Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max versus the Pixel 4 XL compared

Posted:
in iPhone edited December 2019
Tuesday's launch of the Google Pixel 4 XL revealed the search giant's vision of a flagship smartphone, but how does it compare against the Apple equivalent, the iPhone 11 Pro Max? AppleInsider runs the numbers.




As expected, Google revealed its latest version of the Pixel smartphone range, and given the number of leaks and teases from the company over the last few months, there were relatively few surprises. As usual, two models were offered, with the Google Pixel 4 XL being the biggest and nearest competitor of the two sizes to the largest flagship of Apple, the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Much like the comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, there's quite a lot to compare, but this time there's at least one big change that warrants closer examination.

The Spec List



Apple iPhone 11 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 4 XL
Price$1,099$899
Screen size (ins)6.56.3
Resolution2688 x 1242 at 458ppi3040 x 1440 at 537ppi
Contrast2,000,000:1100,000:1
Display type:Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR, True Tone, Wide Color (P3)Flexible OLED with Ambient EQ and Smooth Display (90Hz)
ProcessorA13 Bionic with Neural EngineQualcomm Snapdragon 855 with Pixel Neural Core
Memory4GB*6GB
Capacity64GB, 256GB, 512GB64GB, 128GB
Dimensions (ins)5.7 x 2.8 x 0.326.3 x 2.9 x 0.3
Weight (ounces)6.636.81
Rear Cameras (megapixels)12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Wide, 12MP Telephoto16MP Wide, 12.2MP Telephoto
Video recording4K604K30
Front Camera12MP TrueDepth8MP with 2 NIR cameras
BiometricFace IDFace Recognition

Display

The two models use an OLED panel, but with wildly different results in terms of contrast, with Apple boasting 2,000,000:1 while Google settles for 100,000:1. In theory, this makes Apple's far better when it comes to contrast, though this may have to wait until a direct side-by-side comparison can be made to see if this really matters.




Both offer very high resolutions which most users will be happy to view, with Google edging out the pixel density race at 537ppi to 458ppi. Again, it probably doesn't make much difference to users unless they're using specialist equipment to take a very close look, but this matters to some people.

Google has also elected to use a flexible OLED panel, which is an interesting choice for a flat device without a curved display. The Smooth Display feature where the screen can display video at up to 90Hz is also noteworthy, as this is reminiscent of the iPad Pro's 120Hz feature for the Apple Pencil, but since a stylus isn't being used, it's less useful in that regard.

Performance

To try and compare the two models in terms of processing power, the obvious thing to do is to look at the benchmarks of each chip. In this case, we can't.

Geekbench results for the A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11 Pro Max reside at 1,329 points for single-core processing while multi-core is rated at 3,412 points.

Initial results for the Google Pixel 4 XL under Geekbench 5 are not currently available, making a direct comparison impossible.

It is worth referring to the Galaxy Note 10+ comparison as more of an indication of performance differences, as the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 System on Chip was used. Geekbench scores for that device put it at 759 for single-core performance and 2,098 for multi-core, with Apple soundly thrashing Samsung's rival device.

However, even this isn't necessarily a great way to compare the two models.

Google's included a "Pixel Neural Core" as part of its processing system, which could be considered its version of Apple's "Neural Engine." A replacement for the previous Visual Core chip, the Pixel Neural Core can perform intensive image processing on the device, as well as to help with machine learning tasks, and is likely to be assisting with general processing of the device.

Once the Pixel 4 XL is actually released, a proper performance comparison will be made.

Cameras

For the Pixel 4 XL, Google has gone with a two-camera system, with a 16-megapixel telephoto camera alongside a 12.2-megapixel wide-angle sensor. Both include phase detection, optical image stabilization, and electronic image stabilization, with the telephoto adding a "spectral and flicker sensor" to the mix while the wide uses dual-pixel phase detection.




The iPhone 11 Pro Max has three sensors at 12MP, but in telephoto, wide, and ultra-wide configurations to give a wider variety of shots. Optical image stabilization is on the wide and telephoto, with the wide also using 100% focus pixels.

At face value, this becomes a case of whether you want the choice of field of view or performance, as while Apple offers choice, Google errs towards quality by numbers and features alone.

Both companies also pride themselves on the photographic capabilities of their devices, and with Apple catching up in the low-light stakes that the Pixel excelled within. Each firm is also making great strides in computational photography, which arguably could make a bigger impression on the final image than the sensors and lenses.

