iPhone 14 vs Google Pixel 7

The iPhone 14 and the Pixel 7 are two of the most popular midrange phones in the US. The iPhone 14 is not actually the bestseller among Apple's 2022 crop as the Pro models now offer a wide specs gap.

This has opened a position for direct competitors like Google's Pixel 7, which features just as few improvements as the iPhone 14. Google has sort of soft-rebooted the Pixel lineup after the somewhat disappointing Pixel 5 midranger, and the Pixel 7 is definitely a step in the right direction as well. Let's see how it compares to the iPhone 14.

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The Pixel 7 Pro is up for grabs at Amazon with 256GB of internal storage for 54% off its price tag. Larger storage versions are also available at lower prices.

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Pixel 7 (128GB) at Amazon: 33% off at Amazon

The Google Pixel 7 is available at Amazon. Right now, the 128GB model in Snow sells at 33% off its price tag.

$199 off (33%)

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There aren't major changes in the iPhone 14's general design language, but the Pixel 7 sports an intriguing update to its rear camera strip that makes it stand out in comparison with both its predecessor, and the iPhone 14. 

Surely, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max got the new frontal design with the Dynamic Island interface elements, but the regular iPhone 14 keeps the same narrower notch that was introduced with the iPhone 13 family. The device does come painted in a new Purple color, though, in addition to the Midnight, Starlight, and slightly altered Red or Blue hues.

The Pixel 7 carries the same flat display at the front with the matte camera strip getting one less camera than the Pixel 7 Pro, but they are now fitted in a pill-shaped form for a classier, more eye-pleasing look. The Pixel 7 is larger and heavier than the iPhone, as it has a bigger display, and brings with it a boxier look and feel in the hand.

Google uses a single color for the glass back and a polished metal frame in a complimentary color for the camera bar. These are little elements, but it appears that Google has gotten them right, since the latest Pixels indeed look extremely nice.

When it comes to the display, the iPhone 14 retains the 6.1-inch OLED display that was used on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, and didn't score a high refresh rate display (this one only graces the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max).

The Pixel 7, on the other hand, got a brighter, 1400 nits 6.3-inch display. It's FHD+ OLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate, so it beats the iPhone 14 in any display specification possible, including at the individual color calibration level every Pixel prides in.

Display Measurements:

The Pixel 7 pair is equipped with a second-generation Tensor chip. The chip is an advancement of Google's own Tensor, the company's first home-grown mobile processor, which was utilized in the Pixel 6. The first Tensor chip bet on exceptional ML performance but lagged behind the competition in single- and multi-core CPU performance, and the Tensor G2 isn't an exception, especially against the powerful iPhone 14 processor with pentacore GPU module.

The iPhone 14 is using the same chipset that is powering the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. It's definitely not a slow chip, but it marks an important precedent for Apple, as all previous new iPhones have used the latest Apple chip. The Apple A16 Bionic is only appearing on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

In terms of RAM, there is a bump to 6GB on the iPhone 14, which is significant as it is 33% higher than on the iPhone 13. The Pixel 7 retains its 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM but Android and iOS utilize RAM so differently that quantitative comparisons are pointless. The starting storage on both clocks in at 128GB, but while the iPhone goes up to 512GB, the Pixel maxes out at 256GB.

The Pixel 7 comes with a 50MP primary camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, whose resolution is on par with or larger than on most other premium phones, including Apple's iPhone 14 Pro. Both phones have 12MP ultra-wide camera and the Pixel 7 sports the following camera setup:

• 50MP wide, f/1.85
• 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2

Meanwhile, Apple simply slapped the main and ultrawide iPhone 13 Pro cameras on the iPhone 14, but did put a brand new 12MP selfie snapper with OIS at the front. For years now the company has relied on 12MP sensors that have gradually increased in pixel size, and the iPhone 14 is no exception.

The Pixel 7 also scores a new, 11MP selfie camera as its predecessor the Pixel 6 has an 8MP front shooter. There is no autofocus, though, just as there isn't AF on the ultrawide camera like on the 7 Pro sibling, so no macro shots from the Pixel 7. Google does match the iPhone's Cinematic video mode, though, and adds some exclusive features like Photo Blur that fixes your softish photos, be they new or old.

Google has always stood up there with Apple when it comes to exceptional camera quality, and the Pixel 7 largely stays true to that mantra and generally matches the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of camera quality, as these are the cameras that the iPhone 14 carries; save for the telephoto, of course. 

Yet, if you've come to love that distinct "iPhone photo" look, the iPhone 14 will be the perfect photographic companion for years to come, moreso since Apple has now toned down the overly warm overcast of its photos.

Despite all the Tensor 2 AI jazz, in tricky situations like portrait shots the Pixel 7 algorithms have trouble separating object borders from their background and leaving the Pixel 7 on auto mode at all times actually produces better results. Night or indoor shots with the main camera turn out pretty sharp, and with balanced exposure. The ultrawide, as can be expected, struggles more in these situations, while the selfies are pretty impressive in all situations. The only ho-hum part is the actual camera app that takes forever to switch from one sensor to the other, despite that we ran the first camera update the second we launched it.

The video stabilization, sharpness, and amount of detail are very good, with only the continuous autofocus mode taking a split second to react as opposed to the instantaneous refocusing back and forth we are used to from Samsung phones.

The iPhone 14 now boasts a slightly larger, 3279mAh unit, while the Pixel 7 got a 4355 mAh piece. In terms of endurance, the iPhone retains the upper hand in two out of our three battery benchmark tests due to the puny display refresh rate and the efficiency of the A15 Bionic, despite that we harbored hopes about how the Tensor 2 chip would surprise us in terms of overall battery life as Google boasts AI-based power draw improvements.

Google offers slightly faster, 30W charging on the Pixel 7, and the iPhone 14 could also be charged with such a brick, though it won't actually bring you much faster charging due to the inherent Lightning port input limitations. Expect an hour and change to top up both phones which is not very impressive in this day and age of midrangers that can charge in 30 or even 20 minutes flat.

 

The Pixel 7 and the iPhone 14 definitely clash as they're in similar classes, and also have some tangents in terms of overall size and pricing. As we mentioned in our iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Pixel 7 Pro preview, Google will likely try to take on Apple in the 'experience' factor.

After failing to beat the best of Android in raw hardware with previous Pixels, Google has finally realized that it must elevate the overall Android experience to a level never before achieved, and the way to do this would be the Tensor-enhanced machine-learning capabilities of the Pixel 7.

At the same time, the iPhone 14 is quite the iterative refresh of the iPhone 13, with nothing particularly exciting in tow but a better main camera and cheaper repairability. Surely, it will still sell in the millions, but it remains to be seen how Apple's choice to keep the flashy new tech for the more premium models pans out for the iPhone 14. For now, the Pixel 7 has the better display and camera, plus a lower price tag when compared to the iPhone 14.

With a starting price of $599 for the 128GB model and even better Pixel 7 deals, Google definitely has a chance to compete, especially since the iPhone 14 starts at $800 like its predecessor did. The Pixel 7 offers better specs and screen, and cooler, more unorthodox looks than the iPhone 14 whose design is getting a bit long in the tooth to boot.