Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13: Which should you buy?
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Google returned to flagship territory with its 2021 smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. As always, the first question for most people is, how do they stack up against the competition? On the one hand, we have the completely overhauled flagships from Google, while on the other are Apple’s latest that follow a tried and tested formula. Here’s a quick look at the Pixel 6 series vs iPhone 13 lineup! There’s so much more to the conversation now than just iOS vs Android, so let’s dive right in.
Pixel 6 vs iPhone 13
Design and display
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The design of the iPhone 13 series stays mostly the same compared to its predecessor. The notch is smaller and the rear cameras of the standard iPhone 13 and 13 Mini are now placed diagonally, but that’s about it. Four phones make up the series once again. The compact iPhone 13 Mini and vanilla iPhone 13 have a lot in common, while better cameras and faster refresh rate displays are reserved for the Pro models.
The iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 come with 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch OLED displays, respectively, with a 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 13 Pro has the same screen size as the standard 13, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a massive 6.7-inch display. Both Pro models are also the first iPhones to feature a 120Hz refresh rate. The notch is 20% smaller across the board, but there’s no compromise as far as Face ID is concerned.
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Now, to be clear, a centrally-placed punch hole notch isn’t a new design element by any means, but it’s a first for a Pixel phone. On the back is where things take a distinct turn. The prominent camera bar is hard to miss, and the two-tone colorways look great. It’s essentially still an unseemly camera bump, but it looks like a part of the design. Not everyone is a fan of the new look, but there are plenty who love it, and I fall squarely in that category.
As far as the displays go, both phones come with OLED panels, but that’s where the similarities end. The Pixel 6 has a flat 6.4-inch display, a Full HD+ resolution, and a 90Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 6 Pro ups the ante in every way with its curved 6.7-inch Quad HD+ screen and 120Hz refresh rate.
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Pixel 6 Pro are the devices to get if you want the best of the lot, but these are big phones. It’s the same display size, but the iPhone is shorter, wider, and a touch heavier as well. The Pixel 6 isn’t a small phone either and is only a few millimeters shorter and a couple of grams lighter than the Pro. Unfortunately, anyone looking for a compact Pixel is out of luck, with the older and mid-range Pixel 4a the only option. Apple gives you that option with the 13 Mini, but it misses out on the higher-end features you get with the Pro phones.
Hardware and cameras
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
A custom chip has powered Apple’s smartphones and tablets for years, and you get the newest A15 Bionic with the iPhone 13 series. We get something similar for the first time with an Android smartphone, with the new Tensor chip powering the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Benchmarks and speed tests will tell you that the A15 Bionic is the winner in this comparison. That’s not really surprising since Apple’s processors consistently outperform the best of Android, at least on paper.
That doesn’t make as much of a difference in real-world performance, though. You get smooth performance across the board regardless of which device you get. Helping this along are optimized software packages, iOS 15 in the case of the iPhones and Android 12 for the two Google devices.
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
There are plenty of questions surrounding the Tensor chip. It doesn’t benchmark as well as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, and while it’s not a mid-ranger, it’s certainly not top-tier. Performance is excellent for now, but longevity is a concern as well, especially with phones that promise three years of major software updates and five years of security updates.
Speaking of software updates, Google’s software support is quite impressive for the Android world. You also won’t have to deal with waiting for months for your phone to get the next major OS upgrade. However, this doesn’t hold a candle to Apple’s rollout. iOS 15 is available for iPhones going back to the six-year-old 6s, albeit with a handful of missing features. Google had the opportunity to push the limit here, and in turn, force other OEMs to match its promise. Instead, three years of major OS updates is pretty par for the course for an Android flagship, but rather disappointing in this case.
Opinion: Google’s Pixel 6 update promise is not good enough
Back to hardware. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro come with 8GB and 12GB of RAM, respectively, and with storage options up to 512GB. Storage variants are market-dependent though, and it’s still unclear where you’ll be able to pick up the highest storage versions. On the other hand, you can get up to 1TB of storage with the Pro iPhones and up to 512GB with the standard and the Mini. Apple doesn’t officially disclose how much RAM their devices come with, but it seems to be 6GB and 4GB of RAM for the Pro and non-Pro phones.