This will boil down to personal preference in terms of which delivers the best images or video, and warrants further analysis.

Capacity

Google offers 64GB and 128GB variants for both models of the Pixel 4. Apple, meanwhile, does offer 64GB in its lowest-capacity model, but then goes much further in offering 256GB and 512GB options.

For people who rely on keeping their files on their devices, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the better device on this alone.

Things do get a bit muddy if you take into account the constantly-connected nature of modern smartphones, with cloud storage and vast data allowances for cellular plans being quite normal. It can be argued that, with things like Google's offer to store high-quality images and video in the cloud for free and the existence of iCloud, that there's not as much of a need to offer such huge capacities in smartphones anymore.

To the average user who doesn't need half a terabyte of storage, there's not much difference. To video producers, photographers, and other content creators who need massive amounts of storage and simply cannot rely on handing off their original files to the cloud for safe-keeping in fear of them being compressed and degraded, there's no contest.

Radar

One big trick up Google's sleeve is the Pixel 4's use of radar, a first for smartphones. Working on the front of the device, the radar system can detect the presence of the user, as well as their hand.




This enables the Pixel 4 XL to accept gestures from the user without having to actually touch the screen, making it handy for use when hands are dirty or physically touching the device is impractical. Waving the hand can be used to skip songs, snooze alarms, silence calls, and so on.

This is a neat trick with some handy use cases, but a party trick none the less. Short of a small number of situations, most interactions with the Pixel 4 will be via screen touches.

Other Items

Google has followed Apple in leaving fingerprint recognition in favor of facial recognition. In the Pixel's case, it uses its custom Titan M security chip to encrypt face data "end-to-end," and uses it to unlock the smartphone as well as to authorize payments.

This is quite reminiscent of Apple's Face ID, with Google also advising of similar catches in its marketing, such as "looking at the phone can unlock it when you don't intend to," how it can be unlocked by someone else if it's "held up your face while your eyes are open," and it being unlocked by "someone who looks a lot like you, say, an identical sibling."

But, despite all this, testers at the event found that the device would unlock with the user's eyes closed, so it would also unlock if the user is non-responsive, sleeping, or unconscious and somebody holds the device up to the owner's face. This seems like a big problem for Pixel 4 users, from a security standpoint. We'll see what ships.

Google has also decided it isn't worth including earphones in the box with the Pixel 4 XL. While the Pixel 4 XL's box does include an 18W USB-C power adapter and a cable, it doesn't include audio accessories at all, meanwhile Apple continues to provide a pair of EarPods.

Instead, Google wants users to acquire the USB-C Digital Earbuds for Pixel Phones, which cost $30, or to wait until early 2020 for the Google Pixel Buds 2, which will cost $179.

And, of course, neither phone offers 5G connectivity. Both have Bluetooth 5.0.

The iPhone has Wi-Fi 6, and Google is sticking with Wi-Fi 5. This isn't a big deal for the next year or so for most users right now.

In Summary

The Pixel 4 XL is likely what Google believes is the optimal Android smartphone design that a user could want. It theoretically offers comparable processing as other flagship models, while offering the deep integration with Google's services that it can provide.




This is quite similar to how Apple's services and features work on an iPhone. The company that produces the operating system knows how best to implement hardware to take advantage of what's available to use.

This advantageous position gives Google leeway to lean hard on its computational prowess, allowing it to make up any hardware deficiencies in software, or to further improve the better elements.

For the average OS-agnostic user not invested in either ecosystem too heavily, there's a lot to like about what Google brings to the table. Both the Pixel 4 XL and the iPhone 11 Pro Max give a superior mobile experience versus the rest of the market and will be extremely useful in the majority of cases.

The minority is where things get interesting, and slowly slide in Apple's favor.

The Pixel 4 XL is hamstrung by its local storage capacity, making it less appealing to content creators. This same audience may also be swayed by Google's imaging prowess and computational photography, but the iPhone 11 Pro Max has improved both its sensors and Apple's own processing techniques have been given a boost.

The beauty of computational photography is that it can always improve, so even if Google's shots appear to be better than Apple's, the results can so easily switch further down the line.

Given all else being equal, the extra potential storage capacity and the triple camera setup in the iPhone 11 Pro Max gives it a considerable edge over the Pixel 4 XL.

Deals on both phones

Free gift offers and BOGO deals are going on now on both phones, with Google's Pixel 4 XL already eligible for a free $100 store gift card at B&H Photo and Best Buy.

