Introduction
Tenth generation versus the first of its kind - the iPhone 7 versus the Google Pixel, in their Plus-size versions (or XL in Google terms).
There have been phones by Google, you may argue, but no Nexus has been the epitome of what an Android smartphone should be quite the same way that the Pixel is. Even though thats exactly what we were told for years. Well, now we know that Nexuses were for devs and geeks, and Pixels are for users.
But going for the ultimate user experience is not the only way in which the Pixel resembles the iPhone, not at all. Googles latest has the iPhone 7 so well centered in its crosshairs that it matches its pricing to the dollar across sizes, storage options and markets. A premium price for a premium device - thats the message.
With that premise, figuring out which one gives you a better value for your har d-earned cash (not an insignificant amount of it, too), comes down simply to which is the better phone. Looking at the specsheets alone, a few key differences emerge.
Apple iPhone 7 Plus at a glance
- 5.5" 16M-color LED-backlit IPS LCD screen of 1080p resolution, 401ppi, wide color gamut, 3D Touch tech
- Quad-core (2+2) 64-bit Apple CPU, hexa-core GPU, 3GB of RAM, Apple A10 Fusion SoC
- Dual 12MP camera: wide-angle F/1.8 + telephoto F/2.8, easy switch and live bokeh effects, optical image stabilization, quad-LED flash, phase detection auto focus, wide color capture, face and body detection; 2160p@30fps video recording
- 7MP F/2.2 front-facing camera with BSI sensor and HDR mode, 1080p@30fps video
- Water-proof metal unibody with redesigned, less-obtrusive antenna strips
- Pressure-sensitive Home key powered by a brand new Taptic Engine
- Comes in 32, 128, and 256GB of built-in storage
- Second-gen Touch ID fingerprint sensor
- 4G LTE Cat.9 (600Mbps); Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.2; Lightning port; GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS; NFC (Apple Pay only)
- 2,900mAh battery
Google Pixel XL at a glance
- 5.5" AMOLED screen of QHD resolution, 534ppi, 100% NTSC; 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4
- Quad-core Kryo processor, Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB of RAM, Snapdragon 821 chipset
- Google-loaded Android 7.1 Nougat; 2 years of OS upgrades from launch, 3 years of security updates
- 12.3MP camera, f/2.0 lens, 1.55µm pixels, Phase and Laser AF, dual-LED, dual-tone flash; 2160p and 1080p @ 30/60/120fps video capture
- 8MP selfie camera, f/2.4 lens, 1.4µm pixels; 1080p video capture
- Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (glass window on the back); splash and dust resistant (IP53)
- Come s with 32GB or 128GB of built-in storage, no expansion
- Fingerprint reader, Android Pay
- LTE Cat 9 or 11 (450Mbps or 600Mbps downlink, 50/75Mbps uplink); Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2 (A2DP, LE), GPS + GLONASS, NFC
- 3,450mAh battery; Fast charging over USB Type-C
A few key differences are immediately notable, so lets start with those.
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This wont be your usual battle of flagships here. We wont be dissecting the two smartphones chapter by chapter like weve done in the past. Instead well focus on the key stuff - display, battery, and camera. And since Google Assistant is among the Pixels major selling points, well touch on how it fares against Siri. But not before we share some thoughts on the controversial topics of des ign and appeal.
Hey, check out the new Pixel I just got!
The new what?
Replace Pixel with iPhone though, and the number of blank stares will be zero. Brand recognition is a big part of a smartphones appeal and the 10 years of iPhones have built up a brand of colossal proportions.
Not so with the Pixel, which breaks all ties with the established Nexus name and starts from scratch. Everyone knows Google though, and the search giant is smartly playing Phone by Google marketing card. So, really, that initial puzzled reaction will be a thing of the past before we know it.
