iPhone 18 Pro vs Google Pixel 11 Pro: iOS or Android?

Comparison table of technical data

Price and availability

The iPhone 18 Pro, along with the larger Pro Max, will be available for pre-order from September 12, before the official release on September 18. Available in four colors including Deep Black, Silver, Glacier and Burgundy, the iPhone 18 Pro has a starting RRP of £1,199/$1,199.

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By comparison, the Google Pixel 11 Pro is available to buy now and starts at a cheaper £1,079/$1,099. Like the iPhone 18 Pro, it comes in four colors including Canyon, Olive, Mist and Obsidian.

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A20 Pro vs Tensor G6

Both phones work with chips made by their respective manufacturers. This means that the iPhone 18 Pro runs on Apple’s own A20 Pro, while the Pixel 11 Pro runs on Google’s Tensor G6 processor.

Google never prioritizes speed and performance with its Tensor chips, instead favoring AI performance. That said, while the Pixel 11 Pro scored fairly low in our benchmark tests, it performs well in everyday use – though it struggles with gaming.

Apple introduced its A20 Pro chip in both the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, alongside the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable device. Billed as Apple’s fastest iPhone chip ever, the processor features a 6-core CPU, the fastest in a smartphone, a 7-core GPU that promises 40% faster graphics compared to last year’s A19 Pro, and a new dual 16-core neural engine to run AI models on devices.

With all this in mind, Apple promises that the A20 Pro is a “powerhouse” for everything from on-device AI workloads to demanding games. While we have yet to review the chip, its specs certainly make it look like a more promising choice for those looking for more performance. Of course, we’ll update this when we review the iPhone 18 Pro.

The Pixel 11 Pro introduces the HiLight feature

There’s no getting around the fact that smartphones are incredibly distracting. You’ll unlock your phone to reply to a message, but then you’ll see all the other notifications in multiple apps competing for your attention. This is where Google’s new HiLight device comes in.

HiLights are basically colorful LED lights built around the Pixel 11 Pro’s flash that light up when you get a phone call or start talking to your Gemini. It’s not unlike Nothing Phones, which lets you keep your phone face down, but uses Glyph lights to keep you informed of important notifications.

While HiLight looks a bit basic right now, Google has promised that we’ll be adding new features to HiLight over time, including message notifications.

The Pixel 11 Pro has a 50MP main lens, but the iPhone 18 Pro has an industry-first variable aperture main lens

The Pixel Pro and iPhone Pro tend to make the list of best camera phones because both Google and Apple offer superior hardware and image processing capabilities.

Both devices are equipped with three rear cameras, including a main, ultra-wide and dedicated telephoto sensor, but they differ in their exact offerings. The Pixel 11 Pro has a 50-megapixel main camera, along with 48-megapixel ultra-wide and 48-megapixel telephoto cameras, and overall we found the phone to be a reliable shooter – even at night, when the lighting drops.

Hardware aside, the Pixel 11 Pro shines best with its Gemini-coated software, which includes tools like Camera Coach, which advises you on how to improve your image, and Magic Capture, which analyzes 400 frames from the same shot to create the best possible image.

In comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with three 48MP lenses – although the main camera is undoubtedly the main one. Billed as Apple’s most advanced camera ever, the 48MP Fusion main camera features a variable aperture that automatically adjusts to lighting and depth of field.

There are also Pro controls that let you customize your shooting experience, from manually setting aperture or shutter speed to changing shooting styles.

Apple Intelligence or Gemini Intelligence

Since its inception in 2024, Apple Intelligence has not evolved as we thought. In fact, two years later, the AI-powered toolbox still seems like an afterthought. However, with iOS 27, Apple promises that Apple Intelligence will see some much-needed improvements and refinements, from image editing tools to writing assistance. Perhaps the main update here is Siri AI, which promises to be a complete overhaul of Apple’s voice assistant for a more conversational and reliable experience.

In comparison, Google Gemini Intelligence is easily one of the most trusted AI toolkits in smartphones. Of course you shouldn’t the why you chose the Pixel 11 Pro, but a lot of Google AI tools could really come in handy. For example, there’s Circle to Search, which lets you do multiple searches at once, Google’s image editing suite, and of course, access to the Gemini voice assistant.

Both promise about the same battery

Battery life has never been a selling point for the iPhone or Pixel phones, especially when compared to phones like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which has a 6,000mAh cell. That said, Apple promises that the iPhone 18 Pro will last up to 23 hours – although we’ll have to wait and see.

We found that on days with around five to six hours of screen time, the Pixel 11 Pro’s battery would run down by 10pm, while on other days it would need to charge in the evening to survive. Fortunately, it supports PixelSnap, which means you can conveniently charge your phone on the go.

Early judgment

In fact, the choice between the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro comes down to the existing ecosystem. For example, if you have AirPods, an Apple Watch, or even a Mac, the iPhone makes more sense than the Pixel 11 Pro.

If you have more flexibility, then choosing between the two depends on your own preferences. So, if you want more performance, a phone that can handle demanding games and a camera with a variable aperture, then the iPhone 18 Pro seems like a brilliant choice. On the other hand, if you like AI smarts and want one of the best camera phones on the market, the Pixel 11 Pro is an easy recommendation.

We will update this after reviewing the iPhone 18 Pro.