Two names dominate the smartphone industry: Apple and Samsung. Google launched its original Pixel in 2016 as a new option for buyers looking for something else. Packed with innovative features, each successive Pixel generation has yet to receive glowing reviews from critics. Pixel 4 while a large improvement from its predecessors continues this trend.
Is the Pixel 4 finally an iPhone killer? Probably not.
We’ll take a look at the differences between the Google Pixel 4 vs iPhone 11 to help you decide which smartphone is the right choice for you.
Note: We’ll be focusing on the iPhone 11 and not the iPhone 11 Pro in this comparison.
Design: Forehead vs Notch
The iPhone 11 has an immersive 6.1-inch screen on the front. Critics often point out the notch that houses the front camera. But it’s small and barely noticeable. Once again, Apple does an amazing job on the design. It’s both simple and chic making it one of the best looking phones you can currently buy.
Google uses a “forehead” or a large bezel at the top. This houses the Soli radar sensor which enables the Pixel’s Motion Sense features. The device is clean and sleek often being labeled “boring core.”
Both devices are quite similar on the back. Google has shifted away from its two-tone glass designs in favor of a single color. It also has changed the camera module to a dual-camera square. This is the exact same design as the iPhone.
You have more colors with the iPhone. It comes in black, white, yellow, purple, green and (Product)Red. Pixel 4 is available in black, white and orange.
Winner: Pixel 4
Display: Google Pixel 4 vs. iPhone 11
Aside from the forehead and notch, there are some key differences. The iPhone 11 uses an LCD screen at 326 pixels per inch. On the other hand, Google has a crisper 5.7in OLED screen offer 441ppi.
The Pixel 4 also has a 90Hz refresh rates. This is actually one of its best features where it can compete against top flagship phones like the Galaxy S10 and the iPhone 11 Pro. The 90Hz refresh gives it a smoother and faster feel as you use apps and browse. There’s nothing wrong with the iPhone 11 60Hz rate but the Pixel is much better.
Winner: Pixel 4
Cameras: Twice as Fun
Both phones have now gone for a dual-camera arrangement. However, they differ in their secondary lenses. The iPhone 11 has an ultrawide lens while Pixel 4 uses a telephoto. So the iPhone zooms out while the Pixel zooms in
Both take excellent pictures with night modes includes. Google has also made new software enhancements to allow better digital zooming and astrophotography.
And both use 3D facial scanning for better security. For pictures, you can’t go wrong either way.
Winner: Draw
Performance: Bionic All the Way
Apple’s A13 Bionic Chip has blown away every other smartphone on the market. This includes the top phones from Samsung, Huawei, and other manufacturers. It’s got huge power that allows it to run games and function extremely well with the optimized iOS 13.
The Pixel uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 (the same as Samsung). It’s a speedy chip and runs well, but it’s nothing compared to the A13 Bionic. Overall it runs Android 10 and Google software very fast but testing shows Apple as the easy winner.
Winner: iPhone 11
Battery and Storage: The Best iPhone Battery Yet
For years, critics complained that Apple was happily using a battery that was just good enough. The iPhone 11 is the answer to that. Featuring a 3,110mA pack, the iPhone 11 lasts a full day of heavy usage.
Pixel 4 isn’t quite as good. At 2,800mAh, it definitely feels lacking in comparison. This has been one of the biggest complaints about the Pixel 4 is the battery just can’t keep up. Some critics have even said that its battery is the biggest reason not to buy it, ouch!
Both phones come with a base storage of 64 GB. However, with the iPhone, you can upgrade to either 128 GB or 256 GB. With Google, you can only go up to 128 GB. Neither supports expandable storage.
Winner: iPhone 11
Additional Features: Motion Sense
Both phones feature wireless charges and have an IP68 rating. This means they are water-resistant and can be submerged 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes.
Google Pixel has introduced some exciting new features. One is Motion Sense which allows you to use gestures to perform actions on the phone. It’s cool but still needs work as it can be buggy. It also still has the pressure-sensitive sides “Active Edge” for pulling up the Google Assistant quickly.
These are all fun, but not going to change much of your everyday use of the phone.
Price: iPhone 11 is more affordable
One of the best features of the iPhone 11 is the price. Even from the comparable iPhone XR the previous year, the iPhone 11 starts at a cheaper $699. You can get 128 GB of storage for $749 and 256 GB for $849.
On the other hand, the Pixel starts at $799 for 128 GB of storage and $899 for 256 GB. It’s no contest, the iPhone is a much better value.
Winner: iPhone 11
Bottom Line: Google Pixel 4 vs. iPhone 11
The iPhone 11 is an all-around amazing phone. It’s got an amazing battery life, great speed, fantastic cameras, and more. Best of all, it starts at an affordable $699. It’s so good you even wonder whether it’s worth it to pay the extra $300 to upgrade to an iPhone Pro.
For Pixel fans, the Pixel 4 is a great update, but non-essential. If you have a Pixel 3, you might want to wait until next year to see how Google addresses some of the bugs, especially the battery issue. But if you’re looking to make an affordable jump into Apple, you can’t go wrong with the iPhone 11.
Ready to upgrade to either the iPhone 11 or the Pixel 4? You can quickly and easily sell your old phone to Buyback Boss. Click here to get an instant quote and see how much your phone is worth. After that, you can print off a free shipping label and get cash for your device in no time!
Visit the Buyback Boss Blog to see more phone comparisons. You can check out the differences between the Samsung Galaxy and iPhone. Or the Samsung Galaxy and the Pixel. Find out everything you need to know about smartphones on our blog!