Apple finally gave the base iPhone the upgrades fans begged for — just as Google went all-in on cameras and AI.
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The iPhone 17 is finally here, bringing long-awaited upgrades like a 120Hz ProMotion display, faster charging speeds, and higher base storage.
But you might be asking yourself: how does it stack up against Google’s Pixel 10? After all, the Pixel 10 offers a triple-camera system with a 5X telephoto lens, a big 4,970 mAh battery, and deep AI integration at the same $799 price.
If you already own the Pixel 10 (or if you’re choosing between the two), the big question is which one offers the most for its price?
That’s exactly what we set out to answer. We ran both phones through our in-house tests for battery life, display quality, cameras, and raw speed, and we also spent time with them to see how they hold up in day-to-day use. Here’s what we found, and which one we think is the smarter buy.
iPhone 17: $0.00/mo. at Verizon
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Get the iPhone 17 and enjoy improved design, better battery life, and top-tier performance. Right now, you can get the phone for $0.00/mo. with Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan.
Buy at Verizon
iPhone Air: $0.00/mo. at Verizon
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The slimmest iPhone is here! You can now buy the powerful iPhone Air at Verizon for $0.00/mo. with a new line activation on select Unlimited plans and a trade-in. This is an online-only offer.
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Get the Pixel 10 at Amazon
The Pixel 10 is finally here! The latest model features the new Tensor G5 chip, paired with 12GB RAM, providing incredible AI features and a smooth performance. You can get it at its standard price on Amazon.
Buy at Amazon
iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10 differences:
7.7
Apple iPhone 17
7.3
Google Pixel 10
5.9
7.6
6.8
6.1
7.6
8.6
8.5
8
8.2
8
8
10
Battery Life
Photo Quality
Video Quality
Charging
Performance Heavy
Performance Light
Display Quality
Design
Wireless Charging
Biometrics
Audio
Software
7.3
7.6
6.3
5.8
6.1
7.3
8
8
8.4
8
7
8
Table of Contents:
Design and DisplayDisplayPerformance and SoftwareCameraBatteryAudioSpecsSummary
Read more:
Pixel 10 vs iPhone 16Pixel 10 vs Galaxy S25Pixel 10 vs Pixel 10 Pro
Design and Display Quality
Both models are larger than their predecessors
The iPhone 17 keeps an aluminum frame with a glass back, but upgrades the front protection to Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is three times more scratch-resistant. It’s slightly larger and heavier than the iPhone 16, but still compact at 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm and 177 g.
The Pixel 10 doesn’t try to be thin either. At 152.8 × 72 × 8.6 mm and 204 g, it’s taller, thicker, and heavier, but with the benefit of a much larger battery and support for Pixelsnap, Google’s new magnetic Qi2 system for accessories like chargers, stands, and grips (which also works with MagSafe accessories).
Both phones are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance, use durable front glass (Ceramic Shield 2 for iPhone, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for Pixel), and feature USB-C. That said, Google also uses the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the back of the Pixel 10, which might mean it is more durable.
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Neither ships with a charger in the box.
The iPhone 17 is the more compact, pocket-friendly choice, while the Pixel 10 prioritizes battery and versatility.
Pixel 10 colors include Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Lemongrass, while iPhone 17 colors are Black, Lavender, Mist Blue, and Sage, and White.
The iPhone 17 finally brings 120Hz ProMotion to the base model. It has a 6.3-inch OLED with slimmer bezels and peaks at 3000 nits outdoors, 1600 nits HDR, and 1000 nits typical.
The Pixel 10 matches on size and refresh rate, also at 6.3 inches, 120Hz OLED, and boasts a peak brightness of 3000 nits. Bezels are uniform but slightly thicker than on the iPhone.
One small difference that you might gloss over at first glance is that the iPhone has a minimum display refresh rate of 1Hz vs 60Hz on the Pixel. That makes the iPhone’s display more power efficient, and also allows the base iPhone to finally get an Always-On display (Pixel 10 also has this feature).
The iPhone 17 also lineup introduces a new seven-layer anti-reflective coating. It does not match the strength of the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display treatment, but it noticeably cuts glare when compared with the iPhone 16. This is something Google is yet to add to its phones.
For biometrics, the iPhone sticks with Face ID, while Google combines ultrasonic fingerprint scanning with basic face unlock.
Display Measurements:
Both the iPhone 17 and Pixel 10 reach the rare 3,000-nit club, which means outdoor visibility is excellent on both. In our tests, the Pixel 10 actually hit slightly higher sustained brightness, but the iPhone 17 benefits from its new anti-reflective coating, which cuts down on glare more effectively. Minimum brightness is lower on the iPhone, making it easier on the eyes in dark rooms.
