How Key Features of Google Pixel, Apple iPhone 7 Stack Up

As the fight for smartphone market share continues, we compare the latest handsets from Apple and Google and discuss the major similarities and differences between them.

The Pixel and iPhone 7 come with the latest versions of their creators’ mobile operating systems. On the iPhone side, users will find iOS 10, an operating system with enhanced Siri support, an improved Messages experience and rich notifications. The Google Pixel comes with Android’s Nougat, which also has improved notifications and a nice design. Both operating systems are widely viewed as substantial improvements over last year’s options.

The iPhone 7 and Google Pixel come with similar designs. Both devices are thin and have curved corners. However, the fingerprint sensor on the Pixel is on the back. On the iPhone 7, users will find the Touch ID sensor on the front below the screen. Both smartphones come with a metal body and mechanical buttons. Overall, both the iPhone 7 and Pixel are nice-looking handsets.

It’s important to draw some distinctions between screen size in the Pixel and iPhone 7. Apple’s smartphone comes in two flavors, featuring 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens. The Pixel also has a 5.5-inch version, but its base model has a slightly larger screen, measuring 5 inches. Google has been quick to point out that distinction in its attempt at appealing to consumers and enterprise users.

Apple’s iPhone 7 is available to just about anyone. The smartphone is supported by all four major carriers in the United States, and customers can buy the unlocked model to put it on the network of their choosing. Google, however, has formed an exclusive partnership with Verizon, which will sell the smartphone in its stores. But, for those who don’t want a Verizon-locked phone, Google is offering an unlocked version that can be used on other networks.

Google is offering free unlimited storage of photos and videos through its cloud-based servers. The move places the Pixel in stark contrast to the iPhone 7, which stores content locally. Users can also store their photos and videos in the cloud, but they need to pay a monthly fee for iCloud storage. Heavy picture-takers who want to save a little cash and storage, in other words, could benefit from owning a Pixel.

If customers want a headphone jack, they’ll need to buy the Google Pixel. In a move that surprised some, Apple shipped the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, and users need an adapter that connects through the smartphone’s Lightning port to use wired headphones. The Pixel, however, comes with a headphone jack, making it quite literally plug and play.

Software could prove to be a selling point for some customers. On the Google side, the Pixel offers support for the company’s virtual reality service Daydream, as well as its virtual personal assistant Google Assistant. Users will also find Chrome, YouTube and other Google apps built in. The iPhone 7 comes with several Apple apps, including Maps, iTunes, Apple Music and Podcasts, among several others.

Both Apple and Google stake claim to the best smartphone camera on the market. Apple’s iPhone 7 has a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization. The larger iPhone 7 Plus offers two cameras to suppose wide-angle and telephoto shots. The Pixel has a 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera and f/2.0 aperture for bright photos. Its large pixel support also works well in low-light conditions.

The Pixel comes with better battery life than the iPhone 7. According to Google, the smaller model can last for 26 hours of continuous cellular talk time and 13 hours of video playback. Those figures go up to 32 hours and 14 hours, respectively, on the larger version. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus can last for 14 hours and 21 hours, respectively, during continuous cellular talk time. Video playback lasts 13 hours on iPhone 7 and 14 hours on iPhone 7 Plus.

The Google Pixel and iPhone 7 start at the same price: $649. However, those who want a larger screen or more storage will pay a higher price on both models. The bigger Google Pixel with additional storage, for instance, goes for $869. Apple’s top-of-the-line 256GB iPhone 7 tops out at $969. For $869, iPhone 7 customers will get the same screen size and storage amount as the bigger Pixel.