Pixel 6 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro

Both released in 2021, the Google Pixel 6 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro are heavy hitters for photography and advanced smartphone technology. However, they’re quite different when it comes to their design and interface. If you’re not sure which phone is right for you, you’re not alone. Here are some of the key differences to help you decide whether the Pixel 6 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro is a better phone for you.

Design and colors

The iPhone 13 Pro has Apple’s classic design, with a premium look and high-end materials. The Google Pixel 6 Pro has a sleeker look, with a striking two-tone finish and tapered sides. Its screen is also slightly curved to give the user an excellent grip. The redesigned camera bar on the back of the Pixel 6 Pro stretches across the phone and lends it a very different look compared to iPhones and other smartphones on the market.

The color options for these phones are similar, but the Pixel 6 Pro has a two-toned color scheme so there are two shades on the back of the phone, one above and one below the camera bar. Both the Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro come in a dark shade, Stormy Black for the Pixel and Graphite for the iPhone. There are also metallic options for both in gold and silver tones, though the Pixel 6 Pro is more white than silver, with just a touch of silver above the camera bar. There’s one additional option for the iPhone 13 Pro colors: Sierra Blue, which doesn’t have an equivalent shade in the Pixel 6 Pro.

Size and display

The Pixel 6 Pro is bigger than the iPhone 13 Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro measures 6.45 inches H x 2.99 inches H x 0.35 inches D, while the iPhone 13 Pro measures 5.78 inches x 2.81 inches x 0.3 inches inches. The Pixel 6 Pro is also slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 Pro.

The 6.7-inch screen size on the Pixel 6 Pro is also larger than the iPhone 13 Pro’s 6.1-inch screen. If you prefer iPhones but want the larger screen size, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the same 6.7-inch screen size as the Pixel 6 Pro. You can also learn more about how those two models differ in our Google Pixel 6 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max comparison.

Both phones feature nice OLED displays, and there really isn’t much of a difference in the responsiveness or technical specs here. However, the iPhone 13 Pro does have the famous Apple notch at the top of the screen, which houses the brand’s TrueDepth camera. This is notable not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but also because it enables the use of FaceID or facial recognition technology to unlock the phone. The Pixel 6 Pro does not offer this feature.

Performance and battery life

On the component side, the iPhone 13 Pro relies on the powerful performance of its A15 Bionic chip. Many iPhone 13 reviews note that the chip in this series allows remarkably smooth performance across all applications and excellent power efficiency. 

Not to be totally outdone, the Pixel 6 Pro is highly efficient with its Tensor Processor. However, it still falls a little short of the iPhone 13 Pro’s powerful processing capabilities.

The iPhone 13 Pro also delivers impressive battery life, lasting up to 22 hours of video playback or 75 hours of audio playback. Google says the Pixel 6 Pro battery lasts up to 24 hours of normal use (a mix of talk, data, standby, and other features). It’s likely the iPhone 13 Pro battery would last longer under similar conditions, so it earns the W here.

Camera

These two smartphones are both known for having advanced cameras. However, each phone has different photography features that are worth considering, especially if you use your phone for taking a lot of pictures and videos.

The Pixel 6 Pro sports a 48MP telephoto rear camera lens, a megapixel count only reached by Apple in the more recent iPhone 14 camera. Another interesting difference is Google’s astrophotography feature that allows for better shots at night and in low light conditions compared to Apple’s Night Mode. The Pixel 6 Pro also has a Magic Eraser, which allows you to easily cut out unwanted objects from your pictures.

When it comes to video recording, the iPhone 13 Pro has an edge over the Pixel 6 Pro. With 4K video support at 60 frames per second, the video quality is higher on the iPhone than the Pixel. Apple’s Cinematic Mode on the iPhone 13 Pro is another interesting tool that helps automatically shift the focus from foreground to background for professional-looking results.

Pixel 6 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro: Which is better?

The Pixel 6 Pro is better for the budget-conscious, as it delivers plenty of power and high-end performance at a lower price than the iPhone 13 Pro. However, if you own other Apple products, like AirPods or an Apple Watch, you’ll probably prefer the iPhone 13 Pro since these products pair so seamlessly with each other.