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Performance and Software
Tensor G5 is here, but will it match the A19?
The iPhone 17 is powered by the A19 chip, built on a refined 3nm process. It uses a 6-core CPU (2 performance, 4 efficiency), a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. RAM is 8 GB, with storage up to 512 GB.
The Pixel 10 debuts the Tensor G5, Google’s first fully in-house design, also built on 3nm at TSMC. It offers a 34% faster CPU and 60% stronger TPU for on-device AI. It comes with 12 GB of RAM and storage up to 256 GB.
Chances are that the A19 will be more powerful compared to the Tensor G5, but that probably won’t result in clear differences when it comes to actual use. That said, some early benchmarks show the A19 sustains performance longer than its predecessor, even without the new vapor chambor cooling that the Pro models get.
One area where we could see a difference is with AI features, though, which rely heavily on RAM, which is something the Pixel 10 has more of.
On software, the difference is stark:
iPhone 17 ships with iOS 26, bringing a new Liquid Glass design, Live Translation, Call Screening, and Apple Intelligence. Apple’s AI features are useful but more limited compared to Google’s.Pixel 10 runs Android 16 with Gemini AI, featuring Magic Cue, which proactively surfaces relevant information or actions, and Camera Coach, which guides users on how to frame better shots.
Both phones promise 7 years of OS and security updates.
CPU Performance Benchmarks:
Geekbench 6
SingleHigher is better
Apple iPhone 173527Google Pixel 102298
Geekbench 6
MultiHigher is better
Apple iPhone 178798Google Pixel 105579View all
Apple’s A19 shows a massive advantage in both single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Tensor G5. The gap is especially large in single-core. The Pixel 10’s numbers are a step up from older Tensor chips, but they’re still far behind Apple and its Android rivals.
GPU Performance
3DMark Extreme(High)Higher is better
Apple iPhone 175172Google Pixel 103368
3DMark Extreme(Low)Higher is better
Apple iPhone 173295Google Pixel 102025View all
On the graphics side, the difference is just as striking. The iPhone 17 showcases much higher scores and sustains performance better in longer gaming sessions, even without the vapor chamber cooling found in the Pro models. The Pixel 10 starts strong but throttles quickly, making it less ideal for heavy 3D gaming. For casual use, both are fine, but if you plan on using your phone for anything more demanding, the iPhone is better equipped.
Camera
Pixel 10 gets a third camera, iPhone 17 gets two new image sensors
The iPhone 17 gets a new 48 MP ultrawide camera that defaults to 24 MP (the same one that’s on last year’s Pro models). On the front, Apple intrduced a brand new 18 MP Center Stage camera, with a larger square sensor, wider field of view, improved stabilization, and support for Dual Capture video (simultaneous front and rear recording). Because the sensor is square, users don’t have to turn the phone to get a horizontal shot, which is done by pressing a button on the screen or automatically.
But even with all that the iPhone 17 camera system has going for it, it still lacks a dedicated telephoto camera. The Pixel 10 is the first base Pixel to come with a third, 10.8 MP telephoto camera. It has a 5x optical zoom range, and can even go up to 30x using AI algorithms.
Google also debuted neat new features such as Camera Coach on the Pixel 10. It uses Gemini AI to “see” the scene and suggest how to frame or compose the shot. For example, nudging you to lower the phone for better angles, or proposing creative scene ideas like architectural shadows.
PhoneArena Camera Score:
Photo
Video
Phone Camera
Score Photo
Score Main
(wide) Ultra
Wide Selfie Zoom Apple iPhone 17 150 156 84 24 28 21 Google Pixel 10 147 156 83 22 26 25
Phone Camera
Score Video
Score Main
(wide) Ultra
Wide Selfie Zoom Apple iPhone 17 150 145 77 23 26 18 Google Pixel 10 147 138 76 18 25 19
Find out more details about photo and video scores for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Camera Score page
The iPhone 17 delivers more consistent photo and video quality with dynamic range and stabilization, while the Pixel 10’s big advantage is its color science and its 5X telephoto lens, giving it superior zoom flexibility.
Main Camera
< iPhone 17 Pixel 10 >
I much prefer the colors on the Pixel here as they are more natural compared to the iPhone’s. The Pixel 10 has also done a better job at exposing the image, showing more detail in the dark areas compared to the iPhone.
