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Updated January 10, 2024·
If a better camera is a top priority, you might prefer the Google Pixel 8, which has an overall higher camera quality compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, if you're looking for a larger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a 6.7-inch display over the Pixel 8's 6.2-inch screen. The Pixel 8 has longer battery life but if you appreciate a phone with more heft and potentially better build quality, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is heavier. Both phones have high refresh rate OLED displays, wireless charging, and no headphone jack. The iPhone 13 Pro Max runs iOS, while the Pixel 8 runs Android, which can be a significant factor depending on your preferred ecosystem. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Very good battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Google Pixel 8
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
Key differences
Photo Quality
7.8
8.5
The Google Pixel 8 takes very good photos, while the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers very good selfie pictures, benefiting from integrated software and technology that produce strong results even in challenging light or dynamic range situations. The Google Pixel 8, on the other hand, takes excellent selfies with a slightly higher emphasis on software experience and low light performance, along with a robust dynamic range that helps to capture detailed images across various lighting conditions.
Video Quality
8.6
7.6
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes very good videos, while the Google Pixel 8 takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max excels in video stabilization and offers the highest video software experience according to experts, making it very user-friendly for shooting videos, especially with its Dolby Vision support enhancing visual details. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 outperforms in video dynamic range and low light performance, producing clearer videos with greater detail in various lighting conditions and more vivid colors across a broader range of brightness levels.
Battery
9.6 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has 9.6 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel 8 has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Google Pixel 8 is 6.2 inches.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
8.4
The Google Pixel 8 and Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max both have very good overall cameras quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max stands out for selfie enthusiasts with a higher selfie quality ranking, complemented by excellent photo and video software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, making it a great choice for both photo and video content creation. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 offers an exceptional photo dynamic range and excels in camera versatility, along with a strong selfie game, thus catering to users looking for a well-rounded photographic experience.
Cost
$639
$649
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a price of $639 and the Google Pixel 8 costs $649.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 8 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Google Pixel 8 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$639 | $649 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | October 12, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 428 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | TensorG3 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.6 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4352 mAh | 4575 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 18 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.33" x 3.07" | 5.93" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.47 oz | 6.60 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 7 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | |
Color | |||
Color | Alpine Green, Graphite, Sierra Blue, Gold, Silver | Rose, Hazel, Obsidian | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | March 2023
"The iPhone 13 Pro Max is that rare phone that gets a 5-star rating from us. You get blistering performance and a very responsive 120Hz display. Plus, the battery life is among the best we’ve seen from a 5G flagship. Some may simply prefer the iPhone 13 Pro because it’s smaller and lighter, as there are no other functional differences between the two handsets. But if you prefer a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the closest thing to perfect you can get in a phone."
Google Pixel 8
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Dig into reviews and images
The Guardian
Samuel Gibbs | October 2023
"The fit, finish and feel is top notch. The phone is responsive and smooth. The battery life is decent. The main camera is excellent but the lack of an extended optical zoom is slightly disappointing, even if it has been a similar formula for Google for several years.
The 6.2in screen moves the Pixel 8 closer to the underserved market of smaller but top-end phones, of which there are only a handful to choose from. Google’s generative AI features are certainly novel, but it is the extended seven-year software support that truly sets it apart."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 8
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
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