iPhone 17 Pro vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro: Comprehensive Comparison

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and Google's Pixel 10 Pro, both released in September 2025, present compelling options for smartphone enthusiasts. This comparison evaluates their design, display, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and software features.

Design and Display

The iPhone 17 Pro introduces a new design with an aluminum unibody and a 'forged plateau' camera bar, housing lenses on the left side. In contrast, the Pixel 10 Pro retains its horizontal camera bar from previous models. Both devices feature 6.3-inch OLED displays with adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rates. The Pixel 10 Pro's screen achieves a peak brightness of 3,300 nits, surpassing the iPhone 17 Pro's 3,000 nits. However, the iPhone's anti-reflective coating may enhance visibility in bright environments.

Performance

The iPhone 17 Pro is powered by Apple's A19 Pro chip, built on a 3nm process, featuring a six-core CPU, six-core GPU with ray tracing, and a 16-core Neural Engine. This configuration delivers superior performance in tasks like gaming and video editing. The Pixel 10 Pro utilizes Google's Tensor G5 chip, also on a 3nm process, optimized for AI tasks such as computational photography and real-time translation. While the A19 Pro outperforms in raw processing power, the Tensor G5 excels in AI-driven applications.

Camera Capabilities

Both smartphones offer triple rear camera setups, including primary, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses. The Pixel 10 Pro provides up to 100x Pro Res Zoom, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro offers up to 25x zoom. Google's device supports 8K video recording at 30 fps with Video Boost, while Apple's phone records 4K at up to 120 fps with ProRes and Log video options. The Pixel 10 Pro introduces features like Pro Mode for manual control and AI-driven editing via voice commands, enhancing user experience.

Battery Life and Charging

The iPhone 17 Pro, with a 3,692 mAh battery, is rated for up to 33 hours of video playback. The Pixel 10 Pro houses a larger 4,970 mAh battery. Despite the capacity difference, Apple's efficient hardware and software integration result in comparable real-world battery life. Charging capabilities differ: the iPhone 17 Pro supports fast charging to 50% in about 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, while the Pixel 10 Pro reaches 50% in approximately 30 minutes with a 30W adapter. Wireless charging favors Apple, supporting up to 25W, compared to the Pixel's 15W.

Software and AI Features

The iPhone 17 Pro runs iOS 26, featuring the Liquid Glass design and enhancements like Call Screening and a redesigned Camera app. The Pixel 10 Pro operates on Android 16, introducing Material 3 Expressive design and AI features such as Magic Cue for contextual suggestions and Camera Coach for photography guidance. Notably, Google commits to seven years of Android and security updates for the Pixel 10 Pro, whereas Apple typically provides around five years of iOS support.

In summary, the iPhone 17 Pro excels in raw performance and video recording capabilities, while the Pixel 10 Pro stands out with its advanced AI features and extended software support. The choice between the two depends on individual preferences regarding performance, camera functionality, and software ecosystem.