Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14

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With Apple debuting the iPhone 14 in September of 2022 and Google revealing the Pixel 7 one month later, you may wonder which of the flagship devices is the best.

We think the Pixel 7 is the best of the basic models. It beats the standard iPhone 14 in many of the most important categories, such as price and camera features. That said, the iPhone 14 made a strong showing in processing power and connectivity.

We’ve done the legwork for you and compared prices, hardware, software, camera features, and more. Read on to check out our findings.

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Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Specs

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Let’s do a quick rundown on how the specs of the Google Pixel 7 compare with those of the base model iPhone 14.

The Google Pixel 7 offers a lower price point and outstanding camera features while the iPhone 14 includes a powerful processor and Emergency satellite SOS connectivity.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14 Price

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Google’s devices are typically budget-friendly, and the Google Pixel 7 lineup is no different. It includes two devices—the Google Pixel 7 and the beefed-up Google Pixel 7 Pro—that cost less than comparable Apple phones. The pricing starts as follows:

• Google Pixel 7: $499
• Google Pixel 7 Pro: $879

Apple currently includes two devices in its iPhone 14 series lineup. The standard iPhone 14 and a plus-sized larger edition. Both of them are fairly expensive, with the Plus model at the top of the price scale. Here’s how the pricing starts:

• iPhone 14: $999
• iPhone 14 Plus: $1,149

As you can see, the Pixel 7 is the clear winner in this category. Its starting price is $500 cheaper than the starting price of the iPhone 14. For budget-conscious customers, there is really only one option here.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Display

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The Google Pixel 7 includes a 6.3-inch display. Its Smooth Display screen has a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,400 nits. That makes the screen’s movement silky smooth and responsive to your touch, plus it has excellent visibility in bright conditions. As for the phone’s interface, it is similar to the Pixel 6 series.

The iPhone 14 has a smaller size, clocking in at 6.1-inches—though the screen size isn’t something that matters to everyone. Its Super Retina XDR display has a 60Hz refresh rate and its peak brightness maxes out at 1,200 nits. Both of those values are slightly lower than the specs of the Pixel 7. The interface of the iPhone 14 is also identical to the iPhone 13 series. Additionally, the Dynamic Island, a major display innovation that shows a live look at the background processes on your phone, is only available on the 14 Pro models.

Always-On display

One new feature of the iPhone 14 series is the Always-On display. This feature keeps your phone’s lock screen on so you can see the time and active widgets. However, Apple limited this feature to the 14 Pro models, so the standard iPhone 14 doesn’t have it.

The Google Pixel 7 includes an always-on display with both phone models. It’s a feature that Androids have had for quite some time.

Overall, the Google Pixel 7 wins here. It has a higher refresh rate and brighter screen capabilities. Not to mention it includes the always-on display feature that Apple limited to its most expensive models.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Processors

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The Pixel 7 uses the Google Tensor G2 processor, while the iPhone 14 runs on the Apple A15 Bionic chip.

Google Tensor G2

The new Google Tensor G2 processor is the second generation of the processor Google introduced with the Pixel 6. It has two new Cortex-A78 CPU cores and a Mali-G710 GPU. These upgrades provide a solid performance boost over the Pixel 6 generation.

While not the most powerful processor on the market, it excels in running the machine learning and AI capabilities of the Pixel 7. Features like translating languages in real-time, the Magic Eraser for photos, and removing background noise from phone calls are all possible because of the Tensor G2.

A15 Bionic chip

The iPhone 14 includes the A15 Bionic chip, which is the same processor used in the iPhone 13 Pro models (the A16 Bionic chip is only available in 14 Pro models). Apple usually builds all its flagship phones with a new processor, so this marks a major departure from the norm.

However, don’t let the iPhone 14 using a previous generation’s processor fool you. The A15 Bionic chip is still one of the most powerful processors on the market. Its 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU make the iPhone 14 18% faster than the previous generation and offer better performance during mobile gaming or other tasks requiring a lot of processing power.

Overall, the Google Tensor G2 can’t compete with the power of the A15 Bionic chip. The iPhone 14 handily wins this category.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Cameras

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Camera quality is a top concern for most smartphone users, and the Pixel 7 and iPhone 14 have a lot to offer.

Google Pixel 7 camera

The Google Pixel 7 includes a 50MP camera in its dual-camera array, resulting in stunningly clear shots. It also performs well with low-light photography and picking up diverse skin tones.

Where the Pixel 7 shines is with its Super Res Zoom, relying on AI rather than camera hardware. This swap to AI means a zoomed image is really a cropped version of a regular photo. But because the original images have such a high resolution from Google’s camera, you’ll still end up with a crisp zoomed image.

