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We’ve already compared several Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 series smartphones, and the time has come to compare the Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro. The Pixel 6 is closer to the size of the iPhone 13 Pro than the Pixel 6 Pro, while both smartphones also have flat displays. Do note that the Pixel 6 is a considerably more affordable device here, in comparison. It costs around $400 less, so take that into consideration.
First, we’ll list out the specs of both smartphones, and will then move to a number of other categories. Those categories are: design, display, performance, battery, cameras, and audio. We’ll try to help you choose the better phone for you, as both of these devices are quite compelling, but also quite different. That being said, let’s kick off the Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro comparison.
Specs
| Google Pixel 6 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | |
| Screen size | 6.4-inch fullHD+ AMOLED flat display (90Hz) | 6.1-inch fullHD+ Super Retina XDR OLED display (120Hz refresh rate, LTPO) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2532 x 1170 |
| SoC | Google Tensor | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB, non-expandable | 128GB/256GB/512GB, non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 26mm lens, omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, Laser AF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 114-degree FoV) |
12MP (f/1.5 aperture, 26mm wide-angle lens, 1.9um pixel size, sensor-shit OIS, dual pixel PDAF) 12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 13mm lens, PDAF) 12MP (f/2.8 aperture, PDAF, OIS, 77mm lens, 3x optical zoom) TOF 3D LiDAR scanner |
| Front cameras | 8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.12um pixel size) | 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 23mm wide-angle lens) |
| Battery | 4,614mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, 21W wireless charging | 3,095mAh, non-removable, 20W wired charging, 15W MagSafe wireless charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm |
| Weight | 207 grams | 204 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | Advanced facial scanning |
| OS | Android 12 | iOS 15 |
| Price | $599 | $999 |
| Buy | Apple |
Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Design
The moment you lay your eyes on these two phones you’ll see considerable design differences. The Pixel 6 is more square-shaped than the iPhone 13 Pro. On top of that, it has a centered display camera hole, which is much less intrusive than the notch on the iPhone 13 Pro. That notch is narrower and taller than the one on the iPhone 12 Pro, but it’s still quite an eyesore. The iPhone 13 Pro has uniform bezels, if you ignore the note, while the Pixel 6’s bottom bezel is a bit thicker than the rest.
Both smartphones are made out of metal and glass. The Pixel 6 combines its aluminum frame with a glass back, while the iPhone 13 Pro has a stainless steel frame and a glass back. Both phones have flat displays, while their back sides are even more different than their front sides. The Pixel 6 has a huge camera strip on the back, which goes from one side of the phone to the other. The iPhone 13 Pro, on the other hand, has a much more regular-looking camera setup in the top-left corner.
The iPhone 13 Pro’s back side is flatter than the Pixel 6’s, that’s for sure. The sides on the iPhone 13 Pro, and that includes the top and bottom as well, are flat, which is not the case on the Pixel 6. That makes the iPhone 13 Pro a bit less comfortable to hold, in addition to its weight, of course. The Pixel 6 weighs 207 grams, while the iPhone 13 Pro is a bit lighter at 204 grams. Still, considering the size of its display, it should be a bit lighter, but that stainless steel frame adds to its weight. If you like heftier phones, you’ll be right at home with these two. Do note that both phones are quite slippery, though.
Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Display
The Google Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display. That display is flat, and it offers a 90Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR10+ content, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus. We’re looking at a 20:9 display aspect ratio here. The iPhone 13 Pro, on the other hand, includes a 6.1-inch 2532 x 1170 Super Retina XDR OLED display. That display is also flat, and it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, while it supports HDR10 content. It gets quite bright at 1,200 nits peak brightness, and it offers a display aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It’s protected by scratch-resistant ceramic glass.
As you can see, the iPhone 13 Pro’s display does look better on paper, though that difference won’t be noticeable to everyone. The Pixel 6’s 90Hz refresh rate is more than enough to keep everything smooth, especially while scrolling, and the difference in smoothness is not huge, though it is noticeable. The iPhone 13 Pro’s display also seems a bit more color accurate, while viewing angles are excellent on both smartphones.
Both of these displays offer vivid colors, and deep blacks, as you’d expect. Based on what we’ve seen on other examples, though, the Gorilla Glass Victus handles scratches better than the protection Apple uses. Using a screen protector may not be a bad idea regardless.
Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Performance
Both of these phones are technically flagship-grade devices. Both of them include powerful internals, and in collaboration with their software builds, that does translate into great performance. The Pixel 6 is fueled by the Google Tensor processor, Google’s very first chip. The iPhone 13 Pro, on the flip side, comes with Apple’s A15 Bionic processor. Both of those chips are 5nm processors.
In addition to that, both Google and Apple included plenty of RAM into the two devices, and other powerful specs. Both smartphones fly through everything you throw at them, basically. Regular, everyday tasks are easy for both phones, while they handle gaming like champs as well. You won’t face any lag on either phone, the worst you can expect is an occasional stutter, but that probably won’t be a part of the picture either. These are some of the smoothest smartphones in the market, their performance is top notch, regardless of what you do with them. Processor-intensive tasks are not a problem either, regardless of whether you’re gaming, video editing, or doing something else entirely.
Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Battery
The Pixel 6 includes a 4,614mAh battery, while the iPhone 13 Pro comes with a 3,095mAh unit. The difference in battery capacity is obvious, though that is not something that should concern you. Apple’s iPhones handle battery life differently, not to mention that the iPhone 13 Pro has a smaller display. In fact, both of these smartphones deliver excellent battery life, to say the least, some of the best we’ve seen this year.
The experience with the Pixel 6 varies, though, as far as we’ve seen. We’ve had a great experience with it, as it was able to cross the 6-7-hour screen-on-time mark for us a number of times, without a problem. The iPhone 13 Pro is not far from that either, it just keeps on going. It’s not exactly on the same level as its sibling, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but it offers admirable battery life. One thing is for sure, battery life shouldn’t concern you here, and that goes for both phones.
When it comes to charging, both offer fast wired and wireless charging. The Pixel 6 supports wired charging up to 21W, though it slows down after it hits 50%. It also supports wireless charging at 21W, and reverse wireless charging as well. The iPhone 13 Pro supports 23W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging with MagSafe chargers. Other Qi chargers can wireless charge it at up to 7.5W. Neither phone ships with a charger, by the way.
Google Pixel 6 vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Cameras
The Google Pixel 6 has two cameras on the back, while the iPhone 13 Pro has three. The Pixel 6 lacks a telephoto unit, while both phones have wide and ultrawide cameras. These two handsets have some of the best cameras available in the market, though. The Pixel 6 is regarded as the best smartphone for pictures, while the iPhone 13 Pro is considered to be the best video smartphone. Is that true? Well, it may as well be.
Many smartphones have really great cameras these days, but there’s no doubt these two are amongst the best. Pictures end up great in all lighting conditions, basically. The Pixel 6 offers that recognizable image look that we’re used to, with boosted sharpness, and great dynamic range. The iPhone 13 Pro’s images are slightly less flashy, but excellent nonetheless. Both phones do a great job in low light, but the Pixel 6 does allow for more light to enter such images.
The Pixel 6 can shoot great video, but it’s arguably a level below what the iPhone 13 Pro can do. Some people would probably disagree, as they’re both truly excellent in that regard. The Pixel 6 is a huge boost over its predecessor when it comes to video quality, that’s for sure. Both phones shoot good-looking selfies, some of the best out there. All in all, they’re both great camera smartphones.
Audio
In terms of audio, you’re getting stereo speakers on both devices. In fact, those speakers are quite good on both of these smartphones. Truth be said, they’re not the best we’ve seen, but not many people will have complaints. The sound gets quite loud, and the distortion is only noticeable at the very highest of volumes. The vocals are clear, and both sets of speakers do offer some bass as well. They’re well-balanced.
There is no 3.5mm headphone jack on either phone, but you can always utilize the Type-C port, or a Bluetooth connection. Presuming your headphones are good, the sound will be good as well. Neither of these two phones is made for audiophiles, very few phones are, but they do the job, and do it quite well.