Pixel 3 XL vs. iPhone XS Max: Which plus-sized flagship reigns supreme?

The Google Pixel 3 XL is finally here, boasting top-tier specs, a modern design, and a pure Google Android experience. But the Pixel 3 XL isn’t the only plus-sized flagship phone to be released in the past few months — Apple recently unveiled the, iPhone XL Max one of the most powerful iPhone devices ever made, and certainly the most expensive.

Which phone is better for you? Deciding between the two can be tough, which is why we pit the Pixel 3 XL versus iPhone XS Max in a head-to-head specs comparison to find out which is best.

SPECS:

	Google Pixel 3 XL	Apple iPhone XS Max
Size	158 x 76.6 x 7.9 mm (6.22 x 3.02 x 0.31 inches)	157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches)
Weight	184 grams (6.49oz)	208 grams (7.34oz)
Screen Size	6.3-inch P-OLED	6.5-inch OLED
Screen Resolution	2,960 x 1,440 (523 pixels-per-inch)	2,688 x 1,242 (458 pixels-per-inch)
Operating System	Android 9.0 Pie	iOS 12
Storage Space	64GB, 128GB	64GB, 256GB, 512GB
Micro SD Card Slot	No	No
Tap to Pay Services	Google Play	Apple Play
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845	Apple A12 Bionic
RAM	4GB	4GB
Camera	12.2MP rear, dual 8MP + 8MP front	Dual 12MP + 12MP telephoto rear, 7MP front
Video	4K at 30 frames per second, 1,080p at 120fps, 720p at 240fps	4K at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240fps
Bluetooth Version	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0
Ports	USB Type-C	Lightning
Fingerprint sensor	Yes	No
Water resistance	IPX8	IP68
Battery	3,430mAh	3,174mAh
App Marketplace	Google Play Store	Apple App Store
Network support	T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint	T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
Colors	Just Black, Not Pink, Clearly White	Silver, Space Gray, Gold
Price	RS 83,000+	RS 99,900+
Review Score	4 out of 5 stars	4 out of 5 stars

PERFORMANCE, BATTERY LIFE, AND CHARGING

Both the Google Pixel 3 XL and the Apple iPhone XS Max are top-tier flagship phones, but that doesn’t mean they have the exact same performance. While the Google Pixel 3 XL features Qualcomm’s latest chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 coupled with 4GB of RAM, the iPhone boasts Apple’s A12 Bionic — which is hailed as perhaps the most powerful mobile chip ever made — and is also backed by 4GB of RAM.

Because it can be hard to compare the two, we’re going to have to resort to benchmarks, and they’re pretty revealing. While the Apple iPhone XS Max offers a Geekbench score of a massive 4,794 single-core, and 11,123 multi-core, the Google Pixel 3 XL offers a single-core score of 2,426 and a multi-core score of 8,355, which is decidedly lower than the iPhone’s score. Safe to say, the iPhone simply outperforms the Google Pixel 3 XL, though that’s not to say you’ll run into performance problems on Google’s phone.

When it comes to battery life, the Pixel 3 XL has a 3,430mAh battery while the iPhone XS Max makes do with a 3,174mAh battery. It’s a marginal difference, and we expect both phones to need daily charging. Both devices offer a number of charging options, including wireless charging via the Qi standard and fast charging, but Google includes its fast-charging cable and adapter in the box, whereas you’ll need to spend a good deal of money with Apple to fast charge.

There’s no way around this one — the iPhone XS Max performs better than the Pixel. It’s the winner here.

Winner: Apple iPhone XS Max