Google Pixel 6a vs Apple iPhone XS Max

70 out of 100

59 out of 100

Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.1-inch Google Pixel 6a (with Google Tensor) that was released on May 11, 2022, against the Apple iPhone XS Max, which is powered by Apple A12 Bionic and came out 44 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 6a

Comes with 1236 mAh larger battery capacity: 4410 vs 3174 mAh
Shows 27% longer battery life (32:11 vs 25:23 hours)
Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
Modern USB Type-C port
37% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (914K versus 665K)
Delivers 33% higher peak brightness (880 against 663 nits)
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
Fingerprint scanner
Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 3200 MHz
Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
Has 50% more RAM: 6GB versus 4GB
The phone is 3-years and 8-months newer
Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens

Reasons to consider the Apple iPhone XS Max

The rear camera has a 2x optical zoom
Handles Qi wireless charging up to 10W
Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
Has a 0.4 inch larger screen size
Apple releases software updates and supports their phones a few years longer than Google

Review

Evaluation of Google Pixel 6a and Apple iPhone XS Max crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	OLED	OLED
Size	6.1 inches	6.5 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels	1242 x 2688 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	19.4:9
PPI	429 ppi	456 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	500 nits	625 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1100 nits	-
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, Dolby Vision
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Tempered glass
Screen-to-body ratio	83%	85.41%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- DCI-P3

RGB color space	96.9%	98.8%
PWM	240 Hz	240 Hz
Response time	3 ms	11.2 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	152.2 mm (5.99 inches)	157.5 mm (6.2 inches)
Width	71.8 mm (2.83 inches)	77.4 mm (3.05 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	7.7 mm (0.3 inches)
Weight	178 g (6.28 oz)	208 g (7.34 oz)
Waterproof	IP67	IP68
Rear material	Plastic	Glass
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	White, Black, Green	Silver, Gold, Gray
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	No

Chipset	Google Tensor	Apple A12 Bionic
Max clock	2800 MHz	2490 MHz
CPU cores	8 (2 + 2 + 4)	6 (2 + 4)
Architecture	- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex A55 - 2 cores at 2.25 GHz: Cortex A76 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-X1	- 4 cores at 1.6 GHz: Tempest - 2 cores at 2.49 GHz: Vortex
L3 cache	4 MB	-
Lithography process	5 nanometers	7 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G78 MP20	Apple A12 GPU
GPU shading units	1280	256
GPU clock	848 MHz	1100 MHz
FLOPS	~2170.9 GFLOPS	~576 GFLOPS

CPU	-	167833
GPU	-	157230
Memory	-	121395
UX	913000	215799
Total score	914585	665855

Max surface temperature	41.4 °C	45.2 °C
Stability	56%	66%
Graphics test	37 FPS	34 FPS
Graphics score	6194	5704

Web score	6177	-
Video editing	5806	-
Photo editing	17969	-
Data manipulation	9425	-
Writing score	15432	-

RAM size	6 GB	4 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	3200 MHz	-
Channels	4	2

Storage size	128 GB	64, 256, 512 GB
Storage type	UFS 3.1	NVMe
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)	iOS 12 (Can be upgraded to iOS 17)
ROM	Stock Android	-
OS size	14.3 GB	16 GB

Capacity	4410 mAh	3174 mAh
Max charge power	18 W	18 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	Yes, Qi (10 W)
Reverse charging	No	No
Fast charging	Yes (42% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:51 hr	03:29 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	10:54 hr	09:13 hr
Watching video	16:44 hr	10:50 hr
Gaming	06:05 hr	04:38 hr
Standby	91 hr	80 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12.2 megapixels	12 megapixels
Image resolution	4032 x 3024	4032 x 3024
Zoom	Digital	Optical, 2x
Flash	Dual LED	Quad LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	240 FPS (1080p)	240 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens	114°	-
Lenses	2 (12.2 MP + 12 MP)	2 (12 MP + 12 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.5", Apple iSight X (CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	-	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 - Focal length: 52 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron - Sensor: 1/3.4" (CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization
Ultra-wide lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 17 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/2.9", Sony IMX386 (Exmor-RS CMOS)	-
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Google Pixel 6a from DxOMark	Photo samples of Apple iPhone XS Max from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	8 megapixels	7 megapixels
Image resolution	3840 x 2160	3088 x 2316
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.2
Focal length	24 mm	32 mm
Pixel size	1.12 microns	-
Sensor type	Exmor-RS CMOS	BSI CMOS
Sensor size	1/2.8"	-
Video resolution	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 60 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5.2	5
Bluetooth features	LE, A2DP	SPP, PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HFP, HDP, GAP, GAVDP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	No
USB version	3.1	2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	1	1
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
eSIM support *	Yes	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	20	16
5G support	Yes	No

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	No	No
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Category	Flagship	Flagship
Announced	May 2022	September 2018
Release date	June 2022	September 2018
SAR (head)	-	0.99 W/kg
SAR (body)	-	0.99 W/kg
Sensors	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Face recognition sensor
Bundled charger	Not included	-

Google Pixel 6a vs Apple iPhone XS Max

Google Pixel 6a vs Apple iPhone XS Max

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion