
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.
It seems that like yesterday when I was sitting in the Brooklyn warehouse, Jimmy Follen introduced the Google Pixel 10 series into the world. Since then, Apple has joined the field with the new iPhone 17, and now I have found some new handsets in my mind.
What apple and google announced between iPhone 17 Pro Max And Google Pixel 10 Pro XL Stand out as the best. They are models about which technical enthusiasts reveal, wait in lines for the fan, and journalists like me compared Itch to compare before the end of the year.
Also: I have reviewed every iPhone 17 model, and my advice is different this year.
If you are deciding that you have to buy two phones, I have the biggest differences below, based on the years of the glasses, hands on the hands and the years of the testing of both iPhone and Pixel.
Specifications
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | |
| Display | 6.9 “120Hz, 3000 nits amoled with peak | 6.8 “QHD AMOLED 120Hz, 3300 Nits Peak |
| weight | 233 grams | 232 grams |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Google Tensor G5 |
| Dimensions | 78 x 163.4 x 8.75 mm | 76.6 x 162.8 x 8.5 mm |
| storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | N/A | 5,080mAh |
| Quarrel | 48MP Fusion / 48MP Ultra Wide / 48MP Telephoto / 18MP Front | 50mp wide / 48mp telephoto (5X) / 48mp ultravide / 42mp front |
| price | $ 1,199 | $ 1,199 |
If you should buy iPhone 17 Pro Max if …
1. You are a video (and selfie) Aficionado
The iPhone 17 Pro Max received several camera upgrade this year, but the two I want to focus on are Protus Raw Video Support and 18MP Center Stage Front Sensor.
With the east, videographers can record materials by ignoring all general automated image processing, such as adopting colors and sharpness. The result is footage that is friendly to edit, you can match that tone, and, perhaps most importantly appears that more consistent with the material captured by other cameras.
Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I compared both flagships, and here is the winner.
Apple has also upgraded the front camera, which can now take photos and videos with a wider area. It is obtained by selecting a square -shaped sensor versus a rectangular one, causing the iPhone to harvest or out (read: take photos in landscape or portrait orientation) without the need to rotate the device.
2. You know how to heat the phone
Whether you are a hardcore mobile gamer or often multitasking, iPhone 17 Pro Max is sure both a better performing handset. A major reason for the difference is the new A19 Pro Chip, which apple claims that the iPhone 16 provides a constant performance compared to the 16 Pro. (Keep in mind that when we tested last year’s model, the performance was already impressive.)
Apple has also introduced a new vapor chamber cooling system for iPhone, which takes advantage of a liquid back panel for heat dispenses. I am expecting that the toll is usually on the battery life of the device to keep the iPhone running on extreme performance while reducing the toll acute workload.
3. You need 2TB storage on your phone
Now we live in a reality where you can buy $ 2,000 iPhone from the Apple Store, thanks to the new 2TB configuration for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Content creators, photo buffers and for those who simply download more apps and files, now an iPhone is ready for you.
Also: I tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and this feature alone justifies the upgrade from 16.
Comparatively, Google Pixel 10 Pro Xl Max on 1TB internal storage. This is still enough for most users, but people with high demand should move towards the iPhone.
If you should buy Google Pixel 10 Pro XL if …
1. You want AI to promise that And deliver
There is no denying that AI’s characteristics on iPhones are therapeutic compared to what is on the pixel. This is a difficult battle for Apple from the beginning, and the difference has become widespread only with the launch of the Pixel 10 Pro.
Also: I replaced my Samsung S25 Ultra with Pixel 10 Pro XL for weeks – and don’t regret it
Google’s latest AI tricks include generic image editing and magic cue tikar through text that populate messages, notes and even phone calls with relevant information (such as flight information, restaurant booking, and more).
I have found that Google’s latest AI is subtle, uninterrupted and highly functional, a combination that many others, including Apple, are still trying to match.
2. You want the most forgiving camera on the market
While the iPhone 17 Pro Max gets my pick for shooting video, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, with the reward of its triple-lens setup and computational touch-ups, it now makes the most forgiving camera phone.
A feature that affected me the most this year is Pro Race Zoom, which when you are taking pictures of distant subjects, using generic AI to correct noise and deformation. This means that buildings and skyscrapers, sculptures and even signage shots that are far away, appear more in the focus.
Also: Pixel 10 Pro The World’s SmartStest Phone Camera – From inside Google
You can also turn on auto best tech, which automatically chooses the best facial expressions of subjects and converts them into the same photo – effectively removes any opportunity of flaws.
3. You echo more with content 3 expressive
This year, the approaches of Google and Apple’s software and user interface designs separated to a great extent. Google focused on integrated colors, natural movements and specific visual signals, while Apple’s design language emphasized transportation and reflections.
Apple’s liquid glass concept for iOS 26, which leads the UI elements like water drops on a glass panel, is luxurious in theory. However, many iPhone beta users have indicated opposite and lack of discretion.
In contrast, Google’s content 3 expressive themeing is well obtained by pixel users. This allows the devices to personalize without distracting.
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor’s favorite ZDNET recommends,