Meanwhile, wireless carriers are also offering a variety of incentives on the iPhone 11 Pro Max, including trade-in deals on devices in any condition. Highlights are below.

iPhone 11 Pro Max deals

  • Verizon Wireless: Get up to $500 off the iPhone 11 Pro Max via bill credits with select trade-in and Unlimited plan.
  • AT&T Wireless: Get up to $700 in bill credits with trade-in on a qualifying smartphone. Port-in and new line required ($300 in bill credits without port-in). Unlimited plan required.
  • Sprint: Starting at $12.50 per month with Sprint Flex lease and select trade-ins in any condition.
  • T-Mobile: Save $1,000 on the iPhone 11 Pro Max when you switch and trade in an iPhone XS.
  • Sam's Club: Get a $150 Sam's Club gift card when you buy and activate by Nov. 8.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 34
    It doesn't matter how great Google's hardware is. Android is still crap.
    GeorgeBMaclolliverrevenantred oakjbdragonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 34
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,382member
    - Mediocre design: big bezels on top+bottom, seems like a regression. Much lower screen/body ratio than the X. 
    - OLED screen: 100,000 contrast ratio. The X had 1M to 1 and 11 Pro has 2M to 1. Massive difference. 
    - I doubt build quality compares
    - No wide angle camera. Huge miss. 
    - Max storage of 128GB, iPhone goes to 512 
    - Not even using the latest snapdragon (855 vs 855+). Quite an old chip now, and A13 wipes the floor with it
    - Seems like a tiny battery for small version (2800) considering a 90Hz refresh. They didn't mention battery life at ALL.
    - Can only do 4K @ 30, not 60. - Soli is neat but seems pretty gimmicky and limited in use. Samsung had something similar a while back and they scrapped it. 

     This phone seems to be a middling and confused product on many fronts.
    edited October 2019 tmaymuthuk_vanalingamlolliverkevin keerevenantwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 34
    Radar that close to your ear? Yikes!
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 34
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    Pixel 4 XL should be compared to iPhone 11. 
  • Reply 5 of 34
    Mike WuertheleMike Wuerthele Posts: 6,858administrator
    sacto joe said:
    Radar that close to your ear? Yikes!
    Google says a proximity sensor and software related to phone calls shuts off the radar for those evolutions.
    gatorguyGeorgeBMactmaychemengin1jbdragon
  • Reply 6 of 34
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    But can the Pixel run iOS --- Or access Apple's ecosystem to keep my hardware, software and data safe and secure while while integrating all of my devices -- including my garage door opener -- into a single, secure, tightly integrated, seamless whole?
    edited October 2019 watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 34
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    tzeshan said:
    Pixel 4 XL should be compared to iPhone 11. 
    Paper comparisons aren't as helpful as in-use comparisons IMO so it doesn't really matter to me which iPhone model it's compared to. The top model from one manufacturer compared on paper to the top one from another is fine by me. Specs are specs. Just my 2 cents. 

    BTW there's a mystery Google Pixel event coming up on the 21st, very short notice and by invite only. Will be curious to see what it's about. 
    edited October 2019
  • Reply 8 of 34
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    But can the Pixel run iOS --- Or access Apple's ecosystem to keep my hardware, software and data safe and secure while while integrating all of my devices -- including my garage door opener -- into a single, secure, tightly integrated, seamless whole?
    LOL!
  • Reply 9 of 34
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    Which one's the knockoff? Oh the one with the chin and forehead.

    IDK who it was on here the Google guy or the Huawei guy who said the knockoffs had solved the notch problem by adding a forehead and chin!! LOL!
    lolliverwatto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 34
    big kcbig kc Posts: 141member
    Either is a good choice for your preferred OS, that's the bottom line. What kinda surprises me is how much attention the tech press gives the Pixel phones, when literally almost nobody buys them. They sell in TINY numbers, always have, and this one probably won't be any different.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 34
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Which one's the knockoff? Oh the one with the chin and forehead.

    IDK who it was on here the Google guy or the Huawei guy who said the knockoffs had solved the notch problem by adding a forehead and chin!! LOL!
    Is there a notch problem? As far as I know they work as intended. 

