Pixel 9 Pro XL vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: head-to-head camera showdown reveals surprising Google wins in video and zoom performance

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are Google's answers to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Daniel Sin on YouTube(watch below) has compared the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL to the iPhone 15 Pro Max with some interesting results — especially when it comes to Google's front-facing camera and zoom and video chops, all of which outperformed the iPhone 15 Pro by a fair shout.

Up first are the selfie cameras, where the Pixel 9 Pro XL outshines the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a front-facing camera that's noticeably wider, making it easier to fit more people into group selfies or capture more of your surroundings without having to resort to the rear ultrawide lens. In general, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL's camera setup and processing result in far more punchy photos with higher contrast and saturation than the iPhone 15 Pro, and the same is true for the selfie camera, although Google's work in developing RealTone are clear, since skin tones look far more natural on the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

A similar story plays out when it comes to the rear-mounted camera units, with the 48 MP ultrawide and 50 MP wide cameras from the Pixel 9 Pro XL having nearly identical colour reproduction in the same scene and lighting. Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro XL, the Pixel's cameras all produce cooler shots that also appear to be slightly sharper than the iPhone's images when zoomed in. The Pixel also seems to do a slightly better job of processing shadows in high-contrast scenes.

At one point, Sin shows off an image he took of an aeroplane on the runway with the 5× cameras, and there is a clear difference between the iPhone and the Pixel — this is especially obvious in part of the scene where a service door in the bottom of the aircraft is open. In the image taken by the Pixel 9 Pro XL, there appears to be more dynamic range, since we can see more detail in the dark service compartment, compared to the iPhone 15 Pro's darker reproduction.

Perhaps one of the biggest wins for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, though, comes from portrait mode, where the iPhone's images exhibit noticeably better subject separation. In a vacuum, the Pixel 9 Pro XL's portrait mode shots would likely be quite good, but the iPhone's crisper separation do give it an edge. As Sin notes, however, Google's portrait algorithms often improve over the phone's life cycle, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the Pixel 9 XL's portrait images get better over time.

The 5× zoom cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL both performed admirably, although the Pixel 9 Pro XL's images were a tad sharper. In night mode, the Pixel sticks to the punchy look and doesn't increase the exposure in the darker parts of the image. At the same time, there seem to be fewer halos and smeary artefacts and fewer blown-out highlights. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's images are also less yellow in night mode, meaning it should produce more natural images under street lights, which typically produce warmer light.

Video and video stabilisation are two other aspects where there are clear differences between the iPhone 15 Pro Max (read our review here) and Pixel 9 Pro XL. While both phones have exceptional quality from all of their camera sensors, the Pixel's processing seems to make sharper videos than the iPhone — which can be a good or bad thing, depending on who you are. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's OIS, however, seems to handle panning more deftly than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, though, which is a departure from the norm. The Pixel also seems to more aggressively smooth out walking in Sin's samples, although in brighter lighting conditions, there are some obvious issues with the frame rate, which cause the Pixel's video to look somewhat jerky. According to Sin, the Pixel's colour reproduction in video is also more accurate than the iPhone 15 Pro Max's video.

Pre-order the Google Pixel Pro XL for $1,099 on Amazon, or check out the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max for $1,017.50 on Amazon.

While the Pixel 9 Pro XL may be $100 more expensive, at $1,099, it also features the exact same camera hardware and SoC as the Google Pixel Pro (curr. $999 on Amazon), making Google's cheaper Pro phone an enticing option for those cross-shopping with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max.

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