The iPhone 7 is a textbook case of iterative design - its the third year in a row that Apples smartphone looks that way with the major overhaul perhaps planned for the 10-year anniversary edition in 2017 - generation 11. Third times the charm though - better masked antenna lines and the return of the color Black (plus a brand new Jet Black finish) make this easily the best-looking of the large screened iPhone generations.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. iPhone 6s Plus - spot the differences
How about that Pixel though? Well... In light of recent info that it was developed in a total of 9 months and uses a recycled HTC design, we can probably cut it some slack. But just because we understand, doesnt mean were letting it get away easily.
The overdesigned back panel strikes us as pretty odd. While the glass top third unquestionably adds persona lity to an otherwise pretty generic slab, we cant help but wonder if a similar effect could have been achieved in a more appealing way. Apparently not in time to meet the deadline.
Google Pixel XLs back isnt exactly a head turner
The front isnt exactly a stunner either. Jay Lenos chin may have become the comedians trademark, but we dont see the same happening to the Pixels bottom bezel. Symmetry, they say, is why the device has been graced with it, and thats perhaps the reason why the proximity/ambient sensor assembly has been located under the earpiece. The front camera didnt submit to such considerations, though.
< img src="http://ift.tt/2erBLXF" height="162" alt="Bezels rule the front - iPhone 7 Plus vs. Pixel XL" /> 
Bezels rule the front
Thats not to say that the iPhone 7 Plus or any of its two predecessors are leading in any screen-to-body ratio charts. On the contrary, its a prime example of a device whose overall dimensions make a promise its display size cant keep. The 6.4-inch recent dream-come-true of a phone Xiaomi Mi Mix is only marginally larger than the iPhone 7 Plus (we are talking less than a millimeter of height and 4mm on the sides). Just saying.
iPhone 7 Plus isnt very slim either
All in all, the Pixel is 3.5mm shorter than the iPhone, but is 2.4mm narrower - arguably a lot more important to usability. The Pixel is 1.2mm thicker, though, and it is a tangible difference for those that leave their phones without cases. Protection or not, the iPhone 7 Plus 188g feel like a ton more than the Pixels 168g.
Where the Phone by Google falls short is ingress protection. The Pixel is certified to an IP53 rating and spraying water (IPx3) is not quite the same as immersion up to a meter (IPx7), which the iPhone is capable of withstanding. Dust-protected (IP5x Pixel XL) is also one level down from dust-tight (IP6x iPhone 7 Plus). We always like to reiterate that such protection is meant t o provide peace of mind and should not be tested to the limits.
On to the niggles. On the iPhone 7 Plus, the power button is positioned too high, and not in immediate reach of either the right thumb or the left forefinger. Just because its been so for three generations doesnt make it any more comfortable.
Not much better on the Pixel XL - the power button sits above the volume rocker, and its the volume rocker that your digits fall onto naturally. You could argue all day that you dont need the power button for unlocking as youd be using the fingerprint sensor on either device. How about locking them, though?
Power button way too high
Both phones are slippery on their own - the price to pay for the premium aluminum body, apparently. However, that should go to the list of non-issues for the majority of users slapping cases on.
The vast majority of flagship users are probably used to a mechanical home button with a fingerprint sensor embedded in it - both Apple and Samsung do it that way. So the Pixel with its rear mounted sensor might require some getting used to for those folks. On the other hand, if youre coming from last years Nexuses, youd feel right at home. Not mention that the Pixels sensor has a neat trick up its sleeve - it can pull that notification shade for you, which is otherwise pretty hard to reach, particularly on the XL.
Home button, sort of • Rear-mounted fingerprint reader
In any case, switching sides will require adjustment and compromise. Which is why the number of defectors is unlikely to be huge. We cant help but feel that the iPhone 7 Plus will remain the choice for anyone who wants to project status (unless youre in the States, where virtually anyone has one). The Pixel may look and feel as premium (former is debatable), it may cost as much and be worth every penny, but itll have a hard time matching the iPhones brand. If not now, maybe next year?
