The iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10 are going to be two of the biggest phone launches of 2025. While neither has arrived just yet, I've been keeping track of the rumors to try and get ahead of the comparisons.
I've used both of these phones' predecessors, the iPhone 16 and the Pixel 9, and while both are great devices, the iPhone remains my favorite. But things could change this year, as the Pixel 10 is looking like it'll receive a load more upgrades while staying the same price. The iPhone meanwhile could get a few changes, but possibly increase in price.
To see what I'm talking about, read through the summary of all the big rumors so far below. Hopefully, my analysis won't be too far off of the mark once the phones arrive, but we'll be sure to update you as soon as we've tried one or both of these phones.
iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Price and release date
Google has already confirmed that the Pixel 10 series will appear at a Made by Google event on August 20. It's not said much beyond that, but we know that's when the phones will arrive.
Apple's kept quiet about the iPhone 17, as it does about all its new iPhones right up to the moment they're actually launched. We expect launch day will come in early September, perhaps the week of September 8 going by what Mark Gurman has said.
According to a Pixel 10 pricing leak, the base model should still cost $800, a typical price for entry-level flagship phones. Funnily enough, that is exactly the same price as the iPhone 17 is expected to be. Although the U.S. government's tariffs could shake everything up and result in a price increase.
The Pixel 10 should go on sale shortly after it launches, either in August or perhaps in early September. If the iPhone 17 arrives when we expect, then it should launch by mid-September at the latest.
iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Design and display
Both the new iPhone and the new Pixel should be the same size - 6.3 inches. This is a size change for the iPhone 17, as previous base iPhones have been 6.1 inches. There will still be distinguishing features for both though, with the iPhone's Dynamic Island cutout and pill-shaped camera block looking quite different from the punch-hole camera and narrow "camera bar" design of the Pixel 10.
Yes, we know exactly what the Pixel 10 series will look like, thanks to Google's own renders and those released by leakers. What we know of the iPhone 17's design comes from leak-based renders, which are less reliable, but hopefully still accurate.
It's looking like the iPhone 17 will come in black, white, pale blue and pink, while the Pixel 10 is tipped to come in Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Limoncello. A nice combination of sensible and bold colors for both.
Moving onto the tech underlying these phones' screens, the focus is on the iPhone. Apple's apparently offering a 120Hz refresh rate for the first time on non-Pro iPhones, something that Android phones have been offering on similarly-priced models for years. That's why we can assume there will be a 120Hz refresh rate on the Pixel 10 even with minimal leaks on the subject.
iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Cameras
The alleged addition of a telephoto camera on the base Pixel 10 is a big deal. Apple reserves its telephoto cameras for Pro iPhones, so the basic iPhone 17 will likely still come with a 48MP main camera/12MP ultrawide combination on the back.
Meanwhile, the 48MP main/12MP ultrawide/10.8MP 5x telephoto trio of sensors on the Pixel 10 would look like an excellent deal in comparison. The Pixel's rumored improved macro photos and video stabilization could also make it a fantastic camera phone in its price bracket, if not one of the best camera phones outright.
iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Performance
We should see a Tensor G5 chip inside the Pixel 10. It's going to be built using an advanced 3-nanometer process just like the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple's A18 chips, so say the rumors, which should help shrink the performance gap seen between previous Pixel phones and rivals.
Things are a little less certain with the iPhone 17. It may come with Apple's new A19 chip, which is expected to be powerful enough to challenge the Android-focused silicon we talked about already. But there are counter claims that say that the iPhone 17 could be stuck with the same A18 chip currently seen in the iPhone 16.
A powerful chip needs effective cooling, and sadly it seems like the Pixel 10 will not have vapor chamber cooling like the Pixel 10 Pro models. iPhones don't use vapor chamber cooling currently, but this may change with the iPhone 17 series, which would be a big plus for the iPhone when it comes to extended intensive use.
iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Software and special features
The two phones we're discussing should be using the latest version of their respective software - iOS 26 for the iPhone, and Android 16 for the Pixel 10. There will likely be model-specific features as well, but those haven't been leaked properly yet.
Google will no doubt continue its strong focus on AI features, as you can tell from Google's jabs at Apple Intelligence taking its time to launch all its features. Apple's plan likely won't emerge until much closer to launch.
Outside of software, we've heard that the Pixel 10 could be gaining Qi2 charging support, and other magnetic accessories, similar to MagSafe on recent iPhones. We've not seen any major Android phone maker introduce a feature like this, so we're excited to see what Google's take on it will be.
We're also seeing evidence that Google will be keeping the temperature sensor on the back of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. It's always been an odd addition, and arguably pointless depending on who you ask. Perhaps Google will have some new features enabled by this sensor, but otherwise it may remain the same as we've seen on previous Pixels.
iPhone 17 vs. Google Pixel 10: Outlook
It won't be long until the Pixel 10 launches, and we can see how these rumors match up to reality. The wait for Apple's announcements will be slightly longer, but we expect more leaks to appear in the meantime to help us measure up these two phones before we try them side by side.
It's looking like the Pixel 10 could be the better value pick for the price, with much-improved hardware and potentially a lower price. But the iPhone will remain appealing thanks to its software experience and tipped upgrades to its display.
More from Tom's Guide
- I tested Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max in a 200-photo shootout — which camera phone wins?
- Best phones 2025 tested — Our top picks
- Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Biggest expected upgrades
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