samples, so make sure you come back to check those out and our final verdict.

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