Design winner: iPhone 7 Plus. The third take on the same basic design is undoubtedly the most refined, and the name alone scores major points in the bragging rights department. The ugly Pixel duckling has every chance of maturing into a beautiful swan, hopefully, perhaps as soon as next generation.
Different kinds of flagship display
Both of them 5.5 inches in diagonal, the displays on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus and Google Pixel XL couldnt be any more different.
The iPhone 7 Plus sports a FullHD IPS LCD panel, perhaps for the last generation before a rumored transition to AMOLED. That means a 401ppi pixel density and a standard arrangement of equal number of red, green and blue subpixels per pixel.
The Pixel XL, on the other hand, like many a Nexus before it, relies on an AMOLED display. The Android realm requires big-name flagships to sport QHD resolution and the Pixel XL complies, making for a 534ppi pixel density, though with the caveat that it uses a diamond pixel arrangement, with half as many (though larger) red and blue subpixels as green ones.
In terms of brightness, the iPhone 7 Plus can go much higher than the XL in manual mode, and even more so in Auto. Theres no beating the Pixel XLs infinite contrast, but the iPhone does a really great job for an LCD panel. Apples phablet can also be as dim as 2.4nits, so it should be easier on your eyes in the dark, compared to the Pixels 6.7nits.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | ||
| 0.41 | 573 | 1398 | |
| 0.50 | 681 | 1362 | |
| 0 | 432 | ∞ | |
As for sunlight legibility, youd expect the Pixel to excel and it does indeed. With a sunlight contrast ratio of 4.164 its among the best in our all-time chart, right up there with the dead Galaxy Note7. The iPhone 7 Plus isnt quite up to the same standard, though it is one of the bestLCDs in this respect. That said, the smaller iPhone 7 fares markedly better under direct light.
Sunlight contrast ratio
- Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
4.615 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439 - OnePlus 3
4.424 - Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376 - HTC One A9
4.274 - Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247 - Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241 - Google Pixel XL
4.164 - ZTE Axon 7
4.154 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09 - Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019 - OnePlus X
3.983 - Oppo R7s
3.964 - Apple iPhone 7
3.964 - Huawei P9 Plus
3.956 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
3.918 - Samsung Galaxy C5
3.911 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.896 - Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895 - Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
3.879 - < span class="label">Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
3.873 - Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859 - Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817 - Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802 - LG V20 Max auto
3.798 - Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798 - Sony Xperia XZ
3.795 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789 - Apple iPhone 6s
3.783 - Meizu Pro 5
3.781 - Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756 - Oppo F1 Plus
3.709 - Vivo X5Pro
3.706 - Sony Xperia X Compact
3.694 - Apple iPhone SE
3.681 - Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679 - Meizu PRO 6
3.659 - BlackBerry Priv
3.645 - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588 - Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523 - Acer Jade Primo
3.521 - Microsoft Lumia 950
3.512 - Oppo R7 Plus
3.499 - nubia Z11
3.466 - Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422 - Meizu MX5
3.416 - LG V20
3.402 - Oppo R7
3.32 - Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276 - Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235 - Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234 - Motorola Moto X Play
3.222 - Huawei P9< /span>
3.195 - Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113 - Motorola Moto X Force
3.105 - LG Nexus 5X
3.092 - Huawei Mate S
3.073 - Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065 - Sony Xperia X
2.989 - Samsung Galaxy Note
2.97 - Huawei Mate 8
2.949 - Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913 - Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906 - LG G5
2.905 - HTC One S
2.901 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884 - Sony Xperia Z5
2.876 - Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851 - Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803 - Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784 - LG V10