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
You won’t get an exact battery capacity for the iPhone 13’s either. But the good news is that the batteries are larger compared to the iPhone 12 series. Battery anxiety was certainly a concern with the older iPhone series, particularly with the small 12 Mini, but that’s no longer a problem. You get solid battery life with the iPhone 13 Mini, and the 13 Pro Max can comfortably provide a couple of days of usage. 20W charging, 15W Magsafe wireless charging, and 7.5 Qi wireless charging aren’t particularly impressive, though.
On the other hand, anyone still having nightmares about the abysmal battery life of the Pixel 4 will be very happy with the battery life of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The smaller Pixel comes with a 4,600mAh battery, while the Pro has a 5,000mAh unit. You also get 30W wired charging, 21W (Pixel 6) and 23W (Pixel 6 Pro) fast wireless charging with the Pixel Stand, and 12W Qi wireless charging. These aren’t the fastest charging speed we’ve seen, but they are a big improvement over previous generations.
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Finally, we have the cameras. iPhones and Pixels are known for their excellent cameras and are consistently part of our best camera roundups.
Apple sticks to the tried and true once again. The dual cameras of the iPhone 13 Mini and vanilla iPhone 13 remain entirely unchanged from the last generation. They are excellent performers though, so there’s nothing much to complain about here. As before, the Pro devices come with a telephoto lens as well. The MP count stays the same, but there are a few key upgrades here.
The ultra-wide camera has been upgraded from an ƒ/2.4 aperture to ƒ/1.8, providing better low-light performance. There are exciting new software features too, like the new Cinematic Mode, and the option to use Night Mode with all the lenses and not just the primary shooter.
Apple sticks to the tried and true, while Google completely overhauled its camera system.
Keeping the major upgrades going, Google has also completely overhauled the camera system. As good as previous generations were, it was definitely time for a change, and Google certainly delivered. Both phones come with a 50MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. Google also added a 48MP telephoto camera to the Pixel 6 Pro with 4x optical zoom to offer a more versatile photography experience.
Read more: Testing the best 2021 smartphone cameras
Price and colors
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
- Pixel 6: $599 / £599 / €649
- Pixel 6 Pro: $899 / £849 / €899
- iPhone 13 Mini: $699 / €829 / £679
- iPhone 13: $799 / €929 / £779
- iPhone 13 Pro: $999 / €1,179 / £949
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: $1,099 / €1,279 / £1,049
Google has hit it out of the park with the pricing of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6’s price is particularly aggressive. It fits somewhere between mid-range and flagship in terms of specs and features. But it’s cheaper than the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, as well as the Pixel 5 at launch. If you’re hoping to save a bit of money, the cheaper iPhones are a good option, but the Pixel 6 has everyone beat.
The Pixel 6 Pro undercuts the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, as well as a lot of the Android competition.
For the best of the best, it’s the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max and the Google Pixel 6 Pro. The Google phone starts at $100 cheaper than the Pro and $200 than the Pro Max. It undercuts a lot of the Android competition as well. Unlike previous years, there’s no noticeable compromise you can point to either. Yes, the Tensor chip isn’t the fastest on the block. But with regards to everything else, the Pixel 6 Pro is a flagship through and through.
Related: The best Google Pixel 6 alternatives
As far as colorways go, there are plenty of new choices to pick from. In the case of the iPhone, the smaller, more affordable devices are available in pink, blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red. On the other hand, the Pro devices come in gold, silver, Graphite, and Sierra Blue.
On the Pixel side of things, Stormy Black, black and a silver top, is the common option. If availability is any indication, it’s also the easiest to get. The Pixel 6 is also available in Kinda Coral and Sorta Seafoam. For the Pixel 6 Pro, Cloudy White and Sorta Sunny are the two extra colorways.