Google also introduced some great new camera features for the Pixel 7. Guided Frame is an accessibility feature that makes selfies easier for visually-impaired people. Another feature, Photo Unblur, removes blurred areas and background noise from images, even in old images taken with other cameras. Finally, Macro Focus allows you to zoom in and take breathtaking photos of raindrops or flower petals from as close as three centimetres away. However, Macro Focus is only available on the Pixel 7 Pro.

iPhone 14 camera

The base iPhone 14 includes a 12MP main camera, which falls below the resolution of the Google Pixel 7. However, Apple’s Photonic Engine software still allows the cameras to take incredibly sharp images at a higher shutter speed than the Pixel. The iPhone 14 also includes improvements to low-light photography that bring it on par with the capabilities of the Google Pixel 7. On the iPhone 14 Pro, its 48MP main camera and new Adaptive True Tone flash technology take all Apple’s advantages to an even higher level that the Pixel 7 Pro struggles to match.

Where the iPhone 14 falls behind is with zoom capabilities and software features. The 5x digital zoom of the standard model isn’t as good as the Pixel 7. Plus, Apple did not introduce many new features on its cameras with this generation, instead choosing to continue perfecting the ones it already has. Things like macro photography and cinematic mode, which Google just introduced with the Pixel 7, were already present on iPhones.

Video recording

Video recording for the Pixel 7 and iPhone 14 is virtually identical. They are both capable of 4K recording, include stabilization modes, and offer a cinematic mode for your video’s subjects.

For an average user, the Pixel 7 and iPhone 14 work perfectly. However, for those who need their images to be perfect every time, the Pixel 7 is the better choice. The increased zoom capabilities and all the extra photo editing features—like Magic Eraser, Guided Frame, and Photo Unblur—allow the Pixel 7 to eke out a win over the base iPhone 14 in this category.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Battery Life

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The Google Pixel 7 boasts a beyond-24-hour battery life. According to its tests, the battery life lasts an average of 31 hours under normal use. However, what’s extremely impressive is the Extreme Battery Saver feature, which allows a 72-hour battery life. The battery for the Pixel is larger than the iPhone’s, but in past generations, that did not result in it lasting longer.

Apple claims the iPhone 14 includes the best battery life ever put into an iPhone, with 20 hours of video playback or 80 hours of audio playback. The iPhone does have a smaller battery than the Pixel 7, but it’s also a more efficient phone requiring less power.

This match is close, but we’re giving the Pixel 7 the win in this category because of its Extreme Battery Saver feature.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Connectivity

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The connectivity capabilities of the Google Pixel 7 and iPhone 14 are extremely similar. Both can connect to the 4G LTE and 5G networks of major carriers. Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup has features like Emergency SOS via satellite and only offering eSIM technology that set it apart from the Pixel line.

Emergency SOS via satellite

The Emergency SOS via satellite feature gets you help when you’re in remote, outdoor locations without a standard cell signal. Instead, you can point your iPhone at low-orbit satellites to send text-based emergency messages. This feature debuted on the iPhone 14 series and Apple Watch Series 8.

eSIM technology

The iPhone 14 lineup is the first to rely solely on dual-eSIM technology—meaning there is no physical SIM card slot on the phone. It’s easier to change networks digitally than using a physical card, but it may alienate some customers. This change is not a big problem in most countries, but it’s something to keep in mind if you frequently travel to destinations without networks supporting eSIM capabilities. The Google Pixel 7 also has dual-SIM capabilities, but it maintains a physical SIM card slot.

For most customers, the lack of a physical SIM slot is not a deal breaker. However, the inclusion of satellite-based emergency services in places with no cell signal is a major leap forward in safety, so we’re giving the iPhone 14 the victory here.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Design

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Design-wise, these devices retained the look of their previous generations. The camera array and button locations are the same, and all devices have an IP68 water-resistance rating. That rating means they should withstand 4 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This category really comes down to personal preference and colour options.

Google Pixel 7 colour options

The Pixel 7 is available in three colours. Your options are lemongrass (light yellow), snow (white), and obsidian (black). You’ll find snow and obsidian in the colour options for the Pixel 7 Pro, but hazel (a greenish-grey colour) replaces lemongrass. One thing to note is that the camera bar and frame also have different metal finishes depending on the colour you pick. Lemongrass and hazel come with a gold frame, snow has a silver frame, and obsidian has a dark grey frame.

iPhone 14 colour options

The iPhone 14 offers more colour options than the Google Pixel 7. iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models include blue, midnight, starlight, (PRODUCT) RED, and purple options. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max come in space black, silver, gold, and a new deep purple.

The iPhone 14 series offers more colour options, so it takes the win in this category.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: Verdict

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There is a lot to love about these phones, but the Google Pixel 7 is the winner. Boasting a lower starting price, a great display, and phenomenal camera features, the standard iPhone 14 doesn’t quite match up.

That said, there are certainly some areas where the iPhone 14 stands out, such as its extremely powerful processor and emergency satellite connection capabilities. It’s also important to note that much of the comparison here was between the Google Pixel 7 and the base model iPhone 14. Apple packed most of its best new features into the 14 Pro models, like the new A16 Bionic processor and 48MP main camera. However, those devices are also incredibly expensive.

While the Pixel 7 may not be enough to win over diehard iPhone fans, it will do everything an average user needs.

Google Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14: FAQs

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