2.744 - Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735 - Sony Xperia M5
2.69 - Huawei P9 Lite
2.679 - Vivo V3Max
2.659 - Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641 - Sony Xperia XA
2.609 - Xiaomi Mi 4c
2.574 - LeEco Le Max 2
2.567 - Microsoft Lumia 640
2.563 - Lenovo Moto G4
2.544 - Oppo F1
2.528 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2.525 - Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
2.506 - Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503 - Oppo F1s
2.481 - Motorola Moto G
2.477 - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
2.473 - Huawei G8
2.471 - Huawei nova
2.467 - Sony Xperia Z
2.462 - Lenovo Vibe K5
2.459 - Huawei Honor 7
2.406 - Sony Xperia E5
2.386 - ZUK Z1 by Lenovo
2.382 - HTC 10
2.378 - Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
2.378 - Huawei nova plus
2.329 - HTC One E9+
2.305 - Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272 - Apple iPhone 4S
2.269 - Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
2.254 - Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
2.253 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
2.249 - Sony Xperia C4 Dual
2.235 - Xiaomi Mi Note
2.234 - Motorola Moto G (2014)
2.233 - LG Nexus 5
2.228 - Huawei P8
2.196 - Huawei Honor 6
2.169 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
2.166 - OnePlus Two
2.165 - HTC One X
2.158 - LG Aka
2.145 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
2.145 - Archos 50 Diamond
2.134 - Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119 - Xiaomi Mi 4S
2.095 - Acer Liquid X2
2.084 - Huawei P8lite
2.078 - Moto G 3rd gen max manual
2.026 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1.996 - Sony Xperia E4g
1.972 - OnePlus One
1.961 - Meizu m3 note
1.923 - BlackBerry Leap
1.892 - Meizu m2 note
1.892 - HTC Butterfly
1.873 - ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
1.759 - Sony Xperia U
1.758 - Asus Zenfone Selfie
1.68 - Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
1.675 - ZTE Nubia Z9
1.659 - Jolla Jolla
1.605 - Motorola Moto E
1.545 - Sony Xperia M
1.473 - Xiaomi Redmi 2
1.311 - HTC Desire C
1.3 - Sony Xperia C
1.283 - Meizu MX
1.221 - Sony Xperia E
1.215
Color reproduction is where the two devices differ immensely. The latest-gen iPhone is the single most accurate smartphone screen weve tested with an average DeltaE of 1.3 and a maximum DeltaE of 2.7. Compare that to the Pixel XLs average 5.4 and red way off with a DeltaE of 13. Thats in the default mode, though - from developer options you can enable an sRGB mode where average DeltaE drops to 2.6, still not as good as the iPhone. Whether color accuracy is vital on a mobile display, is a different matter, its just worth knowing that the iPhone 7 Plus is the leader in this respect.
Apple calls the display on the iPhone 7 Plus a Wide color gamut display, which is the companys way of saying it supports the DCI-P3 color space, 25% wider than the commonly adopted sRGB color space. That way the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus join the iPad Pro 9.7" and recent iMacs in supporting the DCI-P3 color space aiming for a standardized color reproduction across the entire product portfolio.
The Pixel XL doesnt bother with accuracy, but is big on VR. Launched alongside the smartphones, the Daydream View headset is the fanciest of them all - its designed with comfort and fashion in mind, comes in a variety of colors, and even has wireless controller to go with. Not to mention it will work with multiple phones and not just the Pixels. As for Apple - its at least a year until we see any efforts in this area, if at all.
Display winner: Pixel XL. AMOLED punch or sRGB accuracy, its your call. Add to that the higher resolution and VR support and this one is easily in the Pixels favor. The iPhones unparalleled color accuracy just isnt enough.
Battery life
The iPhone 7 Plus packs in a 2,900mAh battery, the largest on an iPhone to date. Meanwhile, the Pixel XL retains the 3,450mAh capacity of the Nexus 6P, though a year later the SoC should be more efficient, and the display is now a little smaller.
The iPhone 7 Plus scored a combined endurance rating of 75 hours in our proprietary test sequence, while the Pixel XLs result is 3 hours more. The numbers in the individual tests show a few principal differences though, and depending on your usage pattern, one phone may last you substantially longer than the other.
Take voice calls for example. The Pixel XL took more than 33 hours to deplete its battery in our 3G call test - thats some 85% longer than the iPhone 7 Plus.
