iPhone 16 Plus vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: A Deep Dive Comparison

Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus represents a refinement of the traditional smartphone experience, focusing on incremental improvements to battery and performance. Conversely, Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold boldly enters the foldable market, aiming to redefine mobile productivity and entertainment. This comparison dissects these contrasting approaches, identifying which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a polished ecosystem, the iPhone 16 Plus emerges as the winner. Its slightly lower endurance is offset by the A18’s superior CPU performance and the established reliability of iOS. However, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s innovative form factor and unique features appeal to early adopters.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 16 Plus Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A32901, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 42, 48, 66, 71, 75 - GU0NP International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A32901, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 40, 48, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GU0NP International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, September 092025, August 20
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, September 20Available. Released 2025, October 09
Body
BuildGlass front (Ceramic Shield), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)Unfolded: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2 mmFolded: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)258 g (9.10 oz)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glass (2024 gen), Mohs level 4Mohs level 5
Resolution1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)2076 x 2152 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~374 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)8.0 inches, 206.3 cm2 (~88.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)Foldable LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz)Octa-core (1x3.78 GHz Cortex-X4 & 5x3.05 GHz Cortex-A725 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetApple A18 (3 nm)Google Tensor G5 (3 nm)
GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)PowerVR DXT-48-1536
OSiOS 18, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Multi-zone Laser AF, LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple-48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.2", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 127˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", PDAF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec.HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.94", PDAF Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.94", PDAF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 25W wireless (MagSafe), 15W wireless (China only) 15W wireless (Qi2) 4.5W reverse wired30W wired, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (magnetic), Qi2 Bypass charging
TypeLi-Ion 4674 mAh5015 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Pink, Teal, UltramarineMoonstone, Jade
ModelsA3290, A3082, A3289, A3291, iPhone17,4GU0NP, GM66V
Price€ 700.00 / $ 498.74 / £ 599.99 / ₹ 76,490$ 1,499.00 / C$ 2,119.99 / £ 1,749.00 / € 1,757.00
SAR1.13 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU1.24 W/kg (head)     1.33 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)
EU LABEL
Battery48:00h endurance, 1000 cycles47:55h endurance, 1000 cycles
EnergyClass BClass B
Free fallClass C (90 falls)Class A (210 falls)
RepairabilityClass CClass C

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

  • Superior CPU performance with the A18 chip
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility
  • Mature and reliable iOS ecosystem

  • Traditional form factor lacks the versatility of a foldable
  • MagSafe charging is proprietary

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

  • Innovative foldable design for enhanced productivity
  • Bypass charging for cooler temperatures and battery health
  • Potential for advanced AI features with the Tensor G5

  • Foldable displays are inherently more fragile
  • Performance may lag behind the A18 in certain tasks

Display Comparison

The iPhone 16 Plus boasts a peak brightness of 1823 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s display specifications are not provided, foldable displays typically prioritize color accuracy and flexibility over absolute peak brightness. The iPhone’s traditional display likely offers a more consistent viewing experience, while the Pixel’s foldable screen provides a significantly larger canvas for productivity. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold benefits from Qi2 wireless charging, but the iPhone 16 Plus’s MagSafe offers a more secure and potentially faster 25W wireless charging experience.

Camera Comparison

Without specific camera details for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it’s reasonable to expect Google to leverage its computational photography prowess. However, the iPhone 16 Plus’s image processing benefits from the A18’s Neural Engine, enabling faster and more efficient image analysis. The focus should be on the main sensor and OIS capabilities, as these are the most impactful factors for image quality. The Pixel’s strength lies in its software algorithms, while the iPhone excels in video recording and overall consistency.

Performance

The Apple A18, fabricated on a 3nm process, features a hexa-core CPU (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz) designed for peak performance. In contrast, the Google Tensor G5 utilizes an octa-core configuration (1x3.78 GHz Cortex-X4 & 5x3.05 GHz Cortex-A725 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A520) also on a 3nm node. While the Tensor G5’s core count is higher, the A18’s higher clock speeds and Apple’s architectural optimizations likely translate to superior single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth UI navigation. The Pixel’s Tensor G5 focuses on AI and machine learning tasks, potentially excelling in areas like image processing and voice recognition.

Battery Life

Both devices offer impressive battery endurance, with the iPhone 16 Plus achieving 48:00h and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at 47:55h. The iPhone 16 Plus offers 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0 charging, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold also achieves 50% in 30 minutes with PPS. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s inclusion of bypass charging allows for cooler temperatures during charging, potentially extending battery lifespan. The iPhone 16 Plus offers 4.5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent in the provided Pixel 10 Pro Fold specs.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you need a consistently reliable device with a mature software ecosystem, prioritizing long-term support and seamless integration with other Apple products. Buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold if you prefer a cutting-edge, versatile device with a larger screen real estate for multitasking and media consumption, and are willing to embrace the foldable experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Google Tensor G5 chip in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Tensor G5 is a 3nm chip, Google’s focus is on AI and machine learning, not necessarily sustained peak performance. Foldable designs also present thermal challenges. Expect some throttling during prolonged, graphically intensive gaming, though Google likely implements software optimizations to mitigate this.
❓ How does the hinge durability of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold compare to previous generations of foldable phones?
Google has significantly improved hinge durability with each Pixel Fold iteration. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is expected to utilize a redesigned hinge mechanism with enhanced materials and testing to withstand over 200,000 folds, but long-term real-world testing is needed to confirm this.
❓ What is the impact of the foldable display on the iPhone 16 Plus’s MagSafe charging compatibility?
The iPhone 16 Plus fully supports MagSafe, offering 25W wireless charging. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold uses magnetic wireless charging, but the foldable form factor may slightly reduce charging efficiency compared to a flat device. The magnetic alignment is similar, but the larger surface area of the fold could affect heat dissipation.
❓ Will the iPhone 16 Plus receive software updates for at least 5 years, and how does this compare to Google’s update commitment for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold?
Apple typically provides 5-7 years of software updates for its iPhones. Google has committed to 7 years of OS, security and feature drop updates for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, matching and exceeding Apple’s typical support window. This is a significant advantage for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.