Google Pixel Vs. iPhone 7 Specs Comparison: Google And Apple Smartphones Aim To Strengthen Android/iOS Ecosystems

By Fionna Agomuoh Published 10/05/16 EDT

Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are now official, and comparisons with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has already begun. Pundits are beginning to back up Google’s claim that the Pixel’s 12.3-megapixel camera is the best on the market, while reports indicate the iPhone has bested the Pixel in speed benchmarks .

With Pixel, Google has set out to build the Android equivalent to the iPhone, with all Google branding and proprietary features, most notably software and services such as Google Assisant, Allo, Duo and its Daydream VR protocol. However, the real aim may be for Google to draw users even further into Google’s ecosystem.

With Daydream in particular, it appears Google has plans to establish itself at the top of the virtual reality space. Daydream will be a feature of many upcoming Android smartphones. Google Assisant, Allo, Duo all have strong connections to Google Search, allowing users to access the engine without necessarily having to go to Google.com.

Meanwhile, it is well known that Apple aims to lock users into its ecosystem, and features on the iPhone 7, including its lack of an audio jack, can potentially lead to more sales for Apple. Users may need to invest more money on accessories to accompany the new design, making them less likely to consider a non-iOS device in the future.

Which company has the best chance of locking buyers in remains to be seen. For now, we can only really compare the Pixel and the iPhone 7 spec for spec. Check out how they look.

Display

Google Pixel: 5-inch, XL: 5.5-inch High-Definition AMOLED display
iPhone 7: 4.7-inch, Plus: 5.5-inch Retina HD Display

Processor

Google Pixel: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
iPhone 7: A10 Fusion

RAM

Google Pixel: 4GB
iPhone 7: 2GB, 3GB

Internal Storage

Google Pixel: 32GB, 128GB
iPhone 7: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB

Camera

Google Pixel: 12.3-megapixel camera, f/2.0 aperture, smartburst, HDR Plus and video stabilization, (front) 8-megapixel
iPhone 7: 12-megapixel, f/1.8 aperture, dual lens (Plus), burst mode, 4K video, (front) 7-megapixel

Battery

Google Pixel: 2,770mAh, XL: 3,450mAh
iPhone 7: 1,960mAh, Plus: 2,900mAh

Charging

Google Pixel: Quick Charge
iPhone 7: None

Power

Google Pixel: USB Type-C
iPhone 7: Lightning port

OS

Google Pixel: Android Nougat
iPhone 7: iOS 10

Resistance

Google Pixel: IP53
iPhone 7: IP67

Special Sensor

Google Pixel: Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensor
iPhone 7: 3D Touch, Touch ID

Color

Google Pixel: Quick Black, Very Silver, Really Blue
iPhone 7: Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black, Jet Black

Price

Google Pixel: starting at $649 or $27 per month on Google Fi
iPhone 7: starting at $649 or $32.41 per month on iPhone Upgrade Program; Plus: starting at $769 or $37.41 on iPhone Upgrade Program