With the display on, the two phones take one victory each in our two tests. The iPhone 7 Plus outlasts the Pixel XL by more than 4 hours in the Wi-Fi browsing discipline, while also beating the 6s Plus by an hour and a half. The Pixel XLs 9:20h endurance isnt disappointing, strictly speaking, but the iPhone 7 Plus is simply outstanding.
Not so in video playback, where the Pixel XL will be left playing for more than 3 hours after the iPhone 7 Plus has called it quits. Its not a calss-leading result, the 11 hours, but its more than enough, while the iPhone is somewhat underperforming in this respect.
The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case youre inter ested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones weve tested will compare under your own typical use.
Battery life winner: Tie. Depends on your usage patterns, obviously, but in summary the iPhone lasts longer in web browsing, while the Pixel excels at video playback and voice calls.
Siri vs. Assistant
The battle of the servants sees veteran Siri facing the newly appointed Google Assistant.
We know Google likes to keep the name of its services simple (Mail, Drive, Photos), but for a personal assistant they surely couldve come up with something a little more personal, no? Anyway, you wont be having all that intimate of a relationship with your phones AI, and you certainly dont want to go all Theodore and Samantha with it (you know, the movie Her).
And for all the personality Siri used to have, she (well...) sure has become a lot less eager to entertain. The internets full of screenshots with funny exchanges, some of them actually real, but that seems to be a thing of the past.
Ask Siri to tell you a joke and shed decline, insist and she will too. Remind her of her funnier self of old and shed dismiss it with a simple if you say so. Now that we think about it, we might actually need to go out more.
Siri is no longer fun to chat with
The Google Assistant is a bit more willing to try and make you laugh, but its mostly dad jokes and those are certainly an acquired taste.
Assistants not hilarious either, but at least its trying
Enough blabbering about the useless stuff, lets see if the assistants are actually good for anything. Theyll both set up an alarm for you, thats for sure, and theyll cancel it w illingly as well, only youd have to spell it out for them.
Alarm troubles
Theyll respond to general queries, replace the calculator for you and convert units and currencies - though clearly they have different sources for the latter, be advised. Isnt it just ironic though, that when you ask them both how much is an iPhone 7 in the UK, the Assistant will give you a link straight to the Apple UK site, while Siri will pull news articles from third parties?
Siri answers random stuff
And so does Assistant
We did the mandatory search for cat photos as well, only the two phones werent on a level field, as we had only actually taken photos of cats with the iPhone. Siri did, indeed, show us cat photos from the gallery first and we had to specifically ask her to search on the internet for more. From what we gather Assistant will also prioritize and show you your own photos on a given subject before searching online.
iPhone 7 Plus image search woes
Then again, we asked both for landscape photos, of which there are plenty on both devices and their linked accounts, yet the iPhone listed a thousand gallery photos with random stuff on them, while the Pixel only pulled images from the web. Oh, well.
Google Assistant struggling too
They both excel at telling you the weather, and its a conversation they can both sustain - how about somewhere else, switch to Fahrenheit, give forecast for different periods - you dont need to specifically watch your language for every follow-up question.
Both are experts on the weather
As we mentioned in the Pixel review, Ass istant may not be exceptional at keeping a proper conversation on restaurants and cuisine. That said, if you keep it simple, theyll both give you directions to a place they found in the previous step. Only if Siri asks you to confirm your location, and you just say yes shed forget what you were talking about. So much for conversation.
Lets eat
Siri doesnt seem to be a fan of YouTube, by the way. Tell Assistant to play a particular band on YouTube, and so it will. Tell Siri, and shed list Bing search results. Which are YouTube videos, obviously. Tap on one and itll open in a browser window, instead of the app. What is that about?
Assistant will take you straight to the YouTube app • Siri wouldnt
From our observations, Assistant tends to be more detailed, giving you more information than youve asked for. Which cant hurt. Siri, on the other hand is more to the point, while the way it presents its answers is undoubtedly superior from a design standpoint.
