Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are now official, and comparisons with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has already begun. Pundits are beginning to back up Google’s claim that the Pixel’s 12.3-megapixel camera is the best on the market, while reports indicate the iPhone has bested the Pixel in speed benchmarks .
With Pixel, Google has set out to build the Android equivalent to the iPhone, with all Google branding and proprietary features, most notably software and services such as Google Assisant, Allo, Duo and its Daydream VR protocol. However, the real aim may be for Google to draw users even further into Google’s ecosystem.
With Daydream in particular, it appears Google has plans to establish itself at the top of the virtual reality space. Daydream will be a feature of many upcoming Android smartphones. Google Assisant, Allo, Duo all have strong connections to Google Search, allowing users to access the engine without necessarily having to go to Google.com.
Meanwhile, it is well known that Apple aims to lock users into its ecosystem, and features on the iPhone 7, including its lack of an audio jack, can potentially lead to more sales for Apple. Users may need to invest more money on accessories to accompany the new design, making them less likely to consider a non-iOS device in the future.
Which company has the best chance of locking buyers in remains to be seen. For now, we can only really compare the Pixel and the iPhone 7 spec for spec. Check out how they look.
Display
Google Pixel: 5-inch, XL: 5.5-inch High-Definition AMOLED displayiPhone 7: 4.7-inch, Plus: 5.5-inch Retina HD Display
Processor
Google Pixel: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821iPhone 7: A10 Fusion
RAM
Google Pixel: 4GBiPhone 7: 2GB, 3GB
Internal Storage
Google Pixel: 32GB, 128GBiPhone 7: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB
Camera
Google Pixel: 12.3-megapixel camera, f/2.0 aperture, smartburst, HDR Plus and video stabilization, (front) 8-megapixeliPhone 7: 12-megapixel, f/1.8 aperture, dual lens (Plus), burst mode, 4K video, (front) 7-megapixel
Battery
Google Pixel: 2,770mAh, XL: 3,450mAhiPhone 7: 1,960mAh, Plus: 2,900mAh
Charging
Google Pixel: Quick ChargeiPhone 7: None
Power
Google Pixel: USB Type-CiPhone 7: Lightning port
OS
Google Pixel: Android NougatiPhone 7: iOS 10
Resistance
Google Pixel: IP53iPhone 7: IP67
Special Sensor
Google Pixel: Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensoriPhone 7: 3D Touch, Touch ID
Color
Google Pixel: Quick Black, Very Silver, Really BlueiPhone 7: Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black, Jet Black
Price
Google Pixel: starting at $649 or $27 per month on Google FiiPhone 7: starting at $649 or $32.41 per month on iPhone Upgrade Program; Plus: starting at $769 or $37.41 on iPhone Upgrade Program
Availability
Google Pixel: Available for preorder, Verizon exclusive, Google StoreiPhone 7: Available for purchase, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon