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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're someone who values photography, specifically high-quality stills and video capture, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max offers top-of-the-line camera performance. However, this phone comes at a premium price. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8, while still delivering good camera quality, is priced more midrange, making it a more budget-friendly option with slightly less camera performance. Both have high-refresh OLED screens, but the iPhone's screen is larger. For battery life, the iPhone edges out a bit longer than the Pixel. The iPhone 15 Pro Max runs iOS and the Pixel 8 runs Android, which could be a deciding factor depending on your ecosystem preference. Each phone supports 5G, has wireless charging, and offers a robust build with glass backs. The choice largely depends on how much you are willing to invest for additional camera quality and larger screen size against a more budget-conscious spend with still respectable performance. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Best in class for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Google Pixel 8
- The Google Pixel 8 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
10.0
8.4
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has best in class overall camera quality, while the Google Pixel 8 has very good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts the best camera capabilities in areas such as software experience, dynamic range, and low-light performance, and this translates to superior selfie quality compared to the Google Pixel 8, which still offers very good attributes in these respects. Although the Pixel 8's camera excels too, the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the lead with its slightly better scores in dynamic range, low-light performance, and selfie quality, making it the preferable choice for customers prioritizing top-notch photography and selfie experience.
Photo Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class photos, while the Google Pixel 8 takes very good photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max offers the best selfie quality, likely due to superior camera hardware and software tuning, making it an ideal choice for users who prioritize front-camera performance. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 also delivers excellent selfies but may fall slightly short in comparison, though it still offers a fantastic overall camera experience for those seeking a slightly more budget-friendly option.
Video Quality
10.0
7.6
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Google Pixel 8 takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max offers superior video capabilities including resolution, framerate, software experience, and stabilization, which are ranked as best, alongside best scores for dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality, making it the top choice for video recording.
Battery
9.8 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has 9.8 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel 8 has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Google Pixel 8 is 6.2 inches.
Cost
$1,100
$699
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a price of $1,100 and the Google Pixel 8 costs $699.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 8 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Google Pixel 8 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $699 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | October 12, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 428 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | TensorG3 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.8 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4441 mAh | 4575 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 18 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.3" x 3.02" | 5.93" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.80 oz | 6.60 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 7 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium | Rose, Hazel, Obsidian | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | September 2023
"The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerful flagship phone that delivers upgrade-worthy features, including a lighter and more compact titanium design, a bigger 5x zoom and a useful Action button. The A17 Pro chip is the fastest around and enables console-quality gameplay, while the battery lasts an epic 14 hours."
Google Pixel 8
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Dig into reviews and images
The Guardian
Samuel Gibbs | October 2023
"The fit, finish and feel is top notch. The phone is responsive and smooth. The battery life is decent. The main camera is excellent but the lack of an extended optical zoom is slightly disappointing, even if it has been a similar formula for Google for several years.
The 6.2in screen moves the Pixel 8 closer to the underserved market of smaller but top-end phones, of which there are only a handful to choose from. Google’s generative AI features are certainly novel, but it is the extended seven-year software support that truly sets it apart."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 8
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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