In the end, however, while both Siri an d Google Assistant can be counted on for speech recognition (with the Pixel having an upper hand with non-native speakers), its what they do with your words that is hit and miss. And if they give you what you want half the time, or even 80% of the time, youre so much better off actually typing your question in a search bar or navigating to the menu yourself - after all the phone is in your hand, most likely.
Personal assistant winner: Google Assistant, only just. Its a little better at understanding non-native speakers, and is somewhat more conversational. Siri wins points for presentation, but we needed a few double takes on occasion.
Still camera
Both the iPhone 7 Plus and the Pixel XL have 12MP cameras, so they must be the same, right? Well, of course not.
For starters, the iPhone 7 Plus has two of those. A couple of 12MP sensors on the back, the primary-er 1/3" mated to a 28mm-equiv . f/1.8 lens with OIS, the other one - a smaller 1/3.6" imager behind a longer but dimmer 56mm-equiv. f/2.8 lens (no OIS).
What that does for you is offer 2x zoom, sort of, sometimes. Sort of, because you can have 28mm wide-angle shots, or 56mm normal ones, while everything in between is digital zoom from the wide-angle camera.
And then sometimes, because when theres not enough light, and you still want the 2x zoom, the iPhone 7 Plus will use the wide-angle camera, digitally zoomed to the 56mm field of view (without warning you as is the Apple way). The Cupertino company apparently doesnt trust the combination of a smaller sensor with dimmer non-OIS optics.
The dual cameras are also whats enabled Apple to implement a Portrait mode, which applies a bokeh effect to the background, while keeping the subject in focus (most of it).
The Pixel XL does ot her tricks, though. It all starts with a large 1/2.3" sensor with 1.55 micron pixels (Xtra Large, if you will - dont know what wed do with this pun if this was the regular Pixel that has the same sensor). The lens is a 26mm-equiv. with an f/2.0 aperture - so, wider than the iPhones wide, only dimmer by a third of a stop.
Googles magic lies in the Pixels HDR+ capability. While conventional HDR practices rely on exposure bracketing that starts when you hit the shutter release, on the Pixel the camera is already capturing shots as soon as you open the app. Its keeping 9 of these at any given time, all of them with the same exposure geared towards keeping highlight details.
Once you hit the shutter release, the 9 images are stacked for eliminating noise and the Pixel XL is actually dramatically reducing it. The shadows may be underexposed, but they have true colo rs and they can be brightened up with tone mapping. Taking the photo is instant too - theres no delay once you tap on the shutter, as the 9 images have already been captured.
Thats what Google says is happening under the hood, but for all the magic (magic, math, same thing) the end result is superb. Sharp, detailed photos with great contrast and dynamic range, were quite impressed by the Pixels output, to put it mildly. Colors are punchy, theres no denying that real life isnt as vivid, and yet weve seen even more saturation in LGs recent cameraphones.
Camera samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Camera samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Camera samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
On the other hand, the iPhone is much more reserved in terms of color rendition straight of the camera. Per-pixel details isnt quite as high either - look at high-frequency details like foliage and youre bound to see the difference.
The Pixel XL itself has a complicated relationship with colors. The HDR+ auto mode doesnt just change exposure, it also dials up saturation a bit, and makes things slightly warmer, too. We dont see the average user complaining about this - in fact we believe its exactly what theyd want.
Camera samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Camera samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Camera samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode
The iPhone 7 Plus has another key feature that deserves a mention - Portrait mode. In theory, it takes data from both the wide and tele cameras and analyzes it to determine the subject. Once it does, it strives to leave only that in focus while blurring the background in an attempt to recreate a portrait lens ability to render smooth bokeh.
It works, and it doesnt. You stand a higher chance of success if youre facing the camera, as opposed to being at an angle. Beards against foliage doesnt work, and may end up losing parts of your face to bokeh. Stray hairs also tend to get lost.
That said, it does produce very pleasing res ults when it gets things right. Only dont sell your DSLR and fast portrait lenses just yet.
