iPhone 16 vs Pixel 10: Which entry-level flagship should you buy in 2025?
With the launch of the iPhone 17 series, Apple’s iPhone 16 is getting some hefty price cuts on Amazon and Flipkart's sales, and that’s making a lot of people pretty excited about getting the iPhone 16.
But here’s the twist: Google’s Pixel 10 is sitting at ₹80,000 with a gorgeous display, a proper telephoto camera, and those clever AI features that make life easier. On paper, the Pixel sounds like the smarter pick, but specs don’t always tell the full story.
I’ve been using both phones side by side for a week, and there are some interesting differences you’ll want to know about. If you’re stuck choosing between Apple’s cheaper iPhone 16 and the shiny new Pixel 10, this showdown should make it easier.
Design: Both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 10 have that premium vibe
Both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 10 nail that premium flagship vibe. They’ve got the glass-and-metal sandwich look locked down, with sturdy aluminium frames, flat sides, and smooth corners that feel just right in your hand. Pick up either and you instantly get that “yep, this is a nice phone” feeling.
Material-wise, Google’s using Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, while Apple sticks with its Ceramic Shield up front. After a week of carrying them around, neither shows much more than the tiniest hairline scratches. The Pixel’s glossy back is gorgeous, especially in the Obsidian colour, but it’s a total fingerprint magnet. The iPhone’s matte finish though, is way better at staying smudge-free.
Flip them over and the design differences get obvious. The Pixel’s big horizontal camera bar is polarising, but it keeps the phone perfectly flat on a desk. The iPhone’s corner camera bump looks cleaner but causes that little desk wobble when you tap the screen.
Both are IP68 rated, so rain, splashes, or an accidental dunk won’t ruin your day. Charging happens over USB-C now, but the Pixel has faster USB 3.2 speeds, while the iPhone is still on USB 2.0, though you do get DisplayPort support for hooking up an external monitor.
Button placement is another point of difference. The iPhone splits power, volume, and the Action button between the two sides, while the Pixel keeps everything on one edge. And yes, Google finally added Pixelsnap this year, its own MagSafe-style magnetic accessory system. For security, it’s Face ID on the iPhone versus face unlock plus a seriously fast ultrasonic fingerprint reader on the Pixel.
Display: The Pixel 10 at 120Hz, or the iPhone 16 at 60Hz
This is the part where the Pixel 10 really throws down the gauntlet. Google’s phone has a 6.3-inch OLED that’s buttery smooth with its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The iPhone 16 is stuck at 60Hz on its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED.
In 2025, that’s a tough pill to swallow, and honestly, one of the few things that makes the iPhone 16 feel dated. Just scrolling through Twitter or jumping between apps feels so much slicker on the Pixel. Thank our lucky stars that Apple finally fixed this with the iPhone 17, it was a long time coming
The Pixel also goes hard with brightness; you get 2,000 nits in high-brightness mode and an eye-watering 3,000-nit peak. What this means is, that even in brutal direct sunlight, you can see everything perfectly. The iPhone 16 tops out at 2,000 nits, which is solid, just not as blindingly bright.
When it comes to actually watching stuff, both are excellent. The Pixel does HDR10+, the iPhone does Dolby Vision: either way, Netflix and YouTube look fantastic. Personally, I still lean toward the iPhone’s panel for its more natural colours. The Pixel skews a little warmer, but you won’t notice unless you’re comparing side by side.
Speakers sound great on both, with the iPhone just a bit more balanced. As for Haptics, the Pixel hits harder, the iPhone keeps it classy.
Performance: Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 vs or iPhone 16’s A18
The Pixel 10 runs on Google’s own Tensor G5 chip with 12GB RAM, and storage that starts at 128GB UFS 3.1 storage and goes up to 256GB on the faster UFS 4.0. The iPhone 16 uses Apple’s A18, which is also built on a 3nm process and comes with 8GB of RAM, but you can get it with up to 512GB of lightning-fast NVMe storage if you need the extra storage.
Looking at the specs, you’d think these two would be pretty evenly matched. Well, you would be wrong. The iPhone not only feels faster, even benchmarks show that the iPhone is better in every measurable way. Apple’s A18 just wipes the floor with the Pixel's Tensor G5 and it has significantly higher scores in Antutu and 3DMark. The iPhone also stays rock solid when you’re pushing it hard, and that shows if you game a lot.
I played plenty of BGMI on both. The Pixel 10 lets you push it up to 120FPS, which sounds amazing, at least on paper. The reality is sad though; there are noticeable frame drops that just mess up the gaming experience.