Specs
| Google Pixel 6 | Google Pixel 6 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
Display | Google Pixel 66.4-inch OLED 20:9 aspect ratio FHD+ resolution 2,400 x 1,080 411ppi 90Hz refresh rate HDR support 24-bit depth Gorilla Glass Victus front | Google Pixel 6 Pro6.7-inch OLED 19.5:9 aspect ratio QHD+ resolution 3,120 x 1,440 512ppi 120Hz adaptive refresh rate HDR support 24-bit depth Gorilla Glass Victus front and back |
Processor | Google Pixel 6 Google Tensor | Google Pixel 6 Pro Google Tensor |
RAM | Google Pixel 6 8GB LPDDR5 | Google Pixel 6 Pro 12GB LPDDR5 |
Internal storage | Google Pixel 6 128GB or 256GB | Google Pixel 6 Pro 128, 256, or 512GB |
Battery and power | Google Pixel 64,600mAh (typical) Fast wired charging USB-PD 3.0 (PPS) 21W wireless charging (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W Qi wireless charging Battery share No charger in box | Google Pixel 6 Pro5,000mAh (typical) Fast wired charging USB-PD 3.0 (PPS) 23W wireless charging (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W Qi wireless charging Battery share No charger in box |
Cameras | Google Pixel 6Rear: - 50MP main 1.2 μm, ƒ/1.85, 82-degree FoV 1/1.31-inch sensor LDAF, OIS, and EIS - 12MP ultra-wide 1.25 μm, ƒ/2.2, 114-degree FoV - Laser AF Front: | Google Pixel 6 ProRear: - 50MP main 1.2 μm, ƒ/1.85, 82-degree FoV 1/1.31-inch sensor OIS and EIS - 12MP ultra-wide 1.25 μm, ƒ/2.2, 114-degree FoV - 48MP telephoto 0.8 μm, ƒ/3.5, 23.5-degree FoV 1/2-inch sensor 4x optical zoom OIS and EIS - Laser AF Front: |
Video | Google Pixel 6Rear: 4K at 30/60FPS 1080p at 30/60FPS Front: | Google Pixel 6 ProRear: 4K at 30/60FPS 1080p at 30/60FPS Front: |
Audio | Google Pixel 6 Stereo speakers | Google Pixel 6 Pro Stereo speakers |
Security | Google Pixel 6In-display fingerprint Titan M2 chip 5 years security updates IP68-rated | Google Pixel 6 ProIn-display fingerprint Titan M2 chip 5 years security updates IP68-rated |
Buttons and ports | Google Pixel 6USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 Power button Volume rocker Dual SIM (single nano and eSIM) No expandable storage | Google Pixel 6 ProUSB-C 3.1 Gen 1 Power button Volume rocker Dual SIM (single nano and eSIM) No expandable storage |
Connectivity | Google Pixel 6 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Google Pixel 6 Pro Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
Bands | Google Pixel 6[5G Sub 6GHz] Model GB7N6 GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1,2,4,5,6,8,19 LTE: Bands B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13 14/17/18/19/20/25/26 28/29/30/32/38/39/40/ 41/42/46/48/66/71 5G Sub-62: Bands n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14 20/25/28/30/38/40 41/48/66/71/77/78 eSIM [5G mmWave + Sub 6GHz] Model G9S9B3 | Google Pixel 6 Pro[5G Sub 6GHz] Model GLUOG GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1,2,4,5,6,8,19 LTE: Bands B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14 17/18/19/20/25/26 28/29/30/32/38/39 40/41/42/46/48/66/71 5G Sub-62: Bands n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14 20/25/28/30/38/40 41/48/66/71/77/78 eSIM [5G mmWave + Sub 6GHz] Model G8VOU |
Software | Google Pixel 6 Android 12 | Google Pixel 6 Pro Android 12 |
Dimensions and weight | Google Pixel 6 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm | Google Pixel 6 Pro 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm |
Colors | Google Pixel 6 Stormy Black, Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam | Google Pixel 6 Pro Stormy Black, Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny |
In-box contents | Google Pixel 61m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0) Quick Switch adapter SIM tool Paperwork No charger in box (*France has charger and headphones included per local laws) | Google Pixel 6 Pro1m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0) Quick Switch adapter SIM tool Paperwork No charger in box (*France has charger and headphones included per local laws) |
| iPhone 13 Mini | iPhone 13 | |
|---|---|---|
Display | iPhone 13 Mini 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | iPhone 13 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
Processor | iPhone 13 Mini Apple A15 Bionic | iPhone 13 Apple A15 Bionic |
Storage | iPhone 13 Mini 128 / 256 / 512GB | iPhone 13 128 / 256 / 512GB |
Battery | iPhone 13 MiniQi wireless charging up to 7.5W Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately) MagSafe: | iPhone 13Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately) MagSafe: |
Cameras | iPhone 13 MiniRear: -Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.6, OIS, 7-element lens -Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/2.4, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction 2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 5x, Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3 Video: Front: Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3 | iPhone 13Rear: -Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.6, OIS, 7-element lens -Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/2.4, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction 2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 5x, Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3 Video: Front: Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3 |
