The Google Pixel 7 Pro has finally been revealed, and we have a new flagship competitor standing out for 2022. But how does it compare to one of the best phones of 2021, the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
While you might think the iPhone 14 Pro Max is more of a natural competitor than a contemporary, it’s much more expensive than the Pixel 7 Pro. Could the iPhone 13 Pro Max be the best value option?
What’s more, can Apple’s outgoing flagship phone hold up to the Pixel 7 Pro’s specs?
Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro Max price and availability
The Pixel 7 Pro hits the market on October 13, 2022. Prices start at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299 for the 128GB model, while you can also double your storage to 256GB for $999 / £949 / AU$1,449 Australia. In some markets, there is a 512GB option for $1,099 / AU$1,599, but availability is limited.
iPhone 13 Pro Max was released on September 24, 2021. At launch it was $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,699 for the 128GB model, going to $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,869 for the 256GB, then $1,399 US / £1,349 / AU$2,219 for the 512GB, up to $1,599 / £1,549 / AU$2,569 for the new 1TB model.
Apple has stopped selling the iPhone 13 Pro Max now that it’s been replaced by the 14 Pro Max, but you can still buy it brand new from third-party retailers. What’s interesting is that prices from third-party retailers haven’t come down much at the time of writing.
Pixel 7 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max design
The Pixel 7 Pro is a subtle evolution of the Pixel 6 Pro’s design, which means it’s significantly different from the familiar iPhone aesthetic.
Google’s signature camera eyebrow is back for another year, crossing from one edge of the phone to the other. The 2022 model makes that eyebrow in a single piece of shiny aluminum, instead of glass, which now appears to pop out from the edge of the device.
The Pixel 7 Pro is a stylish bit of kit, and its signature Hazel color is absolutely stunning too. Its green and gray color matches well with the gold frame and camera module. You also get Snow (white) and Obsidian (black) options, if you prefer.
Apple color options for the 13 Pro Max include Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, and Alpine Green. More options than the Pixel, if nothing is as visually appealing as Hazel’s shadow.
Apart from those colors, the iPhone 13 Pro Max looks close to the previous generation of Apple phones. It has a flat dead bezel, flat surfaces, and a fairly nondescript (if far from small) camera module.
At 162.9 x 76.55 x 8.9mm, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is longer, narrower and thicker than the iPhone 13 Pro Max at 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm. It’s also slightly lighter at 212g, where the iPhone 13 Pro Max weighs 238g, which isn’t too surprising, thanks to its extensive use of recycled aluminum, versus the iPhone’s steel body.
Both phones are IP68 certified, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max has been tested to withstand greater depths, has a scratch-resistant ceramic shield that covers the screen, and a more premium stainless steel bezel. The Pixel 7 Pro uses Gorilla Glass on the front and back, and aluminum for the edges.
Another difference here is the large notch on the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s screen, which is even more hideous than the punch-hole front camera on the Pixel 7 Pro. The iPhone doesn’t have the unique feature of the secure Face ID system anymore, as Google managed to incorporate something similar into the less intrusive camera hole.
Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max screen
Both phones have 6.7-inch OLED screens with variable refresh rates of 120Hz that can go down to 10Hz. Both are big, lively and smooth.
However, the Pixel 7 Pro’s display is sharper, with a 1440 x 3120 (QHD+) output that compares favorably to the 1284 x 2778 resolution of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Google’s screen also gets brighter, producing a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, instead of the iPhone’s 1,200 nits.
We should also note that the Pixel 7 Pro’s screen is slightly curved at the edges, which some might see as a negative when it comes to media playback. However, it is less curved than the Pixel 6 Pro’s screen.
Google also introduced the option of an in-display fingerprint sensor to complement the new facial recognition system, an option that Apple continues to resist.
Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max camera
The Pixel 7 Pro sits on a 50MP main camera sensor with OIS (optical image stabilization), a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 48MP telephoto sensor with OIS.
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max offers three 12-megapixel sensors, with the main sensor powered by the most advanced sensor-shift stabilization system. The telephoto gets normal OIS support, like the Pixel.
