The iPhone Duo might have stolen the spotlight at Apple’s Surprise and Shine event last week, but the latest high-end iPhone 18 Pro remains the go-to option for creatives. With the inclusion of variable aperture that can control light exposure for photography and long battery life, Apple’s new Pro phone is well equipped for media capture. But the new model is more expensive than ever. At its $1,199 starting price, the phone is $100 more than the base iPhone 17 Pro and Google’s new $1,099 Pixel 11 Pro.

While Google’s Pixel 11 Pro received its own $100 price hike over last year’s 10 Pro — likely influenced by the ongoing memory shortage that’s making electronics more expensive — the phone also received camera upgrades like a larger sensor on its 48-megapixel telephoto camera that promises a 30% increase in light capture (versus the 10 Pro). That telephoto camera supports the 11 Pro’s 30x digital zoom as well as its 120x Pro Zoom — the latter using generative AI to clean up photos taken at that distance.

Both phones have a big focus on photography, but after that, Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Google’s Pixel 11 Pro differ dramatically. They have designs that will suit different crowds and functions, and spotlight the best of iOS 27 and Android 17, respectively. I’ve taken a closer look at each phone’s biggest features, so you can figure out whether the iPhone 18 Pro or the Pixel 11 Pro is the better fit for you.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11 Pro: Design and display

While the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro have similar designs to the phones they’ve replaced — the iPhone 17 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro, respectively — each phone has an entirely different style.

The iPhone 18 Pro sports an aluminum unibody design and, this year, a cleaner monotone look rather than the dual-tone finish of the 17 Pro. The 18 Pro comes in four colors: burgundy red, glacier blue, silver and black. 

The back of the Pixel 11 Pro highlights its full-width camera bar with an added edge-to-edge glass for a more uniform look. It comes in canyon (an orange-pinkish shade), fog white, olive green and obsidian black. Both the Pixel and the iPhone have color-matching frames, giving them a seamless look. In the hand, the Pixel 11 Pro will feel lighter than the iPhone 18 Pro, with the phones weighing in at 204 grams and 211 grams, respectively — in both cases roughly the same as a medium apple.

Both phones have a 6.3-inch OLED display with support for a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, and are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance — making them safe to take to environments like the beach where sand and water won’t get inside.

On the iPhone, there’s a new, smaller Dynamic Island that serves as the cutout for the selfie camera and Apple’s Face ID sensor. That space can now show up to three Live Activities at once, letting you glance at active timers or the status of a rideshare vehicle that’s en route to pick you up. The display is protected with Ceramic Shield 2, which is the same as the 17 Pro, and it has held up quite well after a year of use, so I expect similar durability here.

The Pixel 11 Pro has a traditional selfie camera cutout on the front, but its display should shine brighter in sunny environments with its 3,600-nit peak brightness. The iPhone 18 Pro, by comparison, has an also-bright 3,000-nit peak brightness. Google’s display sports Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and includes an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor underneath the screen. The Pixel 11 Pro also supports facial identification that is assisted by its front-facing camera and machine learning.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11 Pro cameras

Apple and Google have worked on camera advancements in both hardware and software on their latest phones.

The iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture on its 48-megapixel main camera. It can manually adjust the aperture between four options (ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0 f-stops) to control the amount of light hitting the sensor. It is accompanied by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 48-megapixel telephoto sensor with support for 4x optical zoom and 8x hybrid zoom.

CNET’s Patrick Holland confirmed in his review that the aperture automatically adjusts itself when shooting between 1x and 3.9x magnification. It is great for shutterbugs and can shoot some amazing shots in the dark. 

In comparison, the Google Pixel 11 Pro has a 50-megapixel main camera, a bigger 48-megapixel telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom, and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera. It’s got a new Camera Looks feature for built-in color profiles. CNET’s Andrew Lanxon tested and enjoyed using it: “I don’t think Google takes full advantage of this tool yet, but it’s a step in the right direction and a welcome addition for casual shutterbugs who love to simply snap away without worrying about editing later.”