Connectivity | iPhone 13 Mini 5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave) | iPhone 13 5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave) |
Sensors | iPhone 13 Mini Face ID | iPhone 13 Face ID |
Software | iPhone 13 Mini iOS 15 | iPhone 13 iOS 15 |
Durability | iPhone 13 Mini IP68 | iPhone 13 IP68 |
Dimensions and weight | iPhone 13 Mini 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65mm | iPhone 13 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm |
Colors | iPhone 13 Mini Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red | iPhone 13 Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red |
In the box | iPhone 13 Mini iPhone | iPhone 13 iPhone |
| iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
Display | iPhone 13 Pro 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | iPhone 13 Pro Max 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
Processor | iPhone 13 Pro Apple A15 Bionic | iPhone 13 Pro Max Apple A15 Bionic |
Storage | iPhone 13 Pro 128 / 256 / 512GB and 1TB | iPhone 13 Pro Max 128 / 256 / 512GB and 1TB |
Battery | iPhone 13 ProQi wireless charging up to 7.5W Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately) MagSafe: | iPhone 13 Pro MaxQi wireless charging up to 7.5W Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately) MagSafe: |
Cameras | iPhone 13 ProRear: -Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.5, dual OIS, 7-element lens, 100% Focus Pixels, Night Mode -Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/1.8, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction, Night Mode -Telephoto 12MP, ƒ/2.8, dual OIS, 6-element lens 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 15x, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, Apple ProRAW Video: Front: Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3 | iPhone 13 Pro MaxRear: -Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.5, dual OIS, 7-element lens, 100% Focus Pixels, Night Mode -Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/1.8, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction, Night Mode -Telephoto 12MP, ƒ/2.8, dual OIS, 6-element lens 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 15x, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, Apple ProRAW Video: Front: Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3 |
Connectivity | iPhone 13 Pro 5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave) | iPhone 13 Pro Max 5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave) |
Sensors | iPhone 13 Pro Face ID | iPhone 13 Pro Max Face ID |
Software | iPhone 13 Pro iOS 15 | iPhone 13 Pro Max iOS 15 |
Durability | iPhone 13 Pro IP68 | iPhone 13 Pro Max IP68 |
Dimensions and weight | iPhone 13 Pro 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm | iPhone 13 Pro Max 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm |
Colors | iPhone 13 Pro Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue | iPhone 13 Pro Max Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue |
In the box | iPhone 13 Pro iPhone | iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone |
Pixel 6 vs iPhone 13: Which should you buy?
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
When considering the Pixel 6 vs iPhone 13 series, the choice, as always, comes down to which ecosystem you are already invested in. If you have an Apple Watch or bought a Magsafe charger, getting the new iPhone is a no-brainer. There are plenty of other positives as well that make the iPhones a good buy.
Are you considering the Pixel 6 or the iPhone 13 for your next phone?
1132 votes
Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro
64%
iPhone 13 series
30%
Neither
6%
With the Pro devices, you can get as much as 1TB of storage. The iPhone 13 Mini is pretty much the only option if you’re looking for a compact flagship. And of course, Apple’s software support is unmatched. You could easily hold on to these phones for five years without issue. The iPhone 13 series isn’t the biggest upgrade, but it ticks all the right boxes, with excellent performance and fantastic cameras among them.
On the other hand, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are the most exciting Google smartphones in years. The series received a much-needed design overhaul, the cameras are much better, and the custom chip is a first for an Android phone. The Pixel 6 Pro, in particular, isn’t lacking in flagship specs and features. The Pixels are also cheaper than their iPhone counterparts, and that could be enough to swing your vote.
The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are the most exciting Google smartphones in years.
It’s a hard sell convincing an Android user to switch to Apple, and vice versa is even more difficult. We prefer the Pixel 6 series for obvious reasons, but the iPhone 13 is among the best of the best as far as the competition goes.
That’s it for our Pixel 6 vs iPhone 13 comparison! Which one are you considering?
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