The iPhone 16 is stuck at 60FPS because of its display, but it’s smooth all the way through, with no stutter. Plus, you can also play some proper console-level games on iOS without jumping through hoops and having to deal with any emulator.
Having said that, the Pixel 10 is not exactly a slouch, and is pretty quick in day-to-day use. Apps open fast, multitasking feels smooth, and even video editing doesn’t slow it down. The iPhone 16 might win on raw power, but the Pixel isn't exactly slow. More importantly though, using the device, without benchmark scores, doesn't feel slow, even when you compare them side by side.
Cameras: Pixel 10’s Triple camera setup vs iPhone 16’s safe bet
The Pixel 10 definitely looks better on paper. You get a 48MP main sensor with OIS, a proper 10.8MP 5x telephoto, and a 13MP ultra-wide. The iPhone 16 is much more simpler with its 48MP main and 12MP ultra-wide. Specs aside, though, how they shoot feels very different.
In daylight light, both are excellent. The iPhone keeps things natural and balanced, though sometimes its photos come out a bit darker. Skin tones usually look spot on, which I like. The Pixel cranks up the brightness and colour so everything just pops, great for Insta, but it can look slightly overdone if you zoom in.
The ultra-wides tell the same story. Pixel’s shots are punchier, almost too colourful at times, while the iPhone’s stay closer to real life but sometimes end up a little underexposed.
Low light is where the Pixel goes all in. It brightens everything and pulls out loads of detail, but there’s more noise if you look closely. The iPhone takes a warmer, slightly darker shot, but it’s cleaner and less grainy.
For portraits I usually prefer the iPhone. Its edge detection is more reliable, and the bokeh feels smoother and more natural. The Pixel still does a great job, but its edge detection isn’t as consistent.
Zoom is where the Pixel wins, no question. That 5x telephoto is just so useful. Past 10x or 20x, both lose sharpness, but that’s expected.
For selfies, I lean towards the iPhone. Colours look right, and it nails separation almost every time. And if you care about video, Apple still owns this space; its 4K60 fps footage is flawless with better colour and stabilisation.
If you want realistic photos and the best video experience, grab the iPhone. If you want punchy, social-ready pics and killer zoom, go for the Pixel.
Software: Pixel 10’s AI handily beats iPhone 16
The Pixel 10 comes with Android 16 right out of the box, while the iPhone 16 originally launched with iOS 18 but now ships with iOS 26 if you buy one today. I’m not going to dive into another Android versus iOS showdown, we all know the story by now. What matters is that both phones give you a clean, clutter-free experience. No bloatware, no random preloaded apps, just a fresh setup you can tweak however you like.
Both also nail software support. Google promises seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 10, and given Apple’s history, you can expect iOS updates for at least seven or eight years. Either way, you’re safe for the long haul.
Where Google really stretches its legs is AI. The Pixel 10 bakes Gemini into the OS, giving you clever tools like “Add Me” for group shots and “Camera Coach” to help frame better photos. It makes shooting and sharing way more fun. Apple’s iOS 26 adds its own AI features, but it still feels like Apple is playing catch-up compared to what Google, Samsung, and even OnePlus are doing.
One big caveat though, is that a lot of Google’s flashy AI tools which it promised during the launch of the Pixel 10 series, like text-to-edit for photos, still aren’t live in India. So you may be waiting a while before you get the full Pixel experience.
Battery: Can iPhone 16 keep up with the Pixel 10?
If you look at the spec sheet, the Pixel 10 wins with its 4,970mAh cell. But using the phones in the real-world tells a different story. Eventhough it comes with a smaller, 3,561mAh battery, the iPhone 16 still breezes through a full day. That 60Hz display actually helps it squeeze out a bit more screen time. I easily got about 30 extra minutes compared to the Pixel.
Charging is neck and neck. The Pixel’s 30W and the iPhone’s 20W both take about an hour and a half to top up. The Pixel does 15W wireless charging, while MagSafe hits 25W. Both can reverse charge, and the Pixel adds bypass charging for gaming.
Verdict: Pixel 10 or iPhone 16, which one’s worth your money?
Both the iPhone 16 and Pixel 10 are genuinely solid choices. If you’re after rock-solid performance, a camera that rarely lets you down, and that unmistakable Apple polish, the iPhone 16 is still a smart buy, especially now that it’s seeing big discounts in 2025.
But if a smoother, more modern display, proper zoom camera, and the coolest AI features are higher on your wishlist, the Pixel 10 just feels a lot more fresh and fun to use.
Of course, if you’re open to spending a bit more, you could just skip the debate and grab the new iPhone 17 for all the latest upgrades. Either way, you’re not going wrong with these picks.