For selfies, you get an 18-megapixel front camera on the new iPhone and a 42-megapixel front camera on the Google phone. Apple’s smarts include automatic framing based on the number of people in the selfie — letting you switch between horizontal and vertical without rotating your phone — and Pro controls to quickly adjust settings like aperture and shutter speed, among other things. On the other hand, the Pixel has a new Magic Capture mode (on the rear cameras), which records a short video clip and then uses AI to select the best still frames from it — and you can manually pick your favorite stills as well. 

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11 Pro: processor and battery

Apple’s new iPhone runs on the in-house A20 Pro chip, which is based on the 2nm process. That means the processor is denser and may have helped make room for the 18 Pro to get a larger vapor chamber to help keep the phone running cool under intensive use. In his review, Patrick said that “gaming on the iPhone 18 Pro Max has been a blast.”

He notes that the iPhone 18 Pro got warm only when downloading apps and game files (some as large as 28GB) or when charging — but not to the extent that it would be a concern. This is one of the best improvements since my iPhone 17 Pro Max used to get warm in regular use, depending on the ambient temperature.

For comparison, the Pixel 11 Pro has the new Tensor G6 processor, which powers new software and camera tricks. In my usage, it has been smooth in daily life. However, it gets warm to the touch in 10 minutes or more of gaming. While the Pixel 11 Pro’s screen makes games look good, CNET Managing Editor David Lumb finds the phone underpowered for gaming, noticing it struggles with higher graphics settings. The iPhone remains a better choice if you’re a mobile gamer, and Apple’s App Store includes several console-quality games for the iPhone that, when purchased, also work for Mac and Apple TV.

Another Apple upgrade comes in the form of battery life. The iPhone 18 Pro is claimed to last longer and charge faster than its predecessor. In CNET’s review, Patrick pointed out that the battery life “matches that of the 17 Pro and Pro Max.” It can last an entire day, but when you push it to the limits and drain the battery, it can charge faster than before.

In our 30-minute wired charging test, the 18 Pro went from empty to 82% charge. In the same test, the Pixel 11 Pro went from 55% to 88% with its 30-watt charging speed. If you opt for the Pro XL model, you get faster 45-watt charging, which can deliver more charge in the same amount of time.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11 Pro: Extra features

The iPhone 18 Pro runs iOS 27, which squashes bugs and comes with a new set of features. It has improved voice-to-text capabilities and a smoother user interface. The new Apple iPhone also offers Focus Tracking and Reference Image features in the Camera app. The former can help you track a subject more efficiently, while Reference Image is like a digital version of a film negative. It grabs the pixel data at the time the image was taken before it goes through Apple’s image pipeline, so you can check the authenticity of the photo. That can be especially helpful since many Apple Intelligence features let you alter photos substantially, such as how Spatial Reframing lets you adjust the angle of a subject using generative AI.

On the other hand, the Pixel 11 Pro has many new Gemini Intelligence features, such as voice-to-text capabilities (Rambler) that filter out filler words when sending a message, or the ability to communicate in ASL via the Pixel camera. I’ve also enjoyed the new Camera Looks, while HiLight (a notification light on the camera bar that’s initially just for phone calls and Gemini) has been disappointing. Overall, both phones offer unique smart features to enhance your experience.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11 Pro: Specs

Prakhar Khanna is a Writer at CNET with bylines in ZDNET, Forbes, and other major outlets. A digital nomad at heart, he thrives in chaos–mixing deadlines with travel, often writing stories on planes, trains, and cafe tables while hunting down the best pizza spots wherever he lands. His backpack usually carries one phone too many, and his playlists are stacked with 2000s Bollywood. Find him across social media @ParkyPrakhar.
Contact: parkydoesstuff(at)gmail(dot)com

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