Zoom Quality
< iPhone 17 5x Pixel 10 5x >
In this case, the iPhone relies on its main sensor with digital zoom, which makes the image less sharp than the Pixel’s. However, because the iPhone’s main sensor is superior to the Pixel 10’s 5x telephoto, it delivers better dynamic range and a more accurate overall exposure.
Ultra-wide Camera
< iPhone 17 Pixel 10 >
The iPhone’s ultrawide camera has delivered a sharper image with more contrast. The Pixel, on the other hand, utilizes its stellar HDR pipeline to balance the bright and dark areas of the photo, resulting in a flatter look.
Selfies
< iPhone 17 Pixel 10 >
I like that the Pixel has shown more of the eyes by brightnening them. It’s also clear that Google has the superior processing when it comes to skin tones, with the subject’s skin looking much more true to life compared to the iPhone’s weird orangy look.
More Camera Samples
Stay tuned for video samples soon.
Battery Life and Charging
iPhone charges faster, but likely has a smaller battery
Apple doesn’t disclose battery capacities, but officially rates the iPhone 17 for up to 30 hours of video playback (27 hours streamed). That’s a noticeable gain over the iPhone 16, thanks to a stacked battery design and the more efficient A19 chip.
The Pixel 10 has a large 4,970 mAh battery, which explains its thicker, heavier body. We’ll update you on how these two compare in terms of battery life when we have our battery test results from both.
When it comes to charging, the iPhone 17 supports up to 40W wired speeds, reaching 50 percent in about 20 minutes with Apple’s new 40W adapter. Wireless charging goes up to 25W with MagSafe or Qi2.2-certified chargers. The Pixel 10 supports up to 30W wired charging and 15W wireless charging through Qi2 with Pixelsnap, which also ensures compatibility with MagSafe accessories.
PhoneArena Battery and Charging Test Results:
Battery Life
Charging
Phone Battery Life
estimate Browsing Video Gaming Apple iPhone 17
3692 mAh
6h 2min 16h 47min 7h 19min 7h 40min Google Pixel 10
4970 mAh
7h 16min 21h 0min 10h 0min 5h 1min
Phone Full Charging 30 min Charge Wired Wireless Wired Wireless Apple iPhone 17
3692 mAh
1h 16min Untested 67% Untested Google Pixel 10
4970 mAh
1h 29min Untested 50% Untested
Find out more details about battery and charging for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Battery Score page
The Pixel 10 is the clear winner here. Its 4,970 mAh battery gave it a significant advantage in browsing and video playback tests. The iPhone 17 does better in gaming, but overall, the Pixel lasts longer in typical use.
As for charging, the iPhone was quicker. It took 1 hour and 16 minutes to charge to 100% vs 1 hour and almost 30 minutes on the Pixel 10. The iPhone also charged 13% more in the first 30 minutes. Of cource, you have to keep in mind the smaller battery capacity on the iPhone, which contributes to these faster times.
Audio Quality and Haptics
The iPhone 17 surprised us with a noticeably fuller and wider sound than the Pixel 10, with more bass and cleaner mids compared to last year. The Pixel’s stereo speakers are solid, but they don’t have the same presence.
Both phones deliver tight, precise haptics, though Apple’s Taptic Engine still feels a touch more refined.
Specs Comparison
Here’s a quick comparison between the iPhone 17 vs Pixel 10 specs.
Also read:
iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25: Who wins the $799 flagship battle of 2025?iPhone 17 Pro Max vs OnePlus 13 preview: nobody settles!
Summary
This is arguably one of the most entertaining years for comparing these two models, since both offer so much for what you are paying.
The iPhone 17 finally feels like a modern phone thanks to the 1-120Hz ProMotion display, Ceramic Shield 2, a sharper 18 MP selfie camera, a new 48 MP ultrawide, and faster charging. It’s slimmer and much lighter than the Pixel 10, making it the more compact option.
The Pixel 10 has its own set of perks, though. Yes, it’s bigger and heavier, but it offers a triple-camera system with a 5x telephoto, a larger 4,970 mAh battery, and deeper AI integration with Gemini and features like Magic Cue and Camera Coach.
Google came in strong with the Pixel 10 and genuinely made some think it is the iPhone killer, and it still has the potential to steal some iPhone users. But with so many upgrades and the same $799, the iPhone 17 makes Apple’s base model more appealing than ever.
If you want solid camera quality (especially when it comes to vide), more base storage, and a more compact phone, then the iPhone 17 covers those areas better. But if you want the added flexibility of a telephoto camera, more advanced AI features, and longer battery life, the Pixel 10 is the better option.
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