Pixel 10 vs iPhone 15
The Pixel 10 and the iPhone 15 are two different answers to the same flagship smartphone brief, each with its own set of priorities. The Pixel 10 has the edge in 3 of the 5 areas we looked at, most visibly in the display category.
At a glance
- Display Pixel 10 wins
- Performance Pixel 10 wins
- Memory & Storage iPhone 15 wins
- Camera Pixel 10 wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price Tie
- Display6.1
- Memory & Storage1.3
- Camera2.3
- Display2.6
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Pixel 10 has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
A clear win for the Pixel 10: 120 Hz against 60 Hz. Few specs in this matchup are as one-sided. A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
-
The iPhone 15 has a 1.16 oz lighter build
Here the iPhone 15 pulls well ahead of the Pixel 10, with 6.03 oz compared to 7.20 oz. A few grams won’t matter, but bigger gaps add up in a pocket or a small bag over a full day.
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The Pixel 10 has 50% higher peak brightness
The Pixel 10 doesn’t just edge this one; 3,000 nits against 2,000 nits is a lead you’ll feel. If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the Pixel 10’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
-
The Pixel 10 has an extra rear camera
Big gap, real consequences. The Pixel 10’s 3 versus the iPhone 15’s 2 changes how the two compare in daily use. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
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The iPhone 15 has a bigger top storage option
The Pixel 10 is clearly behind on max storage (256 GB against 512 GB), and that’s one of its biggest weak spots in this matchup. Heavy video shooters and people with large offline libraries benefit from the iPhone 15’s bigger maximum.
Design & Size
- Pixel 10 6.02 in × 2.83 in × 0.34 in
- iPhone 15 5.81 in × 2.82 in × 0.31 in
By the manufacturer’s measurements, the iPhone 15 is the more compact phone, and the Pixel 10 the larger one. The iPhone 15 is 1.16 oz lighter, making the Pixel 10 the heftier of the two. In profile, the iPhone 15 is the slimmer of the two by 0.03 in.
Design & Build
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.02 in | 5.81 in |
| Width | 2.83 in | 2.82 in |
| Thickness | 0.34 in | 0.31 in (winner) |
| Weight | 7.20 oz | 6.03 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
Pixel 10 leads
For display, the verdict is easy: the Pixel 10 leads, and not by a little. The Pixel 10 brings a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power. Point to the iPhone 15 for 9% sharper pixel density. So if display tops your list, lean toward the Pixel 10.
Refresh rate
Pixel 10: 120 Hz iPhone 15: 60 Hz You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the Pixel 10 feels more fluid in everyday use.
Peak brightness
Pixel 10: 3,000 nits iPhone 15: 2,000 nits Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
Performance
Pixel 10 leads
The Pixel 10 has the slight upper hand on performance. The Pixel 10 has the edge with a newer 3 nm chip process. Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict. That makes the Pixel 10 the natural choice for buyers focused on performance.
Process node
Pixel 10: 3 nm iPhone 15: 4 nm A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life.
CPU cores
Pixel 10: 8 iPhone 15: 6 Treat the core count as background information; the chipset name tells you far more about real performance.
Memory & Storage
iPhone 15 leads
The iPhone 15 does a little better in the memory & storage section, though nothing here is a deal-breaker for the Pixel 10. The iPhone 15 wins here with a bigger top storage option. Most buyers are fine with a base or middle tier, so this is a niche advantage, but a real one if you need it. In short, the iPhone 15 is the better-equipped phone for memory & storage.
Max storage
Pixel 10: 256 GB iPhone 15: 512 GB The top storage option only matters if you plan to buy a high-capacity version, but it caps how much you can ever keep on the phone.
Camera
Pixel 10 leads
A modest lead on camera belongs to the Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 comes with an extra rear camera. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the Pixel 10 gives you more lenses to choose from. The iPhone 15 stands out with a sharper 12 MP selfie camera. If camera is your priority, the Pixel 10 is the phone to pick.
Rear cameras
Pixel 10: 3 iPhone 15: 2 More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the Pixel 10’s extra lens adds.
Front camera
Pixel 10: 11 MP iPhone 15: 12 MP If you mainly use the front camera for calls, the gap is minor; if you post selfies often, the iPhone 15’s extra resolution helps.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
The Pixel 10 and the iPhone 15 match each other closely in this area. The takeaway: battery & charging is not where these two differ.
Software & Updates
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the Pixel 10 and the iPhone 15 row by row in the table below.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.3 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Actua) | OLED (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2424 x 1080 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Pixel density | 422 ppi | 460 ppi (winner) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz (winner) | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3,000 nits (winner) | 2,000 nits |
| Always-on display | Yes (winner) | No |
Performance
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 | A16 Bionic |
| CPU cores | 8 | 6 |
| Process node | 3 nm (winner) | 4 nm |
| RAM | 12 GB | N/A (not specified) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 512 GB (winner) |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 13 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 11 MP | N/A (not specified) |
| Optical zoom | 5× | N/A (not specified) |
| Rear cameras | 3 (winner) | 2 |
| Front camera | 11 MP | 12 MP (winner) |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 4,970 mAh | N/A (not specified) |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | N/A (not specified) | 20 h |
| Wired charging | 29 W | N/A (not specified) |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C (USB 2) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 16 | iOS 17 |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | 7 years | N/A (not specified) |
Design & Build
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.02 in | 5.81 in |
| Width | 2.83 in | 2.82 in |
| Thickness | 0.34 in | 0.31 in (winner) |
| Weight | 7.20 oz | 6.03 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | Pixel 10 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 | $799 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Same launch price, which makes the spec differences the whole story.
Launch prices in the US as of August 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Pixel 10 if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits)
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
- you want a chip built on a finer process (3 nm vs 4 nm)
Choose the iPhone 15 if…
- you want the lighter phone (6.03 oz vs 7.20 oz)
- you plan to buy a high-capacity version (512 GB vs 256 GB maximum)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.31 in vs 0.34 in)
- you want the sharper screen (460 ppi vs 422 ppi)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Pixel 10 or the iPhone 15?
The Pixel 10 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you specifically want a 1.16 oz lighter build, where the iPhone 15 has the edge.
Which is larger, the Pixel 10 or the iPhone 15?
The larger model here is the Pixel 10 (6.02 × 2.83 × 0.34 in); the iPhone 15 is more compact at 5.81 × 2.82 × 0.31 in.
Does the Pixel 10 perform better than the iPhone 15?
The Pixel 10 has the edge in performance thanks to a newer 3 nm chip process.
Does the Pixel 10 have a stronger camera setup than the iPhone 15?
On paper, the Pixel 10 has the stronger camera setup, with an extra rear camera.
Is the Pixel 10’s display better than the iPhone 15’s?
The Pixel 10 has the edge here, offering a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 50% higher peak brightness.
Which weighs less, the Pixel 10 or the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15 is lighter, by 1.16 oz.
Executive Summary
Two companies, two answers to the same question. That’s how I see the Pixel 10 from Google and the iPhone 15 from Apple. The single spec I’d point a friend to is this: the Pixel 10 has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. There’s more, too: the Pixel 10 offers an extra rear camera. The iPhone 15 has a trump card of its own in a 1.16 oz lighter build.
I’d match them like this: display to the Pixel 10, memory & storage to the iPhone 15.
My pick: the Pixel 10. The iPhone 15 only comes out ahead if your top priority is a 1.16 oz lighter build.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.