Oh, by the way, the iPhone 7 Plus is great in that it keeps the original photo, as captured by the sensor, alongside the one with portrait mode applied - You may often find yourself liking the original better. Same with HDR, now that we mention it.
iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode: On • Off • On • Off
HDR
The two phones take rather different approa ches to dealing with high dynamic range scenarios. In the first sample, the iPhone 7 has done a very subtle job of compressing the image and pulled a tiny bit of detail from the highlights, while also just slightly bringing out the shadows - more or less what youd expect an HDR mode to do, only very little of it.
iPhone 7 Plus: HDR off • HDR on
The Pixel is nowhere nearly as conservative, and recovers a lot more of the sky already in HDR+ Auto, though some portions of the tree trunks end up pitch black. But just because the iPhone chooses not to render the same areas black, doesnt mean theres discernible detail there. With HDR+ On the Pixels shot is nothing short of eye candy.
Pixel XL: HDR+ off • HDR+ auto • HDR+ on
The second example, admittedly quite extreme, produces some very odd results on both phones. The iPhone, for one, goes for an overall darker exposure for its HDR shot - okay, salvage those highlights, but do something about the shadows, please.
iPhone 7 Plus: HDR off • HDR on
The Pixel delivers more p redictable results in terms of exposure. With HDR+ in auto mode, we see a green color cast appear out of nowhere, and its not looking good. With HDR+ in the on position, the Phone by Google has recovered a lot of detail in the shadows, while also keeping noise these lower than in auto.
Pixel XL: HDR+ off • HDR+ auto • HDR+ on
Low light
In low light the image stacking gives the Pixel a significant advantage once again, allowing it to preserve a lot of fine detail and texture. That said, even with HDR+ disengaged, its images are sharper than the iPhone 7s, even at the expense of some more noise. T he iPhones insistence to shoot at ISO100 and low shutter speeds doesnt seem to give it an advantage and might cause issues with camera shake and motion blur (provided, of course, that it reports the EXIF data truthfully).
Camera samples, low light: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Camera samples, low light: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Panorama
The two smartphones shoot good panoramas, but we like the Pixels more. Theres a significant gap in resolution - the iPhones panoramas are about 4,000px tall, versus the Pixel XLs 2,500px. But in reality, the Pixels images have more detail and definition despite that. Look at the grass and trees and youll see what we are talking about.
Then theres the matter of colors. In the previous flagship comparison we noted the iPhone 7s muted output and a week doesnt change much. Sure, you could edit the image and pump up the saturation, but straight out of the camera app youre getting rather dull colors.
What were not particular fans of in the Pixels panorama mod e is the need to align the viewfinder to onscreen dots instead of just sweeping. Its not a deal breaker by any stretch, but its not quite as convenient.
Panorama sample: iPhone 7 Plus
Panorama sample: Google Pixel XL
Selfies
Theres a whole lot to love about the Pixel XLs front facing camera, while the iPhone 7 Plus is just okay. 8MP vs. 7MP doesnt sound like much, and it really isnt. What immediately makes a world of a difference, even before we start pixel peeping, is the coverage - the Pixel just gets a lot more in the frame.
The Pixels images are sharper with more detail, and truer colors, particula rly with HDR+ off. In auto it leans a little too much towards pink, but even so its definitely closer to reality than the yellowish iPhone representation - knowing the guy front of the camera, trust us, thats not his skin color.
Selfie samples, daylight: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Selfie samples, daylight, pt. 2: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
In low light, the iPhone 7 Plus just doesnt stand a chance, particularly when shooting with available light. Truth be told, the Pixel XL itself doesnt stand a chance against its own HDR+ shots either. The stacking has done a job so good its hard to believer and has preserved fine detail and colors in a very convincing way.
Selfie samples, low light: iPhone 7 Plus • Pixel XL HDR+ Auto • Pixel XL HDR+ off
Now, the iPhone 7 Plus does have a screen flash feature, which can help immensely in particularly dark settings. The Pixel sadly has no such option built-in, and this one goes in the iPhones favor.
