iPhone 15 Pro
The latest member in the iPhone lineup features welcome changes such as replacing the Lightning connector with the universal USB Type-C one and introducing a customizable Action button. The device retains its impressive 120Hz OLED display and the promising Dynamic Island from the last generation.
During the last two decades of cellular innovation, Apple has emerged as a market dominator for creating an elite handheld pocket computer, a.k.a. the iPhone. While Apple was making itself known as the poster child ofmodern mobile technology, Google kept taking notes throughout and soon launched its lineup of Pixel smartphones back in 2016.
Apple and Google have established their reputation in the smartphone industry for producingfeature-rich and innovative devices. While Google pioneered the highly customizable vanilla Android experience, Apple focused on uniformity in its design elements, making iOS more user-friendly. Thus, over the years, the mobile consumer space has been divided into two groups:those who like iOS and those who like Android.
Pricing and Financing
Initially launched at $999, the Pixel 8 Pro 128 GB received a price hike from its predecessor: the Pixel 7 Pro, and now costs the same as the iPhone 15 Pro. Google offers a 0% APR financing option on the smartphone through their official online store, and can be picked up for as low as $27.75 per month under a maximum 36-month contract. Additionally, Best Buy has a shorter maximum financing tenure of 24 months and buyers can expect to pay as low as $45.27 a month for the same.
Apple has stuck to its original launch price of $999 for the iPhone 15 Pro 128 GB, which is exactly what the 14 Pro sold for. Financing at the Apple Store starts from $41.62 for the base variant under a 24-month contract. Best Buy also offers financing under a 36-month contract which costs $27.78 a month with the caveat of customers having to choose between AT&T or Verizon.
Software Experience
When it comes to a refined user experience, future-proof technology, and a cohesive ecosystem, nobody does it better than Apple. Those who follow the tech realm closely will agree that Apple isn’t always the early adopter of modern advancement. They are known for their ability to hone existing features, integrate them into their devices, and create a well-knitted customer experience. The usability of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS has been under constant fine-tuning over the years, and they share a symbiotic relationship. Such nuances hold back users from switching to team Android once they experience the Apple side of things.
Google is not far behind either, leveraging its artificial intelligence capabilities to build a sophisticated camera system. The amalgamation of AI-accelerated software features and an overkill sensor/lens setup is a recipe for photographic excellence. Google’s vanilla Android is often regarded as the industry standard UI, primarily for its simplicity and customizability. Android allows users to tear down the UI and personalize it to their heart’s content, giving them more control over their devices. Google’s latest iteration of smartphones is promised to receive regular OTA software updates for the next 7 years, making them a viable option for those who hold on to their devices for a long time.
Hardware
Apple has a reputation for manufacturing premium devices, from MacBook Pros to iPhones. The 15 Pro rocks their updated in-house silicon: the A17 Pro, paired with 8GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. The SoC houses a 6-core CPU & GPU along with a 16-core Neural Engine for lightning-fast processing of complex machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
The device is fueled by a respectable 3274 mAh battery capable of fast charging to 50% in 30 minutes, with separately sold adapters of 20W or higher. The screen size of 6.1", resolution of 1179 x 2556 pixels, and refresh rate of 120Hz are identical to its predecessor: the iPhone 14 Pro.
Despite having Google’s fastest chipset: the Tensor G3, the Pixel 8 Pro pales in comparison with Apple’s counterpart and even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It tries to cover ground in the software department with Google’s robust generative AI, although other manufacturers aren’t far behind if not ahead of them. The smartphone does come with 4 extra gigabytes of RAM over the iPhone, a larger 6.7" OLED display, and a higher peak brightness of 2400 nits.
While Apple’s Face ID is known for its reliability and accuracy, the in-display optical fingerprint reader on the Pixel is quite the opposite. On the upside, the device packs a 5050 mAh battery and has similar charging speeds to the iPhone while being slightly faster in wireless charging.
Camera
Ever since the first Google phone debuted in October 2016, the Pixel lineup has been giving tough competition to the iPhone and Galaxy in the camera department. The Pixel 8 Pro follows in the footsteps of its predecessors and delivers a class-leading camera experience with no compromises. Packing a 50 MP 1/1.31″ main sensor, the smartphone captures stunningly detailed shots with great dynamic range, shallow depth-of-field, and improved low-light performance.
Google’s advanced AI technology shines in post-processing using the Magic Editor, which can move, re-size, and delete objects within a photo. Other features include Best Take, which combines multiple similar photos to fix accidental blinks and choose the best facial expression for a perfect shot.
Apple has the upper hand over Google in videography thanks to its flatter recording format known as Log and a lossless codec known as ProRes. Having a higher level of control over color grading, white balance, and dynamic range in post-processing sets the iPhone apart from the competition. The iPhone’s robust Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helps record a smooth and less jittery video, further enhancing the camera experience.
Cinematic mode lets users capture impressively stable footage even while jogging or running, albeit at a reduced 1080p 30fps. The ability to directly write large high-resolution media files onto a portable SSD at 10Gbps through a USB-C 3.0 cable serves as a massive advantage for professionals. The 12 MP f/1.9 front camera and all the sensors are nestled in the pill-shaped Dynamic Island.
Verdict
Apple has a reputation for optimizing its devices to the T and the latest pro iPhone is no exception. When designing applications for the App Store, developers need to follow strict guidelines enforced by Apple. This allows the company to control the user experience, leading to a successful marriage between hardware and software.
Google’s latest flagship packs a punch by cramming nifty AI tools, producing stunning images, and promising to push software updates for 7 years. However, Apple’s offering is just too good to overcome, with the iPhone 15 Pro being highly efficient under extensive workloads, and having the support of a refined and cohesive ecosystem of apps and devices.
The iPhone 15 Pro attracts users who want the best overall user experience and don’t mind shelling out a bit over $999. Power-user or not, everyone can appreciate Apple’s attempt at creating a well-rounded smartphone that can easily last 2–3 product generations until needing an upgrade.
FAQ
Q: Are Google Pixel photos better than iPhone?
In terms of still photography, the Pixel outperforms the iPhone as it retains more details in tricky lighting, offers more zooming capabilities, and provides manual control over professional settings such as shutter speed, ISO, etc. The front camera also has a wider field of view to pack more faces into the frame. In a nutshell, the Pixel has the upper hand over the iPhone in capturing amazing handheld static shots.
Q: Do Pixels last as long as iPhones?
Depending on the usage, Google Pixel phones can easily last 3–4 years or even more if the battery is replaced every 2–3 years. The latest Pixel is guaranteed to receive software updates for 7 years, and with smartphone technology producing diminishing returns every year, the Pixel 8 Pro promises to sustain itself in the long run.
