Apple and Google are putting their latest flagship smartphones up against each other in a new showdown with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro, both of which offer OLED screens with an update rate of up to 120 Hz, advanced cameras, new processors, and a wide range of AI features.

In terms of design, the Pixel 11 Pro maintains its distinctive camera bar, while the iPhone 18 Pro has an aluminum frame and a reinforced ceramic back. Both phones are similar in weight and size, but the Pixel 11 Pro XL is lighter than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Screen and Cameras

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro both come with a 6.3-inch screen, while the Pixel 11 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch screen, compared to 6.9 inches on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both screens support an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.

In terms of photography, the Pixel 11 Pro relies on a 50-megapixel main camera with an ultra-wide lens and a telephoto camera with a 48-megapixel sensor, taking full advantage of AI technologies such as improved night mode and digital zoom up to 120 times.

By contrast, the iPhone 18 Pro offers three rear cameras with a 48-megapixel sensor. The main camera has a variable aperture lens that gives users greater control over lighting and depth of field, along with manual settings for shutter speed and white balance.

It appears that the iPhone retains a clear advantage in video thanks to support for recording at up to 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision 4K, as well as professional features such as ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and external recording.

Artificial Intelligence, Performance, and Price

The Pixel 11 Pro continues to heavily rely on Gemini, with AI tools that run directly on the phone and perform proactive tasks within apps and the camera. Apple, on the other hand, takes a more conservative approach, focusing on making Siri more useful by understanding personal context and performing tasks between apps.

The Pixel 11 Pro is powered by the Tensor G6 processor, while the iPhone 18 Pro runs on the A20 Pro chip, which Apple focuses on improving continuous performance, especially in gaming, video editing, and heavy tasks.

In terms of price, the Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099, compared to $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and iPhone 18 Pro Max both start at $1,299.

In the end, there doesn't seem to be an outright winner. If you use Apple devices like MacBook, iPad, and Apple Watch, the iPhone 18 Pro would be the more logical choice. However, the Pixel 11 Pro is an attractive option for Google ecosystem users, especially those who prefer AI tools and computational photography.