Google Pixel Fold vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: The Ultimate Showdown

The Google Pixel Fold enters the arena, challenging the established dominance of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. This isn't just a comparison of phones; it's a battle between foldable innovation and refined iOS excellence. Let's dive deep to see which device emerges victorious.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max offers unmatched performance and a polished ecosystem, while the Pixel Fold provides a unique foldable experience with Google's AI smarts. The iPhone wins on raw power and software optimization, but the Fold's versatility is a compelling alternative for those seeking innovation.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel Fold Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2023, May 102022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, June 27Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mmFolded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· 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)
Weight283 g (9.98 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 IPX8 water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1840 x 2208 pixels (~378 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size7.6 inches, 183.3 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1450 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 5.8 inches, 1080 x 2092 pixels, 17.4:9 ratio, 408 ppi 1200 nits (HBM), 1550 nits (peak)Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G2 (5 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MP7Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgradesiOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.1NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 121˚, (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.25µm48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Cover camera: 9.5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) supportUltra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
ChargingWired, PD3.0 WirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 4821 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsPorcelain, ObsidianSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsG9FPLA2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
Price€ 670.87 / $ 389.26 / £ 899.99€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Google Pixel Fold

  • Unique foldable design
  • Excellent Google software integration
  • Strong computational photography
  • Good multitasking capabilities

  • Less powerful processor than iPhone
  • Shorter battery life
  • Higher price point
  • Foldable screen durability concerns

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance (A16 Bionic)
  • Outstanding camera system (especially video)
  • Long battery life
  • Seamless iOS ecosystem
  • Premium build quality

  • Less innovative design
  • Limited customization options
  • MagSafe charging can be slow
  • Pricey

Display Comparison

The Pixel Fold boasts a 7.6-inch foldable OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a tablet-like experience. The iPhone 14 Pro Max features a stunning 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz) and a peak brightness of 1760 nits, making it exceptionally visible outdoors. The Fold's larger screen is great for multitasking, while the iPhone's display is arguably more color-accurate and vibrant.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems. The iPhone 14 Pro Max excels in video recording and consistently delivers natural-looking photos. The Pixel Fold's camera system leverages Google's computational photography prowess, producing impressive images with excellent dynamic range and detail, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The iPhone's video capabilities are generally considered superior.

Performance

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's A16 Bionic chip is a performance powerhouse, consistently outperforming the Tensor G2 in benchmarks and real-world usage. While the Tensor G2 is capable, the A16's efficiency and raw processing power give the iPhone a noticeable edge, especially in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. However, the Pixel Fold's software optimizations can sometimes compensate.

Battery Life

The iPhone 14 Pro Max demonstrates exceptional battery life, consistently achieving impressive endurance ratings. The Pixel Fold's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the iPhone's longevity, especially when utilizing the larger foldable display extensively.

Buying Guide

Buy the Google Pixel Fold if you crave a foldable display, enjoy Google's software features and AI capabilities, and value versatility. Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if you prioritize top-tier performance, a seamless iOS experience, and a mature ecosystem with excellent camera capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Pixel Fold durable enough?
Foldable phones inherently have durability concerns. Google has implemented protective measures, but the screen is still more susceptible to damage than a traditional smartphone screen. Careful handling is recommended.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful A16 Bionic chip and optimized software.
❓ Does the Pixel Fold support 5G?
Yes, both the Pixel Fold and iPhone 14 Pro Max support 5G connectivity.
❓ What is the difference in software experience?
The Pixel Fold runs Android with Google's unique software features and AI integrations. The iPhone 14 Pro Max runs iOS, known for its user-friendliness, security, and tight integration with Apple's ecosystem.