HEAD-TO-HEAD: iPhone 7 vs Google Pixel

Apple's iPhone has been a dominant force in the smartphone world for years, and Google is determined to challenge that with its new Pixel.

Google just declared war on everyone, and they just have the right amount of resources to do so.
Veering away from its Nexus line, the Internet giant finally decided that it was time for them to start giving others a run for their money with its own smartphone, the Pixel.
And with Samsung charred from the Galaxy Note 7 mess, it's a perfect opportunity for the rest of the Android mob to take their shots at Apple - and Google is just raring to go.
Let's see how Apple's signature flagship and Google's new toy stack up against each other. At the end of each parameter, we'll have a scoreboard (in an iPhone 7-Pixel format) to see where we're clawing towards to.

Front camera: The iPhone 7 has a wider aperture, but the Pixel has a higher resolution. The tie-breaker would then be the iPhone 7's Retina flash. 1-0.
Audio: A dual-speaker stereo system on the iPhone 7 versus the Pixel's single downward-firing one? Easy. 2-0.
Memory: While the Pixel edges out the iPhone 7 in RAM (4GB to 3GB), the latter has more storage options; the 32/128GB choices on both cancel each other out, leaving the iPhone 7's massive 256GB on top. But since you may not require that much space on your phone, let's give RAM some preference here. 2-1.
Display: The Pixel has a larger five-inch screen compared to the iPhone 7's standard-issue 4.7 inches, and it also uses AMOLED, brighter than the latter's LCD. Google's device also has a higher resolution and pixel density, though Apple has its own 3D Touch for added functionality (if you actually use it). Make no mistake, the iPhone 7 has a great display, but the numbers point to the Pixel tying things up. 2-2.
Platform: It's iOS versus Android. 10 against 7.1 Nougat. Each system has its own crowd and functionalities, so we'll leave it at that.
Digital assistant: Siri, meet your new rival, Google Assistant. And it seems that you're about to get a run for your money if the latter's demonstration at the Pixel launch event was any indication, in which it flaunted some really interactive "dialogues". 2-3.
Fingerprint scanner: The iPhone 7 retains this on its home button up front, while the Pixel has its own on the rear. Normally, most of us hold our phones with our thumb and index finger on those positions, respectively, so it's really a matter of what suits you better. So let's move on.

Main camera: While both practically have 12MP shooters, the iPhone has a wider aperture and optical image stabilisation, while also outshining (pun intended) the Pixel's dual-LED flash with its quad-LED flash. And most importantly, the iPhone 7's snapper has proven that it is really better in low-light conditions compared to its predecessors. 3-3.
Chipset: Let's see... the Apple A10 Fusion chip gives 40 per cent faster performance at one-fifth the power and 50 per cent better graphics thanks to an M10 motion coprocessor, while the Snapdragon 821 blurts out a 10 per cent faster performance than the 820. Oh well. 4-3.
Build: Apple was wise to bring out the Jet Black colour. With design mostly another user-preference judgment, let's take this one to durability: the iPhone 7 is dust- and water-resistant - as we proved ourselves just to get a kick out of it - while the Pixel can, well, take just sprays of water. And it helps when Jony Ive is on your bench. 5-3.
Battery: The Pixel's 2770mAh power pack clobbers the iPhone 7's 1960mAh. But note to both: seriously, can't you stick in larger batteries? (It should be noted, though, that the iPhone 7 lasts longer - up to two hours, Apple says - than the 6s.) 5-4.
Connectivity: Not a few people were ticked off when Apple removed the 3.5mm audio jack, leaving the iPhone 7 with only one port for connecting an audio device or charger. Apple may have viewed it as some sort of future-proofing (obviously not everyone agreed), but Google did a better thing at it by slapping in a USB Type-C on the Pixel... and retaining good ol' jack on top. 5-5.
Well, that was a close, tense one. We may have ended up tied in our mano-y-mano, but the real winner is for you to decide. (Why not get one of each to spare you the trouble?)
If ever you disagree on something, feel free to let us know (no NSFW or swear words, please).
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com

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