If you’re indifferent to platforms, and shopping for a premium phone around the $800 range, the iPhone 17 and Google’s Pixel 10 are the two handsets to beat. They’re roughly the same size and both offer adaptive 120Hz screens, but they differ in storage, camera philosophy and on-device AI. And here’s a targeted comparison that wades through the spec sheet and tells you what actually matters.
Price and configurations
Both start at $799, but Apple’s base model offers 256GB of storage and the base Pixel ships with 128GB. You want 256GB on Pixel 10, that’s $899. That makes the iPhone 17 a better value up front, especially if you take lots of photos and video or park all those big-ass-apps on your device.
The iPhone 17 goes up to 512GB, whereas the Pixel 10 stops at just 256GB. Cloud backups are good, but local storage is still important for high-bitrate 4K video, offline maps and big game installs. Counterpoint Research analysts have pointed out that your storage needs tend to increase as cameras and apps get more power-hungry — something you’ll feel sooner on a 128GB device.
Displays and design
Both phones feature 6.3-inch OLED panels with adaptive 120Hz refresh rates, which make for slick scrolling and responsive gaming. Resolution is a pernicious differentiator: the iPhone 17 chugs along at 2622×1206, where the Pixel 10 is doing just fine at 2424×1080. In reality, that gives Apple a slight sharpness advantage, though at this size both fall comfortably in “flagship crisp” territory.
Color tuning and brightness so often are what separates a great screen from a good one. Independent labs such as DisplayMate and DXOMARK usually examine color accuracy, HDR tone mapping, motion handling and PWM dimming comfort. Apple’s iPhones have long favored calibrated color management and True Tone consistency, but Google plays up the silken HDR visuals. Both should look great; the subtle superiority will probably make itself obvious later during lab testing.
Design language remains familiar. iPhone 17 maintains its clean, stilted dual-camera stack; Pixel 10 keeps its signature horizontal camera bar. Colorways are fresh in both directions: iPhone 17 in Lavender, Mist Blue, Black, White and Sage; Pixel 10 in Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass and Obsidian. Go with whichever one brings you joy — after week number one, ergonomics and pocket feel matter more than looks.
Performance and battery
In terms of chips, Apple’s A19 runs the iPhone 17, while Google’s Tensor G5 drives the Pixel 10. Apple historically is big on raw CPU and single-core performance, which helps out video processing, computationally intense games and general responsiveness. Chipmakers of all shapes and sizes have generally focused on the on-device AI features people will be using, as it were, tensor chips that care less about brute-force benchmarks and more about things like speech, image processing and assistant tasks.
Both phones are expected to last around 30 hours on a charge. Real-world endurance is going to depend on your mixture of 5G, using the camera and GPS, playing games. Apple’s performance-per-watt efficiency to the rescue in history, countered by smart power management there is tuned just for Android’s background services from Google. Charging speeds and wireless charging are competitive, but there are region-specific and accessory-specific wattages available.
Cameras and imaging
The largest hard fork this year has been zoom. The Pixel 10 introduces a focal-dedicated 10.8MP telephoto with up to 5x optical zoom, to go with its 48MP main and 13MP ultrawide. iPhone 17 sees no changes on the rear either, making do with two cameras: a 48MP wide and high-resolution 48MP ultrawide plus an 18MP front camera supporting Center Stage.
It’s in the field that the Pixel’s optical telephoto bears fruit like wildlife, stage events, sports and cityscapes where distance detail is important. Google’s Super Res Zoom, which mixes optics and computational trickery to steady shots and keep them sharp at higher magnifications. On the flip side, Apple’s 48MP ultrawide can indeed record more detailed landscapes and interiors (and macro-ish close-ups) than a run-of-the-mill low-megapixel ultrawide on most Android phones, which could give the iPhone some edge to sweeping scenes or creative perspectives.
If you take a lot of selfies, the iPhone 17 will offer an 18MP selfie camera with a wider field of view that is better for group photos. Pixel 10’s camera stack, meanwhile, leans into Google’s HDR+ and skin-tone scrutiny to draw faces pleasantly against harsh light. Labs like DXOMARK frequently divide their rankings by photo, video, bokeh and zoom — don’t be shocked if the Pixel 10 tears it up with zoom while the iPhone comes out tops in ultrawide and video.
Software and longevity
Apple’s iOS brand is built on consistency, long-term support, and tight app quality control. Working iPhones tend to get major updates for five years or longer. Then there’s the Android side: Google has pledged extended support for recent Pixels — potentially as many as seven years of OS and security updates — which places Pixel 10 among the safest bets for long-lasting Android development.
Security and convenience differ too. iPhone 17 leverages Face ID and a dedicated Secure Enclave; Pixel usually has an in-display fingerprint reader plus face unlock and Titan-class security core. Messaging and ecosystem integration continue to be defining factors: iOS users get AirDrop and Continuity features, deep integration with iPad and Mac; Pixels get on-device transcription, call screening, Google’s AI-first services.
Bottom line
Choose the iPhone 17 if you would like a higher base storage, a sharper screen, great ultrawide detail and other iOS ecosystem bonuses. Pick the Pixel 10 if you prioritize a real optical telephoto, Google’s AI capabilities and stronger Android update guarantees. At price parity, rather, the savvier buy ultimately comes down to what you shoot — and which ecosystem you’ll be happiest living in long-term.