    EDIT: BTW I'm looking at the pic AI posted and I'm not seeing a chin on the Pixel. Maybe a slightly larger bezel there than on the sides, but certainly no chin as I understand one. 
    edited October 2019
  • Reply 12 of 34
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,328member
    Interesting to see radar being used for presence sensing in a smartphone. In fact, radar has been used for quite a long time in a very similar fashion and for similar purposes for tank level measurements, e.g., measuring the level of liquid in those tanks you see in tank farms. Similar radar based systems are used for positioning of traveling cranes and precision positioning of mining equipment, presence sensing, and speed sensing. Radar is a time proven, reliable, accurate, and relatively mature technology for distance and speed measurement that doesn't suffer from some of  the issues that affect optical and acoustic technology based systems. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to see it scaled down to a smartphone form factor for personal use applications. 
    muthuk_vanalingamn2itivguy
  • Reply 13 of 34
    hentaiboyhentaiboy Posts: 1,252member
    dewme said:
    Radar is a time proven, reliable, accurate, and relatively mature technology for distance and speed measurement that doesn't suffer from some of  the issues that affect optical and acoustic technology based systems. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to see it scaled down to a smartphone form factor for personal use applications. 
    Yes, first implementation of gesture-based computing on a smartphone only to be dismissed as a “party trick” by the author.
    GeorgeBMacphilboogie
  • Reply 14 of 34
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,382member
    hentaiboy said:
    dewme said:
    Radar is a time proven, reliable, accurate, and relatively mature technology for distance and speed measurement that doesn't suffer from some of  the issues that affect optical and acoustic technology based systems. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to see it scaled down to a smartphone form factor for personal use applications. 
    Yes, first implementation of gesture-based computing on a smartphone only to be dismissed as a “party trick” by the author.

    It is a party trick, at least from Google's weak implementations and based on the fact every single review/hands-on that couldn't get it to work reliably. 
    edited October 2019 lolliverStrangeDaysjdb8167watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 34
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    gatorguy said:
    Which one's the knockoff? Oh the one with the chin and forehead.

    IDK who it was on here the Google guy or the Huawei guy who said the knockoffs had solved the notch problem by adding a forehead and chin!! LOL!
    Is there a notch problem? As far as I know they work as intended. 

    EDIT: BTW I'm looking at the pic AI posted and I'm not seeing a chin on the Pixel. Maybe a slightly larger bezel there than on the sides, but certainly no chin as I understand one. 

    There is no real "problem". The complaint is that it exists.

    This discussion was before this Pixel 4. Not sure if he mentioned Pixel 3 or Huawei iWannabe.

    hentaiboy said:
    dewme said:
    Radar is a time proven, reliable, accurate, and relatively mature technology for distance and speed measurement that doesn't suffer from some of  the issues that affect optical and acoustic technology based systems. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to see it scaled down to a smartphone form factor for personal use applications. 
    Yes, first implementation of gesture-based computing on a smartphone only to be dismissed as a “party trick” by the author.

    I wouldn't even call it a party trick. Sammy tried this before and iKnockoff fans were screaming "Innovation!" before Sammy abandoned(surprise!) the feature months later. This is no better than bumping phones which would apparently be the death of Apple.
    jmc54watto_cobra
  • Reply 16 of 34
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    slurpy said:
    hentaiboy said:
    dewme said:
    Radar is a time proven, reliable, accurate, and relatively mature technology for distance and speed measurement that doesn't suffer from some of  the issues that affect optical and acoustic technology based systems. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to see it scaled down to a smartphone form factor for personal use applications. 
    Yes, first implementation of gesture-based computing on a smartphone only to be dismissed as a “party trick” by the author.

    It is a party trick, at least from Google's weak implementations and based on the fact every single review/hands-on that couldn't get it to work reliably. 
    Yeah, seems like it's an iffy project after being miniaturized so much to fit that sensor strip in the forehead. More party trick at the moment tho all the reviewers seem to be in agreement that it does make the face unlock function much, much faster. 

    I've suspected from the get-go that Soli, at least this initial version and software, would be of limited value. No idea what if anything can be done with it via future software update. Then again aren't the testers using beta handsets, not production units? Conceivable that consumer devices might work a bit more reliably. Give it a couple of weeks. 

    EDIT: Android Central has a slightly different take on the Pixel's Soli Motion Sense. 

    "Motion Sense doesn't really feel all that special. You can use it to silence alarms, dismiss or answer a call, or change tracks in your music player by waving your hand in front of the phone. It can also be used to trigger the camera system for Google's new facial recognition to unlock your phone. We've seen something similar as far back as 2013's Moto X. there is a difference, though, and it's in the capabilities.