Google wins in the number of telephotos, not necessarily for its higher pixel count, but because it can go up to 5x optical zoom. Apple’s zoom can only extend to 3x. Beyond this optical zoom level, the Pixel 7 Pro can reach a 30x digital zoom range, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only reach 15x.
Both ultra-wide sensors support macro shots, through Custom and Auto modes, which is an interesting parallel.
Up front, the Pixel 7 Pro has a new 10.8MP selfie camera with autofocus. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has another 12MP sensor, but it’s less advanced in its fixed focus display.
The main difference here has to do with image processing rather than hardware. Google’s color science is traditionally cooler and contrast-heavy, while Apple’s color science is traditionally more natural.
Google has picked up some new skills with the Pixel 7 Pro, thanks to its new custom Tensor G2 chip. Night Sight shots now shoot twice as fast as before, but the real transformative addition could be Photo Unblur, which magically sharpens blurry shots.
iPhone 13 Pro Max added Photography Modes, which let you change the tone and warmth of a scene without making things look like an Instagram filter. You can even make your shots look like they come from a Google Pixel (i.e. cooler), if that’s what you prefer.
Then there’s Cinematic Mode, which lets you apply vertically-like bokeh effects to your shots, tracking your subjects’ gaze and adjusting focus accordingly. Google seems to have emulated this feature for the Pixel 7 Pro with a new feature called Cinematic Blur, but after testing it, it’s clear that it still needs a lot of work to be useful.
Pixel 7 Pro specs and performance vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max
We already mentioned that the Pixel 7 Pro runs on Google’s new Tensor G2 processor. Early reports suggest that it’s not a huge improvement over the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip, in terms of raw performance.
If the benchmarks are to be believed, it still lags behind the iPhone 13 Pro Max and its A15 Bionic chip in raw CPU and GPU, even though that same last chip has been replaced.
However, what Google will be referring to with Tensor G2 is its advanced machine learning capabilities. It enables unique functions such as real-time speech transcription, while also enabling crystal clear voice calls and the aforementioned picture noise canceling feature.
Google also claims that the new processor is more energy efficient than before. It’s built on the 4nm process, which is more efficient than the 5nm production method Apple uses on the 13 Pro Max.
The Pixel 7 Pro comes with 12GB of RAM as standard, which is double that of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, we can largely rule this difference out, given the fundamental differences in the way iOS and Android handle their resources.
One difference in Apple’s favor is that it offers four storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Google only gives you a choice between 128GB, 256GB, and only 512GB in select markets.
Pixel 7 Pro battery vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max battery
The Pixel 7 Pro comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which is much larger than the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 4,352mAh cell.
However, as we just mentioned, iOS and Android use the resources of their devices very differently. Apple’s system is traditionally more economical, which makes a direct comparison of battery size useless.
In fact, we were disappointed in last year’s Pixel 6 Pro battery life, finding that it would struggle to get you through a full day of heavy use. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 Pro Max can get through a full day of heavy use with a third of a tank left.
Google is clearly closing this gap with the Pixel 7 Pro. The new Tensor G2 chip is more efficient, and Google claims the 7 Pro can last 24 hours on a single charge. The company has also implemented a new Extreme Battery Saver Mode, under which the phone can last for a full 72 hours.
Neither phone is affected by wired charging speeds. The iPhone 13 Pro Max and Pixel 7 Pro both top out at 23W. Neither manufacturer gives you a plug in the box.
Both phones support wireless charging, which is what you’d expect, given the asking price.
away
Google has released what appears to be another well-equipped Android flagship in the Pixel 7 Pro. Given the inherent similarity to the Pixel 6 Pro, there are justified skepticism as to whether it can outdo the trusty iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is still a massive phone more than a year after its release. If you can find it at a discount, it’s still an excellent purchase.
The Pixel 7 Pro, for its part, promises subtle improvements in all key areas over its predecessor. A brighter display, more power, an improved camera system, and longer battery life make it a point of contention.
While we don’t get a ton of complaints, it all comes down to whether you think these minor improvements combine to provide a truly top-notch experience that’s a step ahead of the still-great iPhone 13 Pro Max; Especially if you’re not married to Android or iOS at this juncture.