Iphone 17 Pro Max Vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Xl: I Compared Both Phones, And It's A Close One

Jason Hiner and Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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It feels for illustration yesterday erstwhile I sat successful a Brooklyn storage to watch Jimmy Fallon present nan Google Pixel 10 bid to nan world. Since then, Apple has joined nan fray pinch nan caller iPhone 17, and now I've sewage a fewer excessively galore caller handsets connected my mind.

Between what Apple and Google announced, nan iPhone 17 Pro Max and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL guidelines retired arsenic nan champion of nan best. They're nan models that tech enthusiasts drool about, fans hold successful lines for, and journalists for illustration maine itch to comparison earlier nan year-end awards are due.

Also: Apple Events unrecorded updates: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, AirPods Pro 3, and reactions to caller wearables

If you're deciding connected which of nan 2 phones to buy, I've laid retired nan biggest differences below, based connected specs, hands-on experience, and years of testing some iPhone and Pixel phones.

Specifications

You should bargain nan iPhone 17 Pro Max if…

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

1. You're a video (and selfie) aficionado

The iPhone 17 Pro Max received respective camera upgrades this year, but nan 2 that I'd for illustration to attraction connected are nan ProRes Raw video support and nan 18MP Center Stage beforehand sensor.

With nan former, videographers tin grounds contented while bypassing each nan usual, automated image processing, for illustration adapting colors and sharpness. The consequence is footage that's friendlier to edit, tin beryllium matched to nan reside that you're after, and, possibly astir importantly, appears much accordant pinch contented captured by different cameras.

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I compared both, and here's nan winner

Apple has besides upgraded nan beforehand camera, which tin now return photos and videos pinch a wider section of view. It's achieved this by opting for a square-shaped sensor versus a rectangular one, allowing nan iPhone to harvest successful aliases retired (read: return photos successful scenery aliases image orientation) without requiring you to rotate nan device.

2. You cognize really to make a telephone move hot

Whether you're a hardcore mobile gamer aliases often multitasking, nan iPhone 17 Pro Max is arguably nan better-performing handset of nan two. A large logic for nan spread is nan caller A19 Pro chip, which Apple claims offers a 40% betterment successful sustained capacity compared to nan iPhone 16 Pro. (Keep successful mind that erstwhile we tested past year's model, nan capacity was already impressive.)

Apple has besides introduced a caller vapor enclosure cooling strategy for nan iPhone, which leverages a liquid-filled backmost sheet for power dissipation. I'm expecting this to support nan iPhone moving astatine highest capacity for longer while reducing nan toll aggravated workloads would usually person connected nan device's artillery life.

3. You request 2TB of retention connected your phone 

We now unrecorded successful a reality wherever you tin bargain a $2,000 iPhone from nan Apple store, acknowledgment to nan caller 2TB configuration for nan iPhone 17 Pro Max. For contented creators, photograph buffs, and folks who simply download much apps and files than needed, there's now an iPhone geared for you.

Also: You tin preorder Apple's caller devices this week: iPhone 17, Watch 11, AirPods Pro 3 and more

Comparatively, nan Google Pixel 10 Pro XL maxes retired astatine 1TB of soul storage. That's still plentifulness for astir users, but those pinch precocious demands should gravitate toward nan iPhone.

You should bargain nan Google Pixel 10 Pro XL if…

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

1. You want AI features that committedness and deliver 

There's nary denying that nan AI features connected iPhones are remedial compared to what's connected nan Pixel. It's been an uphill conflict for Apple since nan beginning, and nan spread has only gotten wider pinch nan motorboat of nan Pixel 10 Pro.

Also: I replaced my Samsung S25 Ultra pinch nan Pixel 10 Pro XL for weeks - and don't regret it

Google's latest AI tricks see generative image editing via matter and a Magic Cue ticker that populates messages, notes, and moreover telephone calls pinch applicable accusation (such arsenic formation information, edifice bookings, and more). 

I've recovered Google's latest AI features subtle, uninvasive, and highly functional, a operation that galore others, including Apple, are still trying to match.

2. You want nan astir forgiving camera connected nan market

While nan iPhone 17 Pro Max gets my prime for shooting videos, nan Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, pinch its triple lens setup and bounty of computational touch-ups, makes it nan astir forgiving camera telephone correct now.

One characteristic that's impressed maine nan astir this twelvemonth is Pro Res Zoom, which uses generative AI to correct sound and distortion erstwhile you're taking pictures of distant subjects. That intends shots of buildings and skyscrapers, statues, and moreover signage that's acold distant look much successful focus. 

Also: The secrets that make Pixel 10 Pro nan world's smartest telephone camera - from wrong Google

You tin besides move connected Auto Best Take, which automatically picks retired nan champion facial expressions of subjects and morphs them into a azygous photograph -- efficaciously removing immoderate chance of imperfections.

3. You resonate much pinch Material 3 Expressive

This year, Google and Apple's approaches to package and personification interface creation diverged significantly. Google focused connected unified colors, earthy movements, and unique ocular cues, while Apple's creation connection emphasized translucency and reflections.

Apple's Liquid Glass conception for iOS 26, which makes nan UI elements move for illustration h2o droplets connected a solid panel, is superb successful theory. However, galore iPhone beta users person pointed retired a deficiency of opposition and discernment.

In contrast, Google's Material 3 Expressive theming has been well-received by Pixel users. It allows for personalizing devices without being distracting.

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