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iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10: Which Base Model Should You Buy?
The iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 both start at $799, but one wins on hardware while the other shines with AI. Here’s the breakdown to help you choose.
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Key Takeaways:
- Price and Features: iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 both start at $799, but differ in hardware, display quality, camera setup, and built-in AI tools.
- Design and Durability: iPhone 17 uses a lighter Ceramic Shield build with better water and scratch resistance, while Pixel 10 feels heavier and less resistant.
- Display and Video: Both feature 6.3-inch OLED panels, but iPhone 17 delivers sharper resolution, adaptive refresh rates, and Dolby Vision for streaming.
- Camera and Processing: Pixel 10 adds telephoto and ultra-wide lenses, while iPhone 17 leans on its A19 chip for steadier photos and Dolby Vision video.
- Performance and Storage: Pixel 10 includes more RAM, but iPhone 17 runs faster overall with the A19 chip, offering comparable storage tiers at identical pricing.
Every year, Apple and Google go head-to-head with their flagship phones and 2025 is no different. The iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 are here, both starting at $799. Apple doubled down on hardware, bringing Pro-exclusive features to the base iPhone, while Google leaned heavily into AI and smart photography.
If you’re deciding which one deserves a spot in your pocket, this detailed comparison highlights where each phone shines and where it falls short.
Quick Specs: iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10
| Spec | Google Pixel 10 | Apple iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Announced Aug 20, 2025 – Released Aug 28, 2025 | Announced Sep 9, 2025 – Exp. release Sep 19, 2025 |
| Dimensions | 152.8 × 72 × 8.6 mm | 149.6 × 71.5 × 8 mm |
| Weight | 204 g | 177 g |
| Build | Glass front & back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Ceramic Shield 2 front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 (6m for 30 min) |
| Display | 6.3″ OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 × 2424 (~422 ppi), 3000 nits peak | 6.3″ LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 1206 × 2622 (~460 ppi), 3000 nits peak |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (Mohs 4) | Ceramic Shield 2 (Mohs 5) |
| OS | Android 16, 7 major upgrades | iOS 26 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 (3nm) | Apple A19 (3nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.78 GHz X4 + 5×3.05 GHz A725 + 2×2.25 GHz A520) | Hexa-core (2×4.26 GHz + 4× efficiency cores) |
| GPU | PowerVR DXT-48-1536 | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB (UFS 3.1), 256GB (UFS 4.0) | 256GB, 512GB (NVMe) |
| Main Camera | Triple: 48MP wide + 10.8MP telephoto (5x zoom) + 13MP ultrawide | Dual: 48MP wide + 48MP ultrawide |
| Camera Features | Laser AF, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, Best Take | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, sensor-shift OIS |
| Video Recording | 4K up to 60fps, 1080p up to 240fps, 10-bit HDR | 4K up to 60fps, 1080p up to 240fps, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Selfie Camera | 10.5MP ultrawide, 4K video | 18MP wide + SL 3D sensor, 4K video, Dolby Vision |
| Biometrics | Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint | Face ID (3D facial recognition) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C 3.2 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C 2.0 (DisplayPort) |
| Extra Features | Circle to Search, Satellite SOS | UWB (gen2), Emergency SOS via satellite, Apple Pay |
| Battery | 4970 mAh, 30W wired (55% in 30 min), 15W wireless Qi2, reverse wired, bypass charging | 3692 mAh, 25W wired (50% in 20 min), 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless (50% in 30 min), reverse wired |
| Colors | Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, Obsidian | Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender |
| Price | From $799 / €761 / ₹69,500 | From £799 / €949 |
Design and Build
The Pixel 10 feels solid at 204g, but the iPhone 17 is noticeably lighter at 177g and a bit slimmer in hand. Both use aluminum frames with glass backs, though Apple adds its tougher Ceramic Shield 2 on the front: rated harder than the Pixel’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Durability is another split. The Pixel 10 carries IP68 certification but only for 1.5m submersion. The iPhone 17 is rated for 6m, giving you more peace of mind if it takes a plunge.
In short, the Pixel 10 feels sturdy, but the iPhone 17 is lighter, more comfortable to hold, and better protected against scratches and water.
Display Experience
Both phones give you a 6.3-inch OLED that’s bright at 3000 nits and smooth at 120Hz. That’s where the similarities end.
The iPhone 17’s LTPO panel can shift refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz. It slows down on static screens to save battery and ramps up instantly for games or fast swipes. The Pixel 10 stays fixed at 120Hz, so while it looks smooth, it burns through more power when nothing’s moving.
Apple also packs in more pixels: 2622 × 1206 (~460 ppi) versus the Pixel’s 1080 × 2424 (~422 ppi). The difference shows in small text and fine details, where the iPhone looks sharper.
For video, the Pixel supports HDR10+, but the iPhone adds Dolby Vision, the format used by Netflix and Apple TV+. If you watch a lot of streaming content, Apple’s screen simply looks richer.
In short: the Pixel 10’s display is solid, but the iPhone 17 is sharper, smarter with refresh rates, and better for movies.
