Pixel 10 vs iPhone 17: Why Google still has a shot at iPhone users

The clearest difference when comparing these two phones is the access to a telephoto camera. Apple continues to reserve the telephoto for its Pro models, so the iPhone 17 stays with a main and ultrawide combo. With the Pixel 10, Google went the other way and decided to sacrifice the sensor size of the main and ultrawide cameras to make space for a 5x dedicated telephoto lens.

In our testing, the Pixel 10 did not always match the video stability we are used to seeing from iPhones, especially at night, but the higher quality and extra reach definitely come in handy. A proper telephoto is still the line between casual snapshots and more versatile shooting. It is also a much more useful camera if you are shooting portraits, and contrary to what most people believe, sometimes it can even be better for landscape photography, as it has the ability to eliminate distractions by zooming in.

On our PhoneArena Camera Score, the Pixel 10 landed at 147 points, with very high marks for the main and selfie cameras. Zoom was not quite on par with the Pro models, but at this price, the fact that it is included at all is a big deal. Before the Pixel 10, Samsung was the only other mainstream phone manufacturer that offered one.

Compared to the base iPhone, the Pixel 10 has a more generous camera package, making it awfully appealing to those who look for more flexibility when recording with their phones.

Selfie camera: Apple’s big play

But the iPhone has a trump card of its own. If the telephoto camera is Pixel’s defining strength this year, then the selfie camera is Apple’s. The iPhone 17 replaces the old 12 MP front camera that had not been touched since the iPhone 11 with a new 18 MP one (or at least it defaults to 18 MP, the jury is still out on that).

I recently argued this is the most meaningful upgrade in the iPhone 17 lineup, even more than the new 48 MP ultrawide camera. Selfies are something almost everyone takes or uses daily, so a more capable front camera can be really valuable to people that take a lot of FaceTime calls, social media videos, or even full-fledged vlogs. Apple’s new square multi-aspect sensor allows for sharper photos, wider group shots, and more stable video. It even borrows Action Mode stabilization from the rear cameras, which makes it a great tool for casual creators.

This makes for an interesting parallel. Apple is improving the part of the phone most people interact with every day, while Google is improving the camera that broadens versatility and creative shooting.

Qi2 support removes a barrier

When I first made the argument that the Pixel 10 will steal iPhone users, I pointed to Qi2 magnetic charging as one of the Pixel 10’s potential advantages. This addition means that iPhones have one less feature to make them unique.

The Pixel 10 is the first from the Android world to include magnetic wireless charging. That gives it an obvious advantage compared to its competition, but it also brings down one more wall that kept iPhone users from switching.

In fact, the Pixel 10 is not only compatible with Pixel Snap accessories, but with MagSafe ones too, so you can even use the ones you already have for your iPhone! Google has really outdone itself on this one.

AI features: Apple’s biggest shame in a decade

Apple has started rolling out new Apple Intelligence features with iOS 26. Features like Live Translation and smarter Messages are promising, but in my experience, the iPhone’s AI features don’t work as well as their Google AI counterparts. Not to mention that we are still waiting on the biggest upgrade of them all, Siri 2.0.

The Pixel 10, on the other hand, is leading the smartphone industry when it comes to AI integration. While the new Magic Cue feature felt gimmicky and Video Boost can be a drag, other features like Best Take, Magic Editor, Add Me, Audio Eraser, work like magic.

Voice Translate during calls is especially impressive on the Pixel, working in real time and even cloning your voice into the language you are translating to. Recorder with summaries, Call Notes, and Smart Voice Typing are also great features that work almost flawlessly on the Pixel.

Battery life and charging results

Apple claims the iPhone 17 can last up to 30 hours of video playback, up from 22 on the iPhone 16. Charging is also faster with Apple’s new 40W adapter, hitting 50 percent in about 20 minutes. Wireless charging remains at 25W with MagSafe and Qi2.

Our Pixel 10 results showed some impressive numbers:



For everyday browsing and video, the Pixel 10 is strong. Its only downfall is when you are gaming, but most people will find its numbers reliable. Apple may hold the advantage once we test the iPhone 17, but the Pixel 10 is not far off in the areas that matter most.

Price and storage

Here Apple clearly has the upper hand. The iPhone 17 doubles the base storage to 256 GB at the same $799. The Pixel 10 still starts at 128 GB, which makes it harder to justify at full price. Many users will want the 256 GB version, which raises the cost. That said, you do get a telephoto camera, which can be much more important than the 256 GB internal storage. After all, you can always get more cloud storage, but you can never install a dedicated telephoto camera on your phone.

I myself find 128 GB enough, provided that I use some kind of cloud storage, and I shoot a lot of video and photos.

Why the Pixel 10 still makes a strong case

Apple has made the iPhone 17 its strongest base model in years. It fixed the display with ProMotion, boosted the cameras, improved battery life, and gave buyers more storage. For most users, it is the most sensible iPhone to get.

But even so, the Pixel 10 definitely holds its own. A 5x telephoto at $799, with magnetic charging, a wider range of AI features (that work very well), and solid browsing and video battery results all add up to a real alternative for those who want to leave the iPhone.

In other words, Apple closed some gaps, but Google removed one of the biggest barriers. If you are already curious about leaving iOS, the Pixel 10 still makes the switch practical.