    Other phones used "air gestures" to do similar things with IR sensors or even through the camera(s) on the front of the phone. None were perfect by any means and that's because the tech used had some limitations. IR sensors or cameras can't detect motion at as high of a resolution as Soli can and it takes more power to keep a camera or bank of IR sensors always on. Soli can definitely do a lot more than Google is showing us so far.

    It's probably prudent to start with the most basic set of gestures when releasing new tech like Motion Sense. However, since Soli can also do things like identify the material of an object, count cards as they are dealt, or even identify a product based on its weight, it stands to reason Google can open it up to do a lot more. We expect to see significant improvements to Motion Sense once the Pixel 4 is a bit more mature and Google is sure everything is working as expected."

    edited October 2019 muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 17 of 34
    sacto joe said:
    Radar that close to your ear? Yikes!
    Google says a proximity sensor and software related to phone calls shuts off the radar for those evolutions.
    I figured as much. Problem is, I don’t trust Google. I don’t trust their quality control, and I don’t trust them. Can you imagine being someone where the safety features break down? I’m guessing the chance of that isn’t zero. That may be why we haven’t seen something similar from Apple.

    watto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 34
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    sacto joe said:
    sacto joe said:
    Radar that close to your ear? Yikes!
    Google says a proximity sensor and software related to phone calls shuts off the radar for those evolutions.
    I figured as much. Problem is, I don’t trust Google. I don’t trust their quality control, and I don’t trust them. Can you imagine being someone where the safety features break down? 
    Well color yourself fortunate. You weren't planning on buying one anyway. :)
    bigtdsmuthuk_vanalingamphilboogie
  • Reply 19 of 34
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Both offer very high resolutions which most users will be happy to view, with Google edging out the pixel density race at 537ppi to 458ppi. Again, it probably doesn't make much difference to users unless they're using specialist equipment to take a very close look, but this matters to some people.


    Google has also elected to use a flexible OLED panel, which is an interesting choice for a flat device without a curved display. 
    That's because the Pixel has the Active Edge feature where squeezing the sides activates certain functions. The screen thus needs to flex.
    philboogie
  • Reply 20 of 34
    gatorguy said:
    slurpy said:
    hentaiboy said:
    dewme said:
    Radar is a time proven, reliable, accurate, and relatively mature technology for distance and speed measurement that doesn't suffer from some of  the issues that affect optical and acoustic technology based systems. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to see it scaled down to a smartphone form factor for personal use applications. 
    Yes, first implementation of gesture-based computing on a smartphone only to be dismissed as a “party trick” by the author.

    It is a party trick, at least from Google's weak implementations and based on the fact every single review/hands-on that couldn't get it to work reliably. 
    Yeah, seems like it's an iffy project after being miniaturized so much to fit that sensor strip in the forehead. More party trick at the moment tho all the reviewers seem to be in agreement that it does make the face unlock function much, much faster. 

    I've suspected from the get-go that Soli, at least this initial version and software, would be of limited value. No idea what if anything can be done with it via future software update. Then again aren't the testers using beta handsets, not production units? Conceivable that consumer devices might work a bit more reliably. Give it a couple of weeks. 

    EDIT: Android Central has a slightly different take on the Pixel's Soli Motion Sense. 

    "Motion Sense doesn't really feel all that special. You can use it to silence alarms, dismiss or answer a call, or change tracks in your music player by waving your hand in front of the phone. It can also be used to trigger the camera system for Google's new facial recognition to unlock your phone. We've seen something similar as far back as 2013's Moto X. there is a difference, though, and it's in the capabilities.

    Other phones used "air gestures" to do similar things with IR sensors or even through the camera(s) on the front of the phone. None were perfect by any means and that's because the tech used had some limitations. IR sensors or cameras can't detect motion at as high of a resolution as Soli can and it takes more power to keep a camera or bank of IR sensors always on. Soli can definitely do a lot more than Google is showing us so far.

    It's probably prudent to start with the most basic set of gestures when releasing new tech like Motion Sense. However, since Soli can also do things like identify the material of an object, count cards as they are dealt, or even identify a product based on its weight, it stands to reason Google can open it up to do a lot more. We expect to see significant improvements to Motion Sense once the Pixel 4 is a bit more mature and Google is sure everything is working as expected."

    Yep. A brand new way for Google to spy on customers....
    watto_cobra
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