Selfie samples, low light, pt. 2: iPhone 7 Plus screen flash off • iPhone 7 Plus screen flash on • Pixe l XL HDR+ Auto
For the more technically inclined among you, make sure you check out how the Pixels HDR+ Auto mode compares to its own HDR+ off and the iPhone 7 Plus in our test posters under controlled lighting.
Photo compare tool: Pixel XL HDR+ Auto * Pixel XL HDR+ Off * iPhone 7 Plus
Still images winner: Pixel XL. Detailed low-noise images with pleasing colors day and night, from both the primary and the selfie cameras.
Video camera
The iPhone 7 Plus and Pixel XL capture some of the best 4K video coming out of a smartphone. The Pixel tends to record a little more detail, but is a tiny bit noisier. Oddly, it is the iPhone that has the noticeably warmer output in video, with the Pixel remaining neutral - it was the other way around in stills.
Both smartphones record mono audio, which is at odds with their flagship status. Still, the iPhone did a somewhat better job with noise cancellation - some heavy winds in the following two videos shots side-by-side and the Pixel XL is noticeably noisier.
Stabilization
iPhones have been revered for their excellent electronic image stabilization, and the iPhone 7 Plus does indeed set the standard in this respect. The Pixel could have snatched the crown here as well though, as it does an equally good job of stabilizing both small vibrations and global movement. The issue is that it exhibits abrupt jolts every now and then as the processing catches up with reality. This will obviously vary with hand steadiness, walking style and subject matter, but we did observe it in our time with it.
Low light
In low light the videos from both phones get noisier, naturally, but the Pixel tends to hold on to detail noticeably better. Check out these videos shot at dusk.
As befitting a flagship, these two deliver excellent 2160p video footage, with the high levels of detail and very good stabilization when shooting handheld.
Video winner: Tie. The Pixel scores points for detail and color rendering, but the iPhones stabilization is superior, as is noise cancellation.
Final words
We hinted at it from the very beginning - we are not really here to pick a definitive winner - we wouldnt be able even if we wanted to. Those switching from one camp to the other are always going to amount to a very small number to be able to make a d ent in either ones sales, at least the way we see it. That said, its always curious to examine the state of the art of both platforms - a comparison made all the more interesting this year with Googles extended influence over the hardware side of things.
HTC-made, HTC-influenced, or HTC-designed - the Pixel XL is not stunning to look at, while the iPhone is more or less the same for a third year in a row, so neither is likely to win a beauty pageant. For one reason or another were not seeing Google being able to convince the fashion-obsessed to pick up a Pixel over an iPhone, at least not on the first try.
As for the measurable stuff, the Pixels display is sharper, but not as bright, better in direct sunlight, yet not as color-accurate - its all about which one ticks the boxes that matter to you. Same in battery life - voice call and video playback e ndurance go in Googles favor, the iPhone 7 Plus outlasts the Pixel XL in web browsing.
On to the camera department, and you couldnt have missed it - were raving about the Pixels image quality. In all circumstances you can count on the Pixel to produce great output - main or selfie cam, bright daylight, or low light, stills or video - its superb. Sure, the iPhone has a gerat camera (two of them actually), but with its muted colors, uninspiring low light performance, and odd HDR processing it just fails to stand up to the universally great Pixel.
We had a few chats with the assistants too - the Google one (for lack of actual name) and Siri. While they both are very good at voice recognition, neither is ready for prime time just yet. Simple requests they can handle with ease, but try to enter into a conversation, and you might regret not typing your query in the first place. Oh, well.
So in the end, other than the Pixel XLs exceptional camera, its hard to name an area where one contender has a great advantage over the other - if picking between these two is really a dilemma to anyone in the first place. If you are among the select few with an open mind and not too deeply invested into either platform you cant go wrong with either - just pick the one that has advantages better aligning to your needs.
! ( hope useful)
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