Comparison of IPhone 16 With Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24
Apple today unveiled a range of new hardware , including the iPhone 16, AirPods 4, and Apple Watch Series 10. We’ve already told you about the new Apple Watch and the latest AirPods , but now it’s time to get into the company’s new phones.
The iPhone 16 is Apple’s first AI-focused phone , but for anyone who hasn’t bought into Big Tech’s latest trend, there’s still a lot to talk about, including a surprising return to buttons. In an environment where phones are becoming increasingly generic, the iPhone 16 aims to do something a little different. Here’s how it stacks up against its biggest competitors: the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24.
What’s new in iPhone 16?
Apple is really pushing Apple Intelligence, its first foray into artificial intelligence, with the iPhone 16. Today’s event didn’t say much we haven’t heard before , but the shadow of artificial intelligence loomed over the entire presentation.
I’ll get to that in a second, but first I’ll talk about the phone you’ll be using Apple Intelligence on. Like previous models, the iPhone 16 comes in four versions: two sizes for the basic version and two sizes for the upgraded Pro version. Unlike past models, Apple is making the rectangular all-in-one design that has become synonymous with smartphones in general a little fun again.
Lately, Apple has moved to fewer buttons, adopting a very generic design that prevented the iPhone from standing out from its competitors. There were even rumors that Apple would completely abandon buttons . This year, Apple decided to rely on tactile sensations from the gadget, which can only be obtained by physical pressing.
All iPhone 16s get a custom action button that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models, but there’s now a new camera control button as well. It’s a bit like a DSLR shutter and allows you to press it with varying levels of pressure to take a photo or adjust settings like zoom, exposure, and focus. You can even swipe the button for even more control.
As someone who bought the iPhone 15 Pro in part to use the action button to activate the camera, I’m willing to go all-in. More physical controls on my phone please.
Beyond that, there are the typical camera and battery upgrades, but what’s interesting is that all iPhone 16s get some version of the new A18 chip. This means that people who get the base model won’t be stuck with last year’s pro chip that used to power Apple’s base models. This also means that all iPhone 16s will get Apple Intelligence and be able to play graphics-intensive games like Death Stranding . The iPhone 16 Pro will still get a better version of the chip—the A18 Pro instead of the A18—but all models of this new processor should be stronger than anything Apple has released so far.
These Pro models now also have larger screens, although Apple has kept the bezels thin to prevent the device itself from getting larger. The iPhone 16 Pro now has a 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro Max has a 6.9-inch screen.
As for the promised Apple Intelligence, it should go on sale next month, first in American English. During its event, Apple also announced Visual Intelligence, a way to get help from artificial intelligence by holding down the new camera control button.
Whether all these changes make the phone a full upgrade will still have to wait for a full review, but it’s certainly a bigger overhaul than just improving the processor and camera specs. The iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the base model and $899 for the Plus model, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199.
iPhone 16 vs Pixel 9
While Apple’s newest phone looks for ways to improve on the classic rectangular candy bar format, the Pixel 9 instead did something Apple fans are still waiting for: it introduced a foldable phone.
The Pixel 9 lineup wasn’t the first time we got a foldable Google , but with the release of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google has definitely embraced the idea by no longer separating it out as a sub-brand. When purchasing Google’s latest phone, you can now choose the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, or the foldable version of this 9 Pro.
Of course, there are different sizes for each awkward model, but folding is a much more interesting design trick than the shutter button (even if the shutter button is still interesting). I’m not sure it’s worth it—foldable phones are still much more expensive, and you’re sacrificing some camera capabilities for one—but it makes the Pixel 9 a more interesting option for people who don’t think a little better specs are enough. reasons for updating.
Of course, the Pixel 9 has those too, plus a few more exclusive software features that Google is famous for. This year saw the introduction of the Add Me feature, which makes it easier to take group shots, and Pixel Studio, which is essentially an AI-powered image generator. There’s also Reimagine, which lets you use AI to edit existing photos, although this has sparked some controversy following an investigation by The Verge .
For now, the main reasons to buy a Pixel are either the foldable variant or these exclusive features, although it’s possible that Apple Intelligence will make the latter a little less attractive. This is a bit of a shame for Google because the base Pixel 9 starts at $799 and the Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999, so there’s no price incentive to buy this phone instead.
iPhone 16 vs Samsung Galaxy S24
The Samsung Galaxy line has long been Android’s answer to the iPhone. While Google’s Pixel often places more emphasis on unique design and smart software, Samsung’s flagship offers a stylish but more traditional design and focuses on industry-leading cameras. (However, the company does have its own foldable sub-brand, the Galaxy Z series .)
That’s still the case here: the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 200-megapixel main lens, which beats the 48-megapixel lens on the iPhone 16 Pro. Even the base Samsung Galaxy S24 has a more powerful main camera than the standard iPhone 16: 50 MP versus 48 MP.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra also has a built-in S Pen, which gives you some tactile note-taking capabilities that are hard to replicate on an iPhone, even with a third-party stylus (usually it just imitates a finger).
The AI on the Galaxy S24 is weaker than what Apple Intelligence offers, borrowing much of its intelligence from Google, although features like thumbnail-to-image make good use of the phone’s unique capabilities.
However, not everyone cares about artificial intelligence, and if you also don’t care about the iOS ecosystem, it can be argued that the Galaxy S24 seems to be the most premium option on this list. Maybe it’s just because I like square corners (rather than rounded ones) and camera lenses that aren’t separated into separate boxes. This is of course a subjective judgment, but I would say that Apple may not be the king of luxury here.
This is reflected in prices. While the Galaxy S24’s base MSRP is on par with the iPhone 16’s $799 MSRP, the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,299, making it a bit more expensive than Apple’s premium option.
It’s a strong competitor to Apple, but there’s one caveat: the S24 line, released in January, is also due for an update soon, so it’s probably wise to wait before buying it. However, this also means that you may be able to get a price reduction by going to a retailer that is not owned by Samsung itself.