Google today announced the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL to take on Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro lineup. The Pixel 4 series is all about its camera performance but Apple has also greatly stepped up its imaging game this year. There’s more to a smartphone than just its camera though, so how does the Pixel 4 compare to the iPhone 11 Pro? Let’s find out in this comparison.
The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are priced slightly lower than the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Yet, they compete squarely against Apple’s best iPhones. Below is a table showing how the Pixel 4 compares to the iPhone 11 Pro.
Google Pixel 4 vs iPhone 11 Pro – Which One is Better?
| Google Pixel 4 vs iPhone 11 Pro Comparison | ||
| Basis of Comparison | Google Pixel 4 | iPhone 11 Pro |
| Dimensions | 147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2 mm, 162g | 144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm, 188g |
| IP Certification | IP68 | IP68 |
| Display | 5.7-inch FHD+ 90Hz OLED Smooth Display | 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR Display |
| FHD+ (2400 x 1080), 402 PPI | FHD+ (2436 x 1125), 458 ppi | |
| HDR support, Ambient EQ | HDR support, 1200 nits max brightness, True Tone, Wide Color Display | |
| Gorilla Glass 5 | World’s Most Durable Glass | |
| Chipset | 7nm Snapdragon 855 @ 2.8GHz | 7nm+ A13 Bionic @ 2.65GHz |
| Adreno 640 GPU | Custom Apple GPU | |
| RAM and Storage | 6GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| 64/128GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | |
| Camera | 12MP f/1.7, OIS + EIS | 12MP f/1.8, OIS + EIS |
| 16MP f/2.4 telephoto sensor, ~2x optical zoom | 12MP f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | |
| – | 12MP f/2.4 with 120-degree FoV | |
| Front Camera | 8MP f/2.0 | 12MP f/2.2 |
| Battery | 2800mAh | 3110mAh |
| Charging | 18W USB-PD Fast Charging | 18W USB-PD Fast Charging |
| Qi wireless charging | 7.5W Wireless Charging | |
| Biometric Authentication | Face Unlock | Face ID |
| Connectivity | 4×4 MIMO | 4×4 MIMO |
| LTE Cat. 18 | LTE Cat. 18 | |
| Wi-Fi ac | Wi-Fi 6 | |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| NFC | NFC | |
| GPS | GPS | |
| Dual-SIM, VoLTE | Dual-SIM, VoLTE | |
| Others | Motion Gestures, Stereo Speakers, Next-gen Assistant | Siri Automation, Stereo Speakers, Apple U1 chip |
| Price | Starts from $899 | Starts from $999 |
Where the iPhone 11 Pro Wins
The iPhone 11 Pro trumps the Pixel 4 in a number of areas. In my opinion, the iPhone 11 Pro has a more attractive design than the Pixel 4. The former might have a notch at the front but the minimal bezels mean it does not look outdated. In comparison, the Pixel 4 has chunky bezels at the top and bottom and just does not have a design that’s fitting for a smartphone launched in 2019.
The Pixel 4 might also have a better primary camera than the iPhone 11 Pro. However, the iPhone 11 Pro’s triple-camera setup offers a greater level of flexibility. The iPhone also has noticeably better video recording capabilities — it can record 4K 60fps videos from all three cameras while the Pixel 4 is limited to recording 4K videos at 30fps.
The iPhone 11 Pro also offers better battery life, an attractive design, and its available with up to 512GB storage while the Pixel 4 tops out at a paltry 128GB.
Where the Pixel 4 Wins
The Pixel 4 has a lower starting price tag than the iPhone 11 Pro. It retails for $899 and that’s without factoring in the generous pre-order offers from retailers and carriers. It also ships with a higher refresh rate display which will have a visible impact in general UI/UX interactions.
When talking only about the primary 12MP camera, the Pixel 4 has a slight edge with a number of useful features like Astrophotpgrahy, Action Mode, Live HDR+, Dual Exposure, and more. The new Google Assistant on the Pixel 4 is also miles ahead of the Siri experience that you get on the iPhone 11. It is not only significantly faster but can also understand context-based voice commands.
What are your thoughts on the Google Pixel 4? Will you buy it over the iPhone 11 Pro despite its number of shortcomings? Drop a comment and let us know!