Cameras
Google arms the Pixel 10 with a triple setup: a 48MP main, 10.8MP telephoto with 5x zoom, and 13MP ultrawide. Apple keeps it simpler with dual 48MP sensors, wide and ultrawide. On paper, the Pixel clearly has more versatility, especially with the dedicated telephoto lens and features like Pixel Shift, Ultra HDR, and Best Take for fixing group shots.
Apple’s strength is in processing. The iPhone 17 leans on its larger sensors, sensor-shift OIS, and Dolby Vision HDR to deliver more consistent photos and video, even if it lacks the extra lens. It also records Dolby Vision video at up to 4K 60fps, something the Pixel can’t match.
Selfies follow the same trend. The Pixel has a 10.5MP ultrawide that fits more in the frame. The iPhone 17 uses an 18MP wide sensor paired with a 3D depth camera, which not only gives sharper selfies but also powers secure Face ID.
In short: If you want flexibility and zoom, the Pixel 10 offers more tools. If you care about video quality and consistency across shots, the iPhone 17 holds the edge.
Performance
The Pixel 10 runs on Google’s Tensor G5 chip with 12GB RAM, while the iPhone 17 uses Apple’s new A19 with 8GB RAM. On paper, the Pixel has more memory, but Apple’s silicon is faster and more efficient. The A19’s hexa-core CPU runs at higher clock speeds and pairs tightly with iOS 26, giving the iPhone smoother app launches and better sustained performance.
Graphics are another split. The Pixel relies on a PowerVR GPU, capable but tuned for efficiency. Apple’s 5-core GPU consistently delivers stronger gaming and video editing performance, and it’s backed by tighter integration with Metal-optimized apps.
Storage speeds matter too. The Pixel starts at 128GB with UFS 3.1 and 256GB with UFS 4.0. The iPhone skips 128GB and instead uses faster NVMe storage in 256GB and 512GB tiers. The best part is that the iPhone 17’s 256GB variant costs the same as the Pixel 10’s 128GB.
In short: Apple takes a massive lead in performance and also offers more storage space for the same price.
Battery and Charging
The Pixel 10 packs a bigger 4970 mAh battery, and it shows. With 30W wired charging, you get about 55% in 30 minutes, plus 15W Qi2 wireless and even reverse wired charging. Google also adds a neat bypass charging mode to protect the battery during gaming.
The iPhone 17 runs smaller at 3692 mAh, but Apple balances it with software and the new A19 chip. Wired charging jumps to 25W, finally quicker than last year, and MagSafe/Qi2 wireless can also hit 25W, filling 50% in about 30 minutes. It also supports reverse wired charging, but no bypass mode like the Pixel.
In practice, the Pixel 10 lasts longer on a single charge and gives you more charging options. The iPhone 17 charges faster wirelessly and holds up well thanks to efficiency, but if all-day endurance is your priority, the Pixel has the edge.
In short: While the iPhone is generally more efficient with battery life, the Pixel’s larger battery alone can push it past the iPhone.
AI, Software, and Updates
This is where Pixel completely destroys iPhone. Google and therefore Pixel are software focused and it shows. The phone feels like it was built around the software and it’s new AI features. Google Gemini is more powerful than Siri and powers many features like Circle to Search, live translations as you scroll, email digests pulled straight from Gmail, photo editing with Magic Editor and Eraser, call screening, and even real-time camera smarts like Camera Coach.
Comparatively, Apple Intelligence is very basic. You get system-wide text tools, smarter photo edits, and Siri upgrades, but even now, Siri struggles with follow-up questions that Gemini breezes through. Apple Intelligence also leans on third-party help, like tapping ChatGPT for answers, which makes it feel more like a patch than a reinvention.
Both Apple and Google also went on a design overhaul this year. While the design is very subjective, we found better experience with Google’s Material 3 Expressive over the Apple’s Liquid Glass design. Everything is clearly visible and also the UI feels more fun compared to Apple’s premium glass elements.
Updates are solid on both sides. Google now promises seven years of major Android upgrades, while Apple doesn’t state numbers but has a proven track record of keeping iPhones updated for six to seven years or longer.
In short: If AI is the reason you upgrade, the Pixel 10 is the obvious pick. It feels alive with Gemini baked in everywhere, while the iPhone 17 is just getting started.
Price and Availability
The Pixel 10 was announced on August 20, 2025, and released on August 28. It starts at $799 for the 128 GB base model, with a 256 GB option priced higher.
The iPhone 17 followed on September 9, 2025, with pre-orders from September 12 and release on September 19. Apple also starts at $799, but that gets you 256 GB of storage. The 512 GB version costs $999.
In short: both flagships share the same $799 entry point in the US, but Apple offers double the storage at that price, while Google gives you the cheaper 128 GB entry tier.
Final Verdict: iPhone 17 or Pixel 10?
If you’re deep into Apple’s ecosystem and love light, sleek phones, the iPhone 17 is your best bet. It’s reliable, refined, and future-proof with iOS support. If you want hardware value and cutting-edge AI today, the Pixel 10 is the phone to beat. It’s heavier but smarter, with better cameras, bigger battery, and more daring features.
Related articles worth reading:
- iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone Air: Choosing Between Might and Light
- iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Which Ultra-Thin Flagship Wins
- iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: The Biggest Upgrade Apple Made This Year
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